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I have a Tank L 60 that has been in the shop or a problem that they just can't fix. The neutral control arm keeps bending and I keep taking it in under warranty. It this is the 5th time that I took it in and I replaced it 1 time myself. Every time they say that it is fixed. After 3 times at the dealer I bought it from I talked to MTD and they set me up with a different dealer. They did fix my hard starting problem and replaced the neutral arm. I picked it up and mowed once got off to move my hose and when I tried to mow some more it would not move and I could see the arm is bent again. The dealer I bought it from will only allow about a third of what I paid for it and it only has 59 hours on it. It has 12 hours of road time on my trailer going back and forth. dealer wants $125 pick up and delivery that is not reimbursable. they don't seeto want to work with me to get a replacement.

Hope this doesn't tick off Bertsmobile. This is his quote to another fellow earlier and it should work for you as well:

"Find a mower repair shop and get them to file a warranty claim form against your mower company.
Photocopy it and then send it to Kawasaki by registered mail.
Send a copy to who ever is the consumer advocate in you state.
Attitudes change quick smart once there is ink on a page.
Included in your claim to Kawasaki put the line "Please do not phone me. My attorney has advised me that all correspondence must be in writing pending further legal actions"
If they phone you or text you send them the same message back that it must be in writing or vial email.
You will get a very different response."


Good luck

OK here is the latest on the problem. I took it in and the dealer tested it and the Neutral lever failed for them after the unit warmed up. I did mention that I had this problem and it was after I mowed and used the brake and then tried to move the mower again. They got a service bulletin that addressed the problem with the drive motors not releasing all the way and locking up the dump valve. They recommended welding 2 neutral arms together and also the dump valve linkage also change the oil in the hydros and adding something called friction modifier. I will see if that helps after I mow on Monday. Just getting tired of dragging it back and forth 20 miles each way. does anybody know what a CC900 service is

Good to hear you are making some progress.
To be fair to the dealer, the payments for warranty work, rarely cover more than 2/3 the actual cost of doing the repair so most dealers end up being out of pocket doing them.
Then down here the dealer is then liable for the repair. And in most cases the dealer will get paid via a credit note off their next order.
Cold comfort to you but will explain the reluctance of them to do the work as they are sort of piggy in the middle.
Nope it goes well and sounds like it might be a problem more will be having in the future.

bertsmobile1 said:

Good to hear you are making some progress.
To be fair to the dealer, the payments for warranty work, rarely cover more than 2/3 the actual cost of doing the repair so most dealers end up being out of pocket doing them.
Then down here the dealer is then liable for the repair. And in most cases the dealer will get paid via a credit note off their next order.
Cold comfort to you but will explain the reluctance of them to do the work as they are sort of piggy in the middle.
Nope it goes well and sounds like it might be a problem more will be having in the future.

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Then they should explain their reluctance to service what they sold to the customer IN ADVANCE of any money changing hands.

Bert,

That sucks that downunda you don't receive full remuneration for services completed. In the US, the factories do pay for the service. They do have given hours they pay and service tips on how to achieve the repair within the given time. If, however, there are other damages caused, you can usually do a write up on the additional charges along with photographs of the parts damaged and receive the parts required and labor to install and adjust.

I think all of you need to go visit your factory CEOs in person. lol

Max

Well after mowing some I had to move the hose that goes out to the garden and even with the parking brake set it stalled and would not crank again. So I will be Taking it back in for the 6th time for this problem. The worst part is getting it loaded as I have to winch it on the trailer and make the 20 mile drive.

Well it has been a week since I picked it up. I went out to start it and the battery was totally dead and I had to jump it. It did start and I mowed for about 40 minutes pulled the parking brake and got off to move something and it died the minute I stood up. tried to start it and would not crank. I did my hold the 2 safety switches and started it to continue to mow when I noticed that the hour meter had 60 some more hours on it then it should have. I called MTD and the first tech would not even look upmy case number and hung upon me. I called back and got some foreign guy that I could almost understand he told me that the 2 problems were a wiring problem and that should fix it but I told him the linkage is bent and that is my problem. He kept telling me to take it back in and said he would call ahead to let them know I was coming. I got it loaded and drove the 22 miles this time to the place where I bought it even though I had a call into the second dealer that worked on it. When I got there they could get it started and had to bypass the safeties and their fix was to remove the safety switch but I said fine but that doesn't fix the bent linkages that had been doubled up and welded to try and fix it. I finally got them to try to get a replacement.

