OP
TSO
Elite Member
Ok that makes sense... You ever brush hog or mow with yours?
Ford / NH 545D Industrial Tractor - looking for owner experiences
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strum456
Platinum Member
I haven't ever had a brush hog or mower on it. It would be okay for that, but we have other tractors that work better. We use it for our 7' snowblower a good bit. It could use a little more power in deep snow. Sometimes inching is a problem, like I explained.
OP
TSO
Elite Member
Okay thanks for that. Based on your ownership experience, as I go out and look at these used machines, aside from normal issues found on any tractor, are there any areas of particular attention I should look for as I shop around? Any areas that you know to be weak or problematic that I can check for excessive wear?
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
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- May 27, 2006
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- Missouri
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- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Beyond not having a good time, you'll instantly overheat the trans/torque convertor. Do that long enough and you'll get to replace the convertor......
Imagine going down the road in your auto trans car/truck at 2000rpm. Try to stop without letting off the throttle or putting it in neutral.......
OP
TSO
Elite Member
Ok what you guys are saying makes sense.
Can you explain in which situations I would need to use the torque converter, and when I wouldn't? What is the value of using it versus not using it?
Can you explain in which situations I would need to use the torque converter, and when I wouldn't? What is the value of using it versus not using it?
OP
TSO
Elite Member
I've still never driven one or looked in person... Research stage
Seems like these were in their Heyday back before the internet and forums, so there's not a lot of information out there explaining functionality ... from what I can see.
Seems like these were in their Heyday back before the internet and forums, so there's not a lot of information out there explaining functionality ... from what I can see.
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 32,246
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Check out tractordata, industrial tractors. They list all the 545s. The very early models didn't use the torque convertor. All later models did. For your expected uses you might want to avoid the torque convertor if at all possible. 
strum456
Platinum Member
We use ours as a loader tractor, which is what it was designed to be used for. The electric shuttle is THE BEST thing about the tractor. I'll try to help any way I can, but I guess I would need to know more about what you want to do with the tractor. "Pulling a big mower" means different things to different people. I'd be thinking about a 20' bat wing. You won't have a good time with that either. LOL
strum456
Platinum Member
As for what to look for...
The first thing that comes to mind is evidence of being greased / maintained. That tractor has a lot of grease fittings. Many are under the tractor. You may find fittings that the previous owner never greased because he didn't even know about them. The first ones that come to mind are the front axle pivot and the carrier bearing for the drive shaft going up to the front end. Don't forget the lower ball joints! The main bucket pins need extra grease, and rarely get it (you have to lift and rotate the bucket to get to them). We had to replace the universal joint that runs between the crankshaft and the front hydraulic pump right after buying ours. It was never greased and so badly worn that the yokes needed to be replaced as well. It is a pain to grease because you have to rotate the engine into just the right position to get the gun onto the fittings. We are going to need new steering cylinders before long. The ball joints are loose - again due to lack of grease. Those will be about $300 each, as the ball joints are part of the cylinders.
You are probably picking up on the pattern here: When taken care of, these tractors are exceptionally durable. We got ours pretty cheap, and we knew what we were getting. It took some time just to get all of the joints to take grease. $$$ wise, we haven't invested much at all in repairs compared to the use we have gotten out of the tractor. Actually, I'd rate our 345d as the best value of any of our equipment. It gets more hours each year than any of the other tractors. It's a fine machine.
The first thing that comes to mind is evidence of being greased / maintained. That tractor has a lot of grease fittings. Many are under the tractor. You may find fittings that the previous owner never greased because he didn't even know about them. The first ones that come to mind are the front axle pivot and the carrier bearing for the drive shaft going up to the front end. Don't forget the lower ball joints! The main bucket pins need extra grease, and rarely get it (you have to lift and rotate the bucket to get to them). We had to replace the universal joint that runs between the crankshaft and the front hydraulic pump right after buying ours. It was never greased and so badly worn that the yokes needed to be replaced as well. It is a pain to grease because you have to rotate the engine into just the right position to get the gun onto the fittings. We are going to need new steering cylinders before long. The ball joints are loose - again due to lack of grease. Those will be about $300 each, as the ball joints are part of the cylinders.
You are probably picking up on the pattern here: When taken care of, these tractors are exceptionally durable. We got ours pretty cheap, and we knew what we were getting. It took some time just to get all of the joints to take grease. $$$ wise, we haven't invested much at all in repairs compared to the use we have gotten out of the tractor. Actually, I'd rate our 345d as the best value of any of our equipment. It gets more hours each year than any of the other tractors. It's a fine machine.
