Why does it cost so much to repair a tractor?

[3930dave]

All I do is on-site repair. I don't have a shop so I try to be as self contained as possible. Most dealers have a limit on what they will do in the field, I've done most everything in the field, engine rebuilds (I do the actual engine work in my garage), clutches, transmissions, differentials. It works pretty well.

A dealer couldn't justify the expense of what I take on the road. I spent years working out of a typical service truck, I hated it. It seemed like you never had the right tools or miscellaneous parts with you. Then I spent a few years working out of a trailer at the dragstrip and figured I found the solution. But of course as time has gone on I wish I had more room for filter storage and bulk oil, but it is still much better than any service truck I've worked out of.

Thanks,
Brian

You've obviously spent time tuning the trailer for the work you do. I can see how it would be much better for working out of every day/all day than a service truck. I know people with pretty sweet race trailers, it is a beautiful thing when set up properly.

Another advantage I can see is flexiblity. I believe you mostly work on your own, but have mentioned an occasional helper on big jobs. The trailer is great for one guy continuing to work onsite with, while the other guy goes for a drive to get that one fitting/part that "never" breaks, but did on that job.

:thumbsup: Rgds, D.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

It's called runaway inflation. You think it's bad now, wait another couple of years until the just before the end of Obama's term. I have a sneaking suspicion we're going to find out what it felt like in pre-WWII Germany, and not so long ago in Argentina. Hyperinflation is a pension and savings killer.

Yes. Here in Canada I opted for early retirement due to health. Pension people gave me $30000 less then what they told me I had. Cannot get an explanation. The big rich company's are out of control and rape everybody out of there money. History repeats itself. Rich get richer and the poor gets poorer until there is a wAr. Guess blood shed will be the only thing that will stop it.

Here in canada we are closer to that then USA. USA fight for their freedom we just sit back and let our freedoms slip away until it's to late.

I worry how our kids are going to survive.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Old man has a washing machine that doesn't work, so he calls repair man. Repairman shows up, looks at it for 5 minutes, and kicks it. Washing machine starts right up. Repair man hands old guy a bill for $100. Old man says he wants an itemized bill because he doesn't see why so much. "Kicking washing machine =$5; knowing where to kick it=$95"

Exactly, there comes a point in a mechanics career where he starts getting paid more for what he knows than what he does.

As far as overhead, being an independent mobile equipment mechanic in can tell you the overhead is steep. Nobody gave me the $150,000+ worth of tools and equipment I roll down the road with. Not to mention the truck, associated maintenance and fuel costs. For every hour I bill at $100/hr there is another hour of work behind the scenes, ordering parts, picking up parts, doing paperwork, etc. Then start deducting tools, fuel, maintenance, insurance, taxes, there isn't much left. Oh and don't forget chasing customers to get paid who are also waiting to get paid. Some days it's getting paid from one job to buy the parts for the next job.

Brian

I couldn't agree more.

I'm a licensed carpenter working for myself and run into this on an almost daily basis. Around here, the cheap mechanics are $80/hr, most over $100. Rarely do people balk at the repairs and just hand over the Visa and leave their car for a couple days. I tell someone that I want $50/hr and they look at me like I've got 3 heads. By the time I factor in answering the initial phone call and driving there and back to have a look at the job (not actually doing any work), it cost me an easy $100 just to show up at the door. And these are usually people with $100k + per year jobs themself. I charge what I do because I'm good AND fast. Everyone does what they do for a reason. I paid a crew to re-shingle my house because they did it in 2 1/2 days where it would have taken me 2 1/2 weeks.

I've often explained to people that if they could bring their house to me to do the work, I could lower my rates.....

 

[RDrancher]

Nice rig. I've worked for a dealer and seen other dealers that didn't have that FANCY of a service vehicle.

No need for Brian to justify. I don't see "FANCY", I see reliable and most likely well-equipped.

I couldn't agree more.

