Newbie Intor- just bought a TC45

Flatheadyoungin · Apr 2, 2008

Howdy from southern Ohio.

First, I want to say how BIG of a help this site has been! From the reviews, fixing problems, owning land and just about everything you can imagine.

I've been wanting a "real" tractor for some time. About 4 years ago I got "hot" on wanting one, knowing we were looking for some land to build a home on. Well, I put it off until recently. Instead, I started building traditionally styled hot rods and I built my first one last winter. It was a 28 model A roadster that I ran a 59AB flat head engine in. It had 35 Ford spoke wheels, wide white walls, banjo rear, etc, etc. Well, about 4 months ago I started looking on our county Auditor's website for land. I had always told my wife there was a pc. of land that I would own some day and build on. I was joking, of course, I knew I couldn't afford it and didn't even really know who owned it. Anywho, I got a wild hair and looked up who owned the old land (I used to hunt birds and play Army on the land when I was growing up) and contacted him. Nevertheless, he said he'd sale it. So, for about the last 3 months we've been getting all our "ducks in order" so we could buy this land. And, as long as the owner doesn't sell it out from under us, we should own it. We've been pre-approved and have some cash to put down- and I go my tractor!

About 2 months ago, I set out doing the typical research as to which brand, how big, BH, FEL or both. I came to the conclusion that I could only afford (what we were willing to spend) a tractor with a FEL. However, I really wanted a backhoe because I need to put in two small culverts, dig a septic line, put in utilities and a possible Geothermal heating/cooling system- and for the price of paying someone I could easily justify the BH. But I still could justify spending more than we had planned. So, I told my wife we'll just wait until after we actually acquire the land. This would be the most logical anyway. Well, the next day I logged on to my usual used tractor sites and there it was. A low hour, New Holland, 45hp, BH and FEL, for the price we wanted to spend. So, I borrowed a buddies Duramax and equipment trailer and drove 5 hours by my self to get it and 5 hours back.

I've only owned a 8N before so this was quite a step up. I knew I really like New Holland tractors because two of my buddies have TC35's. One has a hydro and one has a gear. I had made up my mind on a hydro but since this TC45 came with everything I wanted for what I wanted to spend, I jumped on it. And, after I've had some seat time, I really like the shuttle.

So, that's a partial story about me. We are going to try and settle up on the land in about 3-4 weeks. So, we are getting very excited. I don't live in town but I have a really small lot. I hate feeling like I'm confined and this 40acres should help with that!

Thanks to all and I look forward to chatting with ya'll about tractors, welding, farming and many other things.

Flatheadyoungin · Apr 2, 2008

Oh, I sold my little roadster to buy this tractor (or land, depending on how you look at it). I put a lot of blood sweat and tears in my little hot rod and when it left on a trailer, it was a very sad day for me. Made me tear up a little, if I must admit. I built it from the ground up........

Here's a video of it running.....

YouTube - AV8 With Flatty Running

jinman · Apr 3, 2008

Jeff, that's a nice introduction and a nice tractor. Welcome to the forum.

Does the loader on the tractor have quick-attach, or is it a pin-on bucket? I can't tell from the picture for sure, but it looks like pin-on. Either way, the bucket looks like it is in good shape. The whole tractor actually looks very well kept.

I loved those old Ford flathead V8s when I was a kid. They were simple and tiny, but there are a lot of cracked blocks out there due to overheating. My brother bought a '53 Ford that had a cracked block. He replaced the engine and it worked great until he hit the brakes really hard one day and the engine came off the motor mount. It shifted forward just enough to cut off part of the coolant to one bank of the V8 and it overheated. Just as quickly, he had another engine with a cracked block.

Your 'rod looks like a fun project. I'm sure you enjoyed building and driving it. You aren't saying that you got enough for that 'rod to pay for the whole tractor, are you? I had no idea that hotrods sold for that kind of money.

257NH · Apr 3, 2008

Very nice find.Wish you all the best with it,And im guessing you had an uneventful trip back with it on the trailer.Always a plus.
Brian

Flatheadyoungin · Apr 3, 2008

I pulled the engine out of the little roadster and kept it. There's a long story behind it and I knew I'd never have another chance to own a new (not rebuild) flathead.

If I would have left the engine in it, yes, it would have pretty much paid for the tractor. I pulled the engine and sold it for less.........so I put some with it.

Yep, my grandpa is pretty much a flathead guru. I've grown up around them all my life but only taken an interest to them in about the last 4 years. There were some known cooling issues; left over casting sand in the block, Henry changed the flow direction, etc. etc. However, now, it doesn't seem to be too much of a problem. It's VERY easy to get a large air pocket in the cooling system of these old things.

If/after I settle up on this 40 acres, and we have to "recover" for a while, I'll probably build another one. I have pretty much everything to build another one with except the body. That body on my little roadster wasn't an actual Henry Ford body. It was a steel reproduction body made my Brookville Roadster, in Brookville, Ohio. I bought just the body on eBay. It didn't sell. I made the guy and offer, and he took it. Then I had to try and figure out how to get it here from New Mexico

I have a little 60hp too. Have you ever seen one? ...just looks like a miniature flathead.

jinman said:
Jeff, that's a nice introduction and a nice tractor. Welcome to the forum.

Does the loader on the tractor have quick-attach, or is it a pin-on bucket? I can't tell from the picture for sure, but it looks like pin-on. Either way, the bucket looks like it is in good shape. The whole tractor actually looks very well kept.

I loved those old Ford flathead V8s when I was a kid. They were simple and tiny, but there are a lot of cracked blocks out there due to overheating. My brother bought a '53 Ford that had a cracked block. He replaced the engine and it worked great until he hit the brakes really hard one day and the engine came off the motor mount. It shifted forward just enough to cut off part of the coolant to one bank of the V8 and it overheated. Just as quickly, he had another engine with a cracked block.

Your 'rod looks like a fun project. I'm sure you enjoyed building and driving it. You aren't saying that you got enough for that 'rod to pay for the whole tractor, are you? I had no idea that hotrods sold for that kind of money.

Flatheadyoungin · Apr 3, 2008

Yeah, I drove straight through to get there, no restroom, no food and no fuel. When I left there, I ate and fueled up. I just about made it home but the hair was starting to stand up on my arms and I felt like I was about to pass out, so I had to stop for a restroom break!

My buddy's truck and trailer made it a dream to go up there. It handled the weight VERY well. The power of the Duramax was unreal. I'm used to late 70's 305 and 350's!

No wonder everyone is buying these things. I had the Garmin navigation system, my wife's Sirius radio, radar detector and my cell phone. I felt like a 747 pilot!

I was sure glad to be home, though!