What would you do...?

[parfive]

Sears was going downhill long before Eddie Lampert got a hold of it and shoved it off the cliff.

Way to go, hedgie.     

[Rockoonz]

Apr 6, 2022 22:51:52 GMT -5 LazerFlash said:

I'm also happy to report that even though there were a couple of minor challenges, (such as getting the oil filter off the transaxle), I completed the repair and the leak appears to be fixed!

So, here's the tale of the tape:

    Three quarts of oil:         $ 52

    One oil filter:                  $ 16

    One O-ring:                     $  6

    Total parts cost:               $ 74

    On-site diagnostic fee:    $139 (Which I am trying to get refunded.)

    Cost of DIY repair:         $213

Compared with the estimated cost to replace the entire transaxle: $2,500+

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.

My father (of blessed memory) would be proud that his early lessons in auto/mower repairs resulted in things like this. Thanks, Pop!

What was the "diagnostic fee"?
Did you have a tech come out to look?
My dad (also of blessed memory) had me doing tune-ups and oil changes for him starting at about 12yo as I recall. Also I was right there as he remodeled our home and raised our home grown beef. Without him implanting a willingness to take on challenges beyond my comfort zone I think my life would have gone a lot differently.

[LazerFlash]

Apr 8, 2022 11:24:15 GMT -5 Rockoonz said:

What was the "diagnostic fee"?
Did you have a tech come out to look?
My dad (also of blessed memory) had me doing tune-ups and oil changes for him starting at about 12yo as I recall. Also I was right there as he remodeled our home and raised our home grown beef. Without him implanting a willingness to take on challenges beyond my comfort zone I think my life would have gone a lot differently.

Yes. We had a Sears Home Services tech come out...

Having originally been told that there were two things on the tractor that were guaranteed for life, (one being the "sealed" transaxle and the other being the frame), we mistakenly thought that the tech would come out, diagnose the leak, and arrange to repair it at no cost to us. Unfortunately, that turned out to not be true. We still had to pay the "diagnostic fee", though. Interestingly enough, this is not the first time we've had them come out for things that have gone wrong or broken on our tractor. In an odd twist, the only things not covered where the two things we were initially told where "covered for life". (The broken frame is an entire other 'fail' story; fail on the part of both the part AND Sears Home Services.) I'm awaiting a callback from a supervisor at Sears Home Services regarding my contention that since the transaxle is anything but sealed, that a leaking seal on the charge pump casing should be something they can do. That instead of leaving me standing with a $139 bill, they should've arranged to fix it instead. FWIW, I would've gladly paid a reasonable fee to have to not done the repair myself. So, we'll see. I'm not optimistic.

Regarding our fathers' propensity to have us work with them on projects, this has turned out to be a great thing for me, (and it sounds like for you, too Rockoonz ). Although there were many times that I would've liked to be doing something else entirely than "helping" work on mechanical or home improvement projects, the expertise imparted has been immensely helpful as an adult. I, too, have been willing to tackle things that are a bit outside of my wheelhouse... usually with a successful outcome.