TC18 Add-Ons

JimBinMI · Nov 19, 2000

Club Blue,

Didn't want to call this enhancements like MarkC due to the fact that you can't enhance perfection! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Those orange guys definitely need to enhance those things! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I removed my rear wheels and transported them to my dad's house this afternoon, he'll take them to my dealer in the a.m. and the "Rim Guard" aka: "Beet Juice" will be flowing into them before lunch.

After I got home, I mounted the rear flood light that I've had for awhile and didn't get around to mounting, figured I better get it mounted for evening snow removal...wishful thinking. We have been getting flurries but nothing accumulating yet. I used a bracket to mount the flood light that my dad made for me, I used an existing ROPs bolt to attach it and an existing aux. wire for power. The light has its own on/off button and when on, comes on with the headlights. I'll have to adjust the beam when I get my tires back, mounted and I should be all set for snow with extra weight in the rear tires and a light to see what I'm doing.

Went to the Curtis Cab Systems website and thought they looked pretty cool until I found out they don't have one for the TC18/21?????????? They do however, list them for the JD4100 and the Kubota B7300/1700/2100/2400. Don't know that I'd buy one but they sure make things look warm! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI

Thomas · Nov 20, 2000

Jim,
Winter is just like taxes and it shall be coming. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Jim if you really want to play in the snow w/ your TC18 come on over here,/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and your hour metter will click and click. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Hope you didn't get the motion detection lighting made by Levtion.
If you get big snow flakes or a bat flies by the sensor etc.. the darn light comes on,/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gifbut it does have a by pass switch. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

You must be glad its a short school week, /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and maybe you can get some tractor time??? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JimBinMI · Nov 20, 2000

Thomas,

Finally have a white blanket on the ground, this is lake effect snow but we might get up to 5 inches by morning.

Won't get my rear tires back until Thanksgiving so I can't play in the snow! By Thanksgiving the temp is supposed to be back up in the 40's and it'll all melt away...darn it!

Yes, I'm ready for this short work week! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI

RickB · Nov 20, 2000

Check with your dealer about a soft cab for your TC. We have installed 2 or 3 on 18's and 21's. I wasn't directly involved and don't know the manufacturer. It may well have been NH, I don't think they were Sims or Curtis. They have a fiberglass roof, glass windshield, and soft sides & doors.

JimBinMI · Nov 20, 2000

RickB,

Like I said, don't know that I'd buy one but they sure look warm! Thanks for the information, for now I'll probably just bundle up good and do the deed!

JimBinMI

Bigfinn · Nov 20, 2000

JimBinMi,
Just thought I'd let you know since your Boomer is temporarily parked that moving snow is a blast! Last Thursday we had a whopping 3/4" and yep, before I went to work that morning I fired up the TC 29. Had so much fun I was a half hour late for work. I could have shoveled it in 15 minutes, but what fun would that be? So just pray it only snows on the weekends /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif The neighbors now have proof...

RobS · Nov 21, 2000

Lake effect eh Jim? You must be somewhere near me. I blew off 8 inches of the lake induced white stuff with my little tractor this morning (Craftsman lawn tractor with blower). Looking forward to enough snow to get the big one out, though no blower for it yet. We're in the South Bend area. You?

Rob

JimBinMI · Nov 21, 2000

RobS,

I'm just east of Battle Creek, MI. The major snow from lake effect hits west of US-131, but we always get some of it. A co-worker of mine lives near Mattawan, west of Kalamazoo, he had over 5 inches when he left home on Monday morning. I awoke to about 6 inches of snow this morning and NO SCHOOL!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif They are calling for another 3"+ today.

Too bad that my rear tractor tires are 35 miles away at my dealer's getting rim guard added, won't pick them up until I go to my parents on Thanksgiving! /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Now where did I put that old JD paddle snowthrower?????????

JimBinMI

RobS · Nov 21, 2000

Great area Jim. I have a couple of good friends up that way and have enjoyed Fort Custer bike trails several times. Did you by chance get your Blue Rig at the dealer in Schoolcraft? I shopped there for both Blue and Orange before I bought Green in Union, MI. I'm sure we'll have plenty more snow for you to "play" in before we see the sun again. Have fun.

