TC 55DA

[shaley]

Is it true that all TC 55DA boomers have the Hydraulic Shuttle shift tranny or was there a manual 3x4 offered as well.

 

[FULLPULL]

Most have the ehhs transmission i have seen . But they did make a regular shuttle like the tc48 has.The way you can tell is the side of the fuel tank is has the EHSS sticker. I like the ehhs but i havn't used the regular shuttle shft . I would say it would be better to use than the 8x8 like on 3000 fords .But the 8x8 is not offered in the TC series but it was a great transmission .

 

[RADIUM]

The SSS is still offered, I love it I would never have one of those EHSS , more things to go wrong down the road. I also like the fact of knowing when the clutch is engaged or slipping. I do a lot of loader work with mine and never find it hard to shift between forward and reverse and clutch at the same time, and the best part is you don't have to come to a complete stop, You can roll right into forward or reverse try that with EHSS at high rpm and see how the tractor jumps. I tried one for a week, couldn't stand it. My tractor is a 2420, basically a TC. 55 with a cab also not that it's a major consideration you gain about 2 hp at the PTO with a straight clutch. I mow hayfields snow blow and pull three bottom plow and general field maintenance, rocking, disking , field clearing ,I've had a few minor problems ;-) ,but overall she's a tank. You couldn't go wrong with either one take care

 

[Ford850]

I have a EHSS and can go from forward to reverse at fairly high RPM with no jumping. I try to slow down my momentum by going from reverse - nuetral - forward with a slight hesitation when moving the lever. The EHSS does a nice gradual clutch type shift for me. It could come down to how it is adjusted too.
The EHSS is really nice when doing repetative work too, especially if you have to turn in your seat to watch a back blade for example. I did that to a large area having to go forward 10 yards, back 10 yards in a slow zig zag pattern as I raised an lowered the blade. It was great to sit slightly turned in the seat and only flip the lever back and forth as I raised and lowered the blade.
As Radium said, you couldn't go wrong with either one. You will like whichever one you get used to using.

 

[brain55]

I personally would never own an EHSS. Having worked for a company that had 3 of them I know they have a design flaw in the transmission. On the shaft above the fwd/rev clutch pack there are 2 gears separated by a metal sleeve. This sleeve is not made of the proper material or is not properly hardened or heat treated. What happens is that sleeve wears and the 2 gears that it separates are allowed to slide into the fwd/rev clutch pack and eventually wears the clutch pack housing until the snap rings that hold the clutch packs in pop out. First you notice a lag in shifting, the next thing you know, no forward or reverse. This happened in all 3 machines we owned more than once.

Brian

 

[RADIUM]

Brian55 about how long ago was that? I'm pretty sure they've fixed that problem. I remember my dealer two years ago telling me when I tried one for a week they had a few problems, but they were worked out. I wonder if that's what he was referring to?. I also personally know a farmer with TC 55 EHSS well over 2000 hrs without a single problem doing a lot of hay work with the tractor stacking and loading trucks. Personally I just couldn't get used to it, but it really is a great system my friend up the road laughs at me that I didn't get it on this tractor to each his own .

 

[brain55]

I bought parts for one 6 months ago. If they made any changes, they hadn't trickled down to the parts system yet. Maybe they have corrected the problem in new production. Our machines were strictly grading machines with box scrapers for doing rough grading on residential lots. They were worked pretty hard. I think they were all getting up towards 3000 and 4000 hours when I left.

Brian

 

[RADIUM]

Wow that recent I believe you, it just makes me wonder why more people haven't been chiming in with EHSS problems? Beyond a mechanical failure it's quite possibly due to the fact of different drivers and of course not being their property, drive it like you stole it ;-). This is exactly why I'm looking for a wet clutch tractor for the farm's, so when the part-time help give me a hand they don't empty out my wallet LOL take care.

 

[shaley]

The EHSS on my 2120 is an electric switch for foward/reverse I think.
I hope the 55DA is the same. I'll have to check.

 

[jimmysisson]

Actually a hydraulic clutch pack for forward and reverse. The E stands for the little button where you control the engagement speed. I don't think there's any electronic management of the shuttle.
Also haven't heard about that much trouble with them, though there was a poster RaT who had one go out years ago. Clean fluid probably helps some.
Jim