SO HOW RELIABLE IS MY NEW TRACTOR?

[nwut05]

So How Long does it take a new tractor to become a reliable tractor? This is the question i find myself asking every day. Now it seems that it does not matter the color or the brand, and from what i hear they all have some sort of issues right off the lot, and we have a warranty for that. But what happens when warranty is gone? Now if you have a "new to you" used tractor, this post really dosen't apply to you, that's not to say you do not have an opinion and maybe an experience to speak about. But what i am really looking for is the Brand New Tractor owners in the 30 to 80 hp range. These seem to be the tractors that are offered in the "Economy"/ "Utility" sizes and price range for most of us general part time farmers. SO, How many trips to back to the dealer can i stand before i feel this new tractor is or is not, a reliable tractor? And will it last for the amount of time i plan to own it? I have had my year old Workmaster 60 back to the shop twice already and it's going back for the third time as soon as haying is done. First problem was a computer upgrade/blown turbo hose clamp, second, a complete hydraulic system front to back, and now it needs another computer update to fix the throttle, hopefully. I have already been through one Workmaster due to similar problems and now the 60. And with the other tractor and with this one my dealer really has/is trying to make me happy and has told me many times that it is not like buying a new car, and it takes a while to get the bugs worked out. I understand this but how long? and how many trips can i stand? I'ts not the dealers fault they are getting faulty machines. And how much do these computer updates cost without warranty? did you use the same brand hydraulic parts that failed within 6 months of me owning it? You see reliability for years to come is my question and it's hard to answer.

 

[Einthewoods]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

With my tractor, I would be pretty steamed if in your shoes right now. The time to work out the bugs is in pre-production during testing. Will things slip through that need to be addressed, sure. But it sounds like more than that in your case.

I use my tractor pretty hard with a lot of pushing trees over and hauling more than I should with the FEL. So if something goes wrong that I can attribute in someway to my use of it, fine. But the issues you are having seem to be different.

I will have owned my tractor a year this coming November. I will have probably 80 hours on it by then. At this rate, I would hope to not see my dealer for another several (6-8) years. I do the maintenance on it as I should and will continue to.

 

[4570Man]

I think the dealer is giving you a line of BS even if the problem isn’t his fault. Sure if you build enough tractors a few will be flawed, but it’s not a multi trip back work the bugs out deal on every machine. A tractor is more likely to be abused and broken than a car but neither should be making multiple trips back for problems.

 

[CalG]

So How Long does it take a new tractor to become a reliable tractor? This is the question i find myself asking every day. Now it seems that it does not matter the color or the brand, and from what i hear they all have some sort of issues right off the lot, and we have a warranty for that. But what happens when warranty is gone? Now if you have a "new to you" used tractor, this post really dosen't apply to you, that's not to say you do not have an opinion and maybe an experience to speak about. But what i am really looking for is the Brand New Tractor owners in the 30 to 80 hp range. These seem to be the tractors that are offered in the "Economy"/ "Utility" sizes and price range for most of us general part time farmers. SO, How many trips to back to the dealer can i stand before i feel this new tractor is or is not, a reliable tractor? And will it last for the amount of time i plan to own it? I have had my year old Workmaster 60 back to the shop twice already and it's going back for the third time as soon as haying is done. First problem was a computer upgrade/blown turbo hose clamp, second, a complete hydraulic system front to back, and now it needs another computer update to fix the throttle, hopefully. I have already been through one Workmaster due to similar problems and now the 60. And with the other tractor and with this one my dealer really has/is trying to make me happy and has told me many times that it is not like buying a new car, and it takes a while to get the bugs worked out. I understand this but how long? and how many trips can i stand? I'ts not the dealers fault they are getting faulty machines. And how much do these computer updates cost without warranty? did you use the same brand hydraulic parts that failed within 6 months of me owning it? You see reliability for years to come is my question and it's hard to answer.

Just in asking the question, you have revealed the problem,

We see the enemy, and it is us!

