TC 30 Owners - need your advice

safetyguy · Jul 1, 2011

So here is my story:

I bought a Case IH DX29 (same as a TC 30) that was advertised to be a hydro from a Deere dealer. When it got shipped to me (2500 miles away) it turns out to be the 9 X 3 tranny. I had my heart set on the hydro. I will only be using the tractor for snow removal and some occasional loader work. No grass mowing, rototiller etc. I guess my question is will the 9 X 3 suffice or will I forever be wanting the hydro? By the way the seller will refund me about 1250.00 because of the screw up. I will end up getting the tractor cheap so I could always flip it.

Is the 9 X 3 a shuttle type tranny or do you need to do a full clutch to reverse?

Thanks for your replies

Hooked_on_HP · Jul 2, 2011

I would negotiate a little more. It would probably cost more than he is offering to shipp it back. On the other side of the arguement, when you were looking at pics you should have noticed the gear shift levers.
Bill

safetyguy · Jul 2, 2011

Longer story..I had already imported to Canada. The DX has the range shift on the fender same as the hydro and the shift leaver is on the dash. The pics looked like it had foot controls for the hydro and there were no dash photos. In short it was a lesson learned on my part but I thought buyng from a reputable dealer would have given me accurate information...apparently not.

sweep · Jul 2, 2011

As the owner of a gear tractor I think you got the better end of the stick.

Hydros-noisy, more $ to maintain, less power/torque, more potential problems.

I love my geared tractor and would never have a hydro but I know guys with hydros love theirs. I also push snow with it and have never had a problem. While brushhogging my tractor stays the same speed even going up hills and makes no noise other than the engine noise. People who have hydros and run mine or are near mine can't believe the sound difference. It is such a quiet running tractor.

Mine has a foot throttle for when a little extra rpm is needed in extra tall grass or thick snow or very steep hills.

I do have a shuttle shift.

skafka · Jul 3, 2011

After looking at the Deere 9x3, I bought the TC30 9x3 4x4 in Jan 05' and had no issues other than a control valve for the loader. I really like the 9x3 as it allows me to match the engine to the task at hand. I think the Hydro would be great for grass or lots of field work, but I use mine mainly for front loader and grading work on the mini-farm.

RoyJackson · Jul 3, 2011

safetyguy said:
So here is my story:

I bought a Case IH DX29 (same as a TC 30) that was advertised to be a hydro from a Deere dealer. When it got shipped to me (2500 miles away) it turns out to be the 9 X 3 tranny. I had my heart set on the hydro. I will only be using the tractor for snow removal and some occasional loader work. No grass mowing, rototiller etc. I guess my question is will the 9 X 3 suffice or will I forever be wanting the hydro? By the way the seller will refund me about 1250.00 because of the screw up. I will end up getting the tractor cheap so I could always flip it.
Is the 9 X 3 a shuttle type tranny or do you need to do a full clutch to reverse?

Thanks for your replies

Was it actually advertised as being a hydro, or did you make an assumption based upon the pictures?
If it was advertised as hydro, and you want a hydro...I'd tell the dealer to come get his tractor.
If you made the mistake...well, then you learned a lesson. I'd take his $1250 and go.

As far as usage, gear transmissions are easy to use and as versatile as a hydro in the tasks you described. Yes, you will need to clutch and possibly stop when you shift into reverse. This is quite simple and fast, once you get the hang of it. I'm on my third tractor and all have been gear transmissions, so I do know what I'm writing about.
As far as "flipping" the tractor...well, as a private party, you won't get what a dealer would and may not get what you paid for it.

safetyguy · Jul 4, 2011

The tractor was advertised as a hydro, Thats why I bought it. It wasnt till I crossed the border to pick it up that I noticed it was a 9X3. By then I had paid for the trucking from TX to ID and imported to Canada. The tractor only has 76 hours on it with a Woods FEL. Looks like new. My final cost landed will be 11,700. I think I will keep it and see how it works for me.

Thanks for all the replies

RoyJackson · Jul 4, 2011

safetyguy said:
The tractor was advertised as a hydro, Thats why I bought it. It wasnt till I crossed the border to pick it up that I noticed it was a 9X3. By then I had paid for the trucking from TX to ID and imported to Canada. The tractor only has 76 hours on it with a Woods FEL. Looks like new. My final cost landed will be 11,700. I think I will keep it and see how it works for me.

Thanks for all the replies

I'm sure it will work out for you...since you accepted the shipment, you accepted the tractor as it was. I would go after more of a refund or tell the dealer to come pick it up, however.
BTW, if you haven't paid for the machine yet...you may still have some recourse.

jinman · Jul 5, 2011

safetyguy said:
So here is my story:

I bought a Case IH DX29 (same as a TC 30) that was advertised to be a hydro from a Deere dealer.

Safetyguy, your TC30 is NOT the same as a DX29. Perhaps that was the first mistake. The TC30 is an basic economy model tractor. Sure, there is a model with an HST transmission, but it is not the deluxe tractor like the DX29. The DX29 is the same as the New Holland TC29DA. Saying the TC30 is the same as a DX29 will cause all kinds of confusion. If the Deere dealer represented it as the same, then he totally misrepresented your tractor.

I'm sorry that I can't offer you much advice on what to do about the dealer. I'd say work out your best deal and maybe let him pay for return on his own "nickel" so he will be less likely to misrepresent his products. I would say that if you wanted an HST and thought you were buying one, then that's the only thing you would accept. If somebody told you that you were buying a red convertible and it showed up as a yellow VW bug, you wouldn't be too happy. Me either. The VW would provide you transportation and even save you money, but it can hardly be called a "red convertible" by any stretch of the imagination.

tcreeley · Jul 16, 2011

I have a 2000 TC30 with the 9/3. You have to fully clutch it at a stop for every shift. Sometimes you need to clutch it 2x - once into low/medium/high and again into the gear. Nice tractor. I have arthritis in my left hip and manage. But if you really wanted the hydrostatic I don't think you will like it. It is a standard vs an automatic!
Good luck. Swap it at a dealer for trade in and throw in the cash for extra. Or sell it local and buy another. I thought they didn't make the TC30's anymore. The TC30 is a horsepower more 30 vs 29 for the DX and TC29DA. TC30 has the previous generation look - not the new sloped hood. Mine is 4x4, has the ag tires which do great, and 7308 FEL - which is really handy!

Jinman is right about which tractor is which - nice pictures. Which did you get?
A neighbor stopped by to pick up my old Farmall Cub driving his Kubota. Solid tractor and larger than my TC30, with manual shift on the go and speedometer. Overall nice. Then he proceeded to tell me a story of his neighbor and even larger Kubota with an enclosed cab and air conditioning. His neighbor asked him to come over and bring his tractor. When he got there, that nice new powerful tractor was laying on its side. They managed to get it back upright.
You get attached to these tractors, so get the one you want that is within your reach. You'll like it.

TractorData.com - information on all makes and models of tractors ----- is a good place for more quick info.