I test drove a new 8n boomer today

[magnatrac]

As backyardtracks brother I was lucky enough to kick some tires today too As cool as the 8n looks in all of the pictures it looks even better in real life. The shiny red paint all over the exposed motor really makes it stand out. I would like to see what it would look like with a set of ag tires on it ! The only thing that dissapointed me was the seat. It's foam with a thin coating sprayed over it. It's not vinyl covered like most seats , but for a parade machine it will probably be fine. The drive system is neat but as my brother stated it would take a little time to get used to. Racing around the dealers lot I felt like I was on a big expensive 4 wheel drive go cart !!! Then again since I spend most of my time running a skid most tractors feel pretty big and fast !!!


, shaun

 

[justatractorguy]

First off the things hauls @$$! The sales guy said it'll go over 20mph which was too fast for their lot.

It will go over 20 mph in the high speed range, but there is a low speed range and and adjustable speed range that can be set anywhere from 5% to 100% of the maximum speed.

Unlike everthing else I've driven with a cvt trans it doesn't coast at all when you let off the throttle, it'll throw you right off of it if your not ready. It stopped quicker than when I let off the pedal on my hydro tc45.

There are six reactivity settings that you can choose from depending on what kind of work you are performing. It sounds like your dealer had it in the highest setting. The reactivity settings affect how the tractor speeds up and slows down.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

There are six reactivity settings that you can choose from depending on what kind of work you are performing. It sounds like your dealer had it in the highest setting. The reactivity settings affect how the tractor speeds up and slows down.

If you can change these "reactivity settings" on the fly, while the tractor is moving, then you'd really have something there. A cvt may finally give you the best of both worlds (hst vs gear) and hopefully none of the worst. Whether you own an HST or gear tractor, it is arguably more of a pain shifting between "ranges" than changing your speed in a given range.

 

[justatractorguy]

There is a switch on the left control area that selects between high and low reactivity; which of the three high and three low settings that are represented on the switch comes from a menu that you can adjust in the instrument panel.

The switch can be flipped on the fly to change between high or low, and you can go into the menu in the panel while moving too, but it would be safer to stop the tractor.

 

[kebo]

I drive by a NH dealer on my way to work everyday and about a month ago they had one parked out front on my way home that afternoon. There must have been a dozen people standing around gawking at it!! I had planned to put my camera in the truck and stop by and take a few pic's but never did it. They've either moved it or sold it now.

 

[backyardtrack]

It will go over 20 mph in the high speed range, but there is a low speed range and and adjustable speed range that can be set anywhere from 5% to 100% of the maximum speed.



There are six reactivity settings that you can choose from depending on what kind of work you are performing. It sounds like your dealer had it in the highest setting. The reactivity settings affect how the tractor speeds up and slows down.

I am aware of the reactivity switch and the speed range switch. I drove the thing in every setting that was possible. My point was I was still suprised how fast the thing slowed in all speeds. I'm not sure how the trans works comapred to most cvt set ups but when comparing it to a snowmobile it would be like riding a sled with a very radical helix that back shifts very very quickly when letting off of the throttle. I think this trans is neat and the 5 minute test drive was by no means a fair test of is capability. I do still think I could change dirction faster and smoother with a hst when it comes to loader work. I was being nice to the tractor since it was a demo but it felt like it wanted to come to a complete stop and sit still for a second before changing direction. If you tried to rush it the tractor jerked around and it felt as if I was slamming gears or something. Again, I don't know exactly how the thing works inside and mabe you can get a little rough with it and it won't hurt it at all?

 

[mwb]

This is the first time I have heard about this model. I found some nice pics here New Holland | Boomer | Compact Tractor | Legendary 8N Tractor If you scroll down, on the right hand side there is a link to pics of the red loader and red backhoe.

Not sure about the chrome ROPS option seems to be too much bling for a tractor.

I wonder what the price tag is?

 

[backyardtrack]

I wonder what the price tag is?

I was told $30k for just the tractor and $2-3K less for basically the same tractor with blue paint and regular body work.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I was told $30k for just the tractor and $2-3K less for basically the same tractor with blue paint and regular body work.

So, buy the blue version and a nice restored REAL 8n for the $2500 to $3000 that you save, and have 2 tractors

 

[backyardtrack]

I was talking with a buddy of mine that races sleds about this tractor and it's cvt trans and how with the flip of a switch you can completely change how the tractor drives/responds. He knows more about cvt set ups than anyone I know and he too was curious as to exactly how this 8n trans worked. He said there are some after market companies making an adjustable helix for snowmobiles but it's something that on a sled has to be changed around back in the pit's and not with the flip of a switch. He was thinking maybe they came up with a way to electronically adjust the helix? Another train of thought was having a push button way to change the spring pressure on both the primary and secondary clutches? If anyone already knows how new holland does this or learns how please share, I'd be interested to know. I asked the dealer but they said they were not exactly sure themselves on how it worked yet. They didn't have all their paper work/ manuals for these new machines yet.