DO NOT BUY TC40/45

[MikePA]

What a piece of junk...

You are complaining in this thread about how TC40/45 are junk

You are complaining in another thread, Click Here, about how Rhino mowers are junk.

Two different kinds of products, two different manufacturers, both of which have thousands of happy customers and your experience is they're junk.

You're having a heck of a string of bad luck....

 

[LoneCowboy]

1.
Most of your problems sound like a typical compact tractor. The power issue is magnified when you jump from your TN into the TC (I know as I have a TN and a 1920 which was the TC's daddy). How does your TC handle the implements that your MF uses or do you use bigger implements?

I have mixed feelings with regards to compact tractors. They are great for small jobs that are just too small for the larger tractors but overall they are more of a homeowner tractor. And yes, I do know they can do more but not as well as a higher horse tractor designed for the job.

My MF 1433 is a compact tractor
It has NONE of these problems (and no, it's not a hydro, it's a shuttle shift), it rides better (despite being smaller) and honestly I think puts more power to the ground than the TC, which is very disappointing.
Both tractors have loaded tires, the MF has never been to the shop except for maintenance (which I thought would repeat when I bought more, newer, more expensive equipment). Guess not.

 

[LoneCowboy]

You are complaining in this thread about how TC40/45 are junk

You are complaining in another thread, Click Here, about how Rhino mowers are junk.

Two different kinds of products, two different manufacturers, both of which have thousands of happy customers and your experience is they're junk.

You're having a heck of a string of bad luck....

I am
For a month now I've been quiet, never named names, never bad mouthed. But after the 3rd $200 wheel in a month (rhino) and now the 5th trip and over 20 days in the shop in the first 30 days of ownership, well I've had it. My limit has been reached.
This stuff is junk (it's much worse, but Bird will come and smack me if I really say what it is on this site) and I'm more than disappointed I spent this kind of money on it. I'm tired of working for free. I might as well take no jobs and sit home, I'd make the same money.
This TC is junk.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

The technique of driving a hydrostatic is very different than a shuttle. If your experiencing a lack of power its probably because your burring the pedal and pushing the transmission into relief. Its pretty uncommon to hear anyone complaining about lack of power with this series machine.

 

[FULLPULL]

When i bought my 40 i thought the same thing about the hydro till i got used to it .Then i used it day after day and figured out its power bands . If your rabbit and turtle switch is not working and it is stuck in rabbit i could see where you would have a problem . I think i would call NH for a fix or ask them to make it right . I am sorry to see you having trouble . I had a few small issues with my tractor also but the dealer i had worked them out . I can say after the tractor was fixed it was a good tractor.

 

[LoneCowboy]

The technique of driving a hydrostatic is very different than a shuttle. If your experiencing a lack of power its probably because your burring the pedal and pushing the transmission into relief. Its pretty uncommon to hear anyone complaining about lack of power with this series machine.

So, let's get this right
I go up a hill
I push the pedal
it stops
I let off the pedal as it slows
it stops
What good is that?
it's the same result, and a gear tractor would go right up it.

BTW, the loaner TC45 (no cab, but hydro) i had for a while, went up most slopes without much issue.
This one???
DOG!!!!

 

[HOUNDSTOOTH]

Brian,
I am sorry to read about all your "misfortunes". I can only try to imagine the frustration you must have had, having never had to deal with any myself.

I do agree with Jim though. Not all tc45da(cab) are "junk". I've had mine for about 5 months now, put 80 hrs on it, and not one single problem. Maybe I don't have to navigate hills near as steep as you here, but the unit operated fine on the hills I have been on. I mow ditches regularly, and while it seems like she could easily tip over, I keep on chuggin'. Maybe being in a closed cab makes it seem more likely?

The amount you spoke of for the 50hr service seemed high to me. Parts and labor for my 50hr service was only $160.00. It really does sound like your dealer is awful.

I have a 5 year old 6' rhino finishing mower that is great also. My rotary mower is a 10 year old 5' Field General. I've had no problems using both of these with this tractor. Plenty of power even with the a/c running wide open, cutting pastures 3' thick, and going up a hill.

I would have to tell people, in my opinon, that this model is great. I couldn't, from the experiance I've had, swear off the whole line and encourage others to stay away.

I do hope that you get it all resolved and sleep easy knowing you can wake up tomorrow and have a productive day.

Respectfully,
HT

 

[LarryRB]

I really can't give you a suggestion on how to rectify this situation, however, many years back on TBN, there was a guy somewhere in California who had a compact or maybe it was a sub compact NH tractor, He had so many problems with it, that NH finally took it back and gave him a brand new tractor. IF memory serves me right, he paid a few hundred more and upped the tractor to 26 hp? At the end of his thread,. he designed and built an awesome fire fighting trailer, good for small brush fire fighting,,, I don't believe he is still here unless he did like me and changed his name on TBN and started over under another name.

 

[Dougster]

I go up a hill
I push the pedal
it stops
I let off the pedal as it slows
it stops
What good is that?

A really effective anti-rollover protection system???

I don't believe he is still here unless he did like me and changed his name on TBN and started over under another name.

Not unless he too was a member of the witness protection program!

Forgive me Larry, I couldn't resist!

