Buying Advice New holland TC 29 pitfalls and pricing

[karlbike]

So i'm in serious need of a tractor (larger than my large frame simplicity) and have run across a NH TC 29 in the $7000 range. it's a 2000 and cosmetically rough (faded, a little rust, headlights busted etc) it's got a lot of hours on it, and needs some work (leaky PS unit, clutch adjustment, tires are worn out, but might get a season out of them)

it has a 7308 FEL, is a 3x3 trans. I think it might be a little small for my application (dragging wood from the woods, tilling garden, grading drive (600' in upper midwest), plowing snow, mowing orchard and other areas.

we have 80 acres, but only 25 of it is tillable by any stretch of the imagination, the rest is scrub, mixed hardwoods or swamp.

our area is pretty wet (you want to stay on top), so I'd want fat ag tires anyway, so replacing tires not a bad idea anyway.

My question is this: this seems like a really good price for this tractor, compared with what I've seen around, especially with the FEL.
it's at the upper end of my budget for now, so is a reasonable thought that I can get this tractor, touch it up, fix the broken things (I'm pretty handy, and have a neighbor who fixes anything with moving parts pretty cheap and is even better than I) and if I decide to go bigger/win the lottery, I can sell it for what I have in it, or at least not get soaked.

thoughts?

thanks
karl

 

[RoyJackson]

For $7K, I'd guess it's 2WD machine (really be surprised if it's 4WD). If I'm correct, 2WD with a loader isn't a happy combination. I think you'll be disappointed in it's performance.
Just make sure it doesn't need any major work. Parts aren't cheap and it would suck if you blew your whole budget on a tractor you can't use.

I would not buy it if it is 2WD... I'd look for an older tractor in better condition and 4WD (or large enough to do the work without 4WD)

 

[karlbike]

Right. It is a 4wd.

I wouldn't put a loader onto a small 2wd tractor.

the larger tractor is a great option, but I don't know enough to look at 30 year old tractors with a critical eye, and diesel ones of that age with loaders are at a premium around here. lots of dairy farms and people using tractors in the 50-80 HP range, which would be right where I'd be looking.

cosmetics don't matter to me.

If I can avoid major work, should I be able to get my money out of this machine in 2-5 years?

karl

 

[dave1949]

I think I would be inclined to keep shopping. As you describe the tractor, it sounds pretty well used and maybe not so well cared for. It might be a tad small for your intended uses too, which means it will be getting used hard by you too

It's a crap shoot, but that tractor could well be for sale for a while - unless the owner takes a lower offer.
Dave.

 

[RoyJackson]

cosmetics don't matter to me.

If I can avoid major work, should I be able to get my money out of this machine in 2-5 years?

karl

Cosmetics may not matter to you, but a poor appearance may well put off a potential buyer (and probably already has for that tractor) when you try to sell it.

As far as recouping your money in 2-5 years...no one can foresee the future. However, your post states it has "it's got a lot of hours on it". It's not going to have less hours in a few years. You'll have to expect some depreciation, even if you fix the leaks and spruce it up a bit. And that's if you can avoid major repair work (such as a clutch, since it has lots of hours).

Looking in my crystal ball, I foresee that tractor setting in a field somewhere, rusting away, in 2-5 years.

 

[brin]

I have a 2000 ...NH TC -29 with a front in loader ..it is 2 wheel drive and a gear model with 384 hours and I have owned it since new...It is a great tractor with plenty of power, I have no problem using the FEL with it , I use the loader all the time and otherwise I primarily Bush hog 22 acres with it on a regular basis. Now that is my tractor and the one you are looking at obviously has more hours but why not take your handman friend with you and look it over before you decide against it. My TC -20 also runs my 20KW PTO generator to power my whole house when we have a power outage...they are a good tractor with more power than you think and they are solid , heavy tractor. Ny rear tires are loaded. Good Luck.,

 

[ChuckinNH]

I'm not too familiar with the TC29 though I did test drive one a couple of times so take my suggestions with a grain of salt. I would count on having to replace the clutch, etc., and take a pessimistic perspective to any repairs that need doing, and see if the price still looks good to you.Those broken headlights for example could well run into hundreds of dollars in parts alone since many are "intergrated" units these days. Sweat equity is a good thought, but as in homes you have to be pretty careful with what you choose to work on if you want to get any kind of a return, or even to break even. I guess what I'm saying is that I would probably make a list of what needs doing, and get an idea from a dealer what it would cost to make it right before plunging into the deal. That might be enough to cover those things you don't see.

