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

[TSO]

Yeah i think that's what i may do if i keep the machine. I'm gonna give it a month "try-out" and run it thru the paces. I'm still not 100% sure this machine type is gonna be the "right" machine for me, in which case I'll hold onto the Massey until i find the "right" one.

 

[City Farmer]

You only use the torque converter lock-up button when you want to keep a constant road speed or using PTO driven equipment. It basically turns your torque converter in to a clutched tractor. I’ve had my 545D for a couple years and it’s my go to. Mine is 10years newer than yours with an electric fuel pump and turbo but its basically the same machine from 1965. Its 2wd but pulls my 12ft. JD transport disc, a full HD 7ft. box and my 7ft. Woods 1000lb back blade.

If you’re over heating the trans, you’re in the wrong gear or its time to pull the radiator and see whats going on. I still have a lot to square away on mine cosmetically but its rock solid mechanically. I took a chance and bought it from an auction in Detroit. I picked up an OEM loader and wheel weights from Oklahoma last year for $1000. Hopefully, I’ll have the loader installed sometime in the next few months. A DIY QA, grapple and some forks are scheduled projects this fall/winter.

I dug out these stumps that were next to the house last week. The oak is 30” across and the pine was bigger. My Ford 4500BH loader couldn’t lift the oak or pull it out of the hole. The 545D pulled it out of the hole and across the field a 1/4 mile in 2nd low. There's about 1200lbs of wheel weights and 700lbs on the front end to keep it down.

 

[TSO]

Ok thanks for that.

So I've noticed that the fuel filter assembly looks different on the later-model machines. Mine looks to be the older style with the two sections. What is the makeup of the fuel pump on mine then? Is it just a mechanical old school fuel pump?

I'm looking forward to getting it here and testing it out. Should get here tomorrow morning. Actually had a dream about it last night LOL. But in the dream I was driving around my old Ford 550 backhoe.

 

[City Farmer]

Ok thanks for that.

So I've noticed that the fuel filter assembly looks different on the later-model machines. Mine looks to be the older style with the two sections. What is the makeup of the fuel pump on mine then? Is it just a mechanical old school fuel pump?

I'm looking forward to getting it here and testing it out. Should get here tomorrow morning. Actually had a dream about it last night LOL. But in the dream I was driving around my old Ford 550 backhoe.

I’ll say this, I’ve never had the old style filter leak on me before. The new style has a plastic collar that holds the filter in place, I hate everything about it. Yes, your machine has the old school bullet proof injection pump without any emissions on it. :thumbsup:

 

[TSO]

Well that's good to hear! Hey let me ask you this, just so I'm sure on the operation... can I change speeds while the tractor is in motion? For example, if I'm in low range 4 but need to grunt down to low range 3 or lower, is it okay to shift gears while still moving? Or, do I need to throw the shuttle lever into neutral before I change speeds? I know it says it's synchronized but I just want to make sure before I mess with it tomorrow.

 

[ovrszd]

The older "A" models like mine are non-synchro. I am pretty sure everything after that is synchro.

 

[TSO]

Well, she's here! So far so good! She's very clean... Although as soon as it warms up i need to spray her off, get the road grime and salt washed off. I will need to do a little bit of "rust-repair" on the cab and fenders, but it's minor. Considering the age and hours, she's in really nice shape. I'm especially appreciative that the paint is all original. I like that I can see everything on there with nothing hidden.

So far everything appears to work as it should! Seems smooth. I'll probably replace all the filters and fluids with something premium, just to be sure they're fresh.

Today I'm hoping to put the LPGS on her and grade the street. Won't be MUCH of a test but it will help me get more comfortable.

Anyway, here's some pics... And don't mind the barn, I'm still in the process of redoing it!

 

[TSO]

Sprayed her down and removed the cab-fenders. They'll need minor repairs, and I'll probably just remake them so they're not as bulky.

Hooked up the LPGS and graded the street. It definitely pulls better than my 4000 pound lighter Massey with 55 HP and HST. I could grade uphill in range 6 of 8 with the full contact of both of the blades of the grader digging in. I could grade downhill in range 7 of 8. I guess I could probably also have done downhill in range 8 of 8, but I felt like I was really lugging it.

I practice messing around with the torque converter while grading. Now it's starting to make sense. I could feel it when it locked in and I could feel it when it was released.

I also tried Shifting the speeds while in motion. I found that it didn't like to change speeds unless I kicked the shuttle lever into neutral. I could still change speeds while rolling, but again, it wanted to be a neutral to cooperate.

So far so good. Still going to take some time to get used to. As far as pulling the grader. I'm not so sure it was a night and day difference from using my Massey HST. Sure it pulled stronger, but I don't know if it would be enough to sway me to this machine over the convenience of the hydrostat. I think I'll notice more of a difference once I start using the loader. I need to order quick attach brackets 4 the machine, looks like I can get one for about 900 bucks shipped to me.

 

[ovrszd]

Since there is no "clutch pedal", you must shift the shuttle to neutral to change trans gears, or push the "dump button" on the FEL joystick and hold it down while shifting.

 

[TSO]

Since there is no "clutch pedal", you must shift the shuttle to neutral to change trans gears, or push the "dump button" on the FEL joystick and hold it down while shifting.

Yeah that's what I was trying to ask before, if I needed to put it in neutral since there is no clutch. I noticed that there is no button on the loader joystick to dump the trans, I found it on the floor instead.