Parts Business Keeps Wranglers Running
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Martin’s Maintenance is the place to go to find parts for older Willmar Wrangler loaders. Marvin Martin has built a parts-sourcing business around the front-end materials handlers. The handy wheeled loaders are popular with fertilizer dealers, tree care operators, dairy farmers, and feed mills.
“I had worked with Deutz engines like those that power the Wrangler,” says Martin. “A customer needed a part, and his dealer said the part was obsolete. I had a lot of parts, so I decided to specialize in the older Wrangler loaders.”
The older yellow Wranglers were built from the 1980’s into the late 2000’s. They include the Massey Ferguson 7500 loader that’s identical to the yellow Wranglers. AGCO discontinued the machines entirely in 2013, and an increasing number of parts are being listed as obsolete by the company. Even AGCO dealers are now turning to Martin at a time when demand for parts has risen.
“They need parts as the machines age. At the same time, the older ones are often preferred over new loaders with more electronics and emissions controls. We also have people seeing that the older Wranglers are cheap, but they need parts to keep them running,” says Martin.
Wranglers are well-built machines that have better visibility than skid steers and don’t mess up concrete floors. In his mind, they have only one flaw and that’s where most are used.
“If not for fertilizer corrosion, we wouldn’t even see these machines in the shop,” says Martin. “Our biggest selling components are those exposed to fertilizer, such as final drives, hydraulic pumps, motors, and electronic parts. Radiators are made from aluminum, and fertilizer takes them.”
Martin has a list of more than 50 suppliers, many of whom previously supplied AGCO, such as Eaton and Bosch Rexroth. When AGCO discontinues a part, Martin goes as far up the ladder as he can to buy directly from the manufacturer. This can reduce costs, but working with them can be a challenge, he notes.
“We’ve had to wait as much as a year for an order to be delivered,” says Martin.
In some cases, a part was proprietary to AGCO for the Wrangler. This is when he turns to salvaged parts or remanufactured parts.
“When we can’t find parts, we manufacture the more expensive parts like final drives,” says Martin. “In the case of a forward/reverse electric switch, we found a part used in a different application and 3D printed a piece that let us use it in a Wrangler.”
Martin got into remanufacture early, having throttle cables, drive couplers, and seal kits for cylinders made. “We’re working on developing hydraulic valves,” he says. “They were built specifically for these machines and are no longer available from the original manufacturer.”
Martin also credits customers for leads on parts sources, which allows him to help other customers. “My entire business is the result of my customers and having the parts they needed,” he says. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Martin hopes to have a print catalog published for 2024. In the meantime, Wrangler owners needing parts are encouraged to give him a call.
“If we don’t answer, leave a message with the model and serial number,” says Martin. “We return all calls, and if we don’t have the part, we’ll try to point you to someone who does.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Martin’s Maintenance, 745 Lack Rd., Elkton, Ky. 42220 (ph 270-265-5040).
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Parts Business Keeps Wranglers Running TRACTORS Loaders Martin’s Maintenance is the place to go to find parts for older Willmar Wrangler loaders Marvin Martin has built a parts-sourcing business around the front-end materials handlers The handy wheeled loaders are popular with fertilizer dealers tree care operators dairy farmers and feed mills “I had worked with Deutz engines like those that power the Wrangler ” says Martin “A customer needed a part and his dealer said the part was obsolete I had a lot of parts so I decided to specialize in the older Wrangler loaders ” The older yellow Wranglers were built from the 1980’s into the late 2000’s They include the Massey Ferguson 7500 loader that’s identical to the yellow Wranglers AGCO discontinued the machines entirely in 2013 and an increasing number of parts are being listed as obsolete by the company Even AGCO dealers are now turning to Martin at a time when demand for parts has risen “They need parts as the machines age At the same time the older ones are often preferred over new loaders with more electronics and emissions controls We also have people seeing that the older Wranglers are cheap but they need parts to keep them running ” says Martin Wranglers are well-built machines that have better visibility than skid steers and don’t mess up concrete floors In his mind they have only one flaw and that’s where most are used “If not for fertilizer corrosion we wouldn’t even see these machines in the shop ” says Martin “Our biggest selling components are those exposed to fertilizer such as final drives hydraulic pumps motors and electronic parts Radiators are made from aluminum and fertilizer takes them ” Martin has a list of more than 50 suppliers many of whom previously supplied AGCO such as Eaton and Bosch Rexroth When AGCO discontinues a part Martin goes as far up the ladder as he can to buy directly from the manufacturer This can reduce costs but working with them can be a challenge he notes “We’ve had to wait as much as a year for an order to be delivered ” says Martin In some cases a part was proprietary to AGCO for the Wrangler This is when he turns to salvaged parts or remanufactured parts “When we can’t find parts we manufacture the more expensive parts like final drives ” says Martin “In the case of a forward/reverse electric switch we found a part used in a different application and 3D printed a piece that let us use it in a Wrangler ” Martin got into remanufacture early having throttle cables drive couplers and seal kits for cylinders made “We’re working on developing hydraulic valves ” he says “They were built specifically for these machines and are no longer available from the original manufacturer ” Martin also credits customers for leads on parts sources which allows him to help other customers “My entire business is the result of my customers and having the parts they needed ” he says “I was in the right place at the right time ” Martin hopes to have a print catalog published for 2024 In the meantime Wrangler owners needing parts are encouraged to give him a call “If we don’t answer leave a message with the model and serial number ” says Martin “We return all calls and if we don’t have the part we’ll try to point you to someone who does ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Martin’s Maintenance 745 Lack Rd Elkton Ky 42220 ph 270-265-5040
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