BITTERSWEET RESULTS ON THE TRACTOR RESTORATION.  

Good News & Bad News

• GOOD: the tractor is done
• BAD: the bill was double what we were quoted

 

I THINK THE MAIN ISSUES ARE:

• OVER-ESTIMATE
• LENGTH OF TIME FOR PROJECT

     Please click upon this link ... I put the question about the price onto a JOHN DEERE FORUM with many experts.  There were many good replies.

 

Click here: Yesterday's Tractors - Discussion Forum

 

      A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM ... WE ARE ABOVE THE "FARM LINE" ... practically no farms around = hard to find mechanics & parts.  It's nearly a  hundred miles to a real John Deere Dealer.  There's no OTHER tractor dealer much nearer, either.

NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE YET?

      

   It was a nightmare trying to get parts ordered, even with the official John Deere Parts Book that I bought.  That book is really a necessity!  I also provided them with both the owner's manual & bought the shop book for this tractor.  I spent hours on the internet (esp. the tractor board, link above) .... then printed out stacks of information for them.

   THEN, PART OF THE EXCUSE FOR IT TAKING SO MUCH TIME WAS THAT "IT TOOK SO LONG THAT WE FORGOT HOW TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, & HAD TO READ UP ON IT" ... 

     The combination of this project being done between logging jobs & the mechanics not checking what we got vs what was needed meant that available shop-time was wasted when nothing could be done because MORE parts needed to be ordered... AGAIN & AGAIN!

     With the price of parts ... it was an unpleasant surprise to have surplus parts ... including some used that would have had to be returned within a certain time!

     So many times, I had to call the guys where I ordered parts, over & over ... sometimes just for advice.  They were just so patient & helpful!

The parts manager & mechanic at the John Deere dealer are listed here:

 CLICK HERE:  POUND, WI JOHN DEERE

MANY THANKS, GUYS!

AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION ... WE PAID THE PRICE WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE TRACTOR IS TO BE RETURNED TO OUR YARD WITH NO FURTHER CHARGES.  I'M NOT SURE HOW SOON THAT WILL BE!

 

L o i S

my journal: Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond
my website: Crystal Falls, MI

Tags: John Deere, restoration, repair, mechanics, Michigan, Crystal Falls