Parts-No Such Animal

[mark777]

I fully understand why today's tractor dealers list prices on regular maintenance items AND big ticket items are so expensive. Mostly, all the money to maintain tractors, inventory of OEM, employees' and general overhead. Regardless of the big three or four colors out there.

I also understand many peoples reluctance to buy a grey market tractor...Parts and support. I shared your concerns in the beginning, and as I acquired more little CUT'S (and S-CUT's) as a hobby, I was determined to locate hard to find parts. Presently, the network of suppliers is amazing....and the hobby thing has grown into a mom and pop small business. Nothing fancy and I'll never get rich, but enough to reinvest in more tractors and implements.

This is just a little background and I am not attempting to sell anyone anything.

Here's my gripe: It takes 3-4 days to get parts. I don't care if its 100 or 3000 miles away, it just takes that long. Sometimes I need/want the parts today (or yesterday) and that requires a trip to the auto parts store. Always with the parts in hand, I ask "can you match this up?". I also go into great detail about what it is, what it's for, serial numbers, make, model and all related numbers. Most recently, a clutch disk and T/O bearing. Here are two of the most typical answers I get....

Sorry, we don't stock many tractor parts. Or, after flipping it over (disk), no such animal. I replied NO SUCH ANIMIAL??? Ok, lets assume it's from another planet, or dimention??? Do you have a cross reference to match the I.D. 1 5/8" and 21 spline count? Because my voice was just a little louder than the other customers...I've been labeled a trouble maker. Finally the guy gets off his butt, studies the parts, and walks away. Hiding behind radiator hoses and pretending to help a make believe customer....I got the message and left. I tried O'riley's, AutoZone, Carquest and Napa. Friendlier, but same results.

Next day. I took a paint pen, orange, marked all the dimentions including the spline count, disk thickness etc. took the input shaft with me, and went to another O'Rileys further away. Setting it on the counter, and stating "Can You Match this Up?". Probably, what is it for? I said Datsun?? Toyota?? Not sure some kind of Japanese car. He picked up the phone, called his clutch supplier, gave him my measurements, hung up the phone and said he would have two in this afternoon (one a little thicker and one a little wider). That afternoon...perfect match. Disk and it's spring pack and T/O bearing were identical...including the Timmken part number. From Yanmar, the disk, T/O bearing was $89 and $44, or $133 total less shipping. I paid $59 bucks for everything. I also asked what does this clutch fit? He said "I DON'T KNOW".

Sorry for such a long post..but there is a punch line. When I returned to the shop, I called the clutch company as their name was on the box. Turns out it fit 80-81 Toyota Tercel AND 510 sedan and wagon Datsun....at 1/3 the cost.

I took the new clutch disk and bearing mounted to my input shaft back to the first store. Found the guy, sitting on his butt of course, and showed him the assembly. He held it in his hand, studied it some, and said good you got it matched up. What car does it fit?? Oh....this? Sorry, no such animal....and I walked out.

Thanks for letting me rant...venting my anger about doing the absolute minimum is becoming the norm for most parts places. If any of these people try to go the distance, wheather they find the part or not, will get my continued support.

Regards, Mark

[Carl]

I really find it tragic that parts people, in general, want a make, model, year to find parts. When in actuality the parts are chosen by the manufacture for torque, pressure, velocity etc.

A friend of mine was looking for rings for his John Deere model 'B' tractor with a power block in it. We went to a fork lift repair shop. The old guy behind the counter told us that all you need to get rings is the ring groove width, and the bore diameter.

Unfortunately, most times, you need to go through the retailer because the supplier doesn't sell to the public directly. I have had fairly good luck talking to the designers of the parts. Was having trouble with the transmission on my 71 Gremlin. Finally talked to Borg Warner. They gave me the information that I needed.

