No Joy Joystick

[joes_427_vette]

Jinman;
The customer service department must be blind. I called and mentioned several problems I have and to my amazement... I was the only one with problems. My friend was saying the new design for the loader posts are going to be cast in place of steel. Bet some foundry in China has the contract and already has a mold. Like you, I do not plan on trading. It will take the rest of my natural life to fix the problems this one has. Bet the dealer really gets in the middle of some of these recuring problems and sometimes has to eat the repair to keep a customer. The bright side.. it is paid for. I hate eating a lemon and making payments ta boot. That just adds insult to injury.
ps. When my joystick breaks I am not even going to the dealer. That is why the miller wire feed is on standby.

 

[jinman]

This thread lives! Are you listening, RaT? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Joe, if your tractor is one of the later models you may never have a problem with the joystick. Mine is still working beautifully with my hose clamps. It's only 1" shorter, but that is 1" less leverage and enough to keep it from breaking. I don't necessarily understand it, but I'm not going to argue with success.

In defense of NH, they have improved their design. I have not heard of anyone with a new style joystick having one break. In that regard, NH Customer Service told you the truth. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[joes_427_vette]

Jinman;
My 45 is an 01 that has just passed the 400 hour mark. When I called NH customer service I was refering to the tilt and telescope that doesn't work, the sticky hydro pedal, the cold temp the engine runs at, and the bucket rams that seem to have a constant air charge in them. The service manager at the dealer knew of all the problems plus a couple more saying it is common on these machines. The lady ( that should have been my first clue ) I called at customer service checked and couldn't find where warranty work had been completed on any compact with the problems I described. Her suggestion was to have the dealer complete the work and send a copy to her. That way she could see what the problems were and the proper repair. I really need to send two grand to the dealer so she can look over the paperwork...yah right. On another note... did NH improve the battery situation for the 04s or is it still a customer beware and fix later issue? I don't believe the dealerships get near enough factory support on alot of these issues. You can't blame them for not charging the customer on what NH should cover. They have alot of overhead and the bills still arrive at the end of the month.

 

[_RaT_]

Hi Jim. Happy, no make that a Joyfull New Year. Get your top link welded up?

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi Jim. Happy, no make that a Joyfull New Year. Get your top link welded up? )</font>

Actually it was the tilt-link that broke. It's fixed and back to work. I did get a new toplink (shorter) ordered from Carter & Carter. I expect to get it this week.

...and you must be psychic, RaT. My darn joystick busted again over the holidays and I had to order a new one. This time the plastic handle just broke off right at the screw hole. I'm sure it was because it has been held on by one screw for almost four years and the plastic was very overstressed. Since I wanted to keep using the tractor, I made a "splint" out of PVC pipe and --you guessed it-- used two hose clamps to clamp the splint around the joystick. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I don't know whether to laugh or cry about this, but I'll try to take some photos when I do the R&R. When you see the photos, you'll swear I have a PHD in Southern Engineering. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

The entire new joystick assembly is $122. I hope this is the final chapter, but it's good for a few more posts in this long-running saga. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Happy New Year!

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On another note... did NH improve the battery situation for the 04s or is it still a customer beware and fix later issue? )</font>

I have an '03 TC35, and the battery spits like a mad tomcat. I covered it with a piece of plastic until I can find a maintenance free battery that and has the right hold-down lugs and post configuration.

 

[johnday]

haveblue; Maybe you'd want to get a setup like on the newer DA models. The battery has a different lid on it with a drain similar to what motorcycles use. I did have to extend the drain down below the frame so any spillage would drip below the frame /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jinman]

Here's my "southern engineered" joystick with my temporary repair before my new joystick arrives. Maybe after I replace it, I'll build a little pine box and give this joystick the burial it deserves. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

...but then, I'm growing kinda fond of this "ugly duckling." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[markie61]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll build a little pine box and give this joystick the burial it deserves. )</font>
...or, perhaps it will be inducted into the "TBN Hall of Fame" ! Along with this thread... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Mark

Viva la thread!!!!

 

[_RaT_]

The infamous no joy stick, joystick. Quite the famous little critter. Glad to see it. A proper burial is indeed necessary. A proper display in the Inman rotundra is indeed in order. I understand your fondness, but Jim, it needs the proper burial. Viva La No Joy, JoyStick.