newbie looking at TC33, need opinions

UncleAl · Jun 9, 2003

Really appreciate you guy's knowledge/wisdom. Been lurking awhile, just coming out of shadows into the light, need help with new tractor. I have about 7 ac, finish mow about 4. Looking to replace my antique PowerKing, really like the TC33. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Several questions: I figure ~90% of my use will be mowing, lots of trees, R4's + MMM makes more sense for me. (also have a 14 year old son who's itching for seat time, don't trust him on the PK - bad brakes, no ROPS, etc.) Also want a FEL. My local dealer charges about $1K more for a 7308 than for a bushhog 1846QT. Worth the difference? Yeah, I've read all about the phantom 14LA, can't wait that long... I don't foresee need for ultimate FEL machine, just moving dirt, pushing 6" snows, etc. Also, are any of the BH's compatible with the 914A MMM? I read that the M246 is not.

I also have a few 3pt implements from a second, antique PK: turning plow, disc, 6' blade. The PK's were never big/heavy enough to do them justice. My dad tells me all this stuff is for "the smallest 3pt class" (Class 1?) Can I carry them over for use with the 33?

Would like to move on purchase this month, while either 0%/36 month or 2.9%/60 month financing is available. Once I buy, will probably sell the PK's. Anybody have a general idea what they might be worth? Both have 4' MMM's, average condition, run good.

MikePA · Jun 9, 2003

90% of my use will be mowing, lots of trees...
Might want to consider SuperSteer.

My local dealer charges about $1K more for a 7308 than for a bushhog 1846QT. Worth the difference? 
I have the 7308 and it works fine. I haven't heard anything about the 1846QT. Just don't get the M246 or the 2246QT. Way too big for a Class II Boomer.

are any of the BH's compatible with the 914A MMM? I read that the M246 is not. 
The Bush Hog M246 is a FEL, not a backhoe. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Any backhoe that has a frame that bolts to the underside of the tractor will interfere with the mmm.

UncleAl · Jun 9, 2003

Oops, by BH, I meant BushHog, not Back Hoe. I'll try to keep my jargon straight /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. Not really looking at a BH (backhoe)....

MikePA · Jun 9, 2003

There are some other threads on TBN about the M246 on a Class II Boomer (do a search on M246) and, despite what Bush Hog and some of the dealers claim, the M246 is not an appropriate FEL for a Class II Boomer. The FEL alone is way too heavy, almost 50% of the weight of the entire tractor. Personally, I'd go with the 7308. Be sure to check out where the joystick for the Bush Hog FEL goes. The 7308 FEL joystick falls readily to hand on the right fender.

UncleAl · Jun 9, 2003

Thanks, Mike, I was leaning towards OE solution anyway. I checked out your tractor pix on your webpage, noticed your side discharge MMM. Did you consider a rear discharge when you bought? Relative advantages of side vs rear? I've always used a side discharge, but I don't like the chute hanging off the side.... growing up, we had to take our chute off since my younger brother couldn't keep from whacking it into everthing!

MikePA · Jun 9, 2003

Did you consider a rear discharge when you bought? 
I didn't, but I should have. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The garden tractor I had been using, and still am (more about this later), had a 42" rear discharge deck. The freedom to cut close to objects, going in either direction, is something I greatly miss with the 914A side discharge. I also think that a rear discharge disperses the clippings better, although others have different experiences.

I haven't installed the 914A mower yet this year. I had it removed over the winter when I use the tractor/FEL for snow removal. The TC25D is just too heavy for use on our yard given how wet our spring has been. Heck, our 600 pound garden tractor can't get into some spots, much less a 2,000+ pound TC25D. So, I've been using our trusty Wheel Horse garden tractor to cut the lawn this year, while the TC25D sits in the garage!

Given our yard and it's tendancy to remain wet, if I had to do it over again, it might have been a wiser decision for me, to take the money I spent for the 914A and get a new deck for our garden tractor (it's almost 20 years old) instead. Would have had money left over, too. Still might sell the 914A.

UncleAl · Jun 9, 2003

Yeah, I know what you mean about the Spring. We just recovered from a 4 year drought in about 6 months. This year, we have already had our yearly average +15 inches! My yard is mostly sloped, so heavy rain doesn't hang around very long. Part of the reason I need the FEL, to repair higher than normal erosion...

SuperSteer is appealing, not sure if worth extra $$ for me. We have a pretty good technique where we do normal concentric circle passes, then go back later and do the "perpendiculars" all at one time. I can get pretty close to the trees with MMM. I usually use the weedeater only a couple of times per year. (I have a "country grass" lawn, anything that is green and will grow is welcome.)

Anonymous Poster · Jun 17, 2003

FWIW, We ex-newbies bought a T33 last fall (thanks to a lot of good advice here) and have been very happy with it. It's like a tank! We use it for a variety of things -- mowing, brushcutting (the wild parsnip is nasty around here!), snow plowing, etc. The 7308 FEL is great for all kinds of lifting-and-hauling jobs.

Peter (a little less of a newbie than he was 8 months ago!).