Why I will never buy another Speeco product again

[Streblerm]

RE hydro fluid change interval

My lawn mower holds about 2 quarts of hydro fluid, actually 20W50. The recommended change interval is 250 hours.

My bobcat holds six gallons and the recommended change interval is 1000hrs

My Huskee splitter holds less than the bobcat and quite a bit more than the mower so I figure somewhere in the neighborhood 6-700 hours should be good. At a cord roughly every two hours that is 300+ cords. That's well over 30 years for me.

Changing hydraulic fluid every year is way overkill for most people.

I'm not sure what changing fluid or not would have to do with the OP's problem.

 

[redprospector]

I would think changing the oil and/or being leary of opened oil would be the same issue as I've been warned with power steering fluid. Once it's opened moisture starts to build in it. I've always bought as small a container of it just for that reason. Brake fluid's the same.

Still I would also like to know what caused the failure of the splitter. To place a warning on something you've had a problem with, not knowing what caused the problem, just seems a bit unfair to me. Before I would go that route I would know the specifics then I would tear into their hide. Even at that I dare say Speeco has hundreds in use with little to no problems in comparison to the one in question. So for me the warning seems to be a personal thing and not an industry norm. Even at that the customer service provided cannot be tolerated in any business. That is the best way to go out of business. I wonder if the co thinks they've been gouged so many time they don't trust any of their customers. If so that is a sad state of affairs.

Hmm. I think that selling something to someone for $1000 bucks or so that doesn't work is a bit unfair to me.
I don't care why it doesn't work, I just care that I'm out a grand, and it doesn't work.
I can't speak for the OP, but you are right in my case...it is personal. They have 1000 of my dollars, & I have a big orange turd.
If you give them 1000 of your dollars, you might get a big orange turd yourself.
You've been warned, take it or leave it.

Andy

 

[Locust Cutter]

FWIW,
About 3 months after I bought my 35 ton, the valve failed and the return hose ruptured. It was nasty. To Speeco's credit, they did immediately ship me a new valve and hose. I just wish that I had known that the new model 35 tons were coming out 3 months after I bought mine.:bang: Had I known that, I would have held out for the newer design.

 

[Locust Cutter]

Also, you have to consider the price point these machines are built at... With the dollar being worth less by the day, it's a lot of money for a lot of us, BUT, compared to a TW-6,... The highest priced tool isn't always the best one, but you do tend to get what you pay for. When I'm paying "Car" money for a tool, I expect to get likewise service out of it, (all else equal/relative). When I'm paying Milwaukee Light money, (again all else relative/equal),I HOPE to get good service out of it. Either way, I WILL have a S.S.H.D. and it will augment the Speeco, or rather vice-versa. For the money I had to spend at the time, the Speeco was the best I could buy and that's the reality of it. I may have wanted a TW-5/6/7 or a S.S, but we all know the adage about "wishing in one hand". Not to ruffle anyone's feathers, just calling it like it unfortunately is.

 

[Fred Wright]

Agreed with Locust Cutter. You'll never get more than you pay for.

I lucked out when I was shopping for a splitter. My brother runs a tractor and small engine shop. He told me to avoid those cheap splitters. They're cheap for a reason. You're serious about this, right? Yup. Set aside $1500.00 then.

$900.00 sounds like a lot of dough... but it isn't much for a continuous duty hydraulic firewood splitter. The small 16-ton Ramsplitters w/electric motor start at around $1100 before shipping. And all it handles is firewood. It's not a log splitter.

There's no excuse for poor customer service. And I agree that an engine issue isn't necessarily a Speeco issue. But this is a warranty issue.

Just my opinion... if it was me I'd get that Speeco running and move it on Craigslist. Bite the bullet and plan to part with the cash for a splitter that's built right.

 

[redprospector]

Agreed with Locust Cutter. You'll never get more than you pay for.

I lucked out when I was shopping for a splitter. My brother runs a tractor and small engine shop. He told me to avoid those cheap splitters. They're cheap for a reason. You're serious about this, right? Yup. Set aside $1500.00 then.

$900.00 sounds like a lot of dough... but it isn't much for a continuous duty hydraulic firewood splitter. The small 16-ton Ramsplitters w/electric motor start at around $1100 before shipping. And all it handles is firewood. It's not a log splitter.

There's no excuse for poor customer service. And I agree that an engine issue isn't necessarily a Speeco issue. But this is a warranty issue.

Just my opinion... if it was me I'd get that Speeco running and move it on Craigslist. Bite the bullet and plan to part with the cash for a splitter that's built right.