Dougster

 

[hazmat]

Brian,

I'm sorry you are having so many problems. I really believe your dealer is the root cause. Let me recommend a 3 step program.

1. Take a deep breath
2. Find your happy place
3. Find a dealer who can support/service your business

They should offer demo's of new equipment to make sure you get the right machine
Loaners if your machine is in for service
Competent service department who will fix it right the first time​

Best of luck.

 

[Harold_J]

...
BTW, the loaner TC45 (no cab, but hydro) i had for a while, went up most slopes without much issue.
This one???
DOG!!!!

It sounds like you may have been happier with a TC45 for the jobs you are doing. The TC45 weighs almost 700 lbs more and the engine is 10% larger displacement (2.2 vs 2.0 L). Trying to turn a 6' rotary cutter in heavy going with a 122 cu in. non-turbo engine is asking a lot. And of course if the rabbit/turtle isn't working the hydro will never perform to its potential.

Good luck in resolving this to your satisfaction. Since they're providing a loaner perhaps you should be patient and give one more chance. Or if you like the way the 45 performs maybe you could work a deal to trade up.

 

[LarryRB]

no problem.. long time ago I was known as lamarbur on here,,, after 2, 2 1/2, years or so, tbn had a major crash. They were using a different web system then what is used now. They even tried switching over about 900 posts from then, but couldn't do it,. No big deal, started as Larryrb and continued on.

 

[shvl73]

I really can't give you a suggestion on how to rectify this situation, however, many years back on TBN, there was a guy somewhere in California who had a compact or maybe it was a sub compact NH tractor, He had so many problems with it, that NH finally took it back and gave him a brand new tractor. IF memory serves me right, he paid a few hundred more and upped the tractor to 26 hp? At the end of his thread,. he designed and built an awesome fire fighting trailer, good for small brush fire fighting,,, I don't believe he is still here unless he did like me and changed his name on TBN and started over under another name.

I think the member was LAGeorge

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert, I had to smile when I read that... as I refer to my 41 HP, 21-foot long, 7,350 lb Mahindra 4110 TLB as "just my lawnmower" with a friendly smile when folks in the neighborhood drive by and are shocked at the size of my "homeowner tractor" sitting on my modest front lawn or getting loaded onto its 20-foot equipment trailer in the street for a trip to a jobsite.

If Brian's new 45 HP is a mere "homeowner tractor"... then I guess mine is truly just a lawnmower as I've been telling folks here all along.

Everything is relative I guess... and clearly in the eye of the beholder.

Dougster

It is nice of you to remove the part where I said that I know they can do more. However, from my experience, a compact tractor is a light duty tractor. If you push it too hard it will fail. A few of the small grape growers here have one compact tractor to do the majority of the farm work and they just can not hold up to the heavy workload the vineyards require. A utility class of tractor is better suited to heavy, constant use. A compact is more suited to a homeowner or hobby farmer.

I am curious though, who buys more compact tractors? Homeowners, contractors or farmers?

 

[LarryRB]

I think the member was LAGeorge

I believe you have it!! LAGeorge was the guy,.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

Is there a "lemon law" on tractors in your state? Probably not...but this one sure sounds like a lemon to me.

Can't say I blame you for your anger...your experience would put me over the edge, too!!

 

[LoneCowboy]

It sounds like you may have been happier with a TC45 for the jobs you are doing. The TC45 weighs almost 700 lbs more and the engine is 10% larger displacement (2.2 vs 2.0 L). Trying to turn a 6' rotary cutter in heavy going with a 122 cu in. non-turbo engine is asking a lot. And of course if the rabbit/turtle isn't working the hydro will never perform to its potential.

Good luck in resolving this to your satisfaction. Since they're providing a loaner perhaps you should be patient and give one more chance. Or if you like the way the 45 performs maybe you could work a deal to trade up.

It is a TC45 and it's a dog.

 

[LoneCowboy]

UPDATE

Called NH corporate
The lady (Odile) said "well, that's worthless, you shouldn't have to do that, you take it down to the dealer, you tell them not to touch it, get a hold of the NH rep and you tell the rep to give you a new one"

Went by the dealer (was on the way home from another job with a working tractor) and told the GM all this and said "get the NH rep on the phone"

So, a meeting is set for 9am Friday.

The dealer offered to come fix it, I said why bother, it will just break on the next job. It always has, why would the next one be any different? I'm out of patience, it's a lemon and it needs to go back. It's been different things every single time. Either they can give me a new tractor, or they can undo the deal and give me my down payment back (at this point, I prefer the 2nd option)

 

[Z-Michigan]

Glad to hear that resolution is pending.

Is this dealer one that focuses on farmers (I guess ranchers in your area) and contractors or on homeowners? In my area I've seen significantly better service from the first kind of dealer when something isn't going right. Sometimes it's hard to get through to people that stuff needs to be fixed NOW because you can't do the same task a month from now and get the same result. In your case, with owning 3 tractors and a full-time business, I would think any smart dealer would be looking to help you out in the hopes of getting future business as you need to replace or upgrade tractors, or (gasp) expand the business.

 

[FULLPULL]

My issues with my tractor was very small waranty items nothin major. I hope you get good results Friday .