 

[Turbys_1700]

I would HOPE that the third time is a charm. What is frustrating is the inconsistency of issues. I had zero issues with my WM 50. Still does not make matters better for you. The 50/60/70 WM are the same tractor sans programming. Does not make sense to me. I wonder what the percentage of warranty claims are per unit sold? That would be an interesting fact to know from all manufacturers. Good luck and keep us posted. I really liked my WM 50.

 

[RandyT]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

With my tractor, I would be pretty steamed if in your shoes right now. The time to work out the bugs is in pre-production during testing. Will things slip through that need to be addressed, sure. But it sounds like more than that in your case.

I use my tractor pretty hard with a lot of pushing trees over and hauling more than I should with the FEL. So if something goes wrong that I can attribute in someway to my use of it, fine. But the issues you are having seem to be different.

I will have owned my tractor a year this coming November. I will have probably 80 hours on it by then. At this rate, I would hope to not see my dealer for another several (6-8) years. I do the maintenance on it as I should and will continue to.

The thing is pre-production testing either doesn't exist or pre-production testing isn't performed in a real world scenario. Testing is done in a clean environment and then problems develop after the unit is put in the dirt and grime of everyday use, and then like the non tested pre-production units are fix in the field.

 

[nwut05]

Thanks for replying, and just to be clear i have 145hrs on this tractor using it for everything from dirt moving to baling hay. I also have a 2011 T1510 new holland that's never been to the shop. Regular maintenance is done on both units and i even went ahead and changed the oil on the new unit even though the manual says at the first 300 hrs to Change the oil. I did it at 100 anyway. When it's working its great but when it starts acting up it stinks. I use my equipment and sometimes overuse it but i always try to maintain it to the best of my ability. The T1510 i feel is reliable with no question, I just wish i felt the same about the Workmaster.

 

[fried1765]

So How Long does it take a new tractor to become a reliable tractor? This is the question i find myself asking every day. Now it seems that it does not matter the color or the brand, and from what i hear they all have some sort of issues right off the lot, and we have a warranty for that. But what happens when warranty is gone? Now if you have a "new to you" used tractor, this post really dosen't apply to you, that's not to say you do not have an opinion and maybe an experience to speak about. But what i am really looking for is the Brand New Tractor owners in the 30 to 80 hp range. These seem to be the tractors that are offered in the "Economy"/ "Utility" sizes and price range for most of us general part time farmers. SO, How many trips to back to the dealer can i stand before i feel this new tractor is or is not, a reliable tractor? And will it last for the amount of time i plan to own it? I have had my year old Workmaster 60 back to the shop twice already and it's going back for the third time as soon as haying is done. First problem was a computer upgrade/blown turbo hose clamp, second, a complete hydraulic system front to back, and now it needs another computer update to fix the throttle, hopefully. I have already been through one Workmaster due to similar problems and now the 60. And with the other tractor and with this one my dealer really has/is trying to make me happy and has told me many times that it is not like buying a new car, and it takes a while to get the bugs worked out. I understand this but how long? and how many trips can i stand? I'ts not the dealers fault they are getting faulty machines. And how much do these computer updates cost without warranty? did you use the same brand hydraulic parts that failed within 6 months of me owning it? You see reliability for years to come is my question and it's hard to answer.

Not difficult questions for me!
3 years ago I bought a 1000 hour 1989 model, Ford 1920 4x4 FEL.
Went through it, and now I have a wonderful, no computer, no emissions control CUT, that will last for the rest of my life, and that of my 52 year old son as well.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I can understand your frustration for sure. I've put 210 hours so far on my new tractor and it's not been to the dealer once. Had I been forced to haul it back 3 times in this 210 hours, I would likely feel a lot as you do, and I would be questioning the integrity of the equipment. I really do hope that they get you all tightened up here on this third frustrating trip back to the dealer. That would be discouraging to me.

Since I picked mine up new this past February, all I have done is maintenance and tightened a few leaking hydraulic fittings.

Good luck, let us know if you get squared away.

 

[mikester]

I feel your frustration. What model year is it? Could it be one of the early ones?

Sometimes you just have to realize you won the lottery and get more than your fair share of problems with a machine.

Best of luck getting it sorted out. Maybe your dealer will give you a good deal on a trade...