T1510 reviews, recommendations, do's, don'ts?

matemike · Oct 5, 2017

So I've been in the market for a CUT for a little over a year now. I've bounced back and forth between Mahindra Max 26, 1526, and even the 1533 as well as the Kubota B2650 and L2501. Haven't been able to justify buying new for my 2 acres because all I really want to do with it is bush hog some ditch areas behind the house, maintain a burn pile area that is built up and burned down six times a year and I'll spread dirt in low areas that appear every few years after heavy rain fall in the flat SE TX landscape.

Just stumbled across a New Holland T1510 for sale as a whole package with 5' bush hog, 5' box blade and a canopy over the operator seat. It's a 2008 with 272 hours. Looks really clean in the pictures and is said to have no leaks or running issues. I plan to go look at it tomorrow and very possibly take delivery too. The wife is even at ease after seeing the $14,000 price tag for everything compared new machine prices without attachments.

My experience with tractors is few and far between. I spent many weekends in my youth mowing with a MMM on a 23 hp JD 770 and I might have a hundred hours of seat time in my adult life with fel and bb use on mahindras, JD's and NH. Several of those hours are on a 85hp New Holland shuttle shift. Didn't care for the shuttle shift, and the tractor was too big for my application, but it was borrowed and I couldn't complain. This T1510 should fit my needs better.

My biggest fear is that I don't know of a New Holland dealer around where I live. I am pretty handy and mechanically able, so a lot of maintenance and repairs will likely be done by myself and friends. Sure there are mechanic shops that could help in a big bind though.

So far I like the 30HP that the T1510 offers and the tractor weighs a tad more than the 25hp mahindra 1526, so that's also a plus. Looks like it can hoist ~1500 lbs with the bucket to 59" and almost 1000 lbs to full height of 100". I should have no problems with the fel capacity on my 2 acres. The most I think I'd ever lift is pallet loads approaching several hundred pounds if and when I do get bucket forks.

All in all is there anything I should know before pursuing this 2008 New Holland T1510 package deal? I am going to scour for leaks, hydraulics that bleed down, black or white smoky exhaust, knocking, all gauges and lights will be checked and I'll scan for any big dents, body damage, bent subframe pieces etc. Anything else I should look for?

Thanks for your time.

matemike · Oct 6, 2017

edited and bumped to top

bspeedy · Oct 6, 2017

matemike said:
edited and bumped to top

Looks like you have a good idea of what to look for. T1510 is a great tractor, as was it's predecessor, the TC30. You will find it to be very simple to operate, very basic and dead reliable. I had a TC30 for several years. My brother has one. I grew up with Ford and Ford / NH tractors made by Shibaura like the T1510. Never any real issues with any of the machines we had over a 30+ year period.

My TC30 hardly even blackened the oil.

I think 1500 lbs lift on the FEL is a bit optimistic, though. I don't think it will raise that weight at all. Should be good for a safe 1,000 lbs.

I think the price is certainly in the ball park. If the maintenance has been kept up and the machine is in good condition, you will get a great tractor.

Turbys_1700 · Oct 6, 2017

I ran a 99 model 1720 New Holland, the predecessor to the TC30 and later T1510, for 10 years. Put approximately 600 trouble free hours on the tractor. They are stone cold reliable and very desirable. $14K is a fair price.

KNOWITALL · Oct 7, 2017

The T1510 is a bullet proof little box on wheels. Last of the Fords, it was the culmination of a 40 some odd year partnership that basically created the compact tractor market in the United States. Ford and eventually New Holland owned the market with the original little Japanese tractor into the early 2000's.

Great machine, prior poster was correct the loader in all reality is going to give you just under 1k lbs. of usable lift. The 9x3 transmission is not ideal for loader work but it's forgiving and durable. You actually have 3 New Holland dealers within a 40 miles radius, closet being only 11 miles away in Angleton. The price is high for our region honestly and I know the tractor you are talking about...last 4 of the serial are 1728 and it has a clean little Bush Hog SQ160. That tractor sells for $12,995 retail on a dealers lot in this neck of the woods, $12,500 for an ole horse trader...you just better have your own trailer. It might be worth 14k in some pockets around the country...Just not anywhere between the Sabine and the Colorado in the great state of Texas. If you have purchased it don't worry, better to pay a little more for a good one then be "that guy" that fell for the Mahindra gimmick.

matemike · Oct 7, 2017

KNOWITALL said:
The T1510 is a bullet proof little box on wheels. Last of the Fords, it was the culmination of a 40 some odd year partnership that basically created the compact tractor market in the United States. Ford and eventually New Holland owned the market with the original little Japanese tractor into the early 2000's.

