AC Tractors ?

I worked as a salesman at a John Deere dealer for 10 years(1997-2007). We also sold Kubota(John Deere hated our guts for it). We didn't sell many of the bigger Kubota(80-120 Hp),but when we did sell one,the clutch was the first thing to go out. Our mechanics always said they had a Volkswagon clutch in them. Light weight was another strike against them if you really work the tractor. I guess it's just me,but I never had much use for a company that built tractors only and depended on everybody else to make implements to pull behind them. 

I have never had a dealer that stocks any AC parts near me .  I use Mayer in Ohio and B&G in Kentucky and honestly it is cheaper to order the parts and ship than drive 100 miles only to find out they don't have them. Its just my opinion , but if you go to green you will need a good parts supply near you. Scott

A friend had a Kubota 6800 two wheel drive that had clutch problems but that's the only one I've heard of.  My Kubota M110 has a clutch that runs in oil and I've had no problems in a little over 600 hours.  Mostly haying but some plowing with an AC 3 bottom spinner plow.

I see the same things in my neck of the woods. JD has the parts business down to a science, usually no freight charges if you wait for a "stock" order delivery and I get a call when my parts have arrived at the dealer.  Hell would have to freeze over before my AGCO dealer will call with information about my parts order and regardless of how long I wait for the part, I'm charged freight.  My AGCO dealer appears to be moving toward Kubota as there are nothing but new Kubota's on his lot and he seems to be moving toward the weekend/hobby/lawn & garden business model just to survive. The Case-IH dealer near me has as many Kubotas as Case IH tractors on his lot.  We see more and more Kubota's around here doing ag work and I rarely if ever see one in the dealer maintenance lots. I have been looking at a new high end utility tractor and have concluded that the Kubota fit and finish and chassis engineering is somewhat superior to the "others". However, in the final analysis is the reputation of the dealer, and parts service that's most important to us. Deere has priced their high end E series to compete with Kubota. M series.  4wd, wet clutch, cab, loader.... while AGCO, NH, Case-IH are more expensive older technology with less features.  Deere is the only major agricultural machinery manufacturer still around from my youth that hasn't been sold-combined-bankrupt ..etc  There ares probably a number of reasons why.  Superior technology? not always. Superior customer service? always.            

Getting Charged freight on parts is a dealer decision.  We are an AGCO MF dealer if you let me order on a stock order which takes 3-6 working days depending on size of order and size of parts we do not charge freight, if you need it faster shipping is charged because we are charged for shipping.  This is on parts to be picked up at my store, we also offer a 5% cash discount on parts EVERYDAY.  This being said a large part of our business is phone orders that we drop ship and collect by credit card.  JD was the first to start all of the dealer consolidation but they went at it differently, they told you when and who you were going to sell your business too no questions just do it or loose your contract.  I have been told this by several current and past JD dealers.