Tc 30 questions

[hyndsight]

Hi,
I just purchased an older (I think) tc30. Does anyone know where the s/n is on these things? I'd like to find the manufacture date, but even the local dealer was of little help. (He did give me some numbers to look for if I found the s/n). Also, the engine hunts a little when cold, anyone else experience that? (New fuel filter and correct idle setting)
Thanks, Tim.

 

[RickB]

Data plate is riveted to the transmission on the LH side below the platform and aft of the clutch pedal. Low idle setting should be about 900 RPM (more or less, not exact), if lower, it probably will hunt.

 

[hyndsight]

Rick,
That data plate on the transmission is where I started, but none of the numbers are the actual serial number. Dealer said it might be "under the engine, as on older style fords." I found nothing...
As far as hunting goes, idle is set a little above 900 and it will hunt all the way up to 2000 if not allowed a good warm up period. This isn't a big inconvenience, but it doesn't seem right. My almost identical 1620 with twice the hours never did?

 

[RickB]

If you found the data plate, you have found the tractor serial number. Post a photo of the plate clear enough for me to read.
You have governor problems, and you might be about to find out what a runaway diesel sounds like in progress and looks like after the fact. Not pretty.

Your "dealer" obviously isn't a New Holland dealer, and apparently neither of you have an operator's manual for the tractor. If you did, the ID plate location would be called out within the first few pages.

 

[hyndsight]

The dealer is a NH dealer, but his lot is 98% another color...and no, no manual. (One of the reasons for deciding what year it is). Anyway, I'm away at work until after Christmas, so I'll have to get back with #s.
The governor had crossed my mind, but I was hoping that wasn't the case. I have no interest in runaway diesel experiments, so hopefully I can nip this in the bud...

 

[RickB]

The dealer is a NH dealer, but his lot is 98% another color...and no, no manual. (One of the reasons for deciding what year it is). Anyway, I'm away at work until after Christmas, so I'll have to get back with #s.
The governor had crossed my mind, but I was hoping that wasn't the case. I have no interest in runaway diesel experiments, so hopefully I can nip this in the bud...

So your dealer is either lazy or dumb. If he's a NH dealer and nobody knows where the serial plate is on any New Holland or Ford CUT, that's pretty pathetic. They've pretty much been in the same location on the tractor for 25 years or so. And just for the record, the last Ford tractors with the tractor serial number on the engine were built in 1953.

 

[hyndsight]

Numbers off the plate read:
Tractor # 10993
Unit # 1J27B
Engine # N84375493
All I really need is a model year...

 

[RickB]

Final assembly date was Sept 27, 2001.
The tractor # is your serial number, there are a couple permanent letters on the tag preceding the number you posted. Ford (New Holland) used a unit code to denote the date of final assembly of tractors for nearly a half-century. First number is the year built (decade must be known) first letter corresponds to the month (I isn't used) next two digits are the day of the month, last letter is the shift.

 

[hyndsight]

Thanks Rick. Somewhere online I've seen a similar definition, but for some reason the 1 threw me. (Tc30s started production in 02...if I'm not mistaken). But this makes sense that it was completed in 01 and rolled out as an 02.

 

[RickB]

In what part of Maine is Union? We love Maine, try to get up there at least once per year. Portland, Greenville & the Mid Coast are our favorites (so far).