Rob

JimBinMI · Nov 21, 2000

RobS,

I bought my TC18 at Bates Ford Tractor in Coldwater, MI. Coldwater is my home town and the owner of Bates is my brother's neighbor...feel I got a good deal and the service/information before and after the sale have been great! I didn't price Schoolcraft but was aware of them. I priced a New Holland/Kubota dealer south of Lansing I think in Potterville...he was much higher than my dealer, also had to educate him on the fact that he could sell me a TC18 cheaper than a B1700 and that the TC18 would do more. He had a confused look on his face when I left, guess he hadn't run across informed customers before! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I looked at the JD4100 and was even partial to it for awhile, until the tractor cupid shot his BLUE arrow at me!

JimBinMI

RobS · Nov 21, 2000

JimB, I know exactly what you mean about dealers not knowing how to deal with informed customers. The dealer I mentioned in Schoolcraft was that way as was an Orange dealer outside of Detroit (I frequently tractor shop on business trips, is that playing Hookey?). Both of these dealers tried so hard to sell me HST when my mind was already made up to have gears. Neither could comprehend why I'd want gears and got downright insulting when I wanted more info on the gear tractors available. We know we're in the minority, but both my wife and I prefer gears in everything we drive. Amazing how few dealers (car and tractor) can deal with this, and it's even more amazing to hear a salesperson try to convince an informed consumer that he/she is wrong. Oh well, enough of this rant...

Rob

Blu21 · Nov 21, 2000

Got 12 plus of the white stuff overnight,N.E.Ohio right in the good ol' lake effect area.Got to use the tractor with my backblade this morning,turf tires no chains no problem.Then again this stuff is light powder,but I'm sure the heavier stuff wouldn't be so bad either.Going out to play on the four wheeler with the boys,they sit on a saucer sled backwards and I pull them all over the place.I have more fun than the kids!!! Guess if you have to live in this enviroment you must adapt>Tom

Thomas · Nov 21, 2000

Okay...you guys and ladies out there who got to play in the surprise snowstorm /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif with your tractors,/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif for show little more mercy on us folk up here who also want to play with our tractors in the snow. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Have fun and stay dry

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JimBinMI · Nov 22, 2000

Guys,

Well, I couldn't stand it, snow in the drive, tractor up on jackstands, tires filled and waiting for me only 35 miles away. Drove down to Coldwater last night! Hooked up my trailer, visited with my folks, then my older brother when he stopped by, didn't leave until after 10:00. Got home, mounted the filled tires, service guy estimated that they each now weigh about 150 lbs...felt like it when I mounted them. Drove out to the barn, hooked up the rear blade and plowed snow! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

It feels like better traction to me, pushed snow until it came over the top of the blade and was pilling it up pretty good and still had traction with my turf tires, 4x4 and no chains. That was fun! Rear flood light works so good, nice to see when hooking up and plowing in reverse.

Finished up about 12:30 a.m., can't figure out why I was so tired at work today! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

JimBinMI

gordon · Nov 22, 2000

Jim how many inches did you get?
On the back of my tractor I've got two floods and one trap light makes a big difference this time of year.
I was thinking about you and a tractor with no rear tires man that must have been driving you crazy. Guess that question was already answered by you going to pick up the tires early!!!
Shame your tractor got painted the wrong color at the factory should have been orange in color by the way it pushes snow. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

JimBinMI · Nov 23, 2000

Gordon,

We got like 6-8" of the white stuff. Since they called school off on Tuesday my son and I got the old snowmobile going and played on it for awhile. The snowmobile is an old '79 John Deere 340 free air, too bad New Holland didn't make a snowmobile! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I had posted that my 12 year old son didn't pay much attention to the tractor, that all changed when he was helping me pick up leaves with the pull behind leaf collector. I kind of tricked him into driving the TC out of the barn and when he realized how easy it was to drive the hydro I couldn't get him off of it! Had him wearing the seatbelt of course! When driving the old Allis Chalmers hydro, he almost ran into the house, but that was the lever hydro, the kind that goes forward neutral reverse and it could get tricky. Hope he lets me do most of the snow removal but I'll let him when he wants to! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Have a great Thanksgiving All!

JimBinMI

Thomas · Nov 24, 2000

Jim,
Reading a sentence like that was grand!!
Sounds like your going to be sharing the hour meter with your son./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Maybe your son will join the board, /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gifand who knows we all might convince your son to get a Kubota. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

JimBinMI · Nov 24, 2000

Thomas,

I recall reading that your 1st choice was a New Holland...if you had found a better dealer by you like I did, we'd be full blood brothers right now! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

My son would NEVER want a Kubota, his school colors are Royal BLUE and white! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

JimBinMI