Woods gearbox gives out again

Robert_in_NY · Jun 20, 2003

Well, I tried to call Woods today and didn't get anyone to answer /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Not even a machine. I have sent my third e-mail to them today as the previous two have gone unanswered and I waited 3-4 days between e-mails. As for my chopper, I am going to get it fixed by my dealer and then sell it or trade it for a Bush Hog and give them a try. I am done with Woods and am just curious as to if they will ever respond to my e-mails /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Later. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Rick Jay · Jun 20, 2003

That's disappointing to hear that Woods has not responded. I guess we could give them the "benefit of the doubt" and think that maybe several of their staff are on vacation, but that would be rather generous of us. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Just curious, in the e-mail you sent them, did you reference TBN by any chance? Maybe you could send them a link to this thread. Identify yourself as the poster of the thread. Tell them that it is read by many current and prospective Woods customers. It would be interesting to see if they responded to that.

As an owner of somewhere around $12,000 (Yikes! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) worth of Woods equipment, I would be willing to send a follow-up e-mail expressing my concern for their handling of the situation, also referencing this thread.

Good Luck,

~Rick

yellowdog99502 · Jun 20, 2003

Robert,

I had some email dealings with Woods over dealer practices about a month ago and while nothing was resolved, I do have a couple of private email addresses:

Steve Wells SteveW@woodsonline.com I think he is tech support or maybe customer service as he addressed both issues I had.

Kirt Swanson KirtS@woodsonline.com He must be Steves supervisor as Steve copied him on his emails to me.

Hopefully this will get you somewhere. When I told them I was so disappointed in their dealer and his actions that bordered on fraud that I would take my business elsewhere, the response was along the lines of 'so what?'. Perhaps, as was suggested earlier, if you can get through to them and forward a link to this thread, they may understand that you and others in your position are not voices in the wilderness!

Good luck,

Don

Robert_in_NY · Jun 20, 2003

I will try to e-mail the two people you linked. I do not like having to threaten companies which it seems like is the only way to get a response at times which is sad. I had given them the benifit that maybe they left early or that my e-mail had gotten lost in their e-mail system but for both to go unnoticed bothered me. Lets see what these new addys bring up. I will try it without posting this thread because I would like to see how they will handle this without being backed against a wall, so to speak, by having a lot of people watching.

Robert_in_NY · Jun 20, 2003

Thanks Rick for offering to help in this matter. As I said in my other reply I don't want them to feel pressured as I want to see how they handle this. If I am not satisfied or still do not hear back from them then I will put more pressure on them as well as link this thread to them. I will keep everyone informed as even if they won't do anything to help it would at least be nice to hear from them. Take care.

Robert_in_NY · Jun 23, 2003

Well, I finally heard back from someone at Woods. This is the reply they sent me, tell me what you think.

( Robert,
First let me apologize for not getting back to you sooner, I was out of the office when your e-mail forwarded to me from one of my people.

Now let's talk about the your MD172. That design had been in the Woods line for at least 30 years and was very successful but at the same time had some areas that required to be checked periodically. One of those is in fact was the gearbox output seal. That gearbox design depended on the blade carrier to hold the lower bearing preload. The blade carrier is shimmed to set the preload, it is not uncommon in the first year or 2 of that mowers life for the bearing preload to loosen after some good hard use. When this happens the output shaft will pick up free play, if left unserviced the shaft free play will damage the seal. It is necessary to monitor the looseness in the blade carrier by simply reaching through the blade access hole and wiggling the blade carrier. Any free play can be easily adjusted out by removing a shim and retighten the blade carrier. Usually once the initial free play has been removed it will not require any addition adjustment. Plugged vent plugs and overfilling the gearbox can also attribute to seal problems. I guess my point is very simple, your repeat seal failures is something we have dealt with before and I'm sure can be traced to either to improper shimming, or plugged vent plugs and can be easily corrected. I'm quite sure we could work with your dealer to fix the seal problem.

You mentioned the Brush Bulls, the new Brush Bull models now use a different design gearbox and seal problem have drastically reduce. As far as trading up to a Brush Bull 840 that's not something that Woods would normally get involved in. Our first obligation is to insure the proper repair of the unit you have. Any trade would have to be worked through the dealer. As far as the price he has quoted you realize of course the BB840 is a 7ft model and is priced much higher than the equivalent model to your MD172. The BB840 lists out at $3408.00 as opposed to your MD172 which listed out at $2030.00. The Brush Bull 720 would be the the replacement model for your 172 and lists out for $ 2532.00 there would be addition charge if you wanted to add chain shielding.

In an effort to resolve this matter Woods will be happy to assist in any way we can but that must be handled through your dealer. Please have them contact me at 800-319-6637.

Regards;
Kirt Swanson
Training & Customer Service Manager.
Woods Equipment Co.
)

MikePA · Jun 23, 2003

It appears they want to make it right, which is good.

Having said that, I think having to check the initial free play after 'x' number hours of use (is this in the Owner's Manual?) is kind of hokey, which is probably why they changed the design.

I'd have the MD172 fixed, run it for however long they recommend then have the dealer adjust the free play out of it and see what happens. It's odd that the dealer didn't know about this 'required' maintenance.

hazmat · Jun 23, 2003

It appears they want to make it right, which is good.


Agreed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Having said that, I think having to check the initial free play after 'x' number hours of use (is this in the Owner's Manual?) is kind of hokey, which is probably why they changed the design.


Not "Kind of hokey" VERY HOKEY! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I'd be interested to see that in the owners manual myself. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Time to take the email to your dealer & get the thing fixed properly. After that your options are to sell it outright & buy new whatever or trade it in for the new Brush Bull.

JohnMiller3 · Jun 23, 2003

...I'm quite sure we could work with your dealer to fix the seal problem. .. 

At least it's a Positive response... and you've got the dialogue going...

So far so good... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Robert_in_NY · Jun 23, 2003

I took the e-mail to my dealer and he got a laugh out of it. He said if it was required maintenance like the e-mail stated no one told him. He has never heard of having to adjust the shims on a cutter like they describe. He said if he was told to he would have done it after the first seal went. I am going to get my MD fixed for now and let my dealer talk to Woods and see what they can learn since they were quite interested in the shims theory.

As for the owners manual, it makes no mention of having to adjust anything like described. It only talks about the vent plug and gear box oil as the only things to worry about (which is how all choppers are suppose to be)