Ford / NH 545D Industrial Tractor - looking for owner experiences

[TSO]

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.

Yes thanks... I've seen that page (Tractor Data) so many times I've about memorized it LOL.

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

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.

Thanks... Those are all pretty much what i expected, the steering joints on my Ford 550 were well work out also. Good tip about the crankshaft pin, having to rotate the engine... That's a surprise that i wouldn't have had a clue about. Would you be able to draw an arrow for me so i can look to see where the access location is for it?

Regarding what I'll be doing with it... I love my Massey 1652. Great machine. I use it commercially for my landscape company, but use it less and less as i transition everything to SkidSteer work. I do rough and finish grading, seed and sod, and gravel work (driveways, private roads, etc). I also do land clearing and stumps. Also have lawn accounts (grass and field) and run a flail, but that's less and less as well.

However... I often need both a smaller tractor (mine is too big and heavy when driving over the finished surface to seed and straw, it leaves indents in the freshly graded ground) AND sometimes i need a larger tractor when doing gravel work, to pull the heavier implements and move material better, dirt work, and ripping stuff out with the loader. Stronger forklift ability would be helpful as well. I like that the 545D loader can keep up with, and exceed, the loader on my Track machine, which has a 5500 lb tipping load.

I can (and have been thinking about) sell my 3pt stump grinder and get a skid steer mounted one, so that doesn't necessarily have to be a deciding factor. BUT in case i need to use the tractor one still, i need the PTO option. When grinding, the tractor is stationary and the grinder is controlled hydraulically, so I'm thinking i can get by.

Finding a cheap smaller tractor with turf tires will be pretty easy.

Soooooooo... Mainly I'll be using this tractor for gravel work and some grading work, tree ripping (yanking out smaller trees under 6"), moving brush with a grapple, etc. In the winter it will get used for pushing and pulling snow. Occasionally, I'll need the PTO for flail mowing and stump grinding.

 

[strum456]

I don't mess with pictures on here too much. I am still using a flip phone. Just look in front of the engine and you'll find that universal joint in the middle of the crank pulley. It's not hard to locate. It's slightly difficult to grease. It's a moderate pain in the butt to replace (you have to unbolt the pump and slide it forward). That is after taking the oil cooler out of the way and maybe the radiator. It has been years...

A 545 with 4x4 and a grapple would be an absolute animal! That is if you can find a grapple that the 545 won't break. I think it would fit your needs very well. It would be clumsy and slow for mowing, but if you are doing open areas and not trying to trim close to obstacles, that won't really matter. It will make up for it in loader / box scraper work.

Maybe you can advise me a bit. I have been thinking of some day replacing my 345 with a track loader. I was thinking something in the 10 - 12k class. Maybe a Kubota SVL 75 or a Tak TL-12.

Any idea how a track machine is going to compare in lifting capacity? I am looking at the Kubota's specs right now. 9142 lbs tipping load - 3200 operating load. I think the 345d is rated to lift 3000 lbs to full height. This doesn't seem like comparing apples to apples. Would the operating load be the "to full height" load?

Honestly, I'm not sure I could do with out the 345, even if I had a track machine. I know the skid steer would absolutely work circles around it for many of the things I do.

I have 2 reservations:

1. I would rack up some miles driving to different parts of the farm to do small jobs here and there. I am assuming track machines are not good for this.

2. I use the 345 for a lot of general lifting, loading, unloading, etc.. If I was trying to do that with a skid steer, I would find myself climbing out of the cap underneath a bucket from which something heavy is hanging. The 345 seems like a more comfortable arrangement.

On a side note, I'd love to mount my snow blower on the front of a high flow track loader!

 

[TSO]

It's difficult to compare a Track machine to a tractor. Although, I'm comparing to Compact tractors and not industrial machines. For example, my Massey weighs around 6500 lbs with loaded tires, 55 hp, has a max lift of 2527 lbs @ 113" or so. I can just barely handle 2400 lbs on my pallet forks with that tractor.

In comparison, my Track machine weighs in around 8300 lbs, 71 hp, has a "tipping load" of 5500 lbs (which means 50% operating weight with a track machine @ 2750 lbs, and 35% operating weight with a wheel machine @ 1925 lbs). It has a max height of around 120" but has a much higher "level bucket" height than my tractor. So, they rate "weight lifting" way differently on skid steers than they do on tractors. And with that said, my track machine is a complete brute compared to my tractor. When it comes to pushing dirt around, maintaining grade, working on slopes, running hydraulics... the track machine is night and day a better performer. I can set and maintain grade & pitch much easier with that machine. Even finish grading & feathering dirt, I can get a gorgeous finish with just a bucket on my track machine. This will sound like bragging, but I'm not intending for it to sound that way... I do alot of sub-contractor grading for other companies - they call me an artist and are always amazed at how pretty I can finish a yard; and that's just using the 4-in-1 tooth bucket on the front. I also have a front Harley rake and a Rockhound, which are also amazing landscape tools. Long story short, for doing dirt work, I can run circles around a tractor. Now, for gravel work, I much prefer the tractor with a rear implement. I can leave some beautiful finishes with my various grading implements, much better with the tractor than with the skid.

The other area where the tracked machine excels (and by a large margin) is soft ground conditions. I can leave a nice grade with my Terex in a place that I can't even drive on with my tractor, and where a wheeled skid would sink immediately. I can play in areas where it's tough to even drive thru with wheeled machines. Now, understand that my track machine is considered a MTL (multi-terrain loader) instead of the traditional CTL (Compact-track loader) machines like the Kubota, Case, Tak, Gehl, Etc. The MTL track and undercarriage system offers lower ground pressures, better ground contact, better ride, faster ground speeds, and much better flotation. On dirt, it's the better undercarriage. On cement and rocks, the CTL undercarriage (more like a dozer setup) is better because of durability.

