paccorti
Gold Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2000
- Messages
- 481
- Tractor
- TC35D with 16LA Loader
I've had my Class III Boomer (TC35D) for about 13 years now; I'm just shy of 1,500 hrs. Mostly I do mowing with a rear discharge mover but I also move heavy wood pallets with my loader, plow snow, grade our road, drag the fields, etc (the 16LA is a BEAST). Anyway, little things here and there have stopped working over the years and this past weekend I told myself to make her like she's brand new.
Problem 1 the seat.
At the time (year ~2000) the Class III Boomer seats was one of the most comfy seats around; lots of travel up and down back and forth and it even swivels! But over the years mine felt more and more sticky (like it would compress to a position and just stay there) plus the fore and aft travel was binding. Time to take this puppy apart. One thing I noticed is that I had used white grease over the years to lube the seat. In retrospect this didn't seem to work so well. The white grease dried into a kind of "gum" and really bound up the seat travel and adjustments.
Pic #1 Notice these sliders (they allow forward backward travel of the seat). The one on the top has some pins where the lower one does not (there are a total of 4 sliders). The pins allow you to adjust the play from left to right. Be sure to use the pinned sliders on the same side otherwise you'll likely bind the seat. I cleaned everything with carb cleaner to remove all of the old grease.
Pic #2 Even with light tension on the springs you'll still need a clamp to create enough room to reinstall the stoppers.
Pic #3 When I reinstalled my sliders I flipped them over so the smooth part is down; I figured this would make it easier to slide the seat fore-aft. I could have buffed or cleaned the scratched side too.
Pic #4 Installed back on the tractor. You'll have to lean forward so be careful not to tweak your back (the assembly is heavier than it looks). While the seat is removed maybe check the top of your transmission/rear diff for grease, loose bolts etc.
Pic #5 Fully installed. The seat is like new now. Very easy to adjust back and forth and the travel/shock absorption is back to new like.
Pic #6 My turtle rabbit switch got broke (looks suspiciously at wife who used tractor last). New one installed.
Pic #7 Long ago the tabs on my toplink locking ring got sheared off. This is a major PIA because I use the locking ring all the time and now I need a wrench to adjust the length of the top link (and I always forget the wrench when I'm out in the field). New one installed here; no more tools necessary. More carb cleaner to get off the old grease.
Not shown. On the 3pt height adjustment lever there is a small screw knob that can be set at a particular height. Mine had rusted and could no longer turn so I replaced that too.
A few parting thoughts. I'll never grease the top link again. The old grease never gets expelled and it just hardens to a gum making it difficult to adjust the length of the top link. A little WD40 now and then should take care of any rust/lubrication. I'll also use WD40 on the seat vs white grease (no more gumming up the travel).
It's very easy for me to look longingly at new tractors; but the fact of the matter is my TC35D has been very reliable and does every single thing I ask it to do. Plus she still looks good.
Peter
Problem 1 the seat.
At the time (year ~2000) the Class III Boomer seats was one of the most comfy seats around; lots of travel up and down back and forth and it even swivels! But over the years mine felt more and more sticky (like it would compress to a position and just stay there) plus the fore and aft travel was binding. Time to take this puppy apart. One thing I noticed is that I had used white grease over the years to lube the seat. In retrospect this didn't seem to work so well. The white grease dried into a kind of "gum" and really bound up the seat travel and adjustments.
Pic #1 Notice these sliders (they allow forward backward travel of the seat). The one on the top has some pins where the lower one does not (there are a total of 4 sliders). The pins allow you to adjust the play from left to right. Be sure to use the pinned sliders on the same side otherwise you'll likely bind the seat. I cleaned everything with carb cleaner to remove all of the old grease.
Pic #2 Even with light tension on the springs you'll still need a clamp to create enough room to reinstall the stoppers.
Pic #3 When I reinstalled my sliders I flipped them over so the smooth part is down; I figured this would make it easier to slide the seat fore-aft. I could have buffed or cleaned the scratched side too.
Pic #4 Installed back on the tractor. You'll have to lean forward so be careful not to tweak your back (the assembly is heavier than it looks). While the seat is removed maybe check the top of your transmission/rear diff for grease, loose bolts etc.
Pic #5 Fully installed. The seat is like new now. Very easy to adjust back and forth and the travel/shock absorption is back to new like.
Pic #6 My turtle rabbit switch got broke (looks suspiciously at wife who used tractor last). New one installed.
Pic #7 Long ago the tabs on my toplink locking ring got sheared off. This is a major PIA because I use the locking ring all the time and now I need a wrench to adjust the length of the top link (and I always forget the wrench when I'm out in the field). New one installed here; no more tools necessary. More carb cleaner to get off the old grease.
Not shown. On the 3pt height adjustment lever there is a small screw knob that can be set at a particular height. Mine had rusted and could no longer turn so I replaced that too.
A few parting thoughts. I'll never grease the top link again. The old grease never gets expelled and it just hardens to a gum making it difficult to adjust the length of the top link. A little WD40 now and then should take care of any rust/lubrication. I'll also use WD40 on the seat vs white grease (no more gumming up the travel).
It's very easy for me to look longingly at new tractors; but the fact of the matter is my TC35D has been very reliable and does every single thing I ask it to do. Plus she still looks good.
Peter