I am Curious

If it was not alright to do the service yourself, that would be very cleary stated as a warranty issue. It is not. If fact, JD shows you how to perform your normal services, like oil, hydraulic fluid and air cleaner changes right in the owners manual.

The only issue one needs to keep in mind, is that they must keep any receipts for service items if they do the work themselves. Just be able to prove that you did that oil/filter change. I am very picky about writing down when I perform service and what I did.

I do my own service work because it is lower cost, I know it is done right and I enjoy taking care of the vehicles, tractors and mechanical items I own. I service the fluids in my 2008 Corvette and GM does not have a problem with it. I have never been questioned by GM about my service work.

Some people do feel that letting a dealer do a simple service on a JD tractor is just throwing money away. If I have a true warranty issue, I will call the dealer. Other than that, I will take care of any service or issues myself.

This is but one viewpoint from one person.

In my past life, I had overall responsibility for service to 50 + pickups and sedans and I could tell you stories! My opinion is “Mr. Goodwrench” is the guy behind the window taking information and assigning work to others. Bubba, now he is the one who actually performs the work. Bubba probably has 10 minutes of training before he is told to “go change that oil”. Dip sticks left on top of the engine, oil drain plugs that fell off shortly after getting the truck back, so much oil spilled on the engine it smoked as if it was on fire. Wheels loose because the lugs were not tightened correctly, etc. etc. And these were dealer facilities.

I had a Cummins diesel engine in my motorcoach that suddenly developed major failure while under warrantee. The dealer rebuilt the engine and pronounced it “finished, come and get it” . We drove the coach about ½ mile to a restaurant and when we came out about an hour later we saw engine coolant and oil running across the parking lot. Seems Bubba while installing the oil cooler in the side of the engine, broke it and never told anyone. After several more days the caller said “finished, come and get it” I got home with the coach and the next day I crawled under and looked up. There was a bolt resting on a wire bundle just sitting there. Big bolt. An engine to transmission bolt. I reached up and found two bolts loose enough I could screw them out using my fingers. Back to Cummins and another several day wait. “finished, come and get it”, This time when I started the engine warning lights on the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Seems Bubba “forgot to reinstall the belts”. This was a large dealer service center in a major city, spotless floors, spotless “technicians” spotless waiting room.

I know, I know I’m skeptical of others doing my work. But when I perform the work, I take pride in what I am doing. I feel good, and I know it is done correctly.

Years ago I was trained as a vehicle mechanic and I have all the tools needed to do the work. I have seen some really shoddy work done by others and I for one do not like someone else doing service work on my cars, truck, 5th wheel travel trailer and my tractor. I have seen others that left oil stains on leather upholstery, carpets and any where else that oil can be left and not at least wiped off or scrubbed off.

So I spent in 1975 dollars over $11,000 for tools and I intend to use those tools. I can and do all of my routine maintenance and I take the receipt that list the parts and I write on these receipts the vehicle-tractor that I bought for the date and mileage and or hours from the meter and then tack the receipt on to a purloin in my garage.

30 years ago I went into a different field of mechanical work and my employer provided the tools of my trade and I took my tool box home. I also about 10 years ago completely quit working on other folks vehicles as it took time away from my family

So in summary I do all of the normal maintenance and some of the warranty work on my stuff as I have the skill and it the dealer is willing I save them time and I actually know that the work is done to my specifications.

One other thought and this is me anyway.
No one hires Mechanics any longer in fact I don't know if any really exist any more, a guy who can go out look at a vehicle spend some time check a few things then say this is it. A long gone creature.
We now have people(suits)who plug into your computer and do what it says and when it's wrong you pay either way. They're called parts changers not mechanics.
A short story to prove my point. Had a s-10 (service truck)stop running took it to a garage said needed fuel pump OK, $200.00. Within 10 min. stopped again. You need a comp. mod, $600.00 OK ten min. into my drive the same. You need the throttle body rebuilt OK $300.00 OK. Same thing I took it somewhere else told him what was done to it. He said my opinion your fuel pump is bad, I said change it. He dropped the gas tank called and said get here, the original parts changer bent the fuel line and wire tied it off so not to get gas on himself and never took it off. The second guy never charged me a penny.
Mechanic or parts changer.