Anyone known of an issues with JR Firby?

[Mac957]

I bought an agrotron from them in 2017, 1st day I used it it snapped the front pinion shaft and damaged prop shaft etc etc phoned them

And told them whst had happened, sent pictures etc, they agreed to repair. I stripped the axle bought new crown wheel and pinion and yoke end etc and repaired in house. Sent copies of receipts and photos of repairs but was never reimbursed. Was told they never received them etc. Was very disappointed seeing they were supposed to be a very reputable company. I wasn't even charing an arm and a leg just trying to cover cost. I certainly will never be buying from them again.

 

[Cowabunga]

Tried the PTO when I looked at it and it went in ok even though it was a bit rough but assumed being a DB that was normal. It was only when I put a load on it, the PTO won’t go in at all.

So the PTO engages but the dual clutch slips?

 

[Cowabunga]

Its been appalling customer service and I’ve had horrendous verbal abuse over the phone. It seems like it’s been a very expensive mistake buying from Firby.

The real mistake you made was to buy a 50 year old tractor expecting it to be in perfect working order. If you had bought a 50 year old tractor back in 1971 or so, when that DB was new, it would likely have been a steam traction engine or a horse.

 

[Cowabunga]

Different people have different ideas of what strong money is , depends if it was £2500 or £10,000

Unless things have gone bonkers recently, an older non-Q cab 990 would sell for around £1000 while a really good condition Q cab would sell for up to £2000 as seen. Who the hell would risk a warranty on a 50 year old tractor? They should all be sold as “for parts” by dealers even if good, because who is going to swallow a potential £2000 repair, which is not a lot these days, on a tractor only costing that much in total to shift the heap out of the yard?
Maybe I’m out of touch?

 

[glasshouse]

Unless things have gone bonkers recently, an older non-Q cab 990 would sell for around £1000 while a really good condition Q cab would sell for up to £2000 as seen. Who the hell would risk a warranty on a 50 year old tractor? They should all be sold as “for parts” by dealers even if good, because who is going to swallow a potential £2000 repair, which is not a lot these days, on a tractor only costing that much in total to shift the heap out of the yard?
Maybe I’m out of touch?

Yes
Out of touch

 

[Cowabunga]

I honestly don't know why dealers don't spend 10 minutes trying out each tractor in their fecking yards, to see if everything is working. Another 10 minutes at the other end trying the machine under the supervision of the delivery driver would put an end to all this crap. If no warranty is offered, and the tractor fooks up after half an hour, then tough titty for the new owner.
Everything should be in working order as loaded off the wagon.
Otherwise, we might just as well do our shopping at Queeer Folks.

Its not as easy as that. I once bought an immaculate 365 2wd back off a farm that drove perfectly and I paid a good premium price for it, only for it to be resold and, a few weeks later when it was given some heavy work to warm it up, it jumped out of gear regularly. Took it back to the workshop and unzipped it and found that it had been run short of oil to the extent that many bearings and housings had turned blue. There was so much of a repair needed that getting a factory rebuilt ‘new’ transmission from the specialists at Coventry was cheaper than buying just the parts. Obvious the dealership stood by and sorted it for free, as it was a lovely looker and was not resold cheap. The margin on the sale was very little though and a great big loss was made by the dealership.

However, a 50 year old DB would be sold as seen with a clause, plainly laid down on paper, that the sale was only for parts or breaking even if it looked and might even be a really good one.

 

[Cowabunga]

Yes
Out of touch

For a 50 year old DB990? Really? If so, buyers are completely bonkers themselves.

 

[glasshouse]

For a 50 year old DB990? Really? If so, buyers are completely bonkers themselves.

A rusting pile of crap is £1500

 

[Dave W]

Unless things have gone bonkers recently, an older non-Q cab 990 would sell for around £1000 while a really good condition Q cab would sell for up to £2000 as seen. Who the hell would risk a warranty on a 50 year old tractor? They should all be sold as “for parts” by dealers even if good, because who is going to swallow a potential £2000 repair, which is not a lot these days, on a tractor only costing that much in total to shift the heap out of the yard?
Maybe I’m out of touch?

Yep. I reckon out of touch by about 5x But for what it's worth I agree with you

 

[glasshouse]

Its not as easy as that. I once bought an immaculate 365 2wd back off a farm that drove perfectly and I paid a good premium price for it, only for it to be resold and, a few weeks later when it was given some heavy work to warm it up, it jumped out of gear regularly. Took it back to the workshop and unzipped it and found that it had been run short of oil to the extent that many bearings and housings had turned blue. There was so much of a repair needed that getting a factory rebuilt ‘new’ transmission from the specialists at Coventry was cheaper than buying just the parts. Obvious the dealership stood by and sorted it for free, as it was a lovely looker and was not resold cheap. The margin on the sale was very little though and a great big loss was made by the dealership.

