Posted by WellWorn on May 29, 2012 at 04:40:51 from (69.95.14.40):
Pardon my rant, but because I posted a very technical question on the MF subforum and a former dealer wondered if I didn't have a dealer I could get the info from, I thought a wider reply was in order.
As background, I have 2 'red' tractors - one, a '61 MF65 Hi Clear, and the other, a '51 Super A with a good bunch of implements. The "local" CNH/IH dealer is 33 miles away, and the AGCO/MF dealer is another 3 miles further down the road from them. Both are small dealerships, but have been in business for decades.
Unfortunately, I've lost all faith in the MF dealer. They laid off their helpful parts person a few years ago, and when I only need information, they seem horribly inconvenienced. Their parts are excessively expensive; they rarely have what I need in stock, and I either pay unreasonably more for shipping or wait weeks for items to arrive with their 'regular orders'. Lately even promised return phone calls are not made. If I called to ask about the Service Bulletin I need, they would have to 'look it up and get back to me' (and I wouldn't get it until I showed up in person to be a bother).
It seems what they really want to do is to sell new tractors; that providing parts for antiques (that they aren't making shop rate to fix themselves) is about on par with fixing the inside dual of loaded 16.9x38's in in the low spot of 40 acres of mud while it rains.
If the 65 HiClear was not the nearly ideal tractor for our use here (and if I didn't have so much in repairs in it), I'd be trading it for a different brand of red.
The parts guys at the CNH/IH dealer couldn't be more different. They always have time to talk tractor with their customers (if someone else isn't waiting), cheerfully give advice to make sure they get the right parts or from whom they might locate something obsolete, they have lots of SA parts in stock and when parts need to be ordered they are 'in' in 2-3 days with no 'extra' shipping charges; they gladly dig through their database for info (even a few minutes after closing time), and their parts prices are usually right on par with what I could order from 'discount on-line plus shipping'. I gladly drive the 66 mile RT and pay a bit more to give them my business - it's well worth it!
I now get every MF part possible on-line, not only because it's far less expensive and the parts are at my door in a couple days, but because I know I'm dealing with folks who want my business. Unfortunately, the decades of experience in service work that goes with those parts is not so easy to come by, especially when a 'tweak' rather than a 'restore' would be a functional improvement for a working tractor. For that, I come here, and if that fails, figure it out as best I can myself.
:arrow: This is where I give thanks for and to the good folks here on the YT Forums who so generously share of their time and accumulated knowledge in keeping the old iron as usable as it was intended to be decades ago on a drawing board.
It may not get mentioned as often as it should, but you all are much appreciated. :D
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