With heavy investment in John Deere earthmoving machinery and parts, Phil Hunt Parts is the one-stop shop for all things John Deere
When Earthmovers & Excavators last caught up with Phil Hunt Parts owner Brendan Hunt, the company had approximately 400,000 line items of new and used spare parts in stock.
Providing parts for numerous earthmoving equipment brands, from Allis-Chalmers and Fiat Allis to Hanomag, John Deere and more, the family-owned and run business has since grown, with more than 500,000 parts on offer.
Based in Tamworth, New South Wales, Phil Hunt Parts has long-focused on dismantling Allis-Chalmers and Fiat Allis machines for parts, with Brendan describing these brands as the business’ ‘bread and butter’.
“We’ve been working with Allis-Chalmers and Fiat Allis machines for a very long time and it’s still a huge part of our business,” he says.
With both companies no longer manufacturing new machines, Brendan set about taking on another brand that would future proof his business and landed on John Deere’s earthmoving equipment.
Genuinely impressed with the quality, workmanship and ability to maintain its products, Brendan decided he wanted to be involved with John Deere somehow.
This came in the form of heavy investment in the company’s earthmoving product line, predominately focusing on John Deere’s graders, but also its dozers, wheel loaders and scrapers.
“We believe John Deere machines are going to be the future of Phil Hunt Parts,” Brendan says.
First Grade
Phil Hunt Parts has recently welcomed two new John Deere graders ready for dismantling, a 770GP and a 772GP, with the latter being the most current model according to Brendan.
Phil Hunt Parts was already stocking new moldboards, ripper shanks and wheel rims – but these dismantled machines have added a good used option to its ever-growing list of parts.
“When we’ve finished dismantling, there’s virtually nothing left of the original grader, except the bare frame,” Brendan says.
“These dismantled machines allow customers to purchase everything from the front counterweight to the rear ripper assembly – and literally everything in between.”
Brendan adds that feedback from customers has been overwhelming so far, with many also highly fond of the John Deere brand, and thrilled to have someone they know and trust to deal with.
“Nearly all of our customers have started off with other-branded graders, but have ended up preferring John Deere,” he says.
“They’re very impressive machines and bullet proof for blokes in the bush.”
Parts offering
All used parts offered by Phil Hunt Parts are purely from dismantled machines, with Brendan saying that more than 50 John Deere graders have been dismantled to date.
From the older 570 and 670 models, right through to the newest 770GP and 772GP’s, Phil Hunt Parts has John Deere graders tucked away in every corner.
“We are constantly chasing new stock for our dismantling yard and invest heavily, to make sure we have a quality offering of parts for our customer base, both here in Australia and overseas,” Brendan says.
Not only does Phil Hunt Parts stock used components, but it also sources and stocks new parts from all over the world.
With trusted suppliers it has been dealing with for years, Brendan says the business brings in new parts from overseas regularly.
“It gives our customers a good quality aftermarket option they can rely on,” he says.
Phil Hunt Parts has not limited itself to supporting customers here in Australia, as it also regularly exports overseas.
Just recently, a John Deere housing was sent to a customer based in Texas, USA – emphasising the need for quality earthmoving parts everywhere, even in Deere’s home country.
“The market for good used parts is as important as it has ever been,” Brendan says.
“Everybody is looking to keep their machines running for sensible money.”
Family-oriented
Phil Hunt, Brendan’s father, originally started the business in 1992, with Brendan taking over in 2012.
Being family-owned and run is a key point of difference for the business, with Brendan saying that his customers are always presented with genuine and real product knowledge.
This can be extended to helping diagnose problems with customers’ machines, and then supplying the right parts to suit.
“The fact that we’re family-owned and run means we can build a personal relationship with customers, that a larger business just can’t,” he says.
Rather than speaking to people ‘who punch in part numbers and spit out a price’, Brendan says his customers are always presented with the same friendly and trusted team over the phone every time they call.
“This carries a huge amount of weight, people like to deal with people they know and trust,” he says.
“At Phil Hunt Parts, our customers know they are dealing with a family-owned and run business, with attention to detail and fair dinkum product knowledge.”
For more information on Phil Hunt Part’s John Deere offering, visit www.philhuntparts.com.au or call and chat to Brendan on 02 6762 4466.
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