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Kobelco Dealer in Ohio Ripping People Off

r3vrsengnr

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
23
Location
Ohio
It is very common to have to program, or configure a new controller on the machine. Not speaking of kobelco specifically, this all brands equipment. Many times controllers are unprogrammed, or at least not configured and it is not possible for the owner to self install. I feel your pain, but do not feel you have a cause to complain, except possibly that someone assured you programing would not be necessary. Welcome to the world of equipment repairs.
the controller needed neither though. it was already programmed. it's the fact that the language setting was locked, they knew it would be, said nothing, and then charged an insane fee for 2 min of work.
 

r3vrsengnr

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
23
Location
Ohio
If it's a 2024, why isn't it warranty?
it was purchased at auction for 20 thou. had been in water up to the operator's knees. i pulled the entire cab upper and lower harnesses, replaced the relay box, mechatro, some other boxes and bits, and i went through the rest of the wiring replacing sections as needed. Southeastern's lead mechanic said the motor sucked in water and bent a rod but i knew that was highly unlikely.

imho Southeastern wrote the machine off and didn't think it would ever run again. we got a 200k machine for 30k and i think they are a little angry about it is the reason for the anti-helping treatment we have gotten since the beginning.

i will end this by saying that if anyone can come on here and show me that they too ordered a Mechatro controller from their dealer and it too came locked in Japanese and they too had to pay an additional $1,000 to have the language changed... then i will stop my tirade.
but let's be honest here, no respectable dealer would do that and if they did no respectable person would put up with it. people want to say dumb stuff like "you gotta pay to play" but guarantee if it was them getting screwed, they'd be flying off the ****ing handle. lol.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
18,044
Location
Canada
Most wouldn't take a chance on partly flooded machine. You took a chance and even after spending a questionable extra $1000 have a good running machine for over $100K less than a non flooded machine. What's to complain about??
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
16,026
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
it was purchased at auction for 20 thou. had been in water up to the operator's knees. i pulled the entire cab upper and lower harnesses, replaced the relay box, mechatro, some other boxes and bits, and i went through the rest of the wiring replacing sections as needed. Southeastern's lead mechanic said the motor sucked in water and bent a rod but i knew that was highly unlikely.

imho Southeastern wrote the machine off and didn't think it would ever run again. we got a 200k machine for 30k and i think they are a little angry about it is the reason for the anti-helping treatment we have gotten since the beginning.

i will end this by saying that if anyone can come on here and show me that they too ordered a Mechatro controller from their dealer and it too came locked in Japanese and they too had to pay an additional $1,000 to have the language changed... then i will stop my tirade.
but let's be honest here, no respectable dealer would do that and if they did no respectable person would put up with it. people want to say dumb stuff like "you gotta pay to play" but guarantee if it was them getting screwed, they'd be flying off the ****ing handle. lol.

Got any pics of the machine in action?
 

LACHAU

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
1,215
Location
Saigon, Vietnam
How strange! Even though I said it very clearly, there are still many members, including the forum admin, who post as if they hadn't read my post (https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...n-ohio-ripping-people-off.118684/post-1319477).

I should say again:
"All C1 controllers sold as spare parts are NOT LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE. All can be changed from Japanese to English; that's standard, not optional.
C1 controllers are only set to "LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE" as an "OPTION" when the customer
requests it, or (very bad), it is an intentional setting to make money???!!!"


I would also like to add my personal opinion: "This is not the policy of the Kobelco manufacturer, but can only be the viewpoint and policy of the Kobelco sales agent"
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
16,026
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
How strange! Even though I said it very clearly, there are still many members, including the forum admin, who post as if they hadn't read my post (https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...n-ohio-ripping-people-off.118684/post-1319477).

I should say again:
"All C1 controllers sold as spare parts are NOT LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE. All can be changed from Japanese to English; that's standard, not optional.
C1 controllers are only set to "LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE" as an "OPTION" when the customer
requests it, or (very bad), it is an intentional setting to make money???!!!"


