I have just settled this morning on a replacement for my 2210. I will post a separate thread discussing the resolution and settlement process but I wanted to complete the timeline of my leak(s) for the purpose of this thread.
-Delivery in Feb. 2003
- Leak #1: First leak within 5 hours of use; no weight on 3PH
-Tractor returned to dealer. Dealer techs identified an unrelated stripped bolt for another bracket; re-seated toplink hinge plate and re-sealed
- Leak #2: Tractor returned to me and again leaked within 10 more hours of use; no weight on 3PH
-Tractor returned to dealership. Techs worked with JD DTAC and engineering. Techs installed a "prototype" reinforced plate
- Leak #3 Tractor returned to me. Plate had minor "weeping" leak within 20 more hours.
-Tractor returned to dealer. "Gorilla Snot" sealant applied to reinstalled prototype toplink plate
Note: All of above took place within 3 months after delivery. 350-pound box blade used as ballast after second leak but well within design limitations and virtuallly no ground engagement.
-No problems or leaks over summer and early fall, approximately 7 months. Summer work primarily mowing and light loader work. Useage increased as fall lawn care and landscaping activities increased. Used tractor for appropriate work with loader removing sidewalk, used box blade for light scraping and leveling, and loader for light digging to modify some landscaping features. Racked up hours to over 100 (I have about 7 acres of land with almost 4 to mow).
-Hurricaine Isablelle--lost several large trees. Used loader for fairly heavy digging to remove stumps and perform clean-up. All work within limts of the machine. Hours up to over 120 now.
-Leak #4 After putting another 15 hours on the clock--after Isabelle--mowing and spreading fertilizer in newly seeded areas, noticed considerable leak from toplink hinge plate. Washed tractor, cleaned and lubed mower deck, called dealer and told him to come pick up the tractor--and keep it. Dateline--First week of November.
A couple of side notes. First, As most of you would have done, I checked out the toplink hinge plate after each and every use. There was clearly no connection between weight or load being carried on the hitch. As was mentioned, there is a level of adjustment for a linkage that may cause some contact of the internal workings of the rockshaft with the toplink hinge plate. While there was never any "warpage" associated with the plate, apparently the plate can flex enough to break the seal. Once the seal is broken, any fluid that splashes onto the inside of the plate has a chance to seep from the contact area.
I received a prototype reinforced plate installed on my tractor that was probably the beginning of JD's the overall solution to a model problem. But the plate is not the entire solution (that's conjecture from all of my conversation with technicians and the field tech supervisor for my region). It makes sense that there is more to this than just replacing a plate. However, since it is a fact that there is a newly designed plate apparently being installed on new build units, it would seem reasonable (to me, not necessarily Deere) that any early build unit receive a redesigned plate as part of the fix for a leak from that area. Again, that's just me....
I also have a theory I would like to share: I do not believe that this is a "pressure leak" issue, but rather, occurs when fluid is "splashed" against the plate and finds a way out of the seal. As such, and in my case, the fluid appeared after work where I might have been bouncing or jouncing around a little bit. This theory is based only in my experiences that after both leak numbers 1 and 2, the dealer told me to keep the fluids up and use the tractor until they could pick it up. They were confident it was just a torque or sealant issue at that time. Anyway, the leak appeared to subside and the reappear after snow plowing which invoved some funny angles and some bouncing around over some packed snow. To finish this thought, a 2210 may have a minor leak that appears to be fine until some rough terrain or work is encountered. This is also supported by the fact that in the first 3 leaks, the shop techs reported no leakage while it was sitting in their shop. Of course they saw the mess when they picked it up, but they could not reproduce it.
The second side note to my saga is that I am happy. Happy with my dealer, his service manager, the shop techs, my salesman, JD Customer Service, and my wife for putting up with me and letting me upgrade as part of my solution. I will expand on that in a separate thread, but I just signed the papers on a similarly equipped 4110 to be delivered within a month (hopefully). I guess I don't have a problem with problem equipment as long as the company makes things right. I was unfortunate to receive one of a few "bad" builds, but I have absolute confidence in the quality and capability of the 2210. I just felt that the nuts and bolts had been torqued and stressed a few too many times on my machine. Nobody ever disagreed with me on that one.
My advice to anybody with this leak is to let your dealer know that you have learned that the symptom is not isolated to your unit. If you think the dealer has not done his work within Deere' technical support syste, call the JD Customer Complaint line at 1-800-537-8233. If you don't actually have a leak, you may not be happy with the response. If you do have a leak, I am sure you will be happy with the courstesy and response. Be patient. It's a huge corporation.
Hopefully the membership committee will extend my membership in "Club 2210," even if it is honorary /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Sorry so long. I thought you guys would like to hear my tale.
