Smashed GN trailer into back of my 5058M :(

catdozer · Oct 26, 2012

pclausen said:
No kidding on the cost of a cab frame. The one for the 5000M series is just under $3000 and the fender is $500! Good advice on contacting a salvage yard to see what they will offer. That way I would probably be able to unload them a lot quicker too. I used a dig through auto salvage yards as a kid all the time when working on my Firebird back in my high school days,but I'll have to do some digging I think to locate one for tractor parts.

Just got off the phone with the service manager, they finally got the correct fender in yesterday and should have everything wrapped up for me to come pick it up around lunch time today! Then I'll have to put all the stuff back on it I got laying all over my shop floor.

Check out the salvage section or parts on tractorhouse or machinerytrader. the fender I would sell it on eBay.

yelbike · Oct 26, 2012

pclausen said:
No kidding on the cost of a cab frame. The one for the 5000M series is just under $3000 and the fender is $500! Good advice on contacting a salvage yard to see what they will offer. That way I would probably be able to unload them a lot quicker too. I used a dig through auto salvage yards as a kid all the time when working on my Firebird back in my high school days,but I'll have to do some digging I think to locate one for tractor parts.

Just got off the phone with the service manager, they finally got the correct fender in yesterday and should have everything wrapped up for me to come pick it up around lunch time today! Then I'll have to put all the stuff back on it I got laying all over my shop floor.

Your wife called, said you need to clean out your shop!

pclausen · Oct 27, 2012

Lol!

So I got the tractor back home as started putting stuff back on it. There are a few things that I'm not real pleased with. As I mentioned before, they didn't take the hood off before removing the cab as per the service manual. I figured there was a good reason why the service manual stated that, and sure enough, the hood is all scratched up now near the windshield and there are also a couple of deep cuts.

I also noticed that the black sealant they used between the cab frame and fenders oozed out when pressing the pieces together and was never cleaned up before it hardened up.

The main issue though is that they forgot to punch out an oval hole where the FEL joystick control cables go through the cab frame. The cutout needs to be where the yellow rectangle is.

This will allow the rubber boot to fit into it.

sdkubota · Oct 27, 2012

I don't blame you for being upset. I guess any dealership is only as good as the people they hire in the shop. I really don't know what should be done because I wouldn't want them "fixing" anything else. I am sure you will be able to do a superior job at fixing their screw ups then they would ever be able to.

yelbike · Oct 27, 2012

How hard is it to remove the hood alone and send it to a body shop. At their cost of course. Its states it in the manual and they cut a corner, they should pay for it, including new decals if needed. Its suppose to be preaccident status. JMO. Good luck. More picture please!!:devil:

Scooby074 · Oct 27, 2012

I wonder if it might have been better to just drop the complete tractor off and say "fix it" without getting into the complications of the dealer doing some and you doing some.

That way, come pick up day, you could have given it the once over and refused delivery on the spot if it didnt meet your satisfaction.

Hopefully all is fixed to your satisfaction. some things are minor, like the hole not punched out and the oozing sealant.. however the dents and scratches in the hood are another issue.

murphy1244 · Oct 27, 2012

Thats the problem with you doing some work on it to pocket that insurance cash. Have them finish the job to your satisfaction.

s219 · Oct 27, 2012

I think you're expecting too much for tractor mechanics to handle a body assembly job well. I see the same problem if a car dealership has to tear into a vehicle interior to fix something -- it will come back looking like crap. These folks are good with engine type stuff, but it's a gamble with any sort of finesse work.

pclausen · Oct 28, 2012

Yeah, I agree that I was expecting too much from these tractor mechanics. It is still very frustrating. In hindsight, I would have been better off just fixing the cab frame damage instead of replacing the whole thing. I pretty much got it all back together now, but did notice several other issues.

Rear of seat is all scratched up.

Door sills on both sides are scratched.

They over-torqued one of the main cab roof bolts to the point of scattering/mushrooming the mounting stand.

Huge gap on both sides between the cab floor and fender. The insulation tape doesn't come close to cover it.

There is exposed metal on the A-pillar, looks like scuffing from shipping. I would have expected them to at least re-spray that area before assembly. I had to mask off the windshield and other areas before I was able to respray this area myself.

One of the heater hoses was barely connected. This was a easy fix.

The nut barrels are missing for the instructor seat grab handle. Not sure if they are press fit or needs to be welded in. They have to be flush with the surface.

Rear glass installed (window is open in this shot):

Shot from this morning before installing the headliner.

I realize this is "just" a tractor and as such a tool, but I only have 90 hours on it and until I had this trailer incident, there was not a scratch or mark on it inside or out. I think the only thing I want them to do at this point is to punch out the hole for the FEL control cables. I'll take care of the other items myself or just live with them.

I also had to tap out 7 holes in the cab roof to accommodate the pull down sun shade and associated trim 6mm bolts. This was a huge pain with the windshield already installed.

I'm sending an email to the service manager with most of these pictures and plan to stop by in the morning to see what he has to say.

sdkubota · Oct 28, 2012

I think bringing up the issues with the dealer is a good idea. If their reply isn't satisfactory I would go right to the head JD people. The entire John Deere brand prides itself on everything a little nicer then what the other guys can build. This repair fell far short of meeting those expectations.