It pays to shop around for parts

[Bill Hudson]

A friend has a 154 and since I solved his rear seal leak problem (a $300+ repair only worked for a month or two), I have become his first call when something is amiss.

He called Tuesday to tell me one of the tie rod ends gave out. Internet search for part number 529431R1 gave some interesting results $73.75/ea (from a reputable Red Power Magazine advertiser) to 4@$12.97/ea. includes free shipping. I'm going to order the 4, since the one let go it is reasonable to anticipate the others to need replacing. This is the original owner and I'm assuming the original tie rod ends.

Bill

[Rick Spivey]

I've also seen great disparity on tractor part prices (and cars as well). Sometimes the difference is foreign made to lesser quality standards with lesser quality material, versus high quality. This is especially true on car parts. But on tractor parts sometimes the only difference is the seller'; both parts likely came from the same source. So it does pay to check multiple sites, and try to determine the origin as well.

[Duner]

MaMaster Carr #6058K271 $8.48 each. Mine are in use for 6 years and seem to be ok.
Can't attest to quality compared to OEM. I do know they are not all made to the same quality.

[Gary Dotson]

It’s true that it can be difficult to de sure of the quality you will receive but I don’t believe I’ve ever been disappointed by the quality I’ve received from McMaster Carr. When I place an order with them, it’s usually something obscure that I can’t find locally. And it arrives the next day!

[Gabe184]

Bearings are another example of this phenomenon. I just put new pto shaft bearings and a tensioner arm bearing on my 184. If you go by the IH numbers and source them through, for example, Hamilton Bob's, the price is typically more expensive. If you look up the bearings by the number on the race and source them from the manufacturer or local auto parts store, the same bearings are typically cheaper. If you get them from the auto parts store, if the prices are similar you save that much more on shipping.

The real bastard for me was a broken pto tension spring for my pto clutch. For a 184, that part alone is almost impossible to find and almost as annoying to replace. Hamilton's had one for near $50, which I could not wrap my head around justifying that particular part actually being worth that much (even understanding the concept of supply and demand). Found a new one from another source for $12 and felt much better about it. This was the same IH part HB was selling.

Not trying to talk down Hamilton's at all, I only have the examples I experience myself.

[Eugene]

Since the topic is shopping around for parts.

I'm finding that advertisers frequently change their parts numbers and not indicating a corresponding original parts number.

I'm working on a John Deere 6x4 Gator. Needing a primary clutch or a kit. Came across more than a dozen part numbers for the clutch. None of which indicated the original part number. Often they referenced parts numbers supplied by other providers. After a lot of internet research time I found a clutch listing the Gator clutch for 18 horsepower (Kawasaki) engine and corect miles per hour.

Advertised prices for the clutch range from $250- to $1200-.

OK, same subject. i'm finding there is a considerabe price difference in suppliers. If I need something today, local suppliers even thought the price may be several times higher that the internet. If I can wait, internet with free shipping.