Reasonable Charges for NH Prescribed Service

[Charles Billings]

My TC45DA SuperSteer just hit 600 hours. I had the tractor serviced by the NH dealer that sold it to me at approximately 200 hours, the first one it needed after I purchased it ( it was used with 149 hours/still in warranty). Basically, they changed the oil and filters, and greased it. Otherwise, I have done all the other maintenance myself according to the owner's manual. The 600 hour service called for adjusting valve clearances, inspecting/replacing the Sensitrak clutch, and doing the other basic maintenance items--grease, oil and filters. When I called the local NH dealer and asked what the 600 hour service would cost, he said about $450. I was thinking that it included all those things that the owner's manual specifies, like the valve adjustment and Sensitrak clutch. A very nice and competent NH service person came to my home and performed the service, consisting of changing oil, changing filters, and greasing the tractor. He was here about 1 hour 20 minutes, and it would have taken him about 15 minutes to get here. He found one zerk that he couldn't get to, and said that it would need to be changed to a 90 degree zerk before he could grease it. He didn't have that zerk. so at least one point in the tractor went ungreased. He said that I would need to have the tractor brought in to do the other service items if I wanted to do the other things that I asked about--valve adjustment and clutch inspection/replacement, plus the 90 degree zerk. He wondered why I wanted to adjust the valves, he said the tractor engine sounded fine, and he wasn't at all familiar with the Sensitrak clutch, but he was able to spot its location. The dealer is 10 to 12 miles from my house. They want $175 to transport it there and back, and I have no idea how much it will cost for the balance of the 600 hour service that I thought they were going to do. Were my expectations too high that they would accomplish everything that was in the owner's manual for a 600 hour service? And is a $450 charge reasonable for a simple lube, engine oil change, front axle oil change, NO hydraulic oil change for transmission, all filters changed except the inner air filter? I don't yet have the invoice in hand, so I am not sure if the $450 quote will come in more or less, just know what the service manager had quoted.

 

[dave1949]

I've never - knock on wood - had my TC40 to a dealer, but knowing what those items cost, that sounds like a high charge to me.

Maybe if they also changed the secondary air filter, hydraulic oil and filter, flushed the cooling system and put in new anti-freeze, something around $500 would be reasonable?

I really don't know, but it sounds high. Greasing the tractor could only be worth about $10 and that would be a lot.

Dave.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

If your that close to the dealer then drive the tractor there.

As for the price, no one can really comment until you know what you are actually being charged. Since you had the NH tech come to your place you are going to get charged a on site fee as well as pay the shops hourly charge and materials. Hopefully the dealer will work with you to straighten out any misunderstandings.

 

[The Haymaker]

Thus the reason I do my own work in most cases.

As for the Sensitrak clutches, be sitting down. Messicks shows that clutch on my slightly smaller unit to be in the area of the grand, and in typical NH fashion, you can't buy the individual parts. If the fwd is working, you know it's ok.

E

 

[RickB]

As for the Sensitrak clutches, be sitting down. Messicks shows that clutch on my slightly smaller unit to be in the area of the grand, and in typical NH fashion, you can't buy the individual parts. If the fwd is working, you know it's ok.

E

Exactly. One would think service items called out in the operator's manual would be prudent to carry out. Unfortunately, that isn't the case every time. Dealership service managers have to balance customer costs with their views on the necessity of particular service items. At 600 hours, I would not adjust the valves, or "examine" the sensitrak clutch unless there were obvious symptoms causing concern in those areas.

 

[jinman]

Charles, by my service interval chart, I would think that you tractor should have had the following fluid services:

1. grease, 2. engine oil & filter, 3. fuel filter, 4. hydraulic/HST reservoir & filters, 5. front differential and drop boxes, 6. outer air cleaner cleaned or replaced.