Another time I was looking for a spindle bearing for a 20 year old Montgomery Ward riding lawn mower. Found this little shop with a mechanic/ parts man that had been around, and remembered what he had worked on. He said to me, "that unit was made for MW by Yardman, let me show you some pictures". I walked out of the store in about 15 minutes with the parts. All because the parts man knew his machines.

[cadurning]

I've been in the parts business for 30+ years and what you experienced is "state of the art" now a days. Unfortunately the parts business has gone to computerized cataloging so now stupid people can be parts people. I never throw out old printed catalogs. I worked in a truck shop for 17 years and had aquired about 50' of old catalogs on just about anything including obscure casting numbers and clutch disk specifications. We had a can-do reputation. Unfortunately that reputation attracted the corporate raiders from Peterbilt who bought the business, fired all of the help, got rid of the "unsightly" paper catalogs, put in computer cataloging, and hired dummies. That brilliant move had the doors closed within 5 years because they failed to serve the community. Too bad the art of finding parts is a lost art.

[bontai Joe]

The auto parts store in my area seem to be staffed by 20 something year old guys and girls that know how to look up make and model in their books and not much else. I wouldn't even try the "Can you match this?" technique. I don't really fault the staff, as they are getting $6.00 an hour and are probably worth that (but not much more), I fault the store management for not being willing to pay for better qualified help. I can go to K-Mart or Walmart and look up stuff in their books and pull my own parts for filters, lights, wipers and such, so I guess I'm qualified to work at an autoparts store.

[Durwood]

That was very interesting Mark. I kind of ran into the same situation yesterday. I went and picked up a load and was ready to go pick up two more stops when my engine overheated and shut down while pulling out of the dock. It has an engine protector and will shut down on it's own if the engine gets so hot. Well, i look and it has thrown a fan belt. It is 90 degrees outside so i can't go far even after the engine cools down. I call work and my boss is gonna pick one up and bring it to me. He goes over to freight liner with no luck and calls catipillar with no luck. Hard to believe they have nothing since my engine is very common in medium size trucks. Luckily a place called Truck Pro has one in stock that is 1/4" shorter than the one it replaces and we get it to work. Had Truck Pro not had it i might still be there waiting on the part.

Dur

[mark777]

Maybe you see what I see. I have been a victim of downsizing before. In a nutshell: Why would you pay me $20. an hour, even though I have amassed knowledge about particular products, techniques and trouble shooting in my field. I (YOU) am well respected by my peers, am a "go to guy when there are problems", and mostly can provide the three most basic honest answers to all questions....Yes, No, (and maybe) and I don't know....but let me find out. How could any customer ask for anymore than that?

I have been replaced by three people @ roughly $7.00 an hour. They tripled the manpower, and if it's not on the computer screen....doesn't exist, can't be had, no such animal.

What frustrated me most was I did parts counter help briefly (in between careers) and kind of dug solving the parts misteries. Had a boss that encouraged that kind of help, and we had racks of catalogs (before the computer age was so popular). I was no expert by any means....but I did use the three honest answer method and seldom lost a customer.

Mark

[dirtybernie]

i guess im fortunate to have a great dealer. he showed me on some bearings that have the part# on them you can go to an auto parts store and cross reference them at almost half the cost. same with most belts. luckily i also have a great crew at my local NAPA. bernie. :fing32:

[DYT4000]

I went to the Autozone in my area for a coil for a tractor. I asked for a universal 12 volt coil and he said I HAVE to know what it's going on! So I made up a year make and model off the top of my head. He came back with a 12 volt coil and I thanked him for the "tractor" coil...LOL

[dirtybernie]

I went to the Autozone in my area for a coil for a tractor. I asked for a universal 12 volt coil and he said I HAVE to know what it's going on! So I made up a year make and model off the top of my head. He came back with a 12 volt coil and I thanked him for the "tractor" coil...LOL
at least you got 1!! my local uh oh zone scares me. i went in for a voltage reg for my mustang. the putz looked it up and came out with a totally different one telling me THATS the one my car should have. i pointed out that the plug was totally different and he said someone must have wired the wrong plug in! while i knew the plug was original i asked for the same vr that i had and he refused to sell me one. so off to napa i went and got the correct 1. ive never stepped foot in uh oh zone again! :00000060:

[Tvern13]

Mark,

Ran into the same thing last week. Pep Boys, O'Reilly's and Autozone. Hit the grand slam asked them to check and see if they had a shelf item in stock. Exact same response from all 3. Never bothered to even get up from a seated position. If I couldn't find it on the shelf they don't have it. By the time I came out of the last one was ready to throttle somebody. Wife took one look at my face when I came out of the last place and didn't even have to ask drove straight home. The sad thing is none of them were busy just sitting on their A**. Too lazy to get up and even help. :00000060:

[jdkubotamurray]

:ditto: My experience exactly, the only place I have got anyone to match parts is at my tractor dealers and NAPA. The big auto chains use their computer index only. :banghead3

[Kid Muddy]

i guess im fortunate to have a great dealer. he showed me on some bearings that have the part# on them you can go to an auto parts store and cross reference them at almost half the cost. same with most belts. luckily i also have a great crew at my local NAPA. bernie. :fing32:

I love the NAPA dealer in our town. Great guys, (and girls) that really know their stuff. Plus, if they don't have it in stock they'll have it at 7"30 the next morning. There's enough farmers around here that these NAPA guys are used to finding parts that fit tractors.

And if anyone in Minnesota is looking for outboard parts, try Twin City Outboard in Shakopee. Thousands and thousands of old outboards and these guys really know their parts. And one of the parts ladies sounds just like Laverne from "Laverne and Shirley." ROF

[slipshod]

I am fortunate myself the Napa in town has a couple of guys who find it fun to figure out what will work for you. Also go to a place called Eden Tractor and Craig the owner really knows his stuff. He has the best prices on hydraulic hoses around, makes them up custom.

[Michael]

I have to agree that the local NAPA tends to have the most knowledge. A good example was what happened to my nieghbor this past weekend. His wifes car is a 1995 Ford Escort (this car has no air cond and is a bit strange in the fact that most came equiped with air cond) and the fan belt had become badly worn. He goes to the local mega-chain auto parts house and of course gets the no such animal. I pull the belt and send him to NAPA but the nieghbor goes back to the mega-chain and they try and give a belt that is 3/4" to long. I tell him no-good and he goes to NAPA and they match the belt up perfect and send him on his way. I slip the new belt on and it fits perfectly. Thats the scary part of the mega-chain parts look up is the fact they are imperfect and sometimes down right dangerous if the part looks like it might fit but actually doesn't. My neighbors wife has had a couple of heart attacks and she could become over stressed by the belt slipping off because it is the wrong one. What really got me was the price the oil change place wanted to charge to put a new belt on $85.00 ($25.00 for the belt and $60.00 for the "labor" ) I took 15 minutes total in removing the belt and putting on the new one with belt bar.

[guest]

Mark, GREAT post and thanks for putting out some good infomation that I am sure will be VERY helpful to our members. There is always another way to skin a cat! :trink40: :fing32:

[modre]

>the parts business has gone to computerized cataloging so now stupid people can be parts people<

that was good.
reducing everything to the least common denominator packages ignorance as "expertise". ...nice end run on your part.

[Tom S. in Tn.]

I ALWAYS give ALL my business to my local dealer, despite the fact it usually costs me 10 to 15% more than the chain stores. I even purchase filters and bulbs there if I can, because if he decided to quit one day, I would not have him for the real hard parts I require in the despiration of a break-down.
I need him for the real parts, and so I can afford to give him ALL my business, gravy included. And I have told him and his wife so.

I hate what the mega global chain retailers have done to mainstreet/mainstream America.

Tom S. in Tn.

