New owner of a 2006 TC30-any advice?

[ksshooter]

I picked up my used 2006 TC30 HST w/Rhino 2408 loader (less than 350 hrs) on Tuesday. Prior to this I have owned a 1962 Ford 2000 with a HUGE loader and a 1959 Ford 641 Workmaster which I a about to sell. I mostly mow and do road and pasture maintenance. I acquired horses last year and I needed 4wd for the winter work and a loader for lots of reasons (need to get a spear). The previous owner stated he had completed all of the 300 hour required maintenance which included coolant, crankcase oil, rear axle and trans fluid, front axle lube, differential lube, hyraulic filter, HST filter, fuel filter and engine oil filter. This is my first diesel!! Just wanted to know if one of you experience small diesel owners had just purchased this what you would do and do you have any words of advice. I am in Northeash Kansas and it does get cold. So far I researched what diesel additive is recommended and what oil(s) are highly thought of on TBN. I will use a synthetic for sure. Thanks in advance and I truly appreciate this website and I will try to use it's sponsors whenever possible.:thumbsup:

 

[barbqranch]

I can't offer much advice, but if you do get and use a block heater, run the extension cord through the steering wheel so you don't accidentally drive off with it connected and pull apart the heater wire.

 

[ksshooter]

Wow..that is good advice. I have done something very similar with my lifted electric golf cart that I use a great deal but uses a separate battery for the lights.:ashamed: Plus yesterday I read the one about carrying your chain saw in the bucket and forgetting about it being in there. Although I have done it, the member who asked his children where is chain saw was and got "you buried it Daddy" was priceless!!! Luckily mine have not been around during most of my "Oh S%&T!!" moments. Thanks again for the tip!! By the way, where did you get your heater? From New Holland $$$ or ???

 

[sweep]

Run a diesel antifreeze or if using regular antifreeze add Fw-15 New Holland conditioner even though your have a dry liner block.

 

[j t huskins]

I have a TC40A which I bought new in 2007. I live in western NC in the appalachian mountians where the winter temps range from teens to thirties at night and twenties to thirties during the winter days. I use Rotella 15/40 engine oil with no problems for 350+ hours. For a fuel additive I use the SP brand from Walmart which has slick 50 diesel supplement. This is the same combo that I have used in my Ford 1210 since purchased new in 1984. The pre heat glow plugs on both tractors have always produced a cold start no matter what the temp was. My TC40A does have an annoying pump whine in cold weather until it warms up. I move a lot of snow with mine with chains front and rear. The vibration from the front chains have caused my radiator to seperate twice now and NH would not warrenty it. My starter solinoid is now going out premature with less than 400hrs. Other than those two problems the tractor has performed as expected.

 

[ksshooter]

Good information! We do not normally get large snowfalls (last year was an exception!) however we do get COLD! Minus 27 was the coldest morning last year that I remember but 5 to 10 below is not that abnormal. The tractor will be lept inside (just as soon as I fix my ROPS problem, but that is another high energy subject) all winter. The workshed is not heated but it does make a huge difference keeping equipment out of wind and snow. I have never had an engine heater for a tractor, but I understand diesels can be a bit more difficult. Is your TC40A an HST? This is my first Hydrostatic tractor. My riding mower is hydrostatic but I don't mow in the winter Thanks again!

 

[ksshooter]

This is for Sweep....I need to ask the previous owner if he used diesel anti-freeze but I can almost guarantee he did not. What is a "dry liner block"?

 

[Jerry/MT]

This is for Sweep....I need to ask the previous owner if he used diesel anti-freeze but I can almost guarantee he did not. What is a "dry liner block"?

It means that if the cylinder has a liner, it's never touched by coolant. It's a liner within the bore casting.

 

[RoyJackson]

Sell it!!!

No, seriously...do some research about the TC-30 loaders breaking the tractor. This isn't to alarm you, but to make you aware of one of the potential issues with your tractor and how you use it.

 

[jinman]

As Roy mentioned, the TC30 has no sub-frame mount for the loader. I'm not sure about your Rhino loader, but the New Holland 7308 loader doesn't use a sub-frame. That just means you will have to be careful not to slam the loader into things or lift with one side so the tractor is twisted. I also do not recommend trying to handle round bales with your loader. I'd use a 3PH bale spear on the rear instead of trying to lift with the loader. You may get the bale into the air, but if you hit a pot hole or rock while traveling, the dynamic loads will really put a heavy shock on the tractor and loader. The ideal situation is to have a tractor with a sub-frame and a skid steer quick attach adapter. No sub-frame and a bucket spear is just really asking for trouble on a TC30 in my opinion. You might get away with it for years, but one time is all it takes to be a very costly mistake. Big tractors or CUTs with sub-frames are needed for the safest round bale handling with the FEL.