Flat battery and 60 unexplained hours = key not turned off properly.
We have all done it.
Some hour meters are wired in with the blades so they measure MOWING hours not running hours.
others wrap around the HT lead and measure engine running hours
And the last ones hook into the A terminal on the switch and measure the hours the ignition is turned on.

bertsmobile1 said:

Flat battery and 60 unexplained hours = key not turned off properly.
We have all done it.
Some hour meters are wired in with the blades so they measure MOWING hours not running hours.
others wrap around the HT lead and measure engine running hours
And the last ones hook into the A terminal on the switch and measure the hours the ignition is turned on.

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It was not the key it has to do with one of the repairs keeping the circuit open. Key was out of unit and in the cup holder

Well here is an update It still is at the dealer and there now has more hours on it and the key is hanging on the wall. They think they can fix the problem by drilling and moving the safety switch but they still don't know why the linkages still freeze up when is hot. Another band aid fix not getting to the problem. I lost all respect for MTD as they will not step up and say there is a problem. It's a PIA to try to mow and keep it running. I wish someone from MTD would read this as I called them and get the run around or they just hang up on me. They want me to take it to a different dealer each time but the only dealer that is authorised to get a recall is the selling dealer.

Does anyone know the procedure for a warranty return. I am not sure if I will get anywhere yet but would like to have a heads up as what to expect. The Last I had heard was they were confident that the fix would work but I questioned them about the safety aspect and got a phone call yesterday that I missed. Rob left a message that he had to get in touch with Alan the owner of the place I bought it from and would call me today. today has come and gone now and no word one way or the other. Right now it is raining and my grass needs cutting and my mower is in limbo. I guess my wife and I will end up push mowing the 3 acres but I am not looking forward to that as I am almost 70 years old.

First, hire someone to mow the yard while you are mowerless. Push mowing that much at that age is asking for it.

Second, you'll never be happy with this mower. Go get another mower such as a Gravely, Hustler, Scag, Ferris, etc. and sell this one. You'll take some lumps but it's the easiest, fastest, least stressful way out.

I will see if I can barrow the neighbors mower. As for buying a new mower I need the money from the Tank to do that so I have to wait. I may contact the head of Exmark trade show department and see what he can do for me as I built the Exmark trade show display and we get along pretty good.

Dealers will accept trades. That would be even faster than selling yours privately. You'll take a bigger hit but you can put this problem behind you in a matter of day(s).

You have my sympathy but you'll forget the money it will cost you trade mowers faster than you'll forget this horrible episode with this machine and the dealer.

cpurvis said:

Dealers will accept trades. That would be even faster than selling yours privately. You'll take a bigger hit but you can put this problem behind you in a matter of day(s).

You have my sympathy but you'll forget the money it will cost you trade mowers faster than you'll forget this horrible episode with this machine and the dealer.

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Before I took it back for the 5th time I tried to trade it in and I would be taking a $5000 hit on it and then the new mower be another $6000 for a similar mower as the I bought this one at the end of the season. So a $8000 mower would end up costing me $11000

I certainly wouldn't trade it at the dealership you're dealing with now.

cpurvis said:

I certainly wouldn't trade it at the dealership you're dealing with now.

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I may take that advice. Will you loan me the extra money that it would take? My problem is the mower is still under warranty and I don't think I should spend more money for something that is out of my control. Also the mower is at the dealer either to be repaired of replaced and in order to get it back I would have to pay for service that was not done

Tell you what, if I win the Powerball Saturday night, I'd be glad to loan you the money. 21 percent interest, of course.

If you go trade it off, chances are the mower you choose will have financing available. Probably much better terms than the Bank of cpurvis, too.

I received a call from MTD they finally agreed that they were just covering up the problem and they have no fix other than keep throwing parts until something sticks. They said that the dealer would give me a trade in but when i questioned the MTD guy I asked him what I could get for the measly amount he offered before. I also told him that the dealer did not have a unit that I would take as this unit was a commercial one and all the ones left that he has are the same as what Home Depot sell. I don't see why I should give up a $8000 mower and be stuck with something that is less than half what I paid for. The MTD guy that had told me earlier when I asked to speak with his boss said he was the boss now he said he has to talk to his boss about what to do.

Well I am no longer the owner of a Cub Cadet. After I talked to my state attorney They contacted MTD and the dealer and immediately they wanted to settle. I recieved most of what I paid for it and used that to buy a Gravely pro turn 460

Good to heat it was finally resolved.
It really pisses me off that ordinary people have to resort to legal representation before we get treated like an intelligent human being.

Congrats Polish