$68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

Barbee Q

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
647
Well Mom and I got pretty fed up yesturday and went into town to get the Rider from the shop. Now they have had it for 2 months and it still wasn't fixed..When we showed up it was blocked in by another tractor. Like we were going to steal it or something. We get there and of course, because the guy was giving my mom a hassel over the phone, I went with just incase. Nobody is going to yell at my mother, because they think they can get away with it. So we are there and he started in on her about us not giving them enough time to fix the mower.. Enough time my ars. I said I think 9 weeks is plenty. Now he said it needed a belt and yes, I did agree on that one. No problem.. But that wasn't the problem. Plus they put blades on the tractor also that wasn't called for considering the old blades were still good, I made the guy take them out of the garbage can and put them back on the deck about 2 weeks before we got to this piont.. Get this they had the nerve to charge her $35 for belt, that cost $19 at another shop and $30 half hour for labor plus good old tax. Grand total $68 something. I said, It takes at the most 15 minutes at the max to take off and put a new belt on.<br />The owner got all in a huff and ask me if I thought I was so smart, and would like a job.. Make my day, YES, I'll be glad to take you up on it.. Dead silence... Then I asked him if I would need to bring my own tools.. Nothing was said.. We exchanged some words and the woman had the nerve to tell me that if I bought and supported local business's that this wouldn't happen when you buy throw away rider tractors. You should of bought from us.. I looked around and they don't even sell riding lawnmowers in their business.. I just about laughed at her stupidity to even say that to a customer that just supported their business by bringing my moms tractor to them to fix and didn't get the job done..<br /> Could you believe that. I had to say it,"It's business's like this that puts profits in Wal-Mart pockets and puts you under. And you wonder why you can't turn a profit..<br />To top it off, the non-certified laborer dumped my mothers $2,000 tractor sideways off the ramps after I tried to tell him he wasn't streight, he just kepted going and almost smashed my mother. The boss came out and it took 3 of us to get it loaded, because they are to cheap to buy safety pads for their own ramps.. <br /> Now I just ordered the parts on line for under $20.00 and they are coming Via UPS in 3-7 days. The problem was the pulley that runs the blade.. I thought orginally it was a shaft problen in the engine.. (See I do not do internal repairs to any motors, when it comes to rods, pulleys, and pistons I have not a clue).Having the new belt made it easier to narrow the sound down it was making when the blades were engaged..<br />Now has anyone else ever gone through BS like I have?..<br />To top all this off I stopped at a farm that I used to work for and told him what happened and he just laughed at me.. He told me he doesn't go there anymore because of the faulty work.. Apperently they can't fix chainsaws neither..<br />Got home and made some more phone calls and asked some friends and they to don't go there also.<br />I'm going to a local Mason meeting this week and am doing a talk at a club in the next few days. Also am a volunteer at a organization for chidren.. Also know some bankers and about 6 very local realators that hire yard maintenance to do homes in the tehema area. They all have to take their equiptment someplace to get it serviced.. i don't think what I have to say may hurt their business, but this county is only so big. <br />I would put what they did to my mother right up there with elder abuse..<br />Sorry but I thought maybe if I vented this out here, I would get some better feedback from you guys on iboats..<br />I am totally for the local business's, but this one is just not right..<br />I pay 3cents more a gallon to promote the small business in our town and buy from our local hardware store all the time and pay 25% more than if I went to town.. I know just about everyone here where I live.. And never had been treated like a piece of sht, like I was in that business..<br />Thanks for your time guys and gals..<br />I hope i didn't come off to bad? :D <br />Oh ya, it had a full tank when I brought it in and when I got home there was less than a quarter tank left? Wasn't that so nice of them..
 

Chief101

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 29, 2005
Messages
591
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

Sorry for you repairman woes, most of us have been there. That's exactly why we fix this stuff ourselves. ;)
 

SS MAYFLOAT

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
6,372
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

I'm glad I do my work myself also. The belt for my mower deck was $43.95. That is just the belt. No labor or tax. It is a weird size that you gotta have. Generic off the rack ones are either too big or small. Sometimes these shops get you over the barrel, but need to blame the manufacture for not using common replacement parts that do get consumed on a regular basis.<br /><br />Sorry to hear about you bad experience BD
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

I thank God for my mechanical intuitions. Can't begin to count how many $$ I have saved over the years.<br /><br />It's not that I mind others making money off of me, it's just that it seems they always try to make ALL their money off me.
 

