Not impressed by the 1 series

[dragoneggs]

Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing plastic vs. metal specifically with regard to tractor hoods. I don't however agree that companies deliberately try to cheapen product by going from metal to plastic. There are very good reasons such as corrosion and weight that determine material selection. One example is the mower deck on my walk-behind Honda. It is plastic and I have abused it for about 7 years now. Plastic and composite technology still has much to explore compared to metal. Toughened resin matrix research will continue to allow plastic to find additional applications... just saying.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I don't hear too many people that have plastic hoods crying about them. It seems that all of the crying are people that don't like plastic hoods, but don't have them.

uh.. talk to any owner of a Kubota BX-50 series.

 

[fieldman12]

I don't think you are trying to argue or anything. We all are just expressing our opinions. I agree with what you said except I do know in some cases a manufacture will on purpose change the design of a product to over all cheapen the cost so there is more profit and at times even to get you back to buying a newer machine or part much sooner. I have known several engineers over the years including for tractor manufactures such as Deere. Heck I even worked in an engineering department at a young age. For example the guy who invented the 8n later went to Deere because Ford tried to rush the select o Speed transmission before the bugs where worked out. He told them it was not ready. When he went to Deere he perfected the power shift and had hardly any problems at all with it. Some times there is many reasons for a crappy product flaw.

Don't get me wrong, I am not arguing plastic vs. metal specifically with regard to tractor hoods. I don't however agree that companies deliberately try to cheapen product by going from metal to plastic. There are very good reasons such as corrosion and weight that determine material selection. One example is the mower deck on my walk-behind Honda. It is plastic and I have abused it for about 7 years now. Plastic and composite technology still has much to explore compared to metal. Toughened resin matrix research will continue to allow plastic to find additional applications... just saying.