I would also like to add my personal opinion: "This is not the policy of the Kobelco manufacturer, but can only be the viewpoint and policy of the Kobelco sales agent"

Oh I read your post.

Do you work for Kobelco? Don't take this the wrong way but one post by one member on a forum doesn't make it gospel.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
16,026
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
it was purchased at auction for 20 thou. had been in water up to the operator's knees. i pulled the entire cab upper and lower harnesses, replaced the relay box, mechatro, some other boxes and bits, and i went through the rest of the wiring replacing sections as needed. Southeastern's lead mechanic said the motor sucked in water and bent a rod but i knew that was highly unlikely.

imho Southeastern wrote the machine off and didn't think it would ever run again. we got a 200k machine for 30k and i think they are a little angry about it is the reason for the anti-helping treatment we have gotten since the beginning.

i will end this by saying that if anyone can come on here and show me that they too ordered a Mechatro controller from their dealer and it too came locked in Japanese and they too had to pay an additional $1,000 to have the language changed... then i will stop my tirade.
but let's be honest here, no respectable dealer would do that and if they did no respectable person would put up with it. people want to say dumb stuff like "you gotta pay to play" but guarantee if it was them getting screwed, they'd be flying off the ****ing handle. lol.

Sounds like you have an axe to grind with the dealer?

So you bought a flooded machine which is a nightmare machine IMO. If I had a machine flood up to the operators knees I'd call my insurance agent, file claim and total it.

You didn't get a $200K machine for $20K - you bought a flooded $200K machine for $20K.

Since this is a 2024 machine this probably won't be the last thing you'll have to get the dealers assistance on so either make nice with this dealer, find another one or an independent mechanic that has all the software.

Just like Crane Op said - You gotta pay to run big iron.

Best of luck.
 

r3vrsengnr

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
23
Location
Ohio
Most wouldn't take a chance on partly flooded machine. You took a chance and even after spending a questionable extra $1000 have a good running machine for over $100K less than a non flooded machine. What's to complain about??
it the principle. it shouldn't matter if it was $1. this is part of the reason why these companies have gotten so out of hand. people have that mentality "oh it's just..." oh it's just a piece of Chinese crap that only lasted 3 uses, just throw it out and buy another. oh, it's just $10 ...$100... $1000...

will your children's children say, "oh it's just $10,000 who cares"
see the point? it just keeps snowballing. when is it too much?
let's say for example i do nothing about this... safe to assume that Southeastern will do it again and maybe the next guy is scraping by trying to fix his excavator only worth $10k. that would be really messed up.
but if i am up their a** about it, filing complaints with every regulator, association, department, and gov official that i can then there is a good chance they will think twice about doing it again. just making forum posts like this one about it could be enough bad publicity to cost them some business would be enough of a deterrent.

so, it does matter. it always matters.
 

r3vrsengnr

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
23
Location
Ohio
Sounds like you have an axe to grind with the dealer?

So you bought a flooded machine which is a nightmare machine IMO. If I had a machine flood up to the operators knees I'd call my insurance agent, file claim and total it.

You didn't get a $200K machine for $20K - you bought a flooded $200K machine for $20K.

Since this is a 2024 machine this probably won't be the last thing you'll have to get the dealers assistance on so either make nice with this dealer, find another one or an independent mechanic that has all the software.

Just like Crane Op said - You gotta pay to run big iron.

Best of luck.
this is true, the machine's value is not 200k.
 

r3vrsengnr

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
23
Location
Ohio
How strange! Even though I said it very clearly, there are still many members, including the forum admin, who post as if they hadn't read my post (https://www.heavyequipmentforums.co...n-ohio-ripping-people-off.118684/post-1319477).

I should say again:
"All C1 controllers sold as spare parts are NOT LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE. All can be changed from Japanese to English; that's standard, not optional.
C1 controllers are only set to "LOCKED IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE" as an "OPTION" when the customer
requests it, or (very bad), it is an intentional setting to make money???!!!"


I would also like to add my personal opinion: "This is not the policy of the Kobelco manufacturer, but can only be the viewpoint and policy of the Kobelco sales agent"
thank you @LACHAU
 
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