 

[jdboy4410]

i bought a brand new NH TC29D back in 01.i was very disappointed in it.the only things i liked about it was the loader and how the tractor was laid out as far as operating it.the engine ran fine,but 29 hp ? felt more like 18 hp. i used it till 04,it had been back and forth to the dealer,it had the trans replaced after the 3rd visit and the problem was still there.i went round and round with them and finally they refused to do anything for me.at that time,it only had about 200 hours on it.i was so disgusted with the whole experience that i sold it.i kept it in brand new shape and had the hardest time selling it.as for the engine,never had a problem other than it was very anemic.it just did'nt have the power i thought it should have.i then bought a new JD4410 in 04,power difference was night and day,it tackles everything i throw at it and wants more.
if i were you,i would steer clear of that NH and find yourself an older 4300/4400.i think you would be much happier with it,but,premium tractor brings premium price.the new holland cost me more considering what i paid for it and the loss i had to take to get rid of it.you can find older 40-45 hp farm tractors with loaders too for 8-10k.look at what you need to do the most with your tractor and then make a decision on buying one.they are an investment.some of the off brands make nice units that may be better suited to your budget.a friend had an old yanmar 35 hp 4wd,he did stuff with that tractor that was way beyond it's capabilities.he has had it for about 18 years and it still keeps on going.he bought a new NH TC40D after i told him about my experience,no sooner got it home,and he too was unhappy with it.i think they build some nice stuff,but as far as CUT tractors,i think they need to reinvent themselves ,,,,,,

 

[brin]

i bought a brand new NH TC29D back in 01.i was very disappointed in it.the only things i liked about it was the loader and how the tractor was laid out as far as operating it.the engine ran fine,but 29 hp ? felt more like 18 hp. i used it till 04,it had been back and forth to the dealer,it had the trans replaced after the 3rd visit and the problem was still there.i went round and round with them and finally they refused to do anything for me.at that time,it only had about 200 hours on it.i was so disgusted with the whole experience that i sold it.i kept it in brand new shape and had the hardest time selling it.as for the engine,never had a problem other than it was very anemic.it just did'nt have the power i thought it should have.i then bought a new JD4410 in 04,power difference was night and day,it tackles everything i throw at it and wants more.
if i were you,i would steer clear of that NH and find yourself an older 4300/4400.i think you would be much happier with it,but,premium tractor brings premium price.the new holland cost me more considering what i paid for it and the loss i had to take to get rid of it.you can find older 40-45 hp farm tractors with loaders too for 8-10k.look at what you need to do the most with your tractor and then make a decision on buying one.they are an investment.some of the off brands make nice units that may be better suited to your budget.a friend had an old yanmar 35 hp 4wd,he did stuff with that tractor that was way beyond it's capabilities.he has had it for about 18 years and it still keeps on going.he bought a new NH TC40D after i told him about my experience,no sooner got it home,and he too was unhappy with it.i think they build some nice stuff,but as far as CUT tractors,i think they need to reinvent themselves ,,,,,,

So you are condemning all New Holland Tractors. In other words you were not happy with yours and then your friend was not happy with his and you sum it up saying New Holland builds some nice stuff but not as far as CUT tractors. So you rule out the possibility that you abused your tractor or got a lemon. Personally, I don't think you like New Holland. There are plenty of happy New Holland Tractor owners just as there are some disappointed John Deere, Kubota etc. owners..No sense in condemning a whole company.

 

[RoyJackson]

So you are condemning all New Holland Tractors. In other words you were not happy with yours and then your friend was not happy with his and you sum it up saying New Holland builds some nice stuff but not as far as CUT tractors.

Let's focus on this particular tractor, men...

This one happens to be NH...but ragged out tractors are due to the owner/operator...not normally the manufacturer.

 

[mostly_gas]

At $7000 that tractor is not going to lose much more money due to age. It will depend more on mechanical condition and a lesser extent on cosmetics. I have a '79 1700 4WD w/FEL and 1285 hrs.I estimate value about 5 to 6k.
Is the tractor really as big as you want? If not forget it.
Make a list of what it will cost to get in shape for you to run it and make that your target price

 

[nickel plate]

Is it for sale by the original owner and what kind of work did it do? Were there various farm hands using it? Could it have been a rental yard machine? I even get the feeling that the seat is all torn up by multiple operators all packing a screwdriver in their rear pocket. I'm trying to figure out why it is cosmetically so beat up. You say it has a FEL yet the headlights are damaged? I guess the FEL could have been removed at various times. How many of us over the years of tractor ownership have EVER removed our FEL just once? Now be honest!
A machine that is not cared for externally could have been planned for financial depreciation from the start so I am not in favor of that deal.

 

[karlbike]

thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to keep on looking.
I need a tractor, not a hobby. especially if it's going to be too small.

sure is tempting though, but I'm a little too tight to gamble $7000 on something that may not be what I want.

thanks again.
I appreciate the advice and will keep on reading on the site.

Karl

 

[art]

Do check the engine block to transmission housing for cracks!

 

[Raspy]

In many cases the amount of power one needs is only related to how fast they want to do something or what they perceive to be true.

