New TC24D

[Trouser Bark]

I've been lurking on this board off and on for a year or two ...never had a whole lot of tractor experience before so I didn't have much I could contribute, but I've got one now and the choice was made based mostly on what I've read here.

I'm in Anchorage, Alaska and was very concerned about getting a decent deal / service / etc. as I could only find one dealer and monopolies aren't usually the hot setup for the prospective buyer. Not long ago though a new dealership started up here in Anc and I went to check 'em out.

Liked 'em so much that I bought. I now have a TC24D w/ R4's and a LA12 loader in my garage. I ordered a rear snow blower for it too but I just ordered that so it's not in yet. Fortunately the snow isn't either. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks to all that've taken the time to share their expertise here. From this site I've learned about tractors and pricing and safety ...and from our new dealer I've learned more of the same, plus what a pleasure the tractor buying experience can be. One heck of a lot better than I had been expecting!

Thanks to all, and I'll post a pic or two this weekend.

 

[JayC]

Congrats on the new tractor! I'm sure it will provide many hours of fun, err uhh, service. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Yes, I am looking forward to seeing the pics! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="blue"> Welcome to the club! </font>

Just out of curiosity, did you order the NH blower, and in what size? I have considered getting a rear blower for my TC24D but was unsure on what size to get. I have a 48" front blower on my Cub Cadet but that tractor is starting to show its age and the I don't know how much longer I can keep beating it up.

And because you mentioned the fact that deals are hard to come by up there, can you share with us the prices you paid for the tractor & implements?

 

[Inspector507]

Legion,
Welcome to the <font color="blue"> BLUE </font> club........ /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jerry

 

[AndyM]

Yes, please give us the details on the snowblower! Once the snow flies, let us know how well it works.

I've got a 250' driveway, and I'm going to attempt to clear it this winter with my new TC18 and a back blade, because Mrs. AndyM won't give me anymore money to spend. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[SacandagaBrad]

I don't actually have my TC24D yet /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif, but bought the complete outfit on Wednesday after almost a year of research. Hopefully will have it within a week. I looked at most of the snowblowers out there for the 3PH. One of the deciding factors on which dealer to go with was due to the Woods brand of implements he carried. I bought the Woods SS52 and even treated myself to a hydraulic chute rotator. The blowers, all of them in the 50" to 54", ran between $1500 and $1800. The Woods, when purchased as part of a complete tractor package, was itemized at $1700 with an additional $580 for the rear valve installation and hydraulic kit on the blower.

The things I looked for were large blower fans and heaviest overall weight. All other things being equal, I figured the heavier it is, the more steel must be in it. The large fan was important to me as they all are turning at 540 rpms, so the larger the fan, the faster the tips and the farther the snow should fly, assuming enough horse power (the reason for the 24 over the 18 hp as discussed in my other posts).

The Woods SS series has 23" fans in the smaller blowers, Farm King was 20", NH was 18", Puma was 20", Bervac was 20" there were some others at 18" and one or two with 24". If fan diameter is a factor for you and you consider the Woods, be carefull not to get the older SB Series, they had the 18" fans. Still a well built piece, though. The blowers weight ran between 368 pounds (the 54" Puma if I recall) up to 438 pounds for the Woods at 52"

The beauty of a blower is you don't have to "plan" for the next storm like you do with a plow. Throw it once and you're done! Just remember, they don't care if it snow, gravel, toys, or even pets, they throw them all. They really are an unforgiving machine that take 100% concentration, which is why I don't care for a cab, I want to be able to see everything. I'm hoping the blower on the back with the FEL on the front for cleanup will be good combo. I think the hydraulic chute rotator was a good buy. I have quite a bit of straight running, but also will be working in tight between houses and around storage sheds. I'm 41 now and probably wouldn't mind cranking, but this thing should last longer than my shoulder, so I figured another $580 on a $20K investment was worth it.

Probably more info than you wanted, but I gotta pass the time somehow while I wait for my new blue!

Brad

 

[jwstewar]

Congratulations and welcome to the club. You'll love it.

