John Deere parts?

[hanz63]

Who is everyone using for belts and other parts for JD nowadays? I generally do OK with Stens or Rotary belts, but the fact is they are less robust than the OEM for the most part. I've been buying the OEM now for a while, but the dealer by me was just eaten by a bigger fish and my nice discount is gone. I set up an account online with a JD dealer and found that their since I know ya price was more than list, so that doesn't seem to be a go. Heck, I'd even do a stock order somewhere for the common ones I use.

[KE4AVB]

Sorta the same about the discount the local dealer agreed to here. It just vanished and I got stuck with their retail and ridciulous shipping fees. Even the JD Parts changed to where I can't look-up the local dealer branches to check stock levels. Actually the local has become a royal pain in the backside to deal with.

So far if I can wait a few days I have getting my parts from Green Farm Parts (GFP). At least they give a small discount and have reasonable shipping charges. As for belts I have a treble time getting any after market belts that are the correct size for anything.

At least give GFP a check out.

[DennyIN]

I like to use the John Deere Belts for the transmission drive at least, have used the kevlar at rural king for deck belts etc. I just go online and search for pricing, including evilbay. When it comes to shipping I weigh that with the price as I have to drive at least 17 miles one way to a dealer, so there is the fuel and my time to consider. I've also used GPS for a source and been OK with their service. It is rare that I go by a dealer so mail order is my go to most of the time.

[DennyIN]

I like the old JD parts lookup so much better than the one now, just my two cents on that.

[Skywatcher]

Greetings All

Guess I have a better than average relationship with my local JD dealer. I pulled wrench there for 15 years and went independent in 2000. The technicians there hate working on the small stuff, so the parts guys keep a stash of my business cards behind the counter and often send Consumer Product customers my way so the techs can work on the real revenue generators at $156.00 per hour. The also give me a small discount on in-stock items and a slightly better one on any stock-order items. The dealer is on the highway going into the next town south and my wife or someone is usually going into town a couple of times a week.

I've known the parts manager since 1981 when he was a mechanic at the International Harvester dealer where I was the gas jockey for the Gulf Gasoline station attached to the front end of the dealership. To my fellow Canadians, I can remember regular leaded gasoline selling for 33.3¢ per litre and IH combine harvesters coming in on CP Rail flat cars. All the best,

Sky

[38racing]

Skywatcher, 33.3 a litre? You must be a young fellow. I remember a gas war when I was in high school here in Ontario where gas was 32 cents an imperial gallon. Even a grade 12 kid could afford to drive a 54 hemi.

[hanz63]

Yeah, GFP is not really advantageous for me to use. I've bought a few belts and that crazy big 30 second oil filter from Hartville. Maybe I should approach them on a bigger order.

[KE4AVB]

Skywatcher, 33.3 a litre? You must be a young fellow. I remember a gas war when I was in high school here in Ontario where gas was 32 cents an imperial gallon. Even a grade 12 kid could afford to drive a 54 hemi.

Boy I remember pumping gasoline for 0.25 per US gallon here when I was in high school. Even prices currently under $2 still looks good when compare those days of $4+ per gallon a few years ago.

[KE4AVB]

Yeah, GFP is not really advantageous for me to use. I've bought a few belts and that crazy big 30 second oil filter from Hartville. Maybe I should approach them on a bigger order.

Yes I know but I can't find everything otherwise. Places like Amazon helps. Just got to use your head when buying parts.

[hanz63]

I suspect that our main distributors of things we get everyday our wanting to tighten things up as well. PD seemed pretty consistent, but the Kohler / AYP distributor is. I don't buy much from the big aftermarket suppliers, maybe a half a dozen orders each in a year or so. The Amazon can sell you pretty much the same thing and have it to you quick and in a hurry if you need something for a customer at the end of the week....