I have a TC29DA I bought new. It has about 500 hours on it and it has done an enormous amount of work building a new house, making roads, digging footings, digging at least 600' of utility trenches and digging the septic tank hole. I scrape the roads and have lifted all the posts into place on the new house. It never needs more power except on very steep hills with a full bucket, but that is what the lower gears are for. Also it is easier to transport than a bigger one. Sometimes the backhoe is at it's limit, but I haven't had to compromise on depth. And that tractor will get itself into some of the tightest places to do work. Bigger is not always better.

Two of my friends are always reminding me that their tractors have 65 HP. But I'm the only one actually building things.

On the other hand, I don't like buying machinery that has been mis-treated or poorly maintained unless the deal is ridiculously cheap. You might be better off with a TC29 that is in good condition.

 

[jdboy4410]

Brin,
sorry about that,and no,i am not condemming them,i just feel that for the money,the JD is the better buy.i never abused my NH,quite the opposite,i babied it.my biggest dissappointment was for dealer support,even the NH rep would not do anything,i went round and round with them.the other thing was that it just did'nt have any guts.the guy i sold it to kept it for about a year and he too sold it and bought a kubota,same reasons why i sold it,it was just anemic in the power department.the 7308 loader i thought was just awsome.i liked it better than i do the 430 loader on my JD.mine was the hydro obviously being the D model.i bought my new JD for 2k less than i paid for the NH 3 yrs before.i have about 300 hours on my 4410,and so far,it has just been a great tractor.no lack of power.i got more tractor for less money,dealer support was excellent,had a minor wiring issue when it was new,pinched wire,they took care of it right away.there are pros and cons to all the brands,but i think JD just makes the better CUT tractor,in my opinion.i have been on ford, kubota's,NH,JD,Kiote,andTYM
CUT tractors.i still prefer the JD.they are all nice machines.i could have bought a less expensive machine,but dollar for dollar,JD has always had good residual value and they seem to hold up really well.there are some things i don't like about it,the hood is a little chincy,and it blows alot of hot air over the platform and your feet get hot,especially in the summer.i don't like that it has a cast aluminum rear axle housing either.all in all,i have just had good experiences with JD and their products. so,you see,i'm not hatin' on NH,i gave them a shot,and it did'nt work out for me.you find something that works good for you,and you stick with it.you could go on forever about it,just like the age old ford vs chevy trucks,all boils down to preference i guess.they are all good,some are just a little better than the others in different areas.i never thought my JD did anything great,but it does everything good,so i will just stick with the green machines,they have'nt let me down yet.

 

[karlbike]

so for less than the cost of the TC 29, I bought a good condition Ford 5000 diesel, with loader, (twice the tractor in every way, except 4x the age) and I got a bunch of implements.

I'd be willing to bet I could pick up the TC29 with the loader on the 5000.
as any other 40 year old equipment, it needs some TLC, but I'm optimistic that it'll do well for me. and it'll do real field work.

Eventually when I can afford it, I'll get my dream tractor, the Deere 110 (the big yellow one, not the little green one)

thanks for the advice.

karl

 

[dave1949]

so for less than the cost of the TC 29, I bought a good condition Ford 5000 diesel, with loader, (twice the tractor in every way, except 4x the age) and I got a bunch of implements.

I'd be willing to bet I could pick up the TC29 with the loader on the 5000.
as any other 40 year old equipment, it needs some TLC, but I'm optimistic that it'll do well for me. and it'll do real field work.

Eventually when I can afford it, I'll get my dream tractor, the Deere 110 (the big yellow one, not the little green one)

thanks for the advice.

karl

I think that's great.
Dave.

 

[brin]

so for less than the cost of the TC 29, I bought a good condition Ford 5000 diesel, with loader, (twice the tractor in every way, except 4x the age) and I got a bunch of implements.

I'd be willing to bet I could pick up the TC29 with the loader on the 5000.
as any other 40 year old equipment, it needs some TLC, but I'm optimistic that it'll do well for me. and it'll do real field work.

Eventually when I can afford it, I'll get my dream tractor, the Deere 110 (the big yellow one, not the little green one)

thanks for the advice.

karl

"
"I'd be willing to bet I could pick up the TC29 with the loader on the 5000."

Karl - What ? Trying to make yourself feel good about your purchase at others expense ?.. What have you been smoking...? Go ahead and try to pick up a TC29 with your tractor and report back to us...!!!!

 

[pitt_md]

So you are condemning all New Holland Tractors. In other words you were not happy with yours and then your friend was not happy with his and you sum it up saying New Holland builds some nice stuff but not as far as CUT tractors. So you rule out the possibility that you abused your tractor or got a lemon. Personally, I don't think you like New Holland. There are plenty of happy New Holland Tractor owners just as there are some disappointed John Deere, Kubota etc. owners..No sense in condemning a whole company.

It's an opinion. Based on his experience. He is entitled to voice his opinion.