 

[V1Rotate]

As Roy mentioned, the TC30 has no sub-frame mount for the loader. I'm not sure about your Rhino loader, but the New Holland 7308 loader doesn't use a sub-frame. That just means you will have to be careful not to slam the loader into things or lift with one side so the tractor is twisted. I also do not recommend trying to handle round bales with your loader. I'd use a 3PH bale spear on the rear instead of trying to lift with the loader. You may get the bale into the air, but if you hit a pot hole or rock while traveling, the dynamic loads will really put a heavy shock on the tractor and loader. The ideal situation is to have a tractor with a sub-frame and a skid steer quick attach adapter. No sub-frame and a bucket spear is just really asking for trouble on a TC30 in my opinion. You might get away with it for years, but one time is all it takes to be a very costly mistake. Big tractors or CUTs with sub-frames are needed for the safest round bale handling with the FEL.

Jim
You say that the TC-30 does not have a sub frame for the 7308 loader.
I know that my TC-29DA is totally different from the TC-30 but is my 7308 loader mounted differently than it would be on a TC-30? Is it a stronger mount?

 

[jinman]

Jim
You say that the TC-30 does not have a sub frame for the 7308 loader.
I know that my TC-29DA is totally different from the TC-30 but is my 7308 loader mounted differently than it would be on a TC-30? Is it a stronger mount?

I believe your TC29DA also does not have a sub-frame. Do you have the 7308 or the 14LA loader? The 14LA is much stronger than the 7308. I believe the 7308 lift capacity 19" in front of the bucket pins is around 900 lb. The 14LA is about 1400 lb. I just don't consider the 7308 to be an acceptable loader for handling round bales. I don't have any direct experience and am just going on how my TC45D with a 16LA feels. It handles round bales easily and has a full sub-frame. I just can't recommend handling round bales with the TC30's loader. What do you think?

 

[V1Rotate]

I believe your TC29DA also does not have a sub-frame. Do you have the 7308 or the 14LA loader? The 14LA is much stronger than the 7308. I believe the 7308 lift capacity 19" in front of the bucket pins is around 900 lb. The 14LA is about 1400 lb. I just don't consider the 7308 to be an acceptable loader for handling round bales. I don't have any direct experience and am just going on how my TC45D with a 16LA feels. It handles round bales easily and has a full sub-frame. I just can't recommend handling round bales with the TC30's loader. What do you think?

Could You explain exactly what you mean by "sub frame". My TC-29 has the 7308 loader and it mounts to a frame that crosses under the tractor just beneath the bell housing. I also have a Woods backhoe with a sub frame that attaches to the loader frame.

As far as lifting goes, my loader has the 68 inch bucket and it will lift a full load of top soil but it stuggles to do it.

Jim

 

[V1Rotate]

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.

 

[j t huskins]

Sounds like your winter temps will warrent a block heater. My TC40A is a 4x4 manuel shuttle shift. I have a personel prefrence for a gear tractor vs HST because I buy for long term ownership. The FEL without s subframe is a great concern if you plan to work the tractor hard. I did not realize that the 30 did not use a subframe.

 

[jinman]

Could You explain exactly what you mean by "sub frame".

I'm on the road right now, but I'll be home early next week and post a photo.

 

[V1Rotate]

I'm on the road right now, but I'll be home early next week and post a photo.

Thanks

 

[ksshooter]

Jerry..thanks for the information.
RoyJ-Too late! I am now Alarmed. I did see a post in here regarding breaking the motor. I know it was an NH, but do not remember the model. I do remember the solutions was EXPENSIVE! I am wondering now if there is a Preferred loader for the NH which may provide better support. The calming post came from Shu who had one for quite some time and it appears it worked well for him. I will admit I was leaning toward Kubota but this one showed close with low hours and a decent price. I don't plan on moving much dirt or rock with it. I did that with my Ford 2000 which was a HORSE! When I look back it is hard to believe I never broke it!! Thanks for the words of wisdom!! I will try to be careful. I have been waiting awhile to have a tractor this nice so I hope everything works out.

 

[jinman]

Could You explain exactly what you mean by "sub frame". My TC-29 has the 7308 loader and it mounts to a frame that crosses under the tractor just beneath the bell housing. I also have a Woods backhoe with a sub frame that attaches to the loader frame.

Here are some photos of the TC30, a TC33 with a 15LA and another with the 7308 loader, plus a photo of my tractor with the 16LA loader. You can clearly see that if there is no backhoe installed on the TC30 and TC33, no subframe is mounted. When the TC30 has a backhoe, the subframe is added. However, on the TC45 with the 16LA loader and no backhoe, there is still a subframe. The subframe on the TC45 and all Class III Boomers is very beefy. Is this the info you were looking for?

 

[ksshooter]

Jim-Do you know of a loader for the TC30 that comes with a subframe? I looked last night and the loader simply bolts to (what I believe is ) the Transmission. Without a frame going back to the rear axle I cannot see anything else that anyone else's loader could bolt on to. Do you or anyone else know of anything I can do to reduce the risk other than operate it with kid gloves? Obviously having the quick attach bucket just adds more weight. Then again, the guy who had it before me used it for five years and only sold it because he moved back to town. Now I have seen the pictures and read more threads and I think as long as I do not get stupid I will be okay. I also now know where to look on my tractor for any cracks, etc. which I will do tonight. This tractor is new to me I feel the controls operate an empty loader pretty fast...meaning it is easy to bounce it when you stop either an up or down motion! Is that rate adjustable or do I just need to get used to the operation? It probably moves slower under load.