TC45DA Fenders Cracking

gregkabob · Oct 6, 2008

My wife pointed out that both of the fenders have cracks in them at the point right by the roll bar next to the seat. I guess I haven't been real observant (too busy using the tractor). When I step on and off the tractror you can see the flex in the step and fender. I took some pics and will post tomorrow. I'm heading to the NH dealer at lunch to see what they say.

I've had the tractor since April 07 and I have 268 hours on it. It has been great except for the hydo leak at the manifold block that was fixed with JB weld (NH fix not mine) But it has held and no more leaks.

Anyone else have fenders that cracked?

Doc_Bob · Oct 6, 2008

Post some pictures!
Bob

Flatheadyoungin · Oct 6, 2008

i sure hate to hear that......i've wondered about my plastic fenders and how they'll be in 20 years

gregkabob · Oct 6, 2008

I just got back from my NH dealer. He knew about the problem with the fenders cracking but was surprised that the right one cracked as most people get on and off the left side. With having the BH on a lot taking out cedar trees I use the right side more than a little and I'm sure with the BH on I have more mounts and dismounts than most. Everytime I get off on the left I always remember the post of someone breaking off the joy stick by hooking their shorts on it. I've almost done it a couple of times.

The owner said that he talked a NH engineer about the fender cracking problem and supposidly they did a minor mod to the fender. The dealer feels it's not enough of a mod to stop the problem and he adds a brace by the step to help stop the flex. After my wife pointed out the cracks I could see the fender flex when I stepped on the step. I'm not a real big guy (210) but I can see how over a lot of up and downs it's going to break. When I get the new fenders on I'm going to see what kind of brace they added and just might add a couple of more. I'm glad the tractor is still under the 2 year warrenty as I don't want to have to buy any fenders.

I have pics on the camera at the house. I'll be sure to post them for all to see and I'll be sure to post pics of the new fenders.

Right now it will probably be the end of the month before they do the swap out as that seems to be when their and my schedules line up.

jinman · Oct 6, 2008

Flatheadyoungin said:
i sure hate to hear that......i've wondered about my plastic fenders and how they'll be in 20 years

I promise you that they will never rust.

Just kiddin', but I have not noticed any problems with my fenders except where I got limbs between the tires and rear fender edges. Ouch!

I have a couple of chunks missing, but no extended cracks.

gregkabob · Oct 6, 2008

Thanks Jim!

I was really surprised to see how extensive the cracks are and I swear I was not jumping up and down on them or running the fenders into anything.....That's my story and I'm sticking to it....no really...

I came here first and did a search as I remember reading about some fenders cracking but the search showed it was a smaller model tractor than mine.

gregkabob · Oct 6, 2008

Ok, as promised, here's the pics:

Doc_Bob · Oct 6, 2008

Photoshop

gregkabob · Oct 7, 2008

I'm getting pretty good at that, been practicing....

mikim · Oct 8, 2008

Never even looked at mine .... guess I better check it out this weekend. thanks

gregkabob · Oct 8, 2008

Mikim, I never looked at mine untill my wife pointed it out to me. I had noticed as I was getting on and off the BH and using the fender as a hand hold while dismounting that the fenders seemed squishey to me and I got to the point that I always tried to make it a point not to push on the fender when dismounting and use the tire.

Once I get the new fenders on I'm going to make some kind of a secure grab bar for getting on and off with the BH on. I'll also look at how they braced the new fenders and will probably add a few more braces to support the fenders. My two year warrenty is out in Mar 09 so I need to make these last.

jinman · Oct 9, 2008

Greg and Mike, I could not just let this go without investigation. There has to be something going on here. Mike's tractor is a TC45 and mine is a TC45D. We got these before NH changed the design and the designation of TC45A and TC45DA. I went to the NH parts and service online to look at diagrams for all these models. I am shocked at the difference. Obviously, NH has changed the design of the fenders between models and even within the same model type as many as three times. Who knows whether they have changed how heavy the fiberglass is or its reinforcement. It seems that NH is not being very forthcoming with details to dealers or owners. Another funny thing is that you have to look under the heading "sheetmetal" to find the fenders, and hood. I guess they call fiberglass and plastic "sheetmetal." That doesn't really build my confidence.

Here is what I found:

1 - On TC45A and TC45DA tractors, there have been three different fender designs. The bolts between the ROPS and fenders has a metal plate on the inside and outside of the fenders, effectively sandwiching the fender between plates. There is no damping rubber gasket or between the plate and the fender as there should be in my opinion.

2. Mike, your TC45 has bolts and washers attaching the fender, and also a "spacer" that is probably a big metal washer. It has no flat plates like the A/DA models.

