$500 for a Farmall M head gasket set???

[littlefarmer]

Need to replace the head gasket on my Farmall M. Since I am partial to OEM parts, I called up my local Case/IH dealer to inquire on price and availability.

They want $499 and change for a head gasket set. SHEEESH!

I know there's been inflation, but GOOD GRIEF! Is Case/IH bonkers?

For that price, I should not only get a gold plated head gasket, but installation, a free dinner, and a complimentary massage!

Is there something super-special about the IH set?

Anyway-- I ended up ordering one (Made in USA, btw) for $85 plus shipping.


<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto141738.jpg>

This post was edited by littlefarmer on 11/29/2022 at 04:29 pm.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Since Fiat has owned The CaseIh conglomerate prices have gone through the roof with them . It has been going on for a several years now. Everybody cries about Deere's prices. I think most of them are cheaper than Fiat and Agco. I cringe if I have to go to Agco for any parts.

 

[matthies]

Think it was $70 for a 400 pan gasket from CIH, anyplace else 20.

 

[NY 986]

I just check Messick's and for just the head gasket by itself is 385 dollars plus change. I've got the family M to do at some point but I can see gaskets are not coming from Case IH.

 

[the tractor vet]

The sad part of this is that I H never made there gskts . Victor was the MFG. . Ya should call your congressman and senator and rai9se a stink . get a petition going files a class action law suite on price gouging . Thirty bucks would be more then enough for a head gskt.

 

[rustred]

That is how they will get rid of the internal combustion engines and this old stuff. Everything is going nutz. If they want zero emissions by 2050 its not going to happen with humans on earth.

 

[redforlife]

That doesn't suprize me, although that is higher than what I would of guessed.

I think they have always been high on things. And that has caused fewer sales. And fewer sales has caused them to be even higher on thier prices. The lower the volume that is being moved, the higher the mark up and profit margin has to be. They have kind of created it themselves by being high in the first place.

 

[SadFarmall]

I had new head gaskets made for my F12, steel and copper, exactly the same as the original. They cost me $89 USD each for a custom order
SadFarmall

 

[Olyj1947]

I replaced the inner and outer rear axle bearings on my M. CIH wanted $174 for each of the bearings. I got all 4 bearings with seals and gaskets for $157 at Bearings Plus. And they were made in Germany.

 

[Brendon-KS]

My thought is that companies like CaseIH, Deere, and AGCO don't really want to mess with handling parts for 70 year old tractors. On the surface it might make people feel good that companies support old stuff but in reality the prices would tell you that they're not too interested in actually moving large quantities of these kinds of parts. If a guy with deep pockets hauls an old tractor it into the local dealership to have work done then of course they'll get to work in some of their overpriced parts. But, for the guy doing his own work on a vintage tractor it makes no sense to pay the OEM's premium when there are other sources. As others said, the OEM's don't make these parts anyway - they're just buying from aftermarket suppliers, same as companies like this website do.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Stop and think about it for a second: How ridiculous is it to think that a dealer would have parts for an 80 year old tractor?

Especially considering that the original company is long gone, and what exists now is a merger of a merger of an acquisition.

Then when they DO have the parts, they're expensive, and you scream bloody murder... If they're going to stock 80+ years worth of parts, they're going to make it worth their while. It only makes good business sense.

Try going to a Chevy dealer and getting parts for a 1947 car. They will laugh you out of the place.

You're not going to get "OEM" at the dealer anyway. You will get the same aftermarket gasket as you would anywhere else.

This post was edited by BarnyardEngineering on 11/30/2022 at 04:13 am.

 

[NY 986]

CNH is a step or two worse than AGCO or JD in my experience on parts prices. The quality for all has slackened in the last 20 years since most of the production is half way around the world now.

 

[Charlie M]

I would be surprised if the parts sold by any dealer for any brand is any different manufacturer than the parts sold on sites like this one. The only time I shop on a dealer site is when I can't get it from a site like this one. Its hard to even walk into a dealer to discuss parts on these old tractors because they moved on many years ago, the parts books are out of site and out of mind.

 

[the tractor vet]

Well yea there is , I deal with and engine jobber parts place and usually there are several different part numbers to go by . When i call i usually talk with the same person and even though she is a woman she knows here parts and knows what to get me as i want oem quality . a world of difference in quality . and between MFG. and on some application makes a difference on the same engine family . When it comes to Gskt. i only use Victor and Victor was the one that made the Gskt. for I H. .

 

[SadFarmall]

Some manufacturers are helpful for old equipment. SU carburetters supply parts for pretty well everything they have ever made. Allerdice pumps are the same - you call, ask for the part and it is delivered. Interestingly, they are not huge multi-national companies seeking to maximize income by making parts where it is cheap to manufacture and then selling them dear.
SadFarmall

 

[littlefarmer]

(quoted from post at 13:12:50 11/30/22) Stop and think about it for a second: How ridiculous is it to think that a dealer would have parts for an 80 year old tractor?

Especially considering that the original company is long gone, and what exists now is a merger of a merger of an acquisition.

Then when they DO have the parts, they're expensive, and you scream bloody murder... If they're going to stock 80+ years worth of parts, they're going to make it worth their while. It only makes good business sense.

Try going to a Chevy dealer and getting parts for a 1947 car. They will laugh you out of the place.

You're not going to get "OEM" at the dealer anyway. You will get the same aftermarket gasket as you would anywhere else.

This post was edited by BarnyardEngineering on 11/30/2022 at 04:13 am.

So---are you saying that Case/IH has cheaper prices for parts on their newer machinery? And that if I only had a tractor that is more recent, they have a lower price on parts? Somehow, I doubt that.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 07:17:15 12/01/22)

(quoted from post at 13:12:50 11/30/22) Stop and think about it for a second: How ridiculous is it to think that a dealer would have parts for an 80 year old tractor?

Especially considering that the original company is long gone, and what exists now is a merger of a merger of an acquisition.

Then when they DO have the parts, they're expensive, and you scream bloody murder... If they're going to stock 80+ years worth of parts, they're going to make it worth their while. It only makes good business sense.

Try going to a Chevy dealer and getting parts for a 1947 car. They will laugh you out of the place.

You're not going to get "OEM" at the dealer anyway. You will get the same aftermarket gasket as you would anywhere else.

This post was edited by BarnyardEngineering on 11/30/2022 at 04:13 am.

So---are you saying that Case/IH has cheaper prices for parts on their newer machinery? And that if I only had a tractor that is more recent, they have a lower price on parts? Somehow, I doubt that.

Cheaper, in relation to the initial cost of the machine, yes.

$500 head gasket for a tractor that cost $1100 new vs. a $500 head gasket for a tractor that cost $110,000 new.

 

[Dave H (MI)]

Not only will GM not sell you the parts, but try asking a dealership (or most independents) to do a tune-up on, say, a 1976 pickup. I was told there was no one employed as a mechanic there who knew what a carburetor was. I have to find retired people or collectors who will do that type of work out of their homes. Last time I had my carb worked on the guy tested it for three weeks by using it as his daily driver. OK by me...hasn't given me a bit of trouble since. As for parts, if there is a market for them and money to be made, they will or should carry the parts. It's not about whether they want to or not, it is about making money.