TC29 Buying with Transmission Issue, Pass or Risk It?

[jriggs]

I won an auction for a gov't surplus New Holland TC29 with Woods 1009 loader, manual 9x3 transmission, and "less than 1500 hrs". Issue is that it won't go into reverse easily and if forced into reverse it won't move. Anyone familiar with this type of transmission problem? I believe the forward and reverse shift lever is on the lower lefthand part of the dash below the steering wheel near the floor. If it's a split the transmission job I plan to just back out of the deal all together. Tractor looks great cosmetically and is stored in a building on a prison property where it was used for general grounds work and unloading pallets. I learned about this issue after calling them after winning the bid for $5k...Holiday weekend auction and guy knowledgable of tractor was off, yada yada. He was forthcoming about the issue, but I'm irritated it wasn't disclosed and didn't factor into my bidding. I am looking for opinions if this is worth pursuing or should I run?

 

[arto98607]

Looks like most (or many) parts are still available.

I'd say its worth repairing for sure if you can do it yourself IE. "free" labor.


Messicks

 

[TractorTech]

Welcome to TBN!

Hard to tell whether you would need to split or not, but my guess is, being a prison unit, the shifter was forced and something like a fork is bent. Not a terrible repair.

 

[jriggs]

Thanks for the replies and welcoming here. I'm torn between taking a gamble with this unit at this price or just washing my hands of the deal and start over searching. Every other pre-emissions 30hp 4x4 with FEL I'm finding is $12-15k... I don't mind doing the work and ending up with a good deal if it's a reasonable job and I can get the parts easily. I've done plenty of clutch jobs on trucks and motorcycle bottom-end case splitting, but zero experience with NH tractor transmissions. My luck it would need a gear or fork that's discontinued or crazy expensive and I'd be stuck going forward.

Had the idea that Government surplus would be a less traveled route where I could bid up to what I'd be willing to pay and maybe land a deal on an older unit they wanted to replace for new. I'm now thinking they use, abuse, then decommission for a reason (problem) and often are deliberately vague about the condition.

 

[oldnslo]

Maybe look at some parts diagrams or if possible a service manual to see how the forward reverse works. Then make a decision based on that information. If just a shift fork or linkage might be accessible with out splitting the tractor.

 

[airbiscuit]

I would study the parts diagram, see where the linkage connects at the transmission case, and how. Bring a friend, disconnect the linkage there, and try to shift it with a vice grip or other appropriate tool. If that works you got a deal.

Judging by the condition of the front tires, that looks like hard 1500 hours, or it was never shifted out of 4wd.