However, a 50 year old DB would be sold as seen with a clause, plainly laid down on paper, that the sale was only for parts or breaking even if it looked and might even be a really good one.

If its sold in working order, it should work.
If it blows up a week later, tough

 

[Cowabunga]

A rusting pile of crap is £1500

Parts are only available for these old crocks from breakers, so that puts a bottom to the market of about £1000. However, paying over £2500 for a 50 year old DB that isn’t in classic tractor ‘show’ condition is lunacy in my opinion. It isn’t even a slurry-scraper tractor. Each to their own though and there’s a mug born every minute that has little idea of the true value of money or an appreciation of a 50 year timeline.

 

[ACEngineering]

I highlighted the part I was referring to... but you need to expand the quote to see it!

If a customer is unhappy with something, I'll take it back in to stock.

It's funny, though - I have had a couple of people tell me there were problems with something and they would need £XXX to repair it themselves... but when I offer to take it back, suddenly the problem has rectified itself? Fancy that!

Yes, sold someone a new hydraulic pump this year, they paid for it before delivery because they was a new customer, they then ran to say it wouldn't suck, after spending time with them on the phone making sure they had checked the basics and not overlooked something silly and speaking to supplier and raising a claim form. i go back to customer and ask them to clean the pump off, box it back up and i will collect it and credit or supply another.

Several Months have gone past now and still awaiting them to let me know its ready for collection so i can book a courier. In short i suspect there was nothing wrong with the pump and just hoping i would credit them or replace it with out the return of the so called faulty part.

 

[Dave W]

Parts are only available for these old crocks from breakers, so that puts a bottom to the market of about £1000. However, paying over £2500 for a 50 year old DB that isn’t in classic tractor ‘show’ condition is lunacy in my opinion. It isn’t even a slurry-scraper tractor. Each to their own though and there’s a mug born every minute that has little idea of the true value of money or an appreciation of a 50 year timeline.

Totally agree. But that's the market.
last 2 years with lockdown folk haven't been able to spend money so have a healthy back pocket. As such the classic sub £6k market was through the roof for a year or so. Trailed off now though.
Makes you wonder what drugs some folk are on

 

[glasshouse]

I reckon op has got the clutch to work after tff advice and is now happyish

 

[Moors Lad]

I reckon op has got the clutch to work after tff advice and is now happyish

I reckon he may be somewhat embarrassed at the sizeable sh*t storm that seems to have followed his possibly slightly premature venture on to here.....

 

[Will 1594]

Totally agree. But that's the market.
last 2 years with lockdown folk haven't been able to spend money so have a healthy back pocket. As such the classic sub £6k market was through the roof for a year or so. Trailed off now though.
Makes you wonder what drugs some folk are on

why are most old massey etc going through cheffins at daft money
and the really clean genuine 6000 jd up where they are
cause they keep going , easy to fix
and every thing been dragged up on the back of high new prices
but some of the dealers are taking the pee , but good luck if they can e extract the margin some are putting on
like a 7.5 k tractor out of cheffins , ride home , power washer service and put 3.5 k mark up for a 40 year old classic

 

[Farmer_Joe]

And told them whst had happened, sent pictures etc, they agreed to repair. I stripped the axle bought new crown wheel and pinion and yoke end etc and repaired in house. Sent copies of receipts and photos of repairs but was never reimbursed. Was told they never received them etc. Was very disappointed seeing they were supposed to be a very reputable company. I wasn't even charing an arm and a leg just trying to cover cost. I certainly will never be buying from them again.

Everyone’s good at selling stuff, it’s like said on here it’s how the seller stands up when something goes wrong that really counts…

 

[Skintagain]

Op is a crank paying that for a brown. Been way better off with a 135

transport it back and get it sorted. None of this excuses you both have to take a bit on the chin here

 

[Fendt516profi]

Op is a crank paying that for a brown. Been way better off with a 135

transport it back and get it sorted. None of this excuses you both have to take a bit on the chin here

Ive asked before, how much did he pay?

 

[Lakes Nash]

Hhhhmmmm did he perhaps come across something bigger and thicker than expected? https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/fleming-agri-flail-mower.358276/

Totally agree. But that's the market.
last 2 years with lockdown folk haven't been able to spend money so have a healthy back pocket. As such the classic sub £6k market was through the roof for a year or so. Trailed off now though.
Makes you wonder what drugs some folk are on

It’s not just tractors, you go out and try to get a blue oval, eye watering!!