Vermeer 1400xl = Lemon?
- Thread starter nuthin_special
- Start date
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
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My advice would be to take it to the dealer.
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That is the main reason that I sold all my Vermeer stuff about 5 years ago. You are stuck using the dealer for many repairs. Their machines are never simple to fix. I have owned 3 Woodsman's and have never taken 1 to the dealer. They are simple machine and we can work on them in house. Same with my Carlton stump grinders. Vermeer also seems to charge huge amounts for their parts. I just got disgusted with it and moved on...
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hell yeah! yet another proud woodsman user
best chipper around IMO. they are manufactured by "Terex" who makes cranes. quality control is pretty tight when it comes to cranes and i dont think they lack in that with their line of chippers either.
on a side note, Tree Care has some nice machines and a cool shop mechanic who knows his stuff. listen to Eric, go with the woodsman and dont look back.
here you go. ill help aid in your decision. happy drooling
http://www.woodsmanchippers.com/770.aspx
[ QUOTE ]
My advice would be to take it to the dealer.
[/ QUOTE ]
That is the main reason that I sold all my Vermeer stuff about 5 years ago. You are stuck using the dealer for many repairs. Their machines are never simple to fix. I have owned 3 Woodsman's and have never taken 1 to the dealer. They are simple machine and we can work on them in house. Same with my Carlton stump grinders. Vermeer also seems to charge huge amounts for their parts. I just got disgusted with it and moved on...
[/ QUOTE ]
hell yeah! yet another proud woodsman user
best chipper around IMO. they are manufactured by "Terex" who makes cranes. quality control is pretty tight when it comes to cranes and i dont think they lack in that with their line of chippers either. on a side note, Tree Care has some nice machines and a cool shop mechanic who knows his stuff. listen to Eric, go with the woodsman and dont look back.
here you go. ill help aid in your decision. happy drooling
http://www.woodsmanchippers.com/770.aspx
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
Indeed welcome mike!
Your website says that you are a real super guy too. Citizen of the year and 37 years in arboriculture. I am humbled.
Vince
Your website says that you are a real super guy too. Citizen of the year and 37 years in arboriculture. I am humbled.
Vince
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario, Canada
When you replace your motor mounts after replacing your oil pan (DON"T WELD IT!!!) make sure that your engine is aligned correctly. Give that input shaft into the gearbox a good shake to check for play in the bearings and make sure that there is no undo wear on the shaft splines and where the pilot bearing on the crank rides on that shaft. Sounds like you've got some serious issues in balancing if you're causing that much damage. Time to have your guys learn how to use a grease gun too.
Best of luck
Best of luck
- Location
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
We've put over over 8500 hours on our 1800a.
I'd say it has been ultra reliable and trouble free, beyond welding repairs to things getting bent or fatigued, which i accept with these hours as being reasonable.
I did get stitched up well and truly by vermeer for a service/repair that turned a $1000 job into a $11,000 bill-but that's a whole other story!
Never again would i let them touch the machine, all other service and repairs have been inhouse or independant machinery/diesel mechanics. I also can't bring myself to buy anything new off them after that, but i would still buy a good 2nd hand vermeer.
I have heard not so good about the smaller machines but the 1800 for me has been great.
It's now old, has lots of hours, but just keeps going and is productive and profitable to run, so much that i just can't justify replacing it with a new machine.
I'd say it has been ultra reliable and trouble free, beyond welding repairs to things getting bent or fatigued, which i accept with these hours as being reasonable.
I did get stitched up well and truly by vermeer for a service/repair that turned a $1000 job into a $11,000 bill-but that's a whole other story!
Never again would i let them touch the machine, all other service and repairs have been inhouse or independant machinery/diesel mechanics. I also can't bring myself to buy anything new off them after that, but i would still buy a good 2nd hand vermeer.
I have heard not so good about the smaller machines but the 1800 for me has been great.
It's now old, has lots of hours, but just keeps going and is productive and profitable to run, so much that i just can't justify replacing it with a new machine.
