Thanks to all . . . my tractor pick.

[Anonymous Poster]

Many thanks to all who have posted info on the current flock of compact tractors, Woodbeef, Kioti and many others in this forum & others. I finally made the decision on an updated replacement for my Farmall SC. Wanted a 2 liter engine (more or less), yet strong enough for a BH & loader and yet as "well made", simple and long lasting as the old Farmall. Nothing clearly matched, but I finally did the dirty deed yesterday. Your help most beneficial (along with much personal analysis, comparison, operating different units, hours spent crawling over, around and under different tractors examining them, actually studying the owner's manual, etc. for each of the 5 tractors I seriously considered). One of my many failings in life is that when I look at something I see not only the "thing" itself, but what came before (caused it) and what will come after (consequences). Each of you has, perhaps, known people who, if you asked them the time, will explain the theory of watch making. The info and comments posted on this site (and others) contributed to that process and helped lessen the burden. Again, to all, thanks. John H. P.S. In case anyone might wonder, what did I buy? NH-TC40 (geared version), deluxe hitch package (w-folding ROPS), LA16 loader with quick attach (skid steer compatible), 72" HD bucket, rear remotes, 758C BH with 36" cemetery bucket, complete set of service manuals & parts manual, and, the dealer has to install a temp guage. How much? $26,500 cash. What other brands did I seriously consider? Kubota 3830, JD 990, Mahindra 4110 and the Century 3045. The price range of all of these was almost identical-the difference between the lowest to highest was less than $2k!!! Like most things in life, each had strengths and weaknesses but all would have "worked" at least for the immediate future. So why the TC40? That's a long story. . . but my Farmall was 50 years old, still running good and doing useful work. I wanted something that was likely to still be useable 50 years from now, have available parts, be easy to work on, proven design (at least the engine/transmission), etc. etc. Yes, folks, I will be dead 50 years from now so why worry!!! The only other tractor apt to make it to the 50 year mark was the JD 990 (JDs silly new computer chipped 4xxx series certainly will not). Anyway, many, many thanks guys for everything you have contributed here that lightened my journey.

 

[HayDR]

Plant-M- Deep

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark: bought the grave/cemetery bucket because its easier to pick up a regular bucket later & get a better deal if bucket bought with tractor-so buy the more expensive bucket with the tractor. Easier to find a regular bucket used than a cemetery bucket used. Only do occasional grave work, usually exhuming ("harvesting"!!!) bodies, rather than "planting" them. JEH

 

[Woodbeef]

Hey Grimreaper,

Hope you enjoy the blue one,and get good service from it!!

Just remember now "3-7-77"

 

[markie61]

Congratulations!

I picked out the almost identical one except I got the "D" package and no backhoe. I used similar evaluation criteria and was ready to buy a geared tractor, but a barely-used HST fell into my lap at a price lower than any new comparable one. I was surprised at how affordable the NH geared tractors were when compared to the known and lesser-known brands.

Mine will be delivered within the next 8 hours. I'm so excited I can hardly sit still and type...

Anyway, I hope you will write a review after you've used it a while and post some pics of your new baby when it arrives. And please share your experiences (good and bad) in the NH Owning/Operating forum.

Mark

 

[grainger12002]

Congrats there Grim-reaper, can you share which dealer you bought from, I wnat a temp ga on my TC and the dealer is not to much help,maybe I can get some info from them-Thanks-LLoyd P.S we love our TC !! best wishes

 

[frank_f15]

congratulation: SOUNDS like you and the REAPER gave yourselves a very nice christmas gift. good luck with them. keep us posted

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Woodbeef: ok, I give up ... "3-7-77" ????

Mark: You sound really excited. By now, you should have it. Would like to have mine but only because snow is on the way and I sold the Farmall a month ago. So . . . will have to push snow with a 1966 Gravely L (6.6 "real" hp) two wheel garden tractor (just dropped the mower & mounted the blade this evening). It does have duals though.

Grainer: Re: temp guage you can pick up one at NAPA (or similar). Will come with a sensor, line and guage. Plug in the sensor, string the line and mount the guage. Or, have the dealer do it-in fact, if you are concerned about warranty issues you probably should have the dealer do it. Just tell him to do it. Our labor rate around here is $50 hr (more or less). The temp guage was part of the deal when I bought the tractor-I wouldn't have bought it without a temp guage. In fact, I wanted them to make New Holland pay for it, but the dealer didn't want to bug them about it. Actually, I will be mounting all needed guages: oil pressure, ammeter and the temp guage. An oil pressure guage tells you more than whether all the oil has run out, the ammeter tells you more than the battery is dead (or, more accurately, that the alternator isn't charging), and, the temp guage tells you more than that the anti-freeze has boiled out (you can tell that easily enough from the pungent smell of boiled anti-freeze and steam rolling out from under the hood-even if you miss the warning light coming on). When they started replacing guages in automobiles with warning lights, they were referred to as idiot lights, and for good reason. Since you asked, the dealer I bought from was Mordt Tractor (Bob C) in Troy, Missouri. They are good folks, but any dealer can install a guage for you. Just tell them to do it. Its not brain surgery.

