Ford 3,000 - TC45DA - TC55DA

oldgoat2 · Oct 18, 2005

Just a small point... in point three you mentioned that reverse with the hydro is slow. Many of these are received at the dealership adjusted this way, possibly for safety when unloading. When properly adjusted, reverse is just slightly slower than reverse. The adjustment takes about 2 minutes.

AndyMA · Oct 19, 2005

( I'm not sure if these things will reach down and get alot of these 6-10" trees by the roots or not??? Not even sure what they're capable of doing with my 55DA.....any suggestions?????

)

Nope, not 6 to 10" probably 1-2 maybe 3" max depending on type fo soil. I'm assuming you want to pull tree out of ground with out digging it out. I used a grapple on both my 2120 and TN75 and there's just no way you can pull a 4" tree out of the ground. Vines, roses etc yes.

Andy

jinman · Oct 19, 2005

( I'm not sure if these things will reach down and get alot of these 6-10" trees by the roots or not??? Not even sure what they're capable of doing with my 55DA.....any suggestions?????

Nope, not 6 to 10" probably 1-2 maybe 3" max depending on type fo soil. I'm assuming you want to pull tree out of ground with out digging it out. I used a grapple on both my 2120 and TN75 and there's just no way you can pull a 4" tree out of the ground. Vines, roses etc yes.

Andy )

Hey Andy, good to see you are back. Do we need to send a rescue party to get you out of the floods? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I agree with Andy completely that a root rake/grapple will not grab anything but small trees and rip them out of the ground. Small brush may be just as hard as big trees because you can't get a grip on the brush with your grapple tines. Most larger trees you will need to push over (if possible) and then dig out the root ball. If the tree breaks or is too tough, you'll have to dig around it first and then push it over. When I go out to work brush and tree clearing, I take both my quick-attach bucket and the grapple. I use the bucket with toothbar to take down the trees and the grapple to pick up and stack the trees and brush. I'm lucky that I can slip my grapple easily into the front of my bucket and transport both it and the grapple to the worksite. Quick-attach is a wonderful option. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

CJ4 · Oct 19, 2005

Jinman, I was thinking the exact same thing......I'm having the dealer put a tooth bar on and I think it'll help loosen the dirt/roots around them a bit and then push them over. My old tractor was almost accomplishing this but being 2wd it did alot of spinning and just not enough umph......

Well today is the day i should get delivery of the new one......Dang, i didn't sleep all night......and the jitters of "did I get the right things additional? did i spend money on stuff not necessary?" /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Oh well, at least i'm going to get outta town and to my property the rest of the week and try it out....I'm sure you guys will get an earfull come Tuesday when I get back in town and to a computer!!!!

I really can't thank ALL of you guys enough on your help......this forum is so cool and you guys have been great friends!!!!

I'll get some pics for you all and post them early next week!

Soundguy · Oct 19, 2005

( Dang, i didn't sleep all night......and the jitters of "did I get the right things additional? did i spend money on stuff not necessary )

Don't worry.. that's just a hint of buyers remorse.. we all get it. I had it too while waiting for my ford 5000 to drive down from georgia... It feels better once you get up on it and fire it off and drive it around your pasture!

Soundguy

Osconda · Oct 24, 2005

CJ4,

I've got a root grapple on my TC55DA. PM me and I'll tell you what I've been able to do and not do with mine. A good source for a grapple, which is where I got mine is: root grapple

Osconda · Oct 25, 2005

CJ4,

For your information, others that have similar machines.

 [TC55]
BAD DOG
MELEDWARD23
NH55
NOECLARK
OSCONDA
DIESELMONK

 [TC48] 
LETSROLL
REBELMEDIC

There may be others but this is all I know of.

VIEWQUEST · Oct 25, 2005

Log onto www.worksaver.com, go to product line, land management tools, compact tractor grapple. This is the one my dealer recommended for my TC55 with quick attach. It's lighter than most grapples and therefor allows for greater lift capacity. I've been very pleased with mine.

CJ4 · Oct 26, 2005

Well gentlemen I now have my new TC55DA, EHSS, 4WD, 18LA FEL, tooth bar, forks, 5' Rhino TW-60 brush hog, 3 rear remotes, hyd top bar, R-4 tires.....

I worked it hard the last 5 days and so far it's a dream. I was concerned about the EHSS vs the Hydro decision but I think I made the right choice. That EHSS is wonderful. It's so smooth and effortless that I seldom used the clutch. I can think of some places the Hydro would have been nice but others where the EHSS was just as good if not better. Getting used to the tractor is the biggest challenge. Wow, is it different than my old tractor!!! Very user friendly, lots of comfy features....

I took it right down to the very wooded creek and it crawled effortlessly over huge boulders, thru thick brush and trees, and up - down and all around the sloped terrain even brush-hogging and skinning low limbs off of trees with the forks on the FEL as I went. I love it so far!!! This tractor has a whole lot of power!! I did notice however the locking up occasionally of the steering that everyone is mentioning. It happens when you usually have a load on the FEL or in a bind somehow. Honestly, it's not a "real" issue so far......just a twinge (about 2 inches) of movement forward or backward and it comes out of it......I'll confirm it to the dealer and see if they have any solutions. Other than that, no problems and I worked it pretty hard.......

Just have alot of trees to clear......carry to the burn-pile and stumps to remove somehow. I'm anxious to spend alot of time on this puppy. I'll send pics as I get them.

IH3444 · Oct 26, 2005

Hello CJ4, do you have your rear tires loaded? That should help. Either a rear implement, ballast box loaded, or a large concrete block like my neighbor built should help. I did a side by side comparison of my IH3444 Industrial tractor, and my TC48 steering cylinder, and the IH3444 cylinder is larger. I'm thinking that if this becomes an issue for me, I'll find another either NH, or aftermarket cylinder that will fit. After the tractor is out of warrenty of course. So far no problem for me, but sounds like you are really putting your TC55 through the "Aberdeen" M1A2 test track. Thanks for the report. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif