Need Advice on Installation (Dealer or End User) of Snow Blower on BX Tractor

[Stumped]

I bought a new Kubota BX2670 tractor several months ago (included FEL and mid-mount mower). I recently told my dealer that I would like to purchase the front mount snow blower for that tractor. I'd need the:

BX5450 50" Snow Blower
BX 2751 Quick Attach Subframe
BX2753 Mid PTO Drive Kit

The price for the implements totaled $2944. The dealer wants an additional $729 for installation. I watched some videos on the internet and installation seems like a very straightforward process and only took about 15-20 minutes for all three items.
I told the dealer that I would buy the implements and install myself. The dealer told me that if they did not do the initial set-up and install, that it 'may' void the warranty.
$729 seems mighty steep for something I can do myself in less than 30 minutes. My questions:

1. Am I correct that the install of these items is relatively simple or is there more to it than I realize from watching these videos?

2. Does the dealer have a good point? Is there any hidden magic to prepping these things for install. Can they refuse to honor an equipment failure (not due to operator error) simply because I didn't have them do the initial install ------ or are they just trying to make $729 profit for 15 minutes work.

Thanks for your input.

 

[D2Cat]

If you had the snowblower on your tractor and had some problem requiring you to take it to a dealer, how is that dealer going to know who installed the snowblower? (Now this is presuming you took it to a different dealer then the one telling you this)

If you can really save $729 dollars by your own installation and it may jeopardize your warranty, suggest to them they are over charging you for their service, but you will hire them to do an inspection to be sure it meets their specifications. Surely that couldn't take them 1/2 hour of shop time.

Or, just buy the snowblower somewhere else, and take your service/parts there also. And ask them for their opinion of you installing and that effecting any warranty with the blower. A second opinion never hurts.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

I can see why your upset. I'd just buy the implements etc: myself and do my own installation of the blower ,quick hitch and pto shaft. I've taken mine off and on and never had any problems.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

I bought the older BX2750D blower a couple years ago, save your self the money. Installation is pretty straight forward and you will learn how it works. It will take longer than 30 minutes, more like 1-2 hours. Read the manuals twice then put together the quick hitch and then the blower, blue loctite is your friend.

 

[torch]

You are in the US? I believe the Magnusson-Moss Act applies:

Title 15, United States Code, Section 2302, subdivision (c):

No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the [Federal Trade] Commission if —

(1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and

(2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest. The Commission shall identify in the Federal Register, and permit public comment on, all applications for waiver of the prohibition of this subsection, and shall publish in the Federal Register its disposition of any such application, including the reasons therefore.

It is my understanding that this generally means if dealer installation is a warranty requirement, then it must be provided for free.

 

[Tooljunkie]

So if the lowest paid guy in the shop does the install, which of course it will be, the dealer pays him about 30 bucks and pockets the remaining. And if something goes bad,10 bucks says they will try to place fault on you.
Lie, tell them a ticketed heavy duty mechanic is doing it for you. And tell them you the wsm.
Also, have them put the conditions on paper.

Same situation with oil filters,if dealer claims anything but their filters voids warranty they have to provide them for free.

 

[skeets]

The dealer CANNOT void your warrenty if you buy it and install it your self.. tourch is spot on,, a lot of bike dealers will tell you the same thing,, and its BS

 

[Stumped]

Thanks for all the advice. I picked up the items today. A different salesman had to cover the transaction and he didn't say a word about the warranty, except to give me a copy of it and have me sign the warranty paperwork. Now I've just got to get the FEL and mower deck off and all these other things on. Simple, right?

 

[D2Cat]

So you going to change your moniker to "Unstumped"?

 

[Amf232]

Not quite simple. But not too difficult. Once it's all set up the first time it will be quick and simple after that. Congrats on the purchase

 

[1970cs]

You are looking at a dealer estimate of about 4-5 hours! $400 at our dealership for install.

The hidden cost that most people are not thinking about is: They have to find and bring it in to the shop, remove box/creating lay out parts and read the setup manual.

As the OP said, implements may have to removed from the tractor, which again has to be accounted for! Then after setting the unit up and install, gearbox and pivot points, bearings will be lubed, all pieces must be tested for operation and then a dealer prep sheet from kubota must be filled out and kept on file for an audit from Kubota.

Then refill the hydraulic fluids wash entire unit and remove creating/box materials for disposal. And return any tools back to tool box.

