eBay/Craigslist TC35 HST broken tractor for sale: $6500

[dfkrug]

A tractor recently came up for sale at a dealer in N. CA. It's a 2001
with HST, 4x4, and loader. The MFWD is broken, but the engine runs
and the tractor moves in 2WD.

I have been looking for a few years for just this kind of project, an
HST NH CUT needing repair. I want to dissect a blue tractor.

Problems: the unit has 3800 hr on it, and the dealer clearly believes
it is not worth fixing. Despite being a CNH dealer. I suppose top
dollar for that unit (fixed) is no more than $8500-9000.

It's also 100+ mi (3hr) away, so I have not actually seen it. Nobody
has grabbed it, yet. I suppose if no one has bought it by mid APR,
I will go look at it.

Comments?

 

[jinman]

Dave, it's funny that the NH dealer would not fix the problem and sell it. The problem of no front-wheel drive could something as simple as a rollpin sheared in the splined collar that joins the driveshaft with the front differential. Of course, the front differential has experienced some problems on some of these tractors. That tractor without loader sold for around $14.5k to $15k new. With the 16LA loader, they were around $18K. I know you are a good bargain hunter, but if the dealer is going to let weeds grow around that tractor, I think I'd offer him $5k and see if he'd bite. That way, if you get it fixed and sell it for $8500, you'll be sure to make a few bucks.

I recently found out that the TC35 models all had some differences in hydraulic plumbing from the TC40/TC45 (both gear and HST). The pressure line flange on the bottom of the hyd pump only has two bolts on the TC35 due to 2300 psi relief pressure. On the TC40/45 models, the flange has four bolts to handle the 2500 psi pressure. My gut says that New Holland would not have two different assemblies if the 2-bolt flange would work for the higher pressure. My point for this is that the devil is in the details when you compare the 3-cyl TC35 to its 4-cyl siblings. Although they are all Class III Boomers, they have lots more differences than just the engines.

 

[kiotiken]

I wouldn't give you $6500 for a fully functional TC35 if it had 3800 hrs. Yes it could be a simple fix, but I'd be willing to bet it's not if a NH dealer isn't going to fix it.

If you are convinced you want to go for it, I'd look at the WORST case scenario and work back from that. If the dealer doesn't want to bite, you've probably saved yourself a headache. Price out a new HST and transfer case, and then take that, and your time and effort, off what you'd want to pay for a 29hp tractor with 3800hrs on it.

 

[jonyyuma]

It sounds like the dealer is correct..But why is his price so high for a broken tractor...

 

[dfkrug]

...the front differential has experienced some problems on some of these tractors.

Thx for chiming in, Jim. I knew you would have some good input.

The dealer reports that it has a "broken pinion gear in the front",
but that is from the salesman, not the mechanic. Since I always
view broken CUTs from a worst-case scenario, I would factor in
at LEAST broken gears in the front hubs and/or the front pumpkin.
I also realize that the shifter mechanism inside the gearbox may
have gone south, requiring case splitting. No problem.

I am very concerned about the access to certain new parts from
CNH. I have read several TBN stories about difficult part access.
I have had no problems gettting new parts from JD, Kub, or Kioti, but
I am a CNH newbie.

3800 hours really concerns me, but not so much with the HST. I
am more concerned about sloppy FEL holes and rust with those
hours. Leaky cylinders and cracked up plastics is a concern, too.
I would have to see it, of course, before I could make any offer, and
there's a good chance that it is so worn out that I would not pay
even $4-5K for it. Tractors still sell for stupid money sometimes, but
that has gotten much rarer in this current economy. At least it's
not a rental unit!

Finally, there is no profit in this unit for ANYONE. It will be bought
and fixed by someone who wants to use it, and whose labor is "free".
Or, in my case, for education. I would eventually sell it (fixed) and
hope not to LOSE money.

 

[jinman]

Thx for chiming in, Jim. I knew you would have some good input.

The dealer reports that it has a "broken pinion gear in the front",
but that is from the salesman, not the mechanic. Since I always
view broken CUTs from a worst-case scenario, I would factor in
at LEAST broken gears in the front hubs and/or the front pumpkin.
I also realize that the shifter mechanism inside the gearbox may
have gone south, requiring case splitting. No problem.

I am very concerned about the access to certain new parts from
CNH. I have read several TBN stories about difficult part access.
I have had no problems gettting new parts from JD, Kub, or Kioti, but
I am a CNH newbie.

Dave, I looked at the front differential on Messicks.com and found that the pinion and ring gear are not even listed in their parts diagram. They are shown and numbered in the illustration, but not listed. That could spell some real issues and define why the dealer has decided to call it a bust. The ring gear problem I have heard is the bolts loosening and shearing off. However, I'm not familiar with any common problem in the front hubs. Recently one TBNer had a seal and bearing go bad, but that didn't ruin any really expensive part.