TC45DA thoughts

[FULLPULL]

I didnt think when i posted about the mid mount implements .I thought it would have been a nice option to have on my TC40D . If the cab can make a differance its a good thing to check out i will agree. I reread your post later after i told him wrong. Good luck with the 45 and remember the free hat .

 

[LoneCowboy]

ain't nothing "free" about the hat.

Thanks
No need for a belly mount mower, not our thing. Lots fo PTO work though and I decided yesterday sitting in nice comfort in the cab of the TN, while the wife was working a different job in 90 degrees on the open platform MF that maybe we should upgrade a bit. I think we'll keep the MF for scary stuff (slopes) and smaller stuff. And use the TC for manure removal and less than 5 acres mowings. Be worth it.

thanks. (my wallet hates you though. )

 

[FULLPULL]

Yea a 30k hat thats what i was told when i picked up my new 55 they aint cheap.lol

 

[MadDogDriver]

Congrats Brian,

now for a few pennies more you can get the Satellite Radio installed in the cab, make a mount for the GPS and ooohh Yaaaaaa, PICS pleeeeeez. This is fun helping others with their money. (they should give you two hats)

 

[jinman]

Ok
last chance to talk me out of it, or I go buy it tomorrow morning.

Help my wallet, please

DON"T DO IT! I have a better idea....

Oops! It's Saturday and he's already done it....

Congratulations Brian! When do we see pictures?

 

[MadDogDriver]

Maddog did you say some mid mount implements wont work with the cab tractors in the 40 45 series? I dont want to tell him something wrong.

I just checked with my dealer again and he said Wood's is working on the cab compatibility issues. Since the cab versions of the 40/45's are fairly recent, they weren't positive of their compatibility with all the possible combinations. As far as other mid mount issues, turns out my dealer was thinking of one of his customers trying to deal with snow blower mount, BH, cab and other concerns, therefore, according to him, it wasn't a straightforward answer. He also said that NH is looking at adding cab versions to tractors smaller than the TC40....shoot pretty soon we'll just have RC tractors that we can control from the laptop...BAD IDEA!! I want my seat time.

Again, just ask you dealer about your specific concerns. Once the cab versions become more common, alot of this will work it's way out to us from the users.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Bought it
Brought it home, putting it to work tomorrow on a job
That cab is sweet, it was very hot out there today (I know, you guys in Florida are saying "whatever"), but it was the hottest day fo the year so far here. And I putted around in it (after we hooked up the mower, took off the loader, etc) and it's nice. Went and did the side of the road mowing to see if it was working ok. and it seems to be fine.
Little light in front without the loader, needs some weights, no big deal.

This one is hers, mine is the TN. She thinks the TN is too big, I think this one is too small. But it should be much faster than the MF and much more comfortable. The TN loader was easier to get off.

More tomorrow after mowing a couple acres. (now, why isn't that phone ringing, I have LOTS of equipment to put to use)

Oh yes, 2 hats for only 30k.

 

[Harold_J]

I use a handheld Garmin GPS 12 to do my sprayer work and it does a good job. I match the tractor speed with the RPM's and gear of the tractor and then adjust my rate of spray with a flip of the switch.

I understand what you guys are saying about using a GPS to get instantaneous speed. You then say to match the tractor speed with the RPM's and gear of the tractor. I have done that many times without even a GPS, just measure the amount of time it takes to drive a known distance (say 1000 ft) at a certain RPM in a specific gear; so then I know that for example at 1000 rpm and in 2nd gear I'm doing exactly 3 mph.

But will any of this work with an HST, since it doesn't have a specific "gear" so to speak? I don't think I'd want to be spraying and having to constantly look at the Garmin to be sure I was holding the right speed. With a gear transmission as long as the rpms on the tach are constant the speed will be constant (other than tire slippage); you would only have to glance at the tach occasionally or if going up a hill or something like that. I'm not sure how this would work with a hydro.

Unrelated Question: Could the GPS be used to make accurate parallel passes across a field? If so, how much error might you have over 1000 feet?

 

[MadDogDriver]

I understand what you guys are saying about using a GPS to get instantaneous speed. You then say to match the tractor speed with the RPM's and gear of the tractor. I have done that many times without even a GPS, just measure the amount of time it takes to drive a known distance (say 1000 ft) at a certain RPM in a specific gear; so then I know that for example at 1000 rpm and in 2nd gear I'm doing exactly 3 mph.

But will any of this work with an HST, since it doesn't have a specific "gear" so to speak? I don't think I'd want to be spraying and having to constantly look at the Garmin to be sure I was holding the right speed. With a gear transmission as long as the rpms on the tach are constant the speed will be constant (other than tire slippage); you would only have to glance at the tach occasionally or if going up a hill or something like that. I'm not sure how this would work with a hydro.

Unrelated Question: Could the GPS be used to make accurate parallel passes across a field? If so, how much error might you have over 1000 feet?

Harold, what kind of tractor do you use? Your profile is n/a.

If you have an HST with cruise control then this is a no brainer with GPS. "Set it and forget it" as the commercial says. With reasonably constant RPM and cruise control engaged you effectively have an infinite choice of speed within your tractor's capability. If you do not have cruise control, then your assessment of GPS and HST is correct, but even that wouldn't be too difficult if you mounted your GPS where it's in your scan while driving, just more fatiguing. The GPS speed will be your real speed, regardless of wheel slippage. Until the cruise control feature has a resume feature (which I've yet to see), you'll have to check/set your speed on each leg. My cruise control just magnetically locks the pedal in the position I have it in with my foot. You'll still need to pay attention to your speed during climbs/descents, even with cruise control.