I've used a lot of different track machines, and last year demo'd a new Kubota SVL-75 and a Tak TL-8. On dirt, my Terex is a much better machine (even used with 2500 hrs). I'm looking to get a newer machine with a AC cab, which is why I've been test driving new machines. But, my MTL undercarriage, and the smoother hydraulics of my Terex, are much better finish graders on dirt than those others. I actually brought the Kubota SVL-75 on a grading job along with my Terex and noticed a big difference in soft-ground operation between the two. There was a very wet area that the Kubota could barely handle, yet my Terex could play in and leave a nice grade. I also felt (and my guys that were trying the machines agreed) that my loader was stronger than the other 2, even though the ratings were the same or higher on the others.

The kubota and Tak machines were both very nice, and had really nice cabs. The Kubota cab was probably the nicest. As an all around machine, that SVL was really nice. But, for my work, the Terex is just a better performer.

Going back to the loader weight lift... My Terex toys with weight on the forks that my Massey can't even budge. The tipping load says 5500 lbs, but I'm not sure it can "lift" that much. It's strong tho. I've also run a Bobcat T770 and a Tak TL-12. Those machines are 11000-12000 lbs and technically "push" harder than my machine, but it's relative to the size.

Anyway to tie it all together... I do a handful of jobs where I rip out trees with my Terex, using a tree puller on the front. If the 545D is true to the specs and has a breakout of 8000 lbs and a max lift @ 133" of 5000 lbs, I think it'll be a stronger loader than my Terex and should be a beast at ripping trees. I'm going to look at one on Sat not far from me, that allegedly has been converted to quick attach on the loader, so I'm excited to see it.

 

[strum456]

Interesting...I never even considered Terex. If you were to ask 10 different people about track machines, you would get 10 different answers. I keep hearing Cat is the best, but they price gouge. Kubota and Tak are a good value and are about comparable. Case and New Holland are more for agricultural use (which is mostly what I would need). But I guess now I'll have to look into Terex.

 

[TSO]

Just for reference, my machine is actually an ASV machine branded by Terex. ASV is a company out of Minnesota, who was majority owned by caterpillar for a short time, and now is their own company again. They sell under their own name, but still have an affiliation with Terex and still make the Terex machines. ASV, branded as Terex, also makes the wheeled machines for Takeuchi.

I talk to a lot of different contractors around here who all run and swear by different stuff. I really think it has way more to do with dealer and brand availability in any particular Market more than quality or production value of the different brands. I don't really think that CAT is the best, but they have the best support. They also have a great leasing program for bigger companies who are doing jobs, and we see a ton of those new machines on job sites all around the area. CAT also uses the ASV undercarriage as an option on their 2x7 line machines (247, 257, 277, 287, 297). Their 2x9 line (239, 249, etc) are the traditional dozer style undercarriage but with ASV torsion axles.

For your farm, if you are mostly going to be working on the ground or dirt, the ASV undercarriage will move you around the farm faster and more comfortably, with better traction. But if you are mostly going to be on gravel or cement, the traditional-style undercarriage will give you better durability over time.

The ASV machines also have higher ground clearance so depending on what kind of conditions you are in, that may come into play or may not.

However, I can easily say that the ASV cab Interiors are behind pretty much all the other manufacturers in both room and comfort. I'm used to sitting in mine for hours and hours, so it doesn't bother me too much. But sitting in the brand-new cabs from Kubota and Takeuchi, and even the Bobcat cabs, are much roomier and more comfortable, with nicer amenities. I still have an operated a case or New Holland, as neither company offers a machine that would be good for my work, but I've read good thing about their cab Interiors. I've also been in the newer CAT machines, and even though the quality is nice, those cabs are very cramped.

 

[blueredboy]

I depends on your budget but you may want to consider a newer option. New Holland still makes an industrial tractor loader. It's called the U80c. Has a 6,500 lb rated lift and a cab option on a nice frame. Here is the specs on it TractorData.com New Holland U8 industrial tractor attachments information and here is a picture I took of one at a sales training I attended in November. ATTACH]538125[/ATTACH] if you go to New Holland's website you can us their dealer locator to find a light construction dealer near you for more prices and information.

 

[TSO]

Thanks but i need to keep it under 10000 lbs.

Looks like a strong machine tho.

 

[ovrszd]

Kubota has entered the CTL market with a very well designed machine. Their numbers are increasing dramatically in my area.

If a person has never ran a CTL it's hard to describe their productivity. I stuck my M9540 crossing a fill area that I had just finished with my brother's Bobcat T300........

 

[4570Man]

Kubota has entered the CTL market with a very well designed machine. Their numbers are increasing dramatically in my area.

If a person has never ran a CTL it's hard to describe their productivity. I stuck my M9540 crossing a fill area that I had just finished with my brother's Bobcat T300........

Agreed. The difference in a CTL and a compact tractor is the difference in a BX and a shovel. The roll up door in the Kubota instead of the stupid flip out door is enough of an advantage for me.

 

[TSO]

Yes i agree... The Kubota, Takeuchi, and my Terex, all have roll up doors. I like that better than the flip out doors I've used on other machines.

Like I said, but Kubota svl line is very nice. If I was doing more work on gravel and hard pack, I would likely go with that machine. Actually, it's still at the top of my list when I renew. But, the ASV undercarriage on my Terex really does a much better job on soft ground and finish grading applications like what I mostly do. It also holds a slope much better than the others. I had been demoing a Tak TL 8 for a bit and used it on this backyard where I can hardly hold the slope. I came back with my Teryx and played around on the slope with no problem.