[420hondeere]

I'm the parts manager at a Chevrolet dealership and have to deal with chain parts stores when whe get in an off-breed vehicle (non GM), I keep waiting for on of the counter people to ask "Do you want fries with that?"

[Bruceman]

I worked at Autozone as their commercial mgr. ( catered to the local shops ) for a couple of years. I had a complete set of catalogs for parts, and a wealth of information that's not listed in the computer. The front counter has a set also, that looks almost brand new, because most of the counter help just isn't trained to use them, but they do have them, and they list parts for tractors too. So if you need a part bad enough, go to the Zone and ask to see their books. As stated above, one can usually find the part, if not by the books, by calling the manufacturer. There's a lot of parts out there that will interchange.

I saw many people hired for the front counter that probably worked at Dairy Queen before, however some of them would come back to the office and ask if they didn't know the answer, and that is how you learn things. As many of you have stated, the computer is set up so a monkey can look up parts ( part, year, make and model ). Unfortunately, it pays to know as much or more than whoever is on the other end of the phone/counter

I can't remember how many times I measured belts, matched up hoses, looked through our u-joints for something that would work, matched unique gaskets, miced out ring grooves, going up or down a year model to find the correct part, even re-clocking alternators to make them work.

If you find a good parts man, stick with him, and if he changes part stores, move with him.

my .02 Bruce~

[Ernies Imports]

Mark, I had the same problem with a t/o bearing for a hinomoto JF1. When I told the parts guy what it was for they laughed at me. So I went to another store and said datsun toyota, BINGO they had it the next day, pressure plate too !
I always try to pick the oldest guy behind the counter to help me.
Ernies Imports

[glenn27]

Amen to all of the above-cut the costs @ any price. Oh, you don't know the answer?? That's o.k.-won't be here next week anyway.Cut back, back , and back-make do w/ less. I did the shop/parts here @ the construction co, I work for about 5 or 6 yrs, then also about 20 years in the towing/recovery & repair business b-4 that. I always used the can-do, can-find attitude, so somehow, I always got involved in the weird stuff- and believe me if only one of something was ever produced years ago-we bought it. Gosh :00000060:
What a mess!! But there was a sense of satisfaction being able to solve a problem. I think that is what's missing now- why worry? They can be a flipper @B.K. :omg:
Napa in our area is the best-hands down. A couple of girls have been there a while, and they know their stuff. But, they can't work every day because they will toooo many hours, that would hurt "store profitibility", and then the manager wouldn't get his annual extra $$$$. So just let the customers go-
(corporate mentality) :banghead3
Tkxs. for letting me vent, too
:trink40:

[Carl]

What these guys don't seem to realize is that most manufactures don't make new for there vehicles. They look around and see what is available. Only make new if nothing outthere.

Used to own a 1824 Powerking. The literature that came with the tractor said that the transmission was a t-92 Borg Warner. That just happened to be the same transmission that my 1971 Gremlin used. Even the unsyncronized low gear. I guess that it is up to us owners to stear the parts guys in the right direction.

[bontai Joe]

Funny that NAPA got mentioned several times as the plce to go. The NAPA dealer near my work was sure handy when my '91 Olds coughed up an alternator. He had one in stock, and as I was changing it in the parking lot with full knowlege he was gonna close in 10 minutes, was VERY surprised to hear him yell out the door, that he would wait until I was done before closing up and let me wash up in the bathroom. That's service above and beyond.

The NAPA guy near my home is worthless. They seem to never be open, and if he is, he never has what I need.

[Wingnut]

Looks like the Autoparts dealer around the country have the same Corporate Culture. Lucky for me buy local, we have lots of Mom and Pop part stores that still does business the old fashion way. There is a NAPA 12 miles from me and on front of the building in big bold letters "We Sell Tractor Parts" if they don't have it I'll drive 30 miles to Taylor TX to B&N Tractors Parts.

Wingnut Don't do Autozone, O'Reilly's, Pep Boys, or Carquest