To accomplish those and change all filters, I come up with the following approximate list of prices based on current NH products:

1. Grease - 1 tube @ $3
2. Eng Oil - 6 qt total $25
3. Hyd Oil - 10 gal total $150
4. Fuel Filter - $10
5. Outer Air new - $27
6. Eng Oil Filter - $11
7. Hyd Filter - $44
8. HST Filter - $26

Total Parts/Fluids - $296

The on-site hourly fee is probably $75/hr or more with some more thrown in for drive time.

To my calculations, the $450 was about right for the service if it included the hydaulic oil and filter. I would expect it to be about $200 less without that service.

 

[sweep]

And is a $450 charge reasonable for a simple lube, engine oil change, front axle oil change, NO hydraulic oil change for transmission, all filters changed except the inner air filter?

$450 is high since they did not change the trans/rear end oil and filter.

Do you normally do all your engine oil changes and greasing?? If so, sounds like you could have done this for a lot less.

 

[brin]

I've got 330+ hrs. on my TC-29 and have done all the service myself, I have changed the oil, grease, filters, hyd. fluid and filters and by the way Tractor Supply sells a hyd. fluid that is the same as what New Holland sells and it is much cheaper ..about 2 mos. ago I paid $48.00 for 5 gal and bought 2 so that $96.00 ..total .If you price New Holland Hyd. oil it will be several hundered dollars so be careful there. anyway, all of the routine service I do and I have a tractor repair place close by that repairs all makes and I have known the owner for many years. The NH dealer here is about 16 Miles from me and has already told me if I ever needed to have it brought in it would be $200.00..but I have a friend with a trailer that would handle my tractor..so if you ever need to take it anywhere ask around and find someone that will take it to the dealer and when it's ready bring it back for a lot less..I am thrifty...this NH dealer close to me is very high so I buy what I need from Messicks.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I've got 330+ hrs. on my TC-29 and have done all the service myself, I have changed the oil, grease, filters, hyd. fluid and filters and by the way Tractor Supply sells a hyd. fluid that is the same as what New Holland sells and it is much cheaper ..about 2 mos. ago I paid $48.00 for 5 gal and bought 2 so that $96.00 ..total .If you price New Holland Hyd. oil it will be several hundered dollars so be careful there. anyway, all of the routine service I do and I have a tractor repair place close by that repairs all makes and I have known the owner for many years. The NH dealer here is about 16 Miles from me and has already told me if I ever needed to have it brought in it would be $200.00..but I have a friend with a trailer that would handle my tractor..so if you ever need to take it anywhere ask around and find someone that will take it to the dealer and when it's ready bring it back for a lot less..I am thrifty...this NH dealer close to me is very high so I buy what I need from Messicks.

It may never happen to anyone else but there was a poster on here who wanted a new tractor because he used an aftermarket oil that was suppose to work in his tractor but ended up being the wrong stuff. It messed his tractor up and caused him a lot of problems. I use to buy oils from TSC and such back when I only had one used tractor but once I started buying new and newer modern tractors I realized the price difference isn't really that great to buy OEM branded oils and if you get a problem that is oil related you have a lot more support as the OEM can't say you used the wrong oil.

 

[sweep]

It may never happen to anyone else but there was a poster on here who wanted a new tractor because he used an aftermarket oil that was suppose to work in his tractor but ended up being the wrong stuff. It messed his tractor up and caused him a lot of problems. I use to buy oils from TSC and such back when I only had one used tractor but once I started buying new and newer modern tractors I realized the price difference isn't really that great to buy OEM branded oils and if you get a problem that is oil related you have a lot more support as the OEM can't say you used the wrong oil.

I believe there was also a thread here that said certain off brand filters part numbers from Purolater/Wix/Fram?? that were supposed to be the same(crossed over in the parts book) where actually slightly different and caused engine harm. The off brand filter was $5.50-6.00 and the NH filter is $9.00. I'll pay the extra $3.00-4.00 for my bought new TC45A. If you change the oil 2-3 times per year that's $8-12.00. Chump change. Skip a McDonald's lunch for one day per month(if you should have to)