Jeff_Cochran
New member
- Location
- Memphis TN
once again i wish there was a like button for trevs comment.
- Location
- Pukalani, Hawaii
jesus loves you Xman
Jeff_Cochran
New member
- Location
- Memphis TN
2012 vermeer 1800xl with winch and 170hp motor = my dream chipper
- Location
- York , Maine
Thank You for the warm welcome. I have been a fence sitter for several years reading and not posting. Sorry it took so long to respond but I was at a Arborist meeting for a few days with my coworkers and as an older guy do not do tech things with my phone. I find this site like the apre at the meetings when everyone sits at the watering hole and shoots the bull. I learn more there than in the lectures. Just as I have learned new tricks as an old dog from this site.
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
An update for those interested:
Apparently our machine is a 1400, not a 1400XL like the giant sticker on the side says. Anyway, there was a "non-mandatory" recall on a kit to remount the engine and avoid it rattling to pieces. Never done on my machine, i bought it used and the dealer never did it. Also, no one ever told me that it needed to be done. I got recall notices for my 1996 ford f-150 all the way up until i sold it in 2009. I would have hoped for similar treatment from Vermeer.
Anyway, I'm on the hook for all repairs. $1800 for the repair kit (3 weeks until delivery from vermeer), already $2k in labour and probably another $2k to install the kit and repair other damages.
Maybe it's my fault for not inquiring about "non mandatory" recall items. Regardless, i'm pissed.
If you have a 1400, look into this kit and install it.
I will be looking to add a new chipper to the team and bumping our 2005 1000xl to a spare. Looking at morbark, maybe woodsman after reading several comments. Something big enough to chip me entirely without bogging down or clogging the chute.
vince
Apparently our machine is a 1400, not a 1400XL like the giant sticker on the side says. Anyway, there was a "non-mandatory" recall on a kit to remount the engine and avoid it rattling to pieces. Never done on my machine, i bought it used and the dealer never did it. Also, no one ever told me that it needed to be done. I got recall notices for my 1996 ford f-150 all the way up until i sold it in 2009. I would have hoped for similar treatment from Vermeer.
Anyway, I'm on the hook for all repairs. $1800 for the repair kit (3 weeks until delivery from vermeer), already $2k in labour and probably another $2k to install the kit and repair other damages.
Maybe it's my fault for not inquiring about "non mandatory" recall items. Regardless, i'm pissed.
If you have a 1400, look into this kit and install it.
I will be looking to add a new chipper to the team and bumping our 2005 1000xl to a spare. Looking at morbark, maybe woodsman after reading several comments. Something big enough to chip me entirely without bogging down or clogging the chute.
vince
classictruckman
Participating member
- Location
- Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada
Defineatly go for morbark, never had any problems with any of ours, but constant problems with our vermeers.
- Location
- under grace
there are some vermeer machines i did mot like but my 1800 has been beast and my 652 stumper is great!! the switch to cummins deisel was a good move by them!!
- Location
- Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Years ago I ran into a similar thing with Toyota.
Because I didn't bring the truck into the dealer (it was long past warrantee) I missed some of the "voluntary recall" issues. When I did bring it up to them, the dealers excuse for not informing me was that they do a check on the vehicle every time it came in for oil changes, tune ups etc.
Complete B.S. of course but that's how they explained it.
I"ll guess that Vermeer will tell you to send the chipper to Winnipeg to get it serviced and they'll be happy to make sure that they bill you for any additional work as well.
Because I didn't bring the truck into the dealer (it was long past warrantee) I missed some of the "voluntary recall" issues. When I did bring it up to them, the dealers excuse for not informing me was that they do a check on the vehicle every time it came in for oil changes, tune ups etc.
Complete B.S. of course but that's how they explained it.
I"ll guess that Vermeer will tell you to send the chipper to Winnipeg to get it serviced and they'll be happy to make sure that they bill you for any additional work as well.
