Leaky New TC25D with No Headlights

webbmeister · Jun 14, 2002

Hi Everyone:

Standing on the right side of the tractor (from the perspective of the driver's seat) and looking down at the front axle, there is a hydraulic hose with a metal nipple wrapped in teflon tape and screwed into the top right of the axle. It is leaking quite a bit, creating a sludge of clippings and dirt and oil (?) that piles up on the hose. The oil(?) also drips off the axle and from the sludge onto the ground. I'm showing my greenness here - so don't laugh! My question is this: Can I take an open-end wrench and tighten that up a bit? Can I ruin it? Should I wait for the 50 hour service (I'm at 25)?

Also (I'm getting a little impatient with all the little gotchas on this $18,000 tractor!) no headlights! Fuse is fine (tail lights and dash lights work), wires at lamps are fine, I see nothing disconnected. Any ideas?

Sorry about asking about little stuff - I appreciate the help.

Thanks,

Jim

Charliebrn · Jun 14, 2002

I'm sure you can tighten that leaky hose, just do it carefully with the right size wrench until it stops leaking. Can't help you with the headlights, but have you checked the switch yet with a voltmeter?

Good luck...

banjobj · Jun 15, 2002

Not to be a smart alec, but you spent hard earned money on a new tractor. I'd have the dealer fix these under warranty and not do it myself.

webbmeister · Jun 15, 2002

Not smart alecky at all. Problem is that I bought it long-distance. The dealer I bought it from was fine until he had my cash, still hasn't delivered (2.5 months later) the repair manual that was part of the deal and the 2 cans of touch up paint needed to do the many dings on the FEL and 3PH (there when delivered). If I ever buy another tractor, it will be from Steve Carver or a local.

The local dealer does stuff only in his shop, charges 150 p.u. and deliver. If all it takes is a tightning, I'll do that and save the $150. The lights, on the other hand, are a mystery! I'll probably save that for the 50 hour.

I'm happy with the 25D, but honestly, the little problems are starting to add up, and it really has taken the edge off the fun and joy of tractor ownership.

I just reread this - sounds like waahhh waahhh. Sorry.

Jim

Steelfan · Jun 15, 2002

Jim,
I don't blame you at all for being upset. This dealer sounds like he's not too good on customer service. That type of thing is always frustrating. I know when I had the leak on my TC21D, the outfit that I dealt with sent a service truck up to fix it. He drove 80 miles one way to tighten two clamp for me. That really impressed me. Do you have a local dealer in your area that will do warranty work for you? Maybe you could contact them, or even contact New Holland to get this resolved. Just my two cents. I hope it works out for you. Kent

banjobj · Jun 15, 2002

Sorry to hear you have had a problem /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif with your TC 25 D. I hope you can resolve your problems/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Thanks for giving the whole story.

cstocks · Jun 15, 2002

The local dealer wants to charge you $150 to pick up and deliver your tractor? That seems mighty steep to me.

Might I ask why you bought your tractor long-distance? The reason I ask is I also bought mine long distance. I bought it in Ark. where I own a small plot of land. I figured I would need the dealer there more than here where I live in TX. Turns out that was faulty reasoning because my tractor lives here with me and it is not practical to rely on a dealer 350 miles away. I do have occasion to leave my tractor in Ark. at my uncle's house and I did manage to get free lifetime pick up and delivery from the dealer I bought from so at least that will be handy if I need repairs while I am there. (The local dealer here in Houston offered that and I made them match the offer.)

Just curious,

Chris

webbmeister · Jun 16, 2002

Hi Chris:

Money was the reason. The dealer I bought from apparently sells a lot of tractors - he got it to me for $2500 less than the local guy - even after a $650 ship charge.

A few hundred dollars - no biggie. $2500? Couldn't ignore that!

Jim

cstocks · Jun 16, 2002

Yes, Jim, $1850 in your pocket is a healthy chunk o' change! Oh, you mean $2500 after the $650 shipping? I can see where it would be hard to turn down a deal like that...

Steelfan · Jun 16, 2002

Sorry Jim, I misread that post about the local dealer./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif $150 is too much to haul your tractor. Sounds like you ran into a bit of a problem there. I defintely try to tighten the connection myself, and then wait for your 50 hr service for the headlights. I asked the service man who was here, whether it voids the warranty doing such stuff, and he said it did not, but the connection on my tractor was a metal tube with a rubber connector with cloth around it. The thing with the metal tube, is if you overtighten it will bend or split.