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Re: lemons
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Posted by Steamer on July 15, 1999 at 12:55:46 from (208.237.135.21):
In Reply to: lemons posted by Jim on July 13, 1999 at 07:02:37:
There seems to be a lot missing from the story on that web page. Usually, there are two sides to every story, and the facts are usually found somewhere near the middle. It would have been interesting to sit in the courtroom on that case. Admittedly, every manufacturer of anything will release products with serious design, material or manufacturing deficencies. I know of several JD products over the alst 50 years that would carry the title 'lemon' well. Every company has such a list of undistinguished products. Personally, I was in the market for a new utility tractor this spring. I looked into Case/International, New Holland, Kubota, Massey and JD to see what was offered. I wound up with a JD 4500. A couple of years ago, I had a Ford (now NH) 1720 (1990 model) that was a pretty decent tractor. Prior to that I had a JD 1520 (1968 model). The 1720 was a little too small, and the 1520 was a little too big. I sold both and wound up with a JD 430 (1959 model) when the dust cleared (I love old iron, like everyone else on this board, and the 430 has live PTO!). Now, the 430 works OK, but is unsuitable for a loader, which I found myself needing. I decided that I'd not get a used machine (someone else's problem). I really liked the Ford 1720 with loader when I had it, so I went to New Holland looking for the 1920 (next larger size up). Of course, they've been superseded by the 1925. I didn't like the new design, especially the pivoting front end. Looked like a weak area when used with a loader. In fact, the whole machine no longer looks like a tractor, but a lawn mower (an application where that pivoting front end would be very useful. Hmmm. Is there a connection there?). The Massey looked, well, like a Massey always did. It lacked some of the features I was looking for (hydraulic and transmission options). The Case/IH was also lacking the same features. Both of them seemed to be solid enough, and reasonably priced, but I got spoiled by the 12 speed, direction reverser, transmission on that 1720. The Kubota seemed well designed, but the layout of the controls seemed awkward to me. The price of the machine was the highest of the bunch, and the dealer seemed disinterested in the whole sale process. I came away with the impression that he thought that the Kubotas were the best thing since sliced bread and that I was being picky in order to get a lower price. When I looked at the JD machines, I saw a completely different line of machines than the ones I rejected in 1990over the Ford. They offered the 12 speed direction reverser transmission, like I wanted. I could get up to five hydraulic outlets. The loaders were well built and ever easier to mount and dismount than the 1720 had (and that was a breeze to drop off). The machine had the easiest access for maintenance of all of the machines I looked at. The price was less than the NH 1925, as well. The best part was that the unit was built in the US (Augusta, GA) and not in Japan like the NH or Kubota. It's the nicest utility machine I've ever had. Time will tell if it's constructed as well as it is designed, but the feeling I have after 125 hours of use is that it's probably going to be the last utility machine I'll buy (and I'm only 38).
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