newgenjdcollector
Member
Why is there Always and I mean Always something about every aftermarket part that just isn't right. I have accounts with several aftermarket suppliers and have bought parts off steiner, shoup, ebay, sloans, and every other place that you can think of, but aftermarket parts just make me so mad sometimes. A lot of the time, aftermarkets are the only parts available so you must use them.
For instance, the side console grill guard on later 4020s etc, the aftermarket ones look absolutely identical to the deere one, until you measure the distance between the bolt holes. It's off by about a half a bolt hole. Why in the hell do the people that crank these out go find the darn bolt pattern and make it right. So frustrating. I end up having to drill out the metal on my console to make it fit; when the deere version bolts right in.
Another good one are the jd radiator caps with the rubber cover from Steiner. Until recently, the bottom of the cap was simply glued to the metal dome. After about an hour of driving the tractor, the whole darn cap would twist apart :x . Now they spot weld the two together, but why would you ever depend on some glue to hold a radiator cap together. Makes no sense.
I could go on and on, but I have learned to not just send my aftermarket parts to paint and expect them to fit because there is always something out of wack. I always size/modify/fit all the parts before I break the machine down to paint. It's sad because you can grab an original JD side panel out of the corncrib and you know it will fit. But the aftermarket, you have to drill, cut, bend, etc, to make it work. Anyone else frustrated?
For instance, the side console grill guard on later 4020s etc, the aftermarket ones look absolutely identical to the deere one, until you measure the distance between the bolt holes. It's off by about a half a bolt hole. Why in the hell do the people that crank these out go find the darn bolt pattern and make it right. So frustrating. I end up having to drill out the metal on my console to make it fit; when the deere version bolts right in.
Another good one are the jd radiator caps with the rubber cover from Steiner. Until recently, the bottom of the cap was simply glued to the metal dome. After about an hour of driving the tractor, the whole darn cap would twist apart :x . Now they spot weld the two together, but why would you ever depend on some glue to hold a radiator cap together. Makes no sense.
I could go on and on, but I have learned to not just send my aftermarket parts to paint and expect them to fit because there is always something out of wack. I always size/modify/fit all the parts before I break the machine down to paint. It's sad because you can grab an original JD side panel out of the corncrib and you know it will fit. But the aftermarket, you have to drill, cut, bend, etc, to make it work. Anyone else frustrated?