has anyone used AI products??

nebken

Member
How many of you tractors guys have used tune up kits from A&I products?

I have used several and never had a problem. I've had several guys tell me the points won't fit the distributors because of manufacturing problems.

Anyone ever have any problems?
 
I haven't used them because I've heard too many bad things about them.
So I guess that's the best of my second hand knowledge on them. :)
 
Some things from A&I are a good value and some don't fit. I got points and plug wires for a WD allis and the points were fine, but the plug wires had a 90 degree end that shorted against the head at the spark plug. A thermostat for the same tractor just flat out wouldn't fit, even with an adapter that came with it. A couple of friends of mine have had good luck with radiators and other parts. I guess it seems to depend on what part and what machine.
 
I use them regularly. After trial and error you find out what not to order. I have had good luck with JD steering arms and spindles, radiators, belts, fenders and a host of other stuff. Went to a dealer convention a couple years ago and met with some of their vendors. They come from all over the world. Parts like the spindles are forged out of the country but machined at their facility in IA. We got to tour their facilities also at that time and it is quite impressive the way they set up their new shipping warehouse. They showed all the original parts they have that they use as a master copy. They were turning flywheels when I was there as well as welding combine parts among other things. If you ever get the chance to tour the place it is worth the trip.
 
I use their products when I can. As said there are some items that I stay away from but for the most part I have been satisfied.
 
I am an A & I dealer. Not everything is perfect that they sell, but for the most part, is good,better than some aftermarket junk floating around. I have had very few warranty claims and is much cheaper than a dealer.I have never ordered a tune-up kit from them as I work mostly on Diesels. I have to guarantee my work,parts and labor so I try not to install anything I wouldn't use myself.
 
I am also an A&I dealer. The reason I was asking is beacuse I started selling tune up kits on ebay. I have had three buyers tell me the points won't fit the breaker plate. Two were Ford 8n front mount kits and one was a Delco kit for a JD 630.
I have used several IH magneto kits from A&I and never had a problem.
Maybe the buyers just don't know what they are doing??
 
I've never used their tuneup stuff. But I'm getting to the point where I'm pretty well tired of the rest of their stuff... Of the things that I do buy, nearly every time there is some sort of fitment issue with the part. I can remember buying two identical wheels 2-3 years apart and having the same exact problem with both after having complained the first time about the mess they made of the first one...
I bought a couple of the Lucas knock off ignition switches last year either from A&I or Tisco... I can't remember which... and the damn key that's been in the tractor for 20 years won't work in this ignition barrell. If they can't sucessfully replicate a switch that can basically be operated with a bent nail, it doesn't leave me much hope for anything else they make...

They often tell you there aren't many returns on their parts and few complaints, etc.... truth is... nobody bothers to send the stuff back because they don't want to get hooked for freight and restocking charges and don't want to exchange it because of the wait factor and the high probability that the next part will be just the same... so you take the grinder to it, torch, etc. Make it fit... curse at it... and when you done about enough of it like I have... you buy OEM parts next time.

And yes, A&I is a subsiduary of Deere. What scares me about that is that Deere has largely abandoned their mainline support for some of their more 'heritage' stuff in favor of serving that market through A&I... so there isn't any real quality alternative for some things.

Rod
 
(quoted from post at 02:18:10 05/09/13) How many of you tractors guys have used tune up kits from A&I products?

Anyone ever have any problems?


I've had tons of issues with aftermarket/farm store ignition parts from a variety of suppliers. A&I, Farmex, Tisco, Calco, HA, TSC, etc., and after a couple of years of hits and misses, poor performance, DOA in the package condensers, and a few other issues, I'm done with them all. Today I use NAPA/Echlin, and I'm content with their product.

Dad bought new sheet metal a couple of years ago from an A&I dealer for a MF 135 that had burnt. He ended up spending a day reworking the old warped, smashed stuff that was on it. New hood, new grille, you could tell what they were and where they should go, but once you got them there you new they would never be even close to fitting correctly. You shouldn't have to rework and modify new sheet metal to make it fit. Fresh off the boat from Turkey. I'd say "close, but no cigar", but "not even close" is a better description.

I've had other problems, some minor, some major, and not just from A&I and other aftermarketers. Some are even OE parts. It's sad that it takes close to or just as much time, effort, and money to produce a product that works and fits correctly as it does to make one sorta-close as it does to make one that just plain will not work.

The only thing I can think of that I sourced from A&I recently are sediment bowl gaskets and screens for IH tractors. The last ones I bought from them fit and functioned as well as anyone elses did.

AG
 

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