OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Tractor Hacking: The Farmers Breaking Big Tech's Repair Monopoly

This 'Right to Repair' will become more relevant to the outdoor power industry now that more electronics are being incorporated.

Although I cannot see a future in domestic OPE repairs unless we change this throwaway or consumer mentality.

It may even have to be a war with China that will make people notice. Although we are so dependent on Chinese manufacturing we'll have to surrender anyway!

LRT the biggest issue for farmers is downtime and the second issue is getting a broken down machine in the middle of nowhere to a repair facility or getting somebody to travel hundreds/thousands of kilometers to fault find and hopefully fix the machine. It isn't like calling a tilt tray to come and pick it up. There was a reason the grey Fergie was designed and built the way it was

Hi LRT
Yes, very provocative and welcome reading and viewing there.
There is such a horrible irony between 'concern for the planet' and promotion and
consumption of cheaper throw-away goods. The second whammy involves OEMs
wanting to control everything.

Hi Norm
Totally agree with that wise statement!
Unfortunately, we live in , not only a consumerist throw-away world, but one where OEMs
want to control service and have exclusive control of serviceability.



The problem is rampant.
I mean, just look at how VW tried to fool government legislation with 'defeatware'.

Shame on modern manufacturing trends.
I agree, and all the way with LRT - Consumers should have a right to repair the
goods they buy, with total support from the OEM.

Deere oh Deere, what were/are they thinking!

Jack

Hi Jack, this is a sad world we live in these days and I feel we lived through the best times and I feel so sorry for future generations

Hi Jack and Norm,

This is one of the reasons why we bought an early 2000's Case IH tractor as it has an on board diagnostic function that can be accessed easily by turning the ignition key and holding down a button on the dashboard. The newer Case IH tractors I worked on at the dealership all had to be plugged into the computer and Case IH charge the dealer $50 for every log in.

The dealers here in Aus usually have a mobile service vehicle but the cost to get them out is astronomical. Shop rates where I worked were around $110-150 per hour, which is charged to the customer from the time the mechanic leaves the workshop until the mechanic returns. For most people it is just too expensive except for the big dairy farms who seem to be happy to live constantly in debt by buying the newest & biggest tractor to keep up with the Joneses so to speak.

The newer cars are heading the same way especially in regards to the DPF (diesel particulate filter) as when it clogs with soot and can't automatically burn off it switches into low performance mode until you take it to the dealer for them to plug the computer in.

What is great about the automotive sector is a lot of diagnostic tools have been made to connect to these cars using the SAE standardised OBD (on board diagnostic) connector. However, not every diagnostic tool is capable of programming new parts or clearing codes.

This is one well known diagnostic tool: http://www.gscan.com.au

There seems to be a small interest in simple albeit electric vehicles such as the Bollinger Motors 4x4 but getting it ADR approved could be difficult.

http://bollingermotors.com

It is hard to see what is going to happen in the future and is concerning that we are so happy to lease out ports etc.

I wonder if the reason the government are pushing wind power etc is because we've sold off or closed down virtually all of our oil refineries and coal power stations we have no ability to survive a siege. Although I can't see electric fighter jets being built any time soon...

Same with the driverless car, it is controlled by GPS and in turn the government.

I'm in my 20's and I'm sure things will be a lot different by the time I'm 50 if not earlier.

LRT, a mechanic mate of mine was telling me recently of some one he knows who bought an Audi at auction and got it for a good price or so he thought, turns out the DPF was either $5000 or $6000 I can't remember what he said I was coughing and spluttering too much

Yes that's about right.

The good news is Ryco have started making aftermarket DPF assemblies. I think they're around $1,000 or so but much cheaper than genuine.



There's also some helpful training videos that go through the process.

http://rycodpf.com.au

G'day LRT, Norm and members
I have learnt so much from your posts here!
I feel conversation is important on this.

LRT has written about shocking, prophetic, stuff.

I will make a comment about driver-less vehicles.
The push is not driven by consumer demand - but by commercial interests.
[I would get pretty bored not driving a car - even for short journies]

This is about structural employment changes by BIG business.
Let's get rid of taxi and truck drivers, shall we?
I wonder what compensation is offered with structural un-employment?

These are troubling times.

Jack