New tractor electronics

No one knows how to keep them running - including the dealer. All three have been on the job less then a year and all three have been nothing but problems since the first day - literally.

Also would there be any sense to a group of electronic and software engineers to set up a company to do strictly this type of application and service work by entering into agreements with the tractor mnaufacturers for access to and control of proprietary information?

In a small way I deal with farm equipment companys directly to fix computer problems now, Several times I have updated the software in my Trimble GPS lightbar units by connecting the unit to my PC and downloaded new software from the company site. Same deal with a new grain moisture tester that did not have the right software to test the crops grown in my area. I was able to connect the unit to my PC and download my choice of crops in a few minutes. Before online downloads were avalible, the unit would have had to be "shipped in" for repairs or software with a weeks or months long turn around.

One thing that bothers me is some of the new tractors have totally unnecessary electronics that add nothing but cost and service problems. An example is the 55 or newer series Deere tractors have a $400 PC board that controls the cab mounted work lights and fails quite often. Now a work light needs only a fuse/breaker, mechanical switch and wire between the power supply and the work light, anything more is just complicated and expensive duff.
The electronic engine controls serve a real need that a mechanical system just cannot do, but in most other cases it is just cheaper to build or an engineers ego trip. You talk to a dealer mechanic, and they say that so much of the tractor and especially combine repairs are on overly complicated electronics. Rant over :-)

Like Car Dealers,
. NO MERCY.