Great machine, prior poster was correct the loader in all reality is going to give you just under 1k lbs. of usable lift. The 9x3 transmission is not ideal for loader work but it's forgiving and durable. You actually have 3 New Holland dealers within a 40 miles radius, closet being only 11 miles away in Angleton. The price is high for our region honestly and I know the tractor you are talking about...last 4 of the serial are 1728 and it has a clean little Bush Hog SQ160. That tractor sells for $12,995 retail on a dealers lot in this neck of the woods, $12,500 for an ole horse trader...you just better have your own trailer. It might be worth 14k in some pockets around the country...Just not anywhere between the Sabine and the Colorado in the great state of Texas. If you have purchased it don't worry, better to pay a little more for a good one then be "that guy" that fell for the Mahindra gimmick.

Awesome! Thanks. Going to look Monday. How do you know which tractor it is? Do you know the seller? Seller did say it was a hst which is what I want.

Also what's the name of the dealership in Angleton? My Google fu is lacking.

matemike · Oct 8, 2017

So the tractor in question is not HST. It's the 9x3. Is that a shuttle shift though? Or will I need to clutch in with my left foot every time I want to shift gears and/or go from fwd to reverse?

Also, the dealer in Angleton is closed unfortunately. It was called Angleton Tractor Co. But in its place now is a company called equipment depot. They mostly just rent out heavy equipment. They did have 4 brand new New Holland's on the lot, but not a big busy dealer it seems.

bspeedy · Oct 9, 2017

matemike said:
So the tractor in question is not HST. It's the 9x3. Is that a shuttle shift though? Or will I need to clutch in with my left foot every time I want to shift gears and/or go from fwd to reverse?

Also, the dealer in Angleton is closed unfortunately. It was called Angleton Tractor Co. But in its place now is a company called equipment depot. They mostly just rent out heavy equipment. They did have 4 brand new New Holland's on the lot, but not a big busy dealer it seems.

9x3 trans is not a shuttle shift. Push clutch, come to a stop, engage gear. Not great for loader work, but you can be smooth with it. Shifter is oriented in a good position - to the left of the steering wheel. Not as nice for loader work as the hst, for sure.

Turbys_1700 · Oct 9, 2017

My 1720 was shuttle shift. For loader work it worked fine. The shifts are synchronized. Shifting between forward and reverse does require a depress of the clutch but it can be done quickly and efficiently. Not so on the 9x3. For FEL work a HST is the preferred transmission by most users followed by a shuttle shift. The 9x3 is least preferred.

matemike · Oct 14, 2017

bspeedy said:
9x3 trans is not a shuttle shift. Push clutch, come to a stop, engage gear. Not great for loader work, but you can be smooth with it. Shifter is oriented in a good position - to the left of the steering wheel. Not as nice for loader work as the hst, for sure.

Turbys_1700 said:
My 1720 was shuttle shift. For loader work it worked fine. The shifts are synchronized. Shifting between forward and reverse does require a depress of the clutch but it can be done quickly and efficiently. Not so on the 9x3. For FEL work a HST is the preferred transmission by most users followed by a shuttle shift. The 9x3 is least preferred.

Completely agreed on the hst being preferred. But the location of the shifter was a saving grace if you could say and I can get used to it, maybe even smooth with it. Came down to asking myself "you know how to shift right? So what's the problem?"

The lady with the tractor package came down a little bit right at first. Everything was in great shape so I picked it up. Now looking forward to playing with it if I could ever get some time.

The guy with the newer hst "same hours" didn't come down and wouldn't deliver. Went with the package deal for $500 less than the tractor/loader option.