Friday, November 07, 2008

This Farming Game Is Not For Sissys

The combine broke down again today. One of my brothers drove 45 minutes north to a John Deere dealer and I drove 45 minutes south to a John Deere dealer to pick up one part the first dealer didn't have in stock.
My parts man brought out a 5 inch long machined pipe with a small gear on the end. It was small enough to easily hold in one hand.
"Should I bill this to the other dealer?" he asked.
I said "Yes."
He said, "Wow, it doesn't look like it should cost $340 dollars does it?"
I quietly said, "You can't scare me."
He said "Pardon me?"
I said, "I've owned John Deere equipment for a lot of years so nothing you could say about price could possibly scare me."
He smiled and said, "I'll bet not."
He's right.

20 comments:

Marla said...

Boy Cliff, it sounds like you are not having very good luck with your harvest this year! When are you going to be done? Am I going to see you at the meeting next week on the 13th??

Jerry in Texas said...

Cliff,
I used to be the guy who got sent to town for a part. I never ever had the original part with me. Then it would always be a left/right up/down Type A/B decision on which part it was. For a 50/50 chance at getting the right part, I usually came home with the wrong one, and then had to make a 2nd trip to town.

Now I know to take the broken part with me.

Do I need to come out there? I know where 45 minutes south of there leads...and I usually speed.

Good luck, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Wishing you a long spell of your luck changing! Our home has needed a lot of repairs. Those type of costs are not "fun" ones.

P.S. I actually posted a second (post) without waiting 3 more months. I doubt I'm as humorous as you, but I veered from my usual...

bobbie said...

Hang in there, Cliff. As someone once told me, the pendulum always swings back. Your luck will change.

Shannon said...

Yeah, I have noticed that size has nothing to do with price at JD, lol. Back in the Spring I had to go and get a metal pole. It costs a fortune. Turns out it was a round bale spear. Hubs says it was worth every penny to not break that net wrap with the loader forks.
Oh, and our deer corn is not on the cob. We bought a two row picker and did some on the cob a few years ago, but people preferred it loose. Long story short, the picker got sold, asap. We DO however, sew the bags shut and store them in a squirrel proof place. It looks like a deer corn prison, lol. People are starting to catch on about the payment box.

Ralph said...

It doesn't sound like the weather has been cooperating either. This going to be a long harvest?
Ralph

Dan said...

fort know should paint their gold bricks john deere green to up the value.

Dan said...

Fort KnoX !!!

Granny Annie said...

My backhoe is a Case. It has totally amazed me what tiny little parts cost. I say "my" backhoe because Ron gave it to me for Valentine's Day one year. Funny how I never use this expensive gift.

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Hi Cliff! Several years ago, my friend bought a boat. He didn't name it the first couple of years. Then the name came to him, 'Fixin-to-fish'. Nothing cheap on a boat as it appears nothing is cheap on a combine. Hang in there Cliff. It will work out. Lisa

Rachel said...

Gosh Cliff. When it rains it pours. But to look on the bright side, once it's all finished it'll be brand spanking new!

EV said...

That "pendulum" is out there .... I can barely see the speck. The first one to get their hands on it shout out. We'll throw our shoulders into changing it's direction. Maybe it'll fix a few other problems in the process.

Lucy Stern said...

Well, it WOULD scare me!!! I don't have money growing in the fields Cliff......lol.

nora leona said...

I'm sorry- I've got nothing to offer in the humor department but plenty of sympathy. I hope it's over soon.

eyes_only4him said...

i just wanna be the first to congradulate u on being a grandpa again..i saw her pic, she is adorable...

Shannon said...

Are y'all having fire ant problems?

EV said...

Congratulations grandpa!!!!!! ;0)

Jamie Dawn said...

I just figured it out.
It's YOU that's been causing our Volvo to break down.
We recently got it back from the shop. then just yesterday it broke down while I was driving in heavy traffic. It was hitonious!!!!
Something about the struts is what the problem is, but all I heard was the huge amount they said it would cost to fix it.
STOP this madness!!
Keep that combine of yours running before we go broke on Volvo repairs.
Next time, I'll have to send you our bill.

Cliff said...

JD, it would get lost in the pile of bills I already have. Sides that, I can't even afford to pay attention.

Miki said...

CLiff, sorry that you broke down. sorry that the part was so expensive too. Hope all is going well now, keep us up to date.