I'm a licensed carpenter working for myself and run into this on an almost daily basis. Around here, the cheap mechanics are $80/hr, most over $100. Rarely do people balk at the repairs and just hand over the Visa and leave their car for a couple days. I tell someone that I want $50/hr and they look at me like I've got 3 heads. By the time I factor in answering the initial phone call and driving there and back to have a look at the job (not actually doing any work), it cost me an easy $100 just to show up at the door. And these are usually people with $100k + per year jobs themself. I charge what I do because I'm good AND fast. Everyone does what they do for a reason. I paid a crew to re-shingle my house because they did it in 2 1/2 days where it would have taken me 2 1/2 weeks.

I've often explained to people that if they could bring their house to me to do the work, I could lower my rates.....

Amen to that! I've found that (typically) the "wow that's expensive" attitude usually comes from folks that always worked for someone else. Paid vacation, paid sick leave, partially paid or fully paid healthcare. Maybe even a little financial assistance with their retirement. Not knocking it, but it's not for me.

 

[paulharvey]

I tell someone that I want $50/hr and they look at me like I've got 3 heads. By the time I factor in answering the initial phone call and driving there and back to have a look at the job (not actually doing any work), it cost me an easy $100 just to show up at the door. ..

About six years ago, I was doing some trim carpentry for $35/hr and realized I was making maybe $15/hr in reality.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

Yes. Here in Canada I opted for early retirement due to health. Pension people gave me $30000 less then what they told me I had. Cannot get an explanation. The big rich company's are out of control and rape everybody out of there money. History repeats itself. Rich get richer and the poor gets poorer until there is a wAr. Guess blood shed will be the only thing that will stop it. Here in canada we are closer to that then USA. USA fight for their freedom we just sit back and let our freedoms slip away until it's to late. I worry how our kids are going to survive.

I am not saying the mechanic was ripping the guy off I am saying the big insurance company rip the machanic off and rip the tool maker of and the huge companies that is causing the problem. If I charge for landscaping work I would have to charge $80 per hour to make any money running a l4740 kubota tractor

 

[Tx Jim]

No need for Brian to justify. I don't see "FANCY", I see reliable and most likely well-equipped.

RDrancher
I fail to see how I was asking Brian to justify his equipment. Maybe "FANCY" wasn't the correct word but in my old feeble mind I was complimenting Brian's service vehicle!!!!!!

 

[madmax12]

An underlying theme of this thread seems to be rooted in inflation, taxes, and corruption. All of that leads to business owners who charge a lot, but keep little. It leads to retirees who thought they were set, but find themselves more and more impoverished.

Many people are surprised as this happens. Sometimes those are the folks who would never talk politics or get involved.

I don't know anyone who talks politics or gets involved because they want to. They do it because they want to fight inflation, taxes, and corruption.

There won't be real change, until every citizen talks politics and gets involved.

Some may find they misunderstood a lot. They may change how they look at things, even vote differently.

Just a thought.

 

[brain55]

RDrancher
I fail to see how I was asking Brian to justify his equipment. Maybe "FANCY" wasn't the correct word but in my old feeble mind I was complimenting Brian's service vehicle!!!!!!

I took it as a compliment.

 

[Sysop]

An underlying theme of this thread seems to be rooted in inflation, taxes, and corruption. All of that leads to business owners who charge a lot, but keep little. It leads to retirees who thought they were set, but find themselves more and more impoverished.

Many people are surprised as this happens. Sometimes those are the folks who would never talk politics or get involved.

I don't know anyone who talks politics or gets involved because they want to. They do it because they want to fight inflation, taxes, and corruption.

There won't be real change, until every citizen talks politics and gets involved.

Some may find they misunderstood a lot. They may change how they look at things, even vote differently.

Just a thought.

Too many people are busy working their tails off and charging more just to stay afloat to take time out to talk politics. Being involved in feeding their kids is all they have time for. Not saying it's right or wrong, that's for each individual to make their own determination; it's just a fact.