New TC55DA

[ahvatsa]

JD 4520 (Open)
No 47s anywhere to be found in So Tx. Very user friendly. Stops on a dime and feels safe as did Kub. Power was OK at best (sorry green guys the NH smoked it here). Most comfortable seat yet! The motor...sounded like an old orential 3cyl with 100,000hrs. REALLY noisy. OK, I can live with it...I hope. Drive, 4wd smooth, was so impressive I was ready to pick implements. MX6 maybe even MX7 (dealer offered to let me try either) 400x loader HD bucket and a box blade. 'Imatch' option seemed interesting also. Will either water OR seal tires, not both. This contradicts other dealers options (Kub. NH). To the office, out with the highlighter and calculator...GULP...Ain't so bad if you say fast! $32k and change. Ok, by the way whats all this cat1? You mean JD only offers cat1 on ALL 47 series, come on, only cat 1...even a 58HP!??? Read the smaller print. Maybe it's just me but I CANNOT lay down $$$$$ for a cat 1 only hitch.
Scanning brochures: "THE POWER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN" "20 series:more power more choice" "...wondering why we use eight wheel bolts..." "Built to survive mud. scrape, rocks...of time"...SAY WHAT? "Large chassis, 43-58 hp"
"REAL John Deere power"... alright that's enough.
Went to my office and faxed an offer on TC55DA, so it will be on dealers desk Monday morning. (Still bargain hunting...but getting close).
Again, a novice here. I will say this, "tractor heat" is worst than any Truck SUV or Car I've experienced. They won't even run 20mph
All opinions appreciated!
al
Did take a cab for a quickie and @ 6'4' 235 won't work for me.

 

[Cargun]

The JD's are real nice tractors, but you can't go wrong with the TC55. With the deals NH's offering on them right now, they're the best buy out there. The Nebraska tests show the 4520/4720 engines to be a lot more torquey than the TC55 engine (higher peak torque at a lower RPM). I have noticed that I need at least 1500 RPM on it when cycling the loader or starting from a stop in M range or the engine bog. The owners manual says 1700-2200 RPM is the ideal loader operating speed. Not only are the JD engines torquier, they also consume a lot less fuel and are a couple dB quieter (though I didn't notice a difference during my test drive). But in my opinion that was not worth the price difference between them and the TC55. If you want a Hydro trans, JD is the only choice though.

Both tractors have on/off electric PTO's. It's already cost me a shear pin on my mower. I like having the Cat II on NH, but honestly I have a quick hitch on it right now that uses a Cat I attachment to the tractor and Cat II attachment for the equipment, so I'll probably never use the Cat II capability on the NH. The NH does have slightly better 3 point lift capacity.

I don't know how well the JD's lights work, but I was mowing after dark this week with my TC and it's lighting was awesome. It would have been even better if I had taken the loader off though.

 

[Diesel-ME]

Ahvasta,

If you are financing your dream machine beyond 36 months it will be hard to beat the overall deal on the Tc55DA. Both very nice machines though.

You could always flip a coin.

~paul