Barbee Q

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
647
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

Thanks guys, I really thought by taking it to them they would fix it right.. If you heard the thudding sound you would understand why.. This tractor is a 2002 with a hydrostatic transmission. I was just trying to do mom the right way.. Now I have to get dirty next week.. I know how to work on the older ones except the larger 15hp. Their just set up different.<br />Ya I have saved $$$$ by doing alot.. Mom my says I'm my dads boy he never had.. My dad passed on while trying to get to a fishing spot by small plane in Canada when I was 11yrs old. He did what he liked the best, Fishing.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

good luck BD<br /> but if ya got sense enough to change a belt and decent reading skills you can do pulleys and internal components as well. I have taught many females over the years how to teardown and reassemble engines,fuel systems and ign systems. I found its usually easier to teach them to do it once and do it right cause they dont already know it all. any questions on generic stuff feel free top ask.<br /> if your interested I can send ya the info on the most valuable book the novice as well as the experienced tech can read.
 

SS MAYFLOAT

Admiral
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
6,372
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

BD, I've got two cub cadets. One is a 2000 model and the other is a 1972. The older one starts and runs far better than the new one. The newer one I have to crank the starter for about a minuet before it fires. The older one may turn over two times and will be running. The difference is who manufactured them and when. <br /><br />Seems like it is hard to find a mower anymore that isn't made by MTD.<br /><br />Rodbolt is right, you can learn how to do the repair yourself. That is why you don't see lots of mower/small engine repair shops.
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

"Seems like it is hard to find a mower anymore that isn't made by MTD."<br /><br />Let's see...<br />MTD<br />TROY BUILT<br />YARDMAN<br />YARDMACHINES<br />BOLENS<br />WHITE OUTDOOR<br />MCCOLLOUGH<br />CUB CADET<br />CUB CADET COMMERCIAL<br /><br />Boy, that covers a bunch, don't it?
 

kenimpzoom

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2002
Messages
4,807
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

I hate poor customer service.<br /><br />If I owned a shop and held someones mower for 9 weeks, I would be deeply apologetic.<br /><br />Ken
 

theriver

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 13, 2004
Messages
393
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

My Toro has two belts and at the dealer parts department they wanted $55. bucks for them. I went to the local farm supply store, and found after market belts for $6. for both of them.
 

Barbee Q

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
647
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

That is what I thought too.. I think this guy was just PO'ed that he couldn't soak my mom for $300, I'm sure this was their plan... The biggest thing is that they made this long ordeal in finding the parts and gave me one story and told my mother something different. Their own flunky working in the back didn't know jack..And this guy tried to sell me a boat. I asked him what small engine class's he took and what certifications he had.. He had none and never took any type of small engine certification course's on carbs or engine repair.. Of course they cost money, I know, but if you charge $60 hr, that is top of the line fees..<br />Then to top it off, last nite I was talking to guy that answered his AD for a repair machanic. He has certification in engine repair and small engine, 30yrs exp. and he didn't hire him. What's even funnier is his Father belongs to the Ghost Riders Club and is well know in this area. Well by the time next month rolls around I'm sure I'll be having the last laugh. If $68 dollars is a profit for this business, I would love to see what X-mas is going to be like.<br />Not that I am sinacle or evil, but this is just not right to do to a customer, especially to a senior citizen..<br />What is worse to the insult, is when I tell freinds what happened, I don't mention the Business name, They already know who it is.. Now that really sucks on my part.. Well I thought I knew everyone in town, and I was proven wrong..<br />Thanks for all your support..
 

Barbee Q

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
647
Re: $68 dollars for a V-Belt for Cub Cadet Tractor

Originally posted by rodbolt:<br /> good luck BD<br /> but if ya got sense enough to change a belt and decent reading skills you can do pulleys and internal components as well. I have taught many females over the years how to teardown and reassemble engines,fuel systems and ign systems. I found its usually easier to teach them to do it once and do it right cause they dont already know it all. any questions on generic stuff feel free top ask.<br /> if your interested I can send ya the info on the most valuable book the novice as well as the experienced tech can read.
Yes I am interested, Does it have dummy pictures?. Because I get a better understanding of what is going on.. I'm sure I am not the only one...<br />Internal parts scare me, because I don't know what to look for in damage or signs of wear on parts.. I have done some of my own small engine repairs in the past and was disapointed when I couldn't get the motor to run.. Being a compression problem in the piston I'm sure, but still a hard thing to determend. <br />But once someone shows me, I can remember pretty good.<br />Thanks
 
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