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JD Z520A Zero Turn Mower

#1

L

Lometa

I took my mower in for service in April and it’s still at the JD dealer. They tell me that the hydraulic motor for this unit is no longer available, it was made for them by a company named Parker. My mower is 9 years old, but has always been well maintained and otherwise good condition. I have 2 other JD tractors that are older than that and have never had trouble getting parts or service for them. I am amazed that they have all but told me tough luck, nothing they can do for me. I know that there must be thousands of these models out there that will eventually have the same problem. I know this, I will never buy another JD product if they don’t make this right.


#2

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

This might explain a few things for you, https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-lawn-garden/396013-z520a-right-side-transmission.html
Right side trans number is TCA16979 and left side is TCA16980 , you might be able to find one new old stock, or used.
John Deere Parts Catalog


#3

L

Lometa

This might explain a few things for you, https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-lawn-garden/396013-z520a-right-side-transmission.html
Right side trans number is TCA16979 and left side is TCA16980 , you might be able to find one new old stock, or used.
John Deere Parts Catalog
According to JD the right hand motor which is the one needed is not available anywhere in the Country, they have not been very helpful. The manufacturer (Parker) has ceased making the hydraulic motors and JD has no alternative plan to address this situation. Thanks for your reply.


#4

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Actually not JD's fault. They didn't discontinue the hydro, Parker did. And having Hydro Gear or Tuff Torq tool up for just a few replacement hydros would cost them a lot of money. And that is IF one of them would even tool up for a short run.
We are going to see more of this kind of thing in the future where mfgs can't warehouse vast quantities of parts stock and suppliers stop supplying spares. Vendors break contracts all the time with mfgrs over long term parts supply and the mfgrs still go back to them for new model parts contracts. Just the way it is.


#5

B

bertsmobile1

Mulligans have always been my go to with hydro problems.
They have treated me very well, been honest even when it cost them sales
If there is a work around they will know it.
Right now they are selling rebuild Parkers and might even offer a full rebuild service for USA residents
Mail gets a bit expensive 2 ways from Oz


#6

L

Lometa

Actually not JD's fault. They didn't discontinue the hydro, Parker did. And having Hydro Gear or Tuff Torq tool up for just a few replacement hydros would cost them a lot of money. And that is IF one of them would even tool up for a short run.
We are going to see more of this kind of thing in the future where mfgs can't warehouse vast quantities of parts stock and suppliers stop supplying spares. Vendors break contracts all the time with mfgrs over long term parts supply and the mfgrs still go back to them for new model parts contracts. Just the way it is.
This doesn’t relieve them of any responsibility to support products that they sell especially at the prices they charge. If what you say were true why wouldn’t we just by the cheapest junk available knowing that we would just discard it when it broke. I don’t hear of these problems from Kubota. Maybe the reason is that everything that JD makes is proprietary to them and you can’t get parts from any other source. You can make all the excuses for them you want, but there are thousands of expensive zero turn mowers like mine out there that will probably experience the same problem, will you say the same “tough luck” to them. You sound more like a company spokesman.


#7

L

Lometa

Mulligans have always been my go to with hydro problems.
They have treated me very well, been honest even when it cost them sales
If there is a work around they will know it.
Right now they are selling rebuild Parkers and might even offer a full rebuild service for USA residents
Mail gets a bit expensive 2 ways from Oz
If there are rebuilds out there they are not telling my dealer who has been trying very hard to resolve my problem. If you know of a source of rebuilds I would appreciate you letting me know. As I noted I have been without my unit since April. Thanks for the reply.


#8

B

bertsmobile1

Unfortunately they dropped the locations when they reformatted the forum
Otherwise you would see I am in OZ
Ihave a rebuilder here who does just about everything for $ 400 / Aus but postage might be a touch on the high side
Mulligans are in the USA call them and talk to the experts at getting around problematic hydros .
Hydros is all they do, all brands and often substantially cheaper than namded dealers so named dealers usually will not consult them .
So mostly deal directly with indenpendent repairers & owners .


#9

L

Lometa

Unfortunately they dropped the locations when they reformatted the forum
Otherwise you would see I am in OZ
Ihave a rebuilder here who does just about everything for $ 400 / Aus but postage might be a touch on the high side
Mulligans are in the USA call them and talk to the experts at getting around problematic hydros .
Hydros is all they do, all brands and often substantially cheaper than namded dealers so named dealers usually will not consult them .
So mostly deal directly with indenpendent repairers & owners .
Do you have a number or address for Mulligans so I can contact them? I appreciate you getting back to me.


#10

B

bertsmobile1

Do you have a number or address for Mulligans so I can contact them? I appreciate you getting back to me.
mulligans


#11

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

This doesn’t relieve them of any responsibility to support products that they sell especially at the prices they charge. If what you say were true why wouldn’t we just by the cheapest junk available knowing that we would just discard it when it broke. I don’t hear of these problems from Kubota. Maybe the reason is that everything that JD makes is proprietary to them and you can’t get parts from any other source. You can make all the excuses for them you want, but there are thousands of expensive zero turn mowers like mine out there that will probably experience the same problem, will you say the same “tough luck” to them. You sound more like a company spokesman.
Not a company man. I just know how it works. The FTC generally requires a company to provide parts and service on equipment for 7 years depending on what the equipment is an what it cost. The company i used to work for had a machine we sold that used a very specific rubber coated roller made by Ames rubber company. This was a wear item changed often. Many thousands of machines in service. One day Ames rubber company sends a message that they will no longer make the roller and the tooling has been destroyed. They said the contract for that one roller was not profitable enough and canceled it. The only other company in the country that could make the roller said they would not tool up for the part. Since the machines were over 7 years old customers were told we were going to end of life the product. One company canceling one part in the spares supply chain cost the company many millions in revenue and credibility. Company told us service reps not to tell customers why we were end of lifeing their machine. It is not that JD doesn't want to fix it, they can't. Yes, you got screwed and it sucks.