 

[pekabu]

I saw a Woods blower this weekend and liked it. They also had a Meteor and I was not impressed with it. Brand new blower and I could barely rotate the chute. Picked up some info on the Normand Econor series blowers. Look very nice in the brochure. Here are some specs:

E-54 (width 54)
Cutting height 26"
Impeller Diameter 20"
Main Auger 17"
Weight 455

One thing that interested me was the side that of the impeller was covered where the Chute was. Call it the "Flow Collector" suppose to help keep the snow blowing up instead of pushing out.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Thanks for the nice comments, guys. I've been waaay too busy lately w/ a work and dry in a house I'm building for my family. The pics of the tractor I should have snapped tomorrow ...in the interim, I can't quite post a peak of it but if you could see into the garage on the left hand side, that's where it's at. The blower ordered for it is the std New Holland 3ph model.

I'm a little concerned about it as the driveway is gravel and has some rocks on it that I'm fairly certain would be launched through that blower like a machine gun. Never operated this kind of setup before and am a little concerned about it. We'll see soon as she comes in.

Thanks again, and pics soon.

 

[shoppintractors]

<font color="blue"> I'm a little concerned about it as the driveway is gravel and has some rocks on it that I'm fairly certain would be launched through that blower like a machine gun. </font>

Make sure the skids are adjusted for maximum height and the top link on the three point hitch is drawn in so the snow blower is tilted slightly toward the back of the tractor for less chance of the auger digging into the gravel. It's a good idea to keep some spare shear pins in the tractors toolbox. Familiarize yourself with the location of the shear pin and have the correct tool at hand. It also helps to start out with a smoothly grated driveway surface or the snow blower with try and grade it for you (don't ask me how I know /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif).

Don

 

[ronjhall]

Legion
Welcome to TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Congrats on the new tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Pictures of your tractor will have very good to improve on the view the house and scenery. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[hazmat]

Legion,

Congrats on the new machine.

Not to pick on you, but I've got to try something I found on another board...

It worked.

Looking forward to actually seeing the tractor.

PS nice property.

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not to pick on you, but I've got to try something I found on another board... )</font>

Oh no! You're not getting away with that!

What board did you find that on, and how did you do it?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

That is Soooooo Cool! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[hazmat]

I found it on hondapilot.org

It's an animated gif, I attached it to my post & then edited the post using the <image> functionality.

 

[Golfgar4]

Thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

It would be cool if we could get a few more of the "smilies" added back in here. Like the one that laughed. I always liked that one! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Mrwurm]

Garry, don't worry, those laughing smilies were laughing with you, not at you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

Hot Dog!!

Jerry, you're right!

I knew they weren't laughing at me. And even if they were, that's not a problem, because.........

I'm O.K.!

 

[Trouser Bark]

Thanks for the compliment, hazmat! I love the place but am getting a tad tired of the work load. Stacking a new house on top of trying to keep my regular business going strait has been more of a chore than I like.

Something about an ant and a grasshopper comes to mind though. It's getting mighty cool out and I'd rather mutter about the work load and get it closed in I suppose than back off the pace and freeze by butt off working outside longer than I needed to.

I brought my baby out of the garage to snap a couple pics for you all. I gotta admit that as far as tractors go ...this seems to be a sharp design by my way of thinking. My wife has looked at me askance a couple times like she's concerned that I'm becoming unnaturally attached to this new tool / toy but hey, she's been right before and might be now too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It looks to be about the right size for my needs and I hope it works out as well as I expect it will. I don't have hardly any time on it yet (still in the plastic / less than an hour on the clock), but I think it'll take a little getting used to the precarious feeling running across an angle.

I may be all wet but it looks like she's kind of skinny and 'high rumped' ...and a rookie like me really notices that on even just a little bit of a sidehill angle. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I don't know which one of you mentioned it about a year ago or so, but I'm interested in jacking one side of the tractor up to see where that balance point is. I'll have it strapped to something solid so the lesson doesn't have a big price tag too.

 

[Trouser Bark]

...and a nudder.

This is where it's parked for now in the garage. The pipe hanging down in the background is where the boiler goes. It'll be in within about 10 days, as will a whole bunch of other stuff.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">but I think it'll take a little getting used to the precarious feeling running across an angle.

I may be all wet but it looks like she's kind of skinny and 'high rumped' ...and a rookie like me really notices that on even just a little bit of a sidehill angle. </font>

Check out the TBN store for a tiltmeter. Puts some #s on your "pucker factor"

Also, are your rear tires loaded? That helps pull the CG a bit lower to the ground. (Makes a noticable difference in my opinion).