Hmm. I disagree, an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. SpeeCo chose which engine they wanted to use on their splitters. If they are going to say they have a quality product, they should be willing to stand behind the components they choose to use.
If you bought a Dodge pickup with a Cummins engine, and the engine failed under warranty, who would you take it to? My guess would be the Dodge dealer you bought it from.
I bought a Terex PT100G a couple of years ago. The Perkins engine "let loose" on it at 300 hours. The dealer tried to tell me it wasn't his problem. He wanted me to load it up and haul it 250 miles east (after I just hauled it 90 miles West) to the nearest Perkins dealer. I wound up with a brand new machine which I sold with 3 hours on it to keep from having to deal with my local Terex dealer.
Yep, I think that an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. (By the way, an issue is a magazine, a problem is a problem. )

Andy

 

[Preston]

Hmm. I disagree, an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. SpeeCo chose which engine they wanted to use on their splitters. If they are going to say they have a quality product, they should be willing to stand behind the components they choose to use.
If you bought a Dodge pickup with a Cummins engine, and the engine failed under warranty, who would you take it to? My guess would be the Dodge dealer you bought it from.
I bought a Terex PT100G a couple of years ago. The Perkins engine "let loose" on it at 300 hours. The dealer tried to tell me it wasn't his problem. He wanted me to load it up and haul it 250 miles east (after I just hauled it 90 miles West) to the nearest Perkins dealer. I wound up with a brand new machine which I sold with 3 hours on it to keep from having to deal with my local Terex dealer.
Yep, I think that an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. (By the way, an issue is a magazine, a problem is a problem. )

Andy

This sounds good but unfortunately it's just not the way it works on all things.

With a Dodge it does. It has for me. But I bought a 03 Teton fifthwheel new and I found out reall fast the dealer did not warranty the entire unit. It came with a rather large book that gave each mfg of each item in the trailer. I was to go to them is that particular item died or gave trouble. And if you think that's ain't fair, let it happen to you. $76,000 for a high end unit that you are pretty much on your on with. The dealer owner told me when the trailer entered onto his property it became his responsibility and not Tetons. I had a few things Teton should have taken care of but it didn't happen. But now Teton is out of business so I'm really on my own. Which way would you want it?

 

[redprospector]

This sounds good but unfortunately it's just not the way it works on all things.

With a Dodge it does. It has for me. But I bought a 03 Teton fifthwheel new and I found out reall fast the dealer did not warranty the entire unit. It came with a rather large book that gave each mfg of each item in the trailer. I was to go to them is that particular item died or gave trouble. And if you think that's ain't fair, let it happen to you. $76,000 for a high end unit that you are pretty much on your on with. The dealer owner told me when the trailer entered onto his property it became his responsibility and not Tetons. I had a few things Teton should have taken care of but it didn't happen. But now Teton is out of business so I'm really on my own. Which way would you want it?

Haha, I feel your pain. But you're just not mean enough. A Terex PT100G is North of $90K now. I went to Terex and went back and forth with a couple of their rep's. After a couple of weeks of no satisfaction, I told them I needed all of their personal information. They asked why. I told them that I was weary of trying to get satisfaction, and was turning everything over to an attorney. I had a brand new machine in a week.
But you are right, they don't want to stand behind anything. If it's something they assembled that came loose it's still not their fault, go talk to the fastener company.

Andy

 

[redheadwoodshed]

Hmm. I disagree, an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. SpeeCo chose which engine they wanted to use on their splitters. If they are going to say they have a quality product, they should be willing to stand behind the components they choose to use.
If you bought a Dodge pickup with a Cummins engine, and the engine failed under warranty, who would you take it to? My guess would be the Dodge dealer you bought it from.
I bought a Terex PT100G a couple of years ago. The Perkins engine "let loose" on it at 300 hours. The dealer tried to tell me it wasn't his problem. He wanted me to load it up and haul it 250 miles east (after I just hauled it 90 miles West) to the nearest Perkins dealer. I wound up with a brand new machine which I sold with 3 hours on it to keep from having to deal with my local Terex dealer.
Yep, I think that an engine problem is a SpeeCo problem. (By the way, an issue is a magazine, a problem is a problem. )

Andy

The engine comes with a separate warranty, same with Kohler or Honda or whatever.Most machines with small engines have separate warranties from the engine manufacturer.I don't know about diesel engines, but since you brought up the perkins letting loose, what lead up to that?