#12

B

bertsmobile1

Yep,
Briggs just screwed over their parts suppliers ( and the tax man ) for $ 900,000 by filing the chapter 11 .
So would any one be surprised if the company that makes the magnetos for the 20 year old mowers says "Stuff you and all of your customers " then dumps all remaining stock on ebay .
Happens every day .
As for the mower, it is only a motor .
So there will be some sort of engineering solution .
A hydro motor is a hydro motor is a hydro motor.
Oil goes in one side & comes out the other
Ho much passes through determines the speed and the direction determines the rotation .
The question is , will the customer wear the cost of the modifications.

Eaton decided domestic mowers were not profitable near 20 years ago.
They offered the tooling & IP to the market but the market called their bluff, so they smashed everything, including all of the service parts.
This was one of the reasons why Bolens went broke .
But I have 4 Duratrac sub compact tractors in my service run & we can always find some one who will take on a hydro work around to keep them running .

The big problem is he franchise rules that the JD dealers have to work under.
SO when head office says they can not be fixed the dealers are left holding the bag of dead kittens.
An independent workshop can look at it, cu the frame, make up a new mounting plate & fit a different motor then work out how to link it to the existing lap bars .
To a lesser degree an non JD dealer could do the same ( but is highly unlikely to ) .
Cold comfort for you but usually the HO will come up with a generous ( and ritefully so ) trade in deal if you push hard enough ( which you should not have to do )


#13

L

Lometa

Yep,
Briggs just screwed over their parts suppliers ( and the tax man ) for $ 900,000 by filing the chapter 11 .
So would any one be surprised if the company that makes the magnetos for the 20 year old mowers says "Stuff you and all of your customers " then dumps all remaining stock on ebay .
Happens every day .
As for the mower, it is only a motor .
So there will be some sort of engineering solution .
A hydro motor is a hydro motor is a hydro motor.
Oil goes in one side & comes out the other
Ho much passes through determines the speed and the direction determines the rotation .
The question is , will the customer wear the cost of the modifications.

Eaton decided domestic mowers were not profitable near 20 years ago.
They offered the tooling & IP to the market but the market called their bluff, so they smashed everything, including all of the service parts.
This was one of the reasons why Bolens went broke .
But I have 4 Duratrac sub compact tractors in my service run & we can always find some one who will take on a hydro work around to keep them running .

The big problem is he franchise rules that the JD dealers have to work under.
SO when head office says they can not be fixed the dealers are left holding the bag of dead kittens.
An independent workshop can look at it, cu the frame, make up a new mounting plate & fit a different motor then work out how to link it to the existing lap bars .
To a lesser degree an non JD dealer could do the same ( but is highly unlikely to ) .
Cold comfort for you but usually the HO will come up with a generous ( and ritefully so ) trade in deal if you push hard enough ( which you should not have to do )
What you say makes some sense, but in my mind JD cannot afford to treat its customers so callously. I am posting everywhere and talking to lawyers about filing a class action suit (don’t like the idea) but this has really got me riled up. They have not even tried to accommodate me or work something out. I think people should start looking at other brands to purchase such as Kubota that offer better value and don’t tie you up with proprietary expensive parts.


#14

B

bertsmobile1

And I for one back your actions 100% .
JD have a moral obligation to provide some sort of work around.
Be is a generous pro-rata trade in on a new mower or an engineered solution


#15

StarTech

StarTech

Ever heard of Googling the PN?


#16

L

Lometa

Ever heard of Googling the PN?
Thanks, that was the first thing I tried.


#17

StarTech

StarTech

TCA16979.JPG


#18

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

JD probably can't fix your mower but they should give you a hefty discount on a new mower. The dealer can't afford to go deep in the hole on a trade but you would think JD would try to fix the black eye that model has given them.


#19

L

Lometa

Thank you, when I searched I didn’t come up with these. I will check them out tomorrow. Hope one of them will do the job.


#20

L

Lometa

JD probably can't fix your mower but they should give you a hefty discount on a new mower. The dealer can't afford to go deep in the hole on a trade but you would think JD would try to fix the black eye that model has given them.
That would certainly take some of the sting out of the experience, I think JD has some obligation to try to make good on the significant purchase I made and the trust I put in their premium product. I think it would also be small change considering all
The JD equipment I own and the fact that I would never purchase another JD product if they don’t do something to make this good. All my neighboring ranchers who also own JD equipment are watching to see what JD does and have indicated that it will affect their dealings with JD in the future.


#21

L

Lometa

These sources that you have listed while showing the parts do not actually have them in stock or available for purchase. I appreciate the info, do you have any additional suggestions. Thanks


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