Comments on: Farmers Face Uphill Battle in Right to Repair Tractors

By: Teri Croft

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 17:59:04 +0000

I am a 65 year old woman. My husband and I maintain our family’s rental properties (40 units) and do most of the work (including plumbing, electrical, HVAC) ourselves. Reality#1: repair and maintenance will continue (and probably increase) by owners using the internet and other self-help resources. Reality #2: most complicated procedures will continue to be left to a service provider/contractor. Rather than fight this trend, companies should look at owners as another source of revenue.

]]>

By: John Deere 4030

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 14:33:45 +0000

By: Agri International

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 07:59:43 +0000

Nice article! I love to read your articles. Here are so many interesting things. Thanks and keep sharing.

]]>

By: Richard Marvin

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 12:11:04 +0000

Today, repairs are much more complicated. Recently, a component in the guidance system on Schwarz’s John Deere 7230 tractor, which he uses to plant his crops, broke. Since the Moline, Illinois-based company no longer supports his tractor’s system, Schwarz is looking at a $3,000 bill for a used electrical part. He would like to just get his current component repaired, but manufacturers won’t provide independent shops with the guides or technology that would allow them to fix it, and Deere—one of the few tractor manufacturers with an authorized repair shop in south-central Nebraska—won’t repair older parts if it no longer supports them.

This kind of looks like a case of restricted free trade !
I would also consider looking into setting up a technical class in a High School or Community College to teach students and adults to repair these systems. One might be able to then get the Federal Education Dept to take on the companies, as many are looking of workers.
Good luck to you.

]]>

By: Sandy

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 14:10:38 +0000

Maybe they should also explore “lemon laws” for these fancy tractors. He actually bought 3 of these receivers–the one that came on the tractor and 2 replacements.

]]>

By: Ksubrent61

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 13:39:16 +0000

” Recently, a component in the guidance system on Schwarz’s John Deere 7230 tractor, which he uses to plant his crops, broke. ”

OK, I am calling a little bit of BS on this article. While my family has had issues with John Deere in the past when it comes to parts and repairs, they involved the ECM. Of course John Deere doesn’t want people jailbreaking the code that runs their machines, just like Apple, Andriod, Samsung and Microsoft don’t want you dicking with the code that runs their products. Besides, how many software engineers also farm? Probably not many. Second, if he had problems with his autosteer, he can by a new one and put it on. They are pretty much universal and if he doesn’t want Greenstar, there are aftermarket retrofit kits out there that he can install. I have seen an autosteer system on an old Farmall H. It was comical to see.

“Since the Moline, Illinois-based company no longer supports his tractor’s system, Schwarz is looking at a $3,000 bill for a used electrical part. ” I am also calling more BS on this. A few years ago my dad and I rebuilt a John Deere 720 that my grandfather bought brand new in 1952. Our John Deere dealer still could get John Deere parts for that tractor. If John Deere still has parts for a tractor that is almost 65 years old, I suspect they still support a model tractor that went out of production in 2011.

But again, if they don’t he can always get an aftermarket retrofit kit for his tractor.

]]>

By: Howard Maxwell Miller

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 05:51:06 +0000

It has to be accepted by tractor manufacturers, that tractors are usually an expensive ten year investment, so manufacturers should be legislated to provide replacement parts for this working life. Exchange major parts are a satisfactory beginning. Sadly with tractors coming from unregulated manufacturers, such as Asia, there does come a question as to whether these items should be imported, if the manufacturer is in no position to repair their goods in the near future. As far as complex IT dependent components go, I am already ready to wring the necks of the management of the Computer Industry, talk about fools and wastage of finite resources, if your tractor depends on these nerds and their hopeless ethics, my prayers are with you.?? I am licensed in Mechanics and IT and teach at Technical College. The Industry is in hopeless turmoil, without long term answers.

]]>

By: steve clark

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 23:06:53 +0000

when i buy a tractor i own it. i should be allowed to repair it the way i choose & should be allowed access to all available information to do so @ a reasonable cost.

]]>

By: David Leland

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:23:01 +0000

Right of repair is critical to human survival, whether it’s mobile phone, personal car, farm equipment or computer. Without our gear we cannot participate, so right of repair is the same as right to not be enslaved!

