Cabs & AC

Richard · Aug 22, 2005

Dreaming about getting a 15' mower and something to pull it. I love the idea of having a cab because of the little yellow critters that kamakazie at you when you shake up their nests.

If it has a cab, I REALLY want it to have working A/C so I don't bake in there.

Which brings me to my thoughts.

I've been looking about on EBAY and a couple local dealerships. I see a many of these that have a/c along with the commentary similar to "blew cold air last summer", or, needs freon, needs compressor or something similar.

What it leads me to wonder is just how long lived IS a/c in a tractor?

If my basic criteria is a tractor with a cab and working a/c, will I simply be better off getting a newer machine or can/do these older machines keep their cold air like you might expect in your automobile?

Am I asking too much?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Gatorboy · Aug 22, 2005

My dad runs his air cab JD's down in Florida for thousands of hours -- so I'd say they have a long life. He does have the windows tinted, for all that glass in such a small place can really heat things up fast in those things.

EastTexFrank · Aug 22, 2005

( If it has a cab, I REALLY want it to have working A/C )

The one thing you don't want is a cab with no A/C, please believe me. Our old MF 275 at the farm has an A/C that hasn't worked for 20 years and I'm told is unfixable. During the summer when it is 95 degrees outside, with all that glass it gets well over 120 degrees inside that cab, I've proved it, the thermometer went offscale at 120. When I was younger, it didn't matter all that much, drank lots of Gatorade and kept on going, but this year I finally shut it down when it started to get hot and won't start it up again until the fall. You can open all the windows but that just lets all the dust and bugs in and keeps them there and trashes the inside of the cab. I'd love to remove the door and take a torch to that thing but it doesn't belong to me although I am the only one that uses it. So, in short, if the A/C doesn't work ... don't buy it. It's just a mobile greenhouse.

I don't see why the A/C in a tractor cab wouldn't be as reliable as that in your car. In our MF, it failed originally because of neglect but as long as you keep it charged and the filters clean, it should run for years.

hobbyfarm · Aug 23, 2005

Just like my signature:

OKnewguy · Aug 23, 2005

A good friend of mine works for a large auto-air company. They have recently started to steer some efforts to the ag market. BUT, it has been a tough ride. They have had numerous instances where a tech will go and service a combine or large seasonal equipment and when they start the service they notice a propane smell. Well it turns out that a lot of people have used propane for years as a a/c gas. This is really dangerous!!! He also said that the systems are identical designs and the most important thing is to run them every couple of months, or the seals dry up and they develop leaks.
Good luck

Bird · Aug 23, 2005

Yep, I was surprised about 3 years ago to learn that some auto mechanics were using propane in place of R-12 in some auto air-conditioners. That's scary.

EastTexFrank · Aug 24, 2005

( a lot of people have used propane for years as a a/c gas )

I'd thought that at my time of life that I'd heard of most things but never this. It just proves again that there is no limit to man's ingenuity .... or stupidity. It's strange that we've never heard of a tractor exploding, sending the farmer into orbit.

slowzuki · Aug 30, 2005

Not that crazy, propane has been used as a refrigerant for years commercially. AC's systems using the absorbtion cycle use ammonia in theirs.

hobbyfarm · Aug 30, 2005

( ...I was surprised about 3 years ago to learn that some auto mechanics were using propane in place of R-12 in some auto air-conditioners. That's scary!)

Also, way back when LP was a popular ag fuel, some people would air up their tires with it. Equally scary! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

TMcD_in_MI · Aug 30, 2005

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I'm not seeing what is so dangerous about having propane in an A/C system. Sure, it's flammable, but how is it going to ignite in the system? Even if somehow a spark were to occur inside the system, there's not going to be enough oxygen in there to support combustion. And if you get a leak, how is that any more dangerous than a propane leak in a propane-fueled vehicle, or a gasoline leak in a gas powered tractor?

I admit, it sounds strange at first, but in reality, I'm sure it's no more dangerous than any other use of propane.

Tom

PineRidge · Aug 30, 2005

Propane is dangerous mainly because it doesn't dissipate like the majority of other gasses. Instead it pools in low spots just waiting for the opportunity to cause a fire or worse explosion. A propane leak, even a small one under a closed hood is an accident looking for a place to happen.

I remember years back watching my ex-wife light a propane grill with the lid down once. I tried to show her the correct way to light a grill but she had to find out about propane all for herself. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

TMcD_in_MI · Aug 30, 2005

( Propane is dangerous mainly because it doesn't dissipate like the majority of other gasses. Instead it pools in low spots just waiting for the opportunity to cause a fire or worse explosion. A propane leak, even a small one under a closed hood is an accident looking for a place to happen. )

Good point, PineRidge, and as we know, that's why wise boat owners generally don't use propane on board, and definitely not belowdecks. On the other hand, a tractor is a long way from being a boat and I'm trying hard to think of a place that propane could collect under the hood of a tractor, truck or car. Even in the tractor cab, wouldn't there be some openings on the bottom?

Anyway, I've probably carried this on a little too far already, and I definitely don't want to appear to be argumentative. So, with respect to all, good night. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom

OKnewguy · Sep 5, 2005

I think that the main concern is when you need to service the system. Just imagine going to do some a/c recharge work on your brand spanking new to you tractor and your evacuating the system or something (i am not an a/c tech) and all of the sudden you have a a major propane leak. Then all it takes is a small spark. I will ask my buddy the a/c guy how the propane can get ignited. I do remember him telling me about a minivan that was brought in because somehow the propane expoded in the system. He said it was amazing, the whole explosion was contained in the system, but the condenser was blown out like a ball.
Good night.....zzzzzzzzz

JayC · Sep 5, 2005

I hate to go off the propane discussion, but does an AC in a tractor rob the engine of horsepower like it would in a car?

em14 · Sep 5, 2005

Yes It does. Remember a while back the problem Cowboy Doc had with the loss of power in the 5000 series JD he had purchased for hay work. He had to go into the 6000 series JD to get the power he needed. It seems that he reported a loss in the order of 10%.
Leo

wushaw · Sep 5, 2005

I would hate to be the one using a propane sniffer trying to locate a leak in a system that is suppose to have R12 or R134... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

ddivinia · Oct 12, 2005

I just bought a John Deere 5525 Cab - it rocks. I bougth a 15' mower for it and I tell you - it is a lot more fun using that tractor. I still have my smaller 4720 that I use a lot

I looked at used cab tractors and it seems that most of them had broken AC. Also, you will want to know if the system had been converted to R-134a.

D.

n4807g · Oct 12, 2005

I don't notice a difference. Of course a tractor is designed for torque output and geared appropriately.

jgh · Oct 13, 2005

20051013

My TN90F NHolland has had a troublesome AC 5 yr history. I'd say it depends more on reliability of the design, etc, than on the fact it is on a tractor. My field service guy did tell that NH had run around like a chicken with its head cut off on some ac matters when he ran service at a now defunct dealership.

I would 2nd what someone said above about running your ac in the off season or when the equipment is not used for a while. Those seals are a problem if not kept exposed to the lubricants, refrigerant.

I'll report on what NH does about my latest problems (noisy condenser, etc) as I work with their excellent factory rep (worked with him on other problems on this tractor, very helpful).

But don't leave home without it, unless you are in a very coooool climate! And then, skip the cab/greenhouse!

I have ac in my SSL and mini-excavator (both Bobcats). Very nice, and with the things that fly around (animal and mineral) I just would not want an open station on anything if I can avoid it!

Jim