Info on TN80 or TN85

hard_yakka · Nov 10, 2004

Well I wrote a nice letter and then a pretty stern letter to el presidentee of NH and only got a little rise out of them. The dealer that got the warranty work hasn't had a lot of good to say about this tractor. Now I got a TN75S on loan while they worked on my tractor, that was a 'returned' unit because the owner complainted loud enough to get a new one. That thing leaked out of the PTO area, electronics in the cab were absolutely wacked (speedo out, pto off by 700 rpm). I like the folks at this dealership and they have pretty much done the right customer service moves at every opportunity. It's not their fault the tractor was a lump of coal when it rolled off the line. I haven't made up my mind just exactly what I'm going to do yet, just get rid of this TN and get another brand (least likely), trade up or cross my fingers and hold on. With that said I'm heading up to dealer tomorrow to look at 40 & 45hp Boomers for in-row vineyard use.
Regards

Robert_in_NY · Nov 10, 2004

Why don't you just look at getting a TNF? You will get more power then the standard TN and you will get a narrow tractor for vineyard use. Around here the main vineyard tractor is the TN with some farms using JD 5000n and I know a couple who use a compact for very limited use in the vineyards. I do not see or hear of any problems with the TNF's that are working every day on 100+ acre grape farms. Of course I also have not heard of many problems with the regular TN's that are being made. The only ones that have had any amount of problems were the early models when the TN was just released and NH has taken care of those problems.

What driveline problems were you having? I have not heard of any problems with the TN engines or trannys other then computer related problems.

hard_yakka · Nov 10, 2004

I'm a little gun shy of any 'TN' model as the TN-V caught my eye but then it has computer generated pictures on the NH website which to me == 'not ready/initial model' . Another reason to stay away and NH is not the only mfg I wouldn't buy the initial model year production. I'll look at the TNF and thanks for pointing it out.
The grapes are only 20 acres of our 200 acre parcel, there is lots of cleanup, mowing, tilling, etc., etc. TN75 has been doing the work albeit slow, it's just the problems keep getting in the way. The 'local' dealer has a TS115A lease return with 300 hours on it that I am going to look at too.

Robert_in_NY · Nov 11, 2004

The TN-V has been out for a couple years now. My neighbor has 2 of them he uses in the double curtains. Only problem with them is they are cramped and I would hate to run one all day. Another tractor that might work for you is the TT series. It is basicly the old 3010 and is like the TB as it is a plain machine with very little electronics. You might be able to get one of those to replace your TN.

Phred · Dec 2, 2004

I have had a Tn70 for years with very few problems. All the issues have been very minor, like a sweaking belt on the AC that the dealer fixed right away.

Since you said the dealer went out of business, maybe they were somehow part of the problem.

One of the local NH dealers is huge and has been around for ever. It's a family run busniess.

Fred

hard_yakka01 · Dec 3, 2004

The folks at Corvallis NH have been great and 'over the top' fixing the 9, now 11 warranty problems this unit has had. It sat unusable from 1 Oct 2003 until the middle of March 2004 after the old dealer went out of business, I sent a threatening letter to the then President of NH, Mr. Kennedy and got some response. It's now has 2 more problems, I asked for reasonable compensation on a trade in for a TNF95 and basically got what babies put in diapers in my face (take your pick it doesn't matter). I bought a Kubota M105S and M8400Narrow today.
I'll be going after NH Corp with 'extreme prejudice' as I have interviewed a lawyer today too.

But with all that said the people that are getting the shaft are the wonderful folks like Corvallis NH that have to deal with corporate policies and KIA (the car) like quality. The TN I own is a lemon plain and simple and if NH Corp wants to stick there head in the sand about the multitude of issues they have then I believe there will only be 2 colors (Green and Orange). I still like the features, power, color of blue but I have worked pretty hard to get where I'm at and our company has never treated customers with genuine problems like this.

jgh · Apr 29, 2005

20050429

I also have had lots of trouble with my 2000 model TN90F. Most are related to the electronics, and the ECM was replaced in 2001, I believe (by me, sent by dealer 100+ miles away).

Also, there have been something like 4 repairs (including a recall) to the AC and heat. Just got a $955 bill for AC work (including some travel and an out of fuel bleed on one visit). Only c100 was parts.

And just tonight, I tried to start it for the first time since the AC work. Will not go forward or back. Flashing those stupid error codes again! Why the **** didn't they put in some kind of digital readout instead??

The error codes are 64 and 72, related to the transm sychros, which I believe has afflicted me b4.

I actually have the diagnostic box, given to me by the factory rep after I replaced the ECM in 2001. Using that is one way to clear the error codes, but I will call the dealer SM to ask.

And the keypad on my Bobcat failed as well today.

Oh, well,

J