So Far So Good, Sort Of
Model Year: 2018
We have used the snot out of this tractor since buying it, so it must be pretty good. Problems so far: Neutral switch has failed. Electric throttle goes dead and requires restart to reset. I hate all the safety interlocks and the brake release handle is in a horribly hard to reach place. I've called the dealer about both problems. The salesman and he have referred me to the service manager who I have not called yet. They seem insistent on bringing the tractor in as only a certified tech can determine what is wrong with it. I have already tested the neutral switch and it is intermittently bad with no resistance when it is supposed to be closed. I don't intend to load the tractor up and haul it eighty miles to leave it with a dealer for a $17 switch that is listed on the frequently replaced parts list at Messick's where I usually order my parts. We will see if common sense prevails and they send me a neutral switch and tell me how to fix the throttle problem. If not, I will flame the warranty on this machine and Case IH in general. Poor torque rise. You can make horsepower from a small engine but not torque, and this one does not have much but none of the current small engines will. I am a fairly large fellow and the clearance on the right shifter in lower gears is a bit tight for me. We mow the rows with an 8-foot flail and there are some really steep places. The tractor hangs on well. We use it a lot. It is a convenient go-to machine for a decent price. I'll eventually get tired of the safety interlocks and wire around them.
Pros: Solid build, heavy, good power, comfortable open station, stable on steep slopes
Cons: Poor torque rise, neutral switch, electronic throttle, too many safety interlocks that just make the machine unreliable