3. My TC45D has bolts and washers, but also a rubber damper washer almost 1/4" thick between the fender and the ROPS attaching hardware. The fender has the same part number as Mike's TC45, but the mounting hardware includes this rubber damper.

In my opinion, the soft damper or the addition of one is the best insurance against cracks in the area Greg is having a problem, and also would be an improvement on the older TC45 design if the "spacer" is indeed metal instead of rubber.

Mike and I also have a different handhold on each fender. Ours is attached to the ROPS in back as part of the taillight mounting hardware and also to the fender in front. The newer tractors have a plastic hangrip that is attached to only the fender. I'm sure it is not as solid as the older design.

I found one crack in the plastic fender on my tractor where the left handhold attaches to the fender. I know what that is and when it happened. I was working in my woods with my ROPS up and clipped a huge limb on a postoak tree. The limb just exploded off the tree and fell in front of the ROPS, pushing the seat forward and pinning me against the steering wheel. The tree came to rest on top of the left fender handhold. That's when my fender cracked and also when I learned that ROPS down is the wise way to work in the woods. I was not hurt, but if the limb (almost 12" diameter) had hit me on the head, I'd not be posting anymore.

mikim · Oct 9, 2008

I was working in my woods with my ROPS up and clipped a huge limb on a postoak tree. The limb just exploded off the tree and fell in front of the ROPS, pushing the seat forward and pinning me against the steering wheel.

OMG Jim -- I could've written that! I don't think I've put my rops up ever since. I had a heck of a time getting out of that predicament too -- wife wasn't around ....and doesn't know about it happening. I've had enough other incidents that makes her uncomfortable about me working out there alone. (going to do it this weekend) I have a 4 day weekend - she has to bring the boy back for school. I'm going to check on those washers ... maybe I'll buy the rubber spacers and add 'em in.

gregkabob · Oct 9, 2008

Jim, Thanks for looking into this and the info. I'm going to take before and after pics of the fender attach points and will post when they change them out. I've already begun to see where I can add support bracing so this doen't happen in the future. I saw in a post a while back where there was a tractor with a metal grab bars on it that attached at one point to the ROPS. Is that what you have?

The design is rather poor on the fenders. Can you post a pic of how yours is attached with the rubber mounts? I'd like to see it.

I was at the farm yesterday afternoon waiting for Hank Hill to show up and was out popping cedar trees with the BH while I waited. I used the BH to push some limbs and one hooked the top Hose for curling the bucket. Yep, Ripped it right out of the nut. DOH. Took it off and brought it to the NH shop to see if they could just cut the end off and put a new one on. Guy said sure. He came back out and asked me how much slack I had in the hose and I said maybe 3" but no more. When he came back out he had a brand new hose. I looked at it and said I only needed a new end put on it. He said he had one of those moments where it was such an easy job he threw the hose on the cut off machine and cut the end off. DOHHHH He cut off the good end and putting new fittings on both ends would have made the hose to short. I've done stuff like that more than once. He only charged me 6 bucks for 112" hose. The NH shop has taken care of me pretty good and I would recommend them to anyone.

jinman · Oct 10, 2008

Greg, I'll try to get some pictures and post them up. Just remember that my tractor isn't as pretty and shiny as yours.

gregkabob · Oct 10, 2008

Thanks Jim, In time mine will show it's battle scars and display them proudly

jinman · Oct 10, 2008

Okay, I didn't forget. . . a major accomplishment at my age.

The first picture shows the fender bolts attaching to the left fender. You can clearly see the rubber grommet "damper" between the fender and the washer. On the underside of the fender, the bolt head has a large washer on it but no damper. The rubber damper is only on one side.

The handgrip is quite different from the newer models. It gets its stiffness from the hard attachment to the ROPS. You can also see where the older style taillight and flasher mounted before I removed them. I just couldn't see letting the brush play T-ball any longer with my lights.

gregkabob · Oct 14, 2008

Jim, Thanks for the pics. Sorry I didn't respond sooner but have been out at the farm all weekend and took Monday off. No net at the farm....yet.

Thanks again,

jinman · Oct 14, 2008

gregkabob said:
Jim, Thanks for the pics. Sorry I didn't respond sooner but have been out at the farm all weekend and took Monday off. No net at the farm....yet.

Thanks again,

That's my tractor in all its "glory." The scratches are from a limb lopper I carry behind the seat. Since the fenders are fiberglass, I don't have to worry about a scratch starting to rust. One of these days I'll build a proper holder for the loppers. . . probably right after all the paint gets scratched off.