Frank: You are right, when you buy your own christmas present you always get what you want! Unfortunately, this was not a present as I anticipate using it for profit activity.

Best wishes, happy winter solstice, christmas or hanukka (or whatever). John

 

[Woodbeef]

Hey Grimreaper,

If you're ever in Montana,and get pulled over by a State Trooper,it is on his shoulder patch!!

It dates back to the gold rush days up around the Virginia City area. It was painted on the front doors of the bushwackers, robbers,theives,and other unwanted element of society(usually the local law enforcement fit into these categories) up there,by the local vigilantes(Masons actually) What it denotes is the size of the hole for a grave; 3' wide,7' deep,77" long..........Once it was on your door if you were not gone by the next sunset..........well you'd be checking those measurements first hand!!

 

[Woodbeef]

hhhhmmmmm........the more I look at the dimensions,the more I think I might have the lenght and the depth reversed. But then again,maybe not.........

 

[grainger12002]

o.k.-John,well your right it is not brain surgery, I prefered a factory gauge-where did you place you temp ga,my napa store is not as in tune as yours-but I will try it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Grainger: If you want a "factory" lay-out for the temp guage, you will have to swap out the panel from the "D" model and run a different line to the sensor. You can't just add a NH guage to the existing panel-at least it doesn't appear that you can. I didn't push the dealer on this one since it is a lot more money (I suspect) than just adding the guage (which he did agree to do). If you want a guage inside the existing panel (rather than added to the cowling) there is enough room to mount a small one where the NH guage SHOULD be. You'll have to remove the panel so you can hole saw it without damaging the stuff behind the panel. The problem with that though is you might have crap from NH if something happened. If you simply add guages to the cowling (in circuits separate and apart from the existing NH systems) you shouldn't have any problem-i.e. they would be hard pressed to evade warranty work on that basis. Once the guages are mounted, if you want it "pretty" make (carve) a male mold (from rigid foam, clay or similar) to a form (lines) similar to the existing NH cowling, use that to made a female mold into which you can pour urethene (or similar), or, you could simply build up a cover for your guage(s) using fibreglass on top of a wood mold. In any event, something that small would be easy to do and the thing will end up looking (sort of) like it was designed that way. I havn't got my tractor yet, but I've looked at the shape of the cowling and I think the guages will be mounted flanking the NH panel. I am going to the dealer's tomorrow to take measurements and see how I am going to lay it out. The problem of putting guages across the top is that the NH cowling is pretty high and rounded and an additional cowl for the guages would raise it another several inches. Again, its not brain surgery. One of the nice "easy to work on" things about the NH is that access from the engine compartment thru the "firewall" to the panel area is very easy, easier than many other brands (the JD 990 is also pretty good in this area). Put your guage(s) where you think they will look ok. After all, it's YOUR tractor, not New Hollands. Take care. John.

 

[grainger12002]

well put-John. I have looked at a couple of gauges and may end up with it under the hood. I dont need to see it constanatly just want to verify thet the engine is at operating temp. Thanks for the ideas-let me know how yours looks-Lloyd

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Grainger: I do have a digital camera in the office (for biz use). Will take a pic when done (if I don't forget-approaching senility and all). Have a nice New Years. John P.S. under hood will work (Farmall had its oil pressure guage on side of engine & the oil pressure guage on my Gravely garden tractor is under the hood). It's not quite as convenient positioned there but better than nothing. For checking that the engine is getting up to operating temp should be fine. However, temp guage is also good for monitoring "approaching" overheating if you are pushing it hard, and, if very hot but not overheating at shutdown you would know to let it idle down longer before turn-off. Actually, your comment just triggered brain neural activation vectors leading to possibility of investigating placing guage to side of engine (though not under hood) using a simple bracket so guage could at least be seen from seat. The NH engines are open below hood (not closed in as most other brands) so it would not interfere with opening/closing hood. Might be a good solution, and easier than running everything up to dash. Let me meditate on that. Anyway, take care. J

 

[drpepper]

Just letting you know, I have a Super C that my Kubota replaced. Have rebuilt the motor, now hopefully repainted when I get the time this spring.

 

[rancar]

<font color=blue>"The only other tractor apt to make it to the 50 year mark was the JD 990 (JDs silly new computer chipped 4xxx series certainly will not)..."</font color=blue>

And why, may I ask, won't the 4xxx series make it to the 50 year mark? What is it you know about these tractors that have computer chips in them that the rest of us don't?

Please, I'm asking this objectively, not in a contentious spirit. I'm an owner of a 4710 and did plenty of research on this unit before purchasing. I can't fathom John Deere producing units that are not of the same comparable qualty as everything else they manufacture. Please educate me on what you know.

Bob