One thing I would like to get across, machines are machines.They are put together on an assembly line by people and robots programmed by people.A certain percentage of them are going to be prone to failure.I like to find out why when that happens. If is operator error, then that's what it is.If it's a failure on the part of the manufacturer or an assembly plant, then that's what it is.
A few years back, National was building a mudpump that had a high rate of crankshaft failures.I changed 3.That's a job. We finally found out, that they are sandcast and there was a batch of poor quality steel in this particular model.It didn't make the job any easier, but we knew why and could go ahead and change the other ones before they failed. The company I worked for and National worked all that warranty stuff out later, but the reason had to be figured out first.

It really pisses me off when you buy something and the place you bought it from acts like they never heard of you a week later when their product breaks, nonetheless.

 

[KiwiBro]

It really pisses me off when you buy something and the place you bought it from acts like they never heard of you a week later when their product breaks, nonetheless.

And that is not a place we or anyone in our circle of influence is likely to frequent again if it can be avoided.

 

[redheadwoodshed]

And that is not a place we or anyone in our circle of influence is likely to frequent again if it can be avoided.

You betcha!!!:msp_thumbup:

 

[redprospector]

The engine comes with a separate warranty, same with Kohler or Honda or whatever.Most machines with small engines have separate warranties from the engine manufacturer.I don't know about diesel engines, but since you brought up the perkins letting loose, what lead up to that?


One thing I would like to get across, machines are machines.They are put together on an assembly line by people and robots programmed by people.A certain percentage of them are going to be prone to failure.I like to find out why when that happens. If is operator error, then that's what it is.If it's a failure on the part of the manufacturer or an assembly plant, then that's what it is.
A few years back, National was building a mudpump that had a high rate of crankshaft failures.I changed 3.That's a job. We finally found out, that they are sandcast and there was a batch of poor quality steel in this particular model.It didn't make the job any easier, but we knew why and could go ahead and change the other ones before they failed. The company I worked for and National worked all that warranty stuff out later, but the reason had to be figured out first.

It really pisses me off when you buy something and the place you bought it from acts like they never heard of you a week later when their product breaks, nonetheless.

It was being used as a masticator (mulcher), which is what Terex claimed the PT100G forestry was designed for. In my opinion this is the hardest job you can do with a skidsteer. The bearing went out on the tension pully for the serpentine belt, causing the engine to imediatly over heat. None of the so called "advance warning features" went off, and it was after the temp reached 272 before the computer shut the engine down ( that's supposed to happen at less than 240). I was afraid of that engine after that.
The PT100G is a decent machine, but the dealer in Las Cruces, NM SUX.

Andy

 

[redprospector]

Oh, by the way.
I think I sold my big orange turd today.
But that doesn't mean I'll quit whining on these SpeeCo threads.

Andy

 

[Preston]

Shoot Andy, some folks just never get over things. I think most of us are use to that. The majority of us are married.

 

[cantoo]

red, did you offer a warranty to the guy the guy that bought it?

 

[tomtrees58]

So how good are Iron and Oak splitters? Any other suggestions for a splitter that won't run me $4k or more, yet is a decent unit?[/QUOTE go with a iron & oak i have one have split over 600 cords with never a thing go wrong with it

 

[redprospector]

red, did you offer a warranty to the guy the guy that bought it?

Which one, the SpeeCo, or the Terex.
The buyer of the Terex got a brand new machine with a brand new factory warranty.
The guy that's wanting to buy the SpeeCo? I told him of the problems I had, and what I thought of the machine (I do my best to conduct myself with integrity). I did guarantee him that for a splitter it is substandard.

Andy

 

[cantoo]

red, I have the same problem because I sell alot of used stuff. We always tell customers of any issues we know about and the price usually reflects that. Of course that doesn't stop some people from biiitching when we sell them something cheap and it breaks. All of the sudden they expected it to act like a brand new off the shelf item. Those people I usually give their money back and tell them never to call me again and please don't send their friends my way either.
PS, I have a speeco and haven't had any issues with it. For the price I paid I couldn't build anything close to the value I got, so far anyway.

 

[redheadwoodshed]

Oh, by the way.
I think I sold my big orange turd today.
But that doesn't mean I'll quit whining on these SpeeCo threads.

Andy

Well, now I have it figured out.My Speeco is black and blue.No wonder you had all those problems!

 

[redprospector]

red, I have the same problem because I sell alot of used stuff. We always tell customers of any issues we know about and the price usually reflects that. Of course that doesn't stop some people from biiitching when we sell them something cheap and it breaks. All of the sudden they expected it to act like a brand new off the shelf item. Those people I usually give their money back and tell them never to call me again and please don't send their friends my way either.
PS, I have a speeco and haven't had any issues with it. For the price I paid I couldn't build anything close to the value I got, so far anyway.

Sounds like you deal pretty much the way I do. Biggest difference I see is that you got a good SpeeCo splitter, & I got a turd.

Andy