Pat

 

[torch]

I don't think anyone will argue that the dealer doesn't bring value to the table. Some will consider it $400 well-spent: someone else gets the headaches and mess to clean up plus the rig has been checked over by a (presumably) competent professional mechanic.

But $750 might be deemed an overvaluation by some and claiming dealer installation is a warranty requirement is just blackmail. I personally wouldn't want anything to do with such a dealership after that experience.

 

[skeets]

Pat, dont get me wrong, I know everybody has to make a buck, so does the customer.
But sometimes the amounts dealers want to do something is way out of line. And you know as well as I the job of uncrating and removing any mounted equipment is done by the lowest guy there, not saying he shouldnt make a living, just that the dealer needs to come up with some reasonable price.
I mean down at the HD shop they charge 85 bucks an hour, and there is a 2 hour min!!
And how much does the guy working on the bike get, not what he should, we all know that.
I dont mind paying for work I cannot do my self I dont think any one does. However spending all that cash and getting raped too,kinda puts a bit more sting into things, and ya didnt even get kissed !

 

[RCW]

I bought my snowblower and components crated and boxed.

The salesman, a friend of mine, delivered to my house in his pickup.

Probably takes a couple hours with un-crating, etc., but pretty simple.

Now in it's 4th winter season, been flawless.

 

[bearskinner]

You will be removing the FEL every year ( grill guard too, if you have one) and installing all the related parts, than removing it all to go back to the loader. It's a little time consuming, but I think you will be glad you did it yourself. Cost savings is always a plus.
I also know if you dealer is like the local ones here, they don't give A crap about their quality of work, and just crank it out as quick and sloppy as possible. I will stay away from dealer installed options unless there's absolutely no other option. Last time I had my BX at the dealer, I had to fix what they did, and when I made phone calls and left messages ( they always send you to voicemail) I never received a reply.

 

[Stumped]

Thanks again for all the input. I'll be a lot smarter in a day or two once I've removed the FEL and mower and installed the sub-frame, mid-pto, and snowblower. I may realize, in hindsight, having the dealer do it wasn't such a bad idea. We'll see,

That said, my dealer wanted $729 for installation vice the $400 mentioned by a previous post. That price also did not include removing the FEL and mower (which it sounded like the other post may have included), just installing the snow blower, sub frame, and mid-pto.

I was absolutely willing to concede the value of having the dealer do the initial install, but telling me that I would possibly void the warranty by doing it myself irked me just a bit.

In the end, these implements are designed to go on and come off with a minimum of hassle, right? I agree with some of the other posts. The sooner I learn to do all this myself, the better.

 

[Orangeglow]

Great to see you have decided to do the blower install yourself.
After the first time, it will be much easier for you to put it on, or take it off.
I may have missed it, but do you have the hydraulic shoot rotator, or manual ?
I brought my blower home in the crate, and assembled it myself as well.
No mention by the dealer about warranty issues.
The only issue I thought I had with my hydraulic shoot rotator was that I didn,t realize I had a detent in my joystick to move the shoot to the right.
It,s like moving the joystick all the way to the front for floating the bucket, except you have to push the stick to the right thru that detent to get the shoot to turn right.
Sounds like your dealer was trying to get an early Christmas present for himself from you.
It would make me leary of dealing with this dealer in the future.

 

[NoJacketRequired]

Orangeglow - we're nearly neighbors! I often go through Prescott to Ogdensburg.

WRT moving the joystick fully to the right, yup, that caught me by surprise, too. At full RPM the chute moves very fast. Initially thought that was going to be a problem, but now actually really enjoy being able to put the snow exactly where I want it.

 

[RCW]

Stumped -

The sub-frame and mid-PTO require assembly, but the directions are good if memory serves.

Involves assembling main pieces for sub-frame itself, mounting hydraulic cylinder/attaching hoses. The bearings and shaft for mid-PTO go on sub-frame, and a loop on tractor to hold hoses.

Blower is really a matter of mounting the chute - I think a collar and couple hold-downs is all.

Been a while, but not rocket science.....You can do it, no sweat.

 

[Orangeglow]

Yup, we are close. I go across the same bridge way to often.
Being retired, and having lots of hobbies causes me to spend way to much time on the internet on many different forums, which gets me in trouble after I see nice little projects I can do. LOL
My last project was adding the electric shoot deflector on my B2750D blower.
Works very nice, and saves getting off the tractor seat.
That shoot rotator problem I mentioned earlier had me stumped for a couple of hours, until I finally got it figured out.
These forums are great for helping each other out.
They have made me a lot smarter. At least my wife thinks that. LOL