]]>

By: willie k. hewett

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:33:45 +0000

It’s always been a way to make more money by these companies…this has been going on for years..just like the automobile industry, they make things now where the average guy can’t work on his own car…monopoly on parts..have you priced those replacement headlight lenses for those cheap poorly made plastic pieces junk?? My 08 $400.00 per piece…..

]]>

By: Henry

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:31:17 +0000

Another American company that has had support and income for decades has decided to gamble their future for the quick bucks of stealing from the small farmer. One other thing, I’m certain there are any # of Orientals building replacements for the electronics that Deere is gouging their public for at the moment. This is what happens when a corporation has a dictator for CEO, the accountants make all decisions. This is a PR nightmare that will make United Airlines look good. When GREED determines all decisions call the bankruptcy attorneys. The children of today’s farmers will never buy anything with the word Deere on it again. By the way, since when does an American farmer need GPS? All the farmers I’ve known had already memorized every square foot of land they work, exactly where each crop was planted, and when they may expect harvest. This is just my opinion, but I bet a company like Mitsubishi(or Kabota) could create electronics to replace the Deere parts without things like GPS……. America is a wonderful place until a corporation takes advantage of the little guy, then Deere will see how innovative an American with the internet can be at alerting the Japanese electronics builders of a new market. Henry

]]>

By: martin imes

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:49:41 +0000

all semi truck manufactures are doing the same thing have to take it to a dealer to get a computer analisys at 125 .00 a hour or more im sorry but i dont think any 1 mechanic shop should be aloud to charge that kinda money per hr then thousands to fix it .its killing small trucking companies american greed leading to nothing but big corporations left

]]>

By: Carl Lynch

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:42:17 +0000

By: Deborah Jean Revell

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:40:41 +0000

Haven’t the tractor companies made enough of the backs of hard working farmers? They probably know this part will fail or wear out quickly. The public won’t understand why farmers have to charge more for their product. This is why. It surprises me that there are still farmers. Trust me people we don’t want monsanto types controlling what we eat. Farmers are the backbone of America. They fed out great grandparents so they could go off to cities and make lot’s of money for us. Now we have to stand up for the farmers.

]]>

By: Carl Lynch

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 13:31:45 +0000

Struggling farmers. Come to my area and I will show you the poor farmers new houses, combines, grain bins, pickups, buildings. Yea poor.

]]>

By: ajax

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:59:01 +0000

it’s the same with cars and appliances. the board recently went wonky on my 7 year old dishwasher. the cost of the board plus labor was about half the cost of buying new. nothing i could fix myself. but had an honest repair guy who told me the thing to do was to buy a new dishwasher that operated mechanically instead of electronically. there was only one model available at lowe’s which had to be ordered. you can bet there are accountants working for the manufacturers who have all the repair data and are busy figuring how to increase their bottom line.

]]>

By: Thomas Giovannetti

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 12:35:23 +0000

Years ago i had a cousin that owned a small farm i Pennsylvania, i thought the guidance system on his equipment was the person running it.

]]>

By: Rob

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:33:28 +0000

The blame needs to put where it belongs with the government, they put their gready porky fingers into everything and the outcome ie we get screwed and they get rich… Farmers get federal money congress gets money from the lobyists it is a cycle ans we are on the losing end.. I live in a rural area where there is dairy and beef every year or two certain farmers have all new machines. They cannot fix them. If you took away the money congress gets from lobbyists. They no longer have skin in the game so the manufacturer’s. Will be forced to release parts and information on repairing as the farmers can get laws passed.. This is all about greed corperate as well as lawmakers.. They were to work for us.

]]>

By: gfox5489

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:04:14 +0000

By: gfox5489

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:02:50 +0000

It is the same way with autos, I use to be able to overhaul my chevy 327 engine,but now with all the computers in the cars now I have to take it to the shop to get it fixed. That’s why I buy the extended warranty and when it expires I just get me a new one and start over. I keep my vehicle looking like new and with low mileage I get a higher return on it.
It is just the way these big companies want to keep the farmers in the poor house.

]]>