Hi everyone. This will be my first post.
I have owned a few Farmall Cubs but decided to step up to something a little more user friendly for my 16 acre homestead. I have been looking around, and found a New Holland TC18, 2003, with Koyker 80 FEL. The machine is a hydrostat and has rear remotes (factory installed?) The tractor is showing 1700 hours and according to the dealership that took the trade, was bought new there and traded in by an older fellow, the only owner. He claims to have put most of the hours on it gathering firewood from his back 40.
I took her for a spin today, and everything (to me) appears good, she seems to run strong. The only problem I noted was that when the mid-PTO was engaged, the tractor died. This was not true of the rear PTO, which worked fine. The dealer claimed that they would look at it and fix it before it left their shop; they said they believed it to be a safety switch of some sort?
The tractor is physically about the right size for what I need it for.. a little more ground clearance than a subcompact, but not quite as big as most compacts. The three-point and 'normal' PTO will be so much more handy than my old Farmall Cub, as well the FEL and 4 wheel drive. 18hp will feel like a beast compared to my Farmall's 9hp. LOL. My Farmall turns a IH C3 60" belly mower without much fuss so long is the grass is under 8" or so, so I cant imagine the TC18 will have much trouble spinning a three point 48" or even 54" finish mower.
Are their any quirks on these little machines? Do you all think 1700 hours is excessive? They were asking $7200. He said they could take $7000. I have been looking around for a little while and this is the first 4wd diesel with a FEL that I have seen under $10k.
I have owned a few Farmall Cubs but decided to step up to something a little more user friendly for my 16 acre homestead. I have been looking around, and found a New Holland TC18, 2003, with Koyker 80 FEL. The machine is a hydrostat and has rear remotes (factory installed?) The tractor is showing 1700 hours and according to the dealership that took the trade, was bought new there and traded in by an older fellow, the only owner. He claims to have put most of the hours on it gathering firewood from his back 40.
I took her for a spin today, and everything (to me) appears good, she seems to run strong. The only problem I noted was that when the mid-PTO was engaged, the tractor died. This was not true of the rear PTO, which worked fine. The dealer claimed that they would look at it and fix it before it left their shop; they said they believed it to be a safety switch of some sort?
The tractor is physically about the right size for what I need it for.. a little more ground clearance than a subcompact, but not quite as big as most compacts. The three-point and 'normal' PTO will be so much more handy than my old Farmall Cub, as well the FEL and 4 wheel drive. 18hp will feel like a beast compared to my Farmall's 9hp. LOL. My Farmall turns a IH C3 60" belly mower without much fuss so long is the grass is under 8" or so, so I cant imagine the TC18 will have much trouble spinning a three point 48" or even 54" finish mower.
Are their any quirks on these little machines? Do you all think 1700 hours is excessive? They were asking $7200. He said they could take $7000. I have been looking around for a little while and this is the first 4wd diesel with a FEL that I have seen under $10k.