Regarding using GPS for parallel passes, depends upon the GPS unit you have. The cheap ones won't be accurate enough for you, but there is technology available for Stars War level accuracy (centimeters) and will cost as much also. Trimble - GPS for Precision Agriculture is just one of several manufacturers for that type of application. The large scale farmers have satellite data-link transfer along with advanced GPS accuracy. That level of sophistication is beyond most of our budgets and needs.

EDIT: Using aids to get straight rows is cheating in my book, but if I had several thousand acres to deal with I'm sure I'd want all the help I could get to avoid getting too tired. The pride of straight rows planted and cultivated has been an art for as along as the earth has been tilled (I wasn't around back then, but I think there are a few of our Super Star TBN vets that may have been tilling the soil before the BIG FLOOD. )

 

[FULLPULL]

Congrats on the new hats !!
I think in the long run the tc45 with the cab will be a good investment. As far as the gps i dont think a hand held would be good to keep the rows straight enough .It would take the ag units offered by the tractor companys that drive there self.The hand held should give you a good speed controll along with the hydro. Each range on the hydro has a speed range from 0 to max speed and anywhere in between.It will work imo.And the Garman is going to be alot cheaper than those 30k hats

 

[LoneCowboy]

Update
So, loader her up, put the 6' mower on the back and drove down to Cherry Hills (big bucks land, huge bucks land, we want customers down here, i.e. why LC is working on a Sunday)
About 3 acres, all subdivided up and a total weed mess. (3 to 4' high)
Take off slowly, figure range 1, high should be plenty (takes you to 5.9mph, should be fine), whines a lot (hydrostat) but gee, this is great for picking up the corners, zip zang zoom, go around and do all the tough stuff and hand it off to the wife.
Not because I wanted to, but because it rides like (*&^^%$#$#. Totally needs to be weighted, that decision has been made. Geez, I mean it was a rough pasture, but it was flat knocking me around. (loader off). It does turn pretty darn good and good visibility.
The wife proceeds to break it.
No cruise, no turtle/rabbit, tach goes dead.
Battery light is on. We're 50+ miles from home, we're just going to finish it and then it can go back. So, ended up mowing in II-low, because I-low I would still be there. I get it loaded and I'm a little grouchy and the wife says "check the fuses"
I check the fuses, one is blown. When we got home I replaced it, it seems to work now (although I wonder why it blew)

The TN is a better tractor, better designed, more solid, better ergo's, etc. The TC however is smaller, the TN would not have been the tractor for this job.
The TC is much faster than the MF, about 50% faster, chugs right thru this stuff.
We will be getting the tires weighted.
The A/C wasn't keeping up and it was only like 90 degrees when we finished (and low humidity). I'm a little concerned about that. Still better than out in the open though.

 

[MadDogDriver]

Happy Father's Day Brian .

Thanks for the update. Smart wife.

Any clue as to why the fuze blew yet? Guess carrying some spares of each amp might be an addition to the tool box, especially if away from home. You'd think a brand new beast just delivered from the dealer would give you better opening day performance. I wonder if the AC was serviced properly? Wonder what else needs to be looked at.

I'm sure when you get the tires filled your ride will improve.

When you get finished breaking her in and can relax, we'd love to see some pics.

 

[LoneCowboy]

dunno why everything (except the MF) breaks on me in the first 10/20 hours.
I figure it's somewhat of a shakedown cruise, lots of parts to go wrong, might as well shake that out early. Checked all the fluids, they are all fine, although it sure doesn't "sip gas".

Not sure why the fuse blew, that's a concern. Maybe it's just "one of those things", but we'll see what happens here in the next trip.

Looks like the TN's baby brother, cracks me up.

 

[FULLPULL]

Give it a few hrs to break in the fuel use gets better mine did.

 

[dynasim]

The cabs are a new addition, and it is likely that there is going to be some "break in" troubleshooting. If you read the posts about when the class III's first came out, it makes one drop to a knee and thank the tractor gods(5+ year tbn'ers).

Is the air pressure appropriate(given the ride your getting)?

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date, and keep some fuses in you box.

Chris

 

[Renovator]

Greetings Lone Cowboy;
I put a Raven GPS on my tractor. It saves alot on chemical because of less overlap when I use my boomles sprayer. It should pay for itself in 2 years. Mine is suppose to be within 9 inches but Ithink it is closer than that, I have to watch out for low hanging branches with the antena. It makes calibrating easier because you know how many acres you have covered For the solution used. mine sits in front ofme so i can read information at a glance.

Renovator

 

[LoneCowboy]

Well, what piece of crap.
i'm beyond livid.
I've had it for a grand total of 3 hours (2 jobs in 3 days)
it's been in the shop since last thursday.
First they don't even look at it until saturday (and only after I started complaining) It's now monday, still no date.
Short in the wiring harness (supposadley, definately a short)
leak on the top cover of the transmission (quite a bit actually)
3 point doesn't come down correctly
Can't get it in and out of 4wd

Might as well have bought it from Pennsylvania.

Beyond angry, what a POS, and a POS service department.

I don't need it right away (darn it, ring phone, ring) but when I do, I"m telling (not asking) for the loaner.

 

[FULLPULL]

I would call NH and see what they could do . My dealer took care of me along with NH on a few small issues of work on my TC40D i had . When i took it in to have it worked on they had it ready in a couple of days . I think as busy as you are i would call them and see what happens .