I like my New Holland tractor

[sherpa]

I bought this 2004 TC33D 5 years ago and we have really enjoyed it.
It is so handy here on our property in the forest where we live.
I service it regularly and it gets a bath twice a year and it sleeps under the garage.
I have 388 hours on it and it is still runs and looks like new.

I have had all the little problems such as not starting, (I learn a lot there) and I replace the tilt steering wheel gas shock.

How many hours are these tractors good for?
Are there any other issues with these TC's that I need to be concerned about as it ages?
sherpa

 

[jinman]

Wow! 388 hours in 5 years. Let's do the math. That means that when your tractor is 50 years old, it will only have 3,880 hours. It should be broken in by then. Nobody knows for sure, but I think these tractors will outlast many of us if they get regular maintenance and we fix the little things when they break. My tractor isn't pretty, but it runs perfectly because it has had regular maintenance and I try to not abuse it. Mine is 10 years old and has 1700 hours.

 

[JC-jetro]

These tractors are solid. If the circulatory system is well maintained such as engine lubrication and coolant flow then they can go for a very long time. Obviously, you'll have a bit of a challenge here and there but if you are a bit comfortable with wrenching and try to understand components and their relationship then the maintenance part of it become quite easy. I have seen 3500 hrs on little ole 1700 that still ran pretty strong. My 30 year old 1700 was maintained okay (engine oil and coolant system), it was garaged all the time and really not much was done to it and it amazes me even now on how easily it starts and how well it work. As Jim said, mine for sure outlasts me if I just give a bit TLC. Obviously the way operator uses or abuses his tractor goes a long way in it's life span. The clutch on my 1700 still got 90% of the lining left after 30 years


JC,

 

[sweep]

.

How many hours are these tractors good for?
Are there any other issues with these TC's that I need to be concerned about as it ages?
sherpa

I have a 2006 TC45A with 153 hrs on it. Waxed 2-3 times per year and kept in a climate controlled garage.

I would bet the biggest problem we have with these tractors 30 years from now is finding electronic parts. There are so many different series of these tractors, produced in limited years in even more limited numbers that CNH will probably never be able to full fill in 30 years-or care to..

An engine or hydraulic system can always easily be rebuilt so I would not worry about that aspect.

I'm planning on keeping my tractor as a family heirloom and in the next year or two plan to buy some of the electronic parts for spares-ones that if they go out they cripple the tractor..the ones that cannot be bypassable or easily repaired.

 

[WM75Guy]

A friend has a 63 Fordson and wondered about parts availability. I checked with the NH parts manager when I was there last week and parts are still available for it. Tractors are not like cars, they are made to last and when a manufacturer quits servicing them business will tank. Sales gets you in the front door, service gets you in the back door of the dealer. Dealers stay in business because of parts and service.

 

[JC-jetro]

In general I'd prefer more plane jane types as even electronics much easier to work with even if exact same part might not be available. An electrical relay then , now and 50 years from now has same operational concept. You might not be able to plug in and go when one becomes damaged but always can rig up the relay in an alternate fashion for the exact same functionality. A lot of sensor and sending unit share same concepts as well. There is also many parts that cross reference and are used in many different class of tractors. I asked for clutch component from my NH dealer and the counter lady was telling me clutch disk and many other components have not changed much and are same with much newer model.

JC,

 

[crash325]

I bought this 2004 TC33D 5 years ago and we have really enjoyed it.
It is so handy here on our property in the forest where we live.
I service it regularly and it gets a bath twice a year and it sleeps under the garage.
I have 388 hours on it and it is still runs and looks like new.

I have had all the little problems such as not starting, (I learn a lot there) and I replace the tilt steering wheel gas shock.

How many hours are these tractors good for?
Are there any other issues with these TC's that I need to be concerned about as it ages?
sherpa

TG45DA Purchased with 190 hours on it in 3/06, now has around 1,300 hours on it. Some very easy and some real hard. It has loaded well over 200 yards of rock & gravel. The back hoe has dug 1,000'+ of ditches from 2 to 4' deep, some in rock, most pretty easy. It has moved rocks that the bucked would barley pick up 1 end. My home made forks have lifted 2,000 LB rock. It is now powering my home made wood splitter. The post hole digger has dug around a 100 holes most 4' deep. Some where down pressure and 300 LBS of weight did nothing, until they soaked for 2 days. Most were pretty easy.

Problems have been very few and minor. I bough a tractor to work, not to work on and it has done its job quite well. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: