Opps, I broke it again..............

[LAGEORGE]

Ok, It is more like it broke again. My TC 24D is still causing trouble for my dealer and me. This afternoon while grading a wash the left front wheel kept locking up and skidding along the ground. I would turn the wheel and it would start to turn again. Not wanting the wheel to come off or something bad I decided I should stop and check thing out. I found nothing wrong; wheel bolts in place no leaks no tell tale signs of problems. So I jumped back on and continued to work but still the wheel keep locking up. I disengaged 4WD and still the wheel would just skid. I then figured I better get out of the wash and back to the road. I then heard what sounded like the sound a tire makes when running over glass, I was wearing my earplugs at the time. This time the tractor started to jerk and more power we needed to maintain forward motion. I started the steep climb out of the wash but the tractor just did not have the power to pull me out like it had many times before. I backed down and gave it one more shot a very slow climb got me out.
The tractor must have a problem with the left spindle because it sounded really bad and was jerking bad as well. I tried to move it in 2WD but no go, so 4WD was engaged and I was able to limp it to safe location.
I looked at the left spindle but no signs of any trouble. Funny thing is the dealer is scheduled to pick it in the morning so they can look to see how the hydraulics were plumbed on my current tractor so they can set up the new one. I guess they will have to get that front end fixed as well as the drive shaft.
My wife and I had a conference tonight regarding the tractor and if it wise to continue with a TC 24D or just get something else. I am already supposed to get a new tractor but I am having doubts as to the reliability of the TC 24D. Who knows if the new tractor will still have issues or just is not rugged enough for heavy use. I told my wife that others have TC 24D on TRACTORBYNET and they seem very happy with their tractors. Did I truly get a lemon in every sense of the word or am I just the number one durability tester for New Holland. I own equipment (trucks) that cost 2 million dollars and 2 years to build that have had nowhere near the problems I have had with one $15,000 tractor. I guess you just can’t buy bulletproof anymore, an old Ford may have served me well?
So I guess the question is: Is it I or is it the tractor. I hope it is just this one out of a thousand. Oh any by the way is John Deere still having that 0% interest financing? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

George

 

[Trouser Bark]

Jeebus George! I can't imagine a worse tractor problem than you've had. So far I've got no time to speak of on my TC24D (between 25-30 hrs) but it has performed flawlessly. Not a peep.

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one but I wonder if maybe you work your stuff a lot harder than the rest of us by chance?

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> I looked at the left spindle but no signs of any trouble. Funny thing is the dealer is scheduled to pick it in the morning so they can look to see how the hydraulics were plumbed on my current tractor so they can set up the new one. </font>

Unless you did some trick plumbing on your hydraulics the dealer should know full well how to plumb the tractor without using yours as a sample.

Maybe it's time to keep the tractor and discard the dealer. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[LAGEORGE]

Yes, I though it was a bit odd that they wanted to see the tractor so they could plumb the hydraulics. I think it be may be that they are trying to make the same brackets and hosing so the new one fits like a glove (like my current one). The dealer has been as good as New Holland can let them be. They really work hard to make everything work and get frustrated when they see this “BLUE ONE” back so many times. Service guys really do not work on too many blue ones since we are in the Los Angeles area and there is very little need for Ag. tractors but they do sell and service lots of New Holland backhoes!
In regards to the question if I work my tractor to hard. I read lots of posts form you guys at it always sounds like the work being done is harder than what I do. I do not brush hog I do not have a tiller or PTO chipper ect. I do grade a lot and move tons and tons of mulch and dirt. My property is terraced but the paths are flat. I do not go three wheeling often and I don’t subject my tractor to abuse, I just use it.
The small frame tractors are perfect for my application and I bought the New Holland because it looked like it was built to be more rugged than the rest. But in my testing (using) I have found that my tractor is prone to breakage just by using it. So I have a few options get the New TC 24D and give it another shot, move up to a class II or jump ship.
I am really hoping it is just this one tractor.

George

 

[PineRidge]

George if you check the John Deere or Kubota forums you will see that we all have problems from time to time.

I might suggest that you try another dealer before you let that nice TC get away from you. There are a LOT of happy New Holland owners here at this site. I am one of them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

I had a tractor do the same thing. It was a chipped gear tooth in the steering knuckle. What as happening on mine after the gear tooth broke off was the gears would not mesh because of the extra space in there and that one front wheel would lock up and skid, even in 2WD. I would back up and then go forward again and it would drive right for a few feet and then lock up again. Good luck, I know you have had more than your share of problems with that tractor. Any word on your replacement yet?

 

[LAGEORGE]

New Holland has a new TC 24D at the dealer right now waiting to get the dealer to setup the hydraulic package on it. So yeah they are replacing it but the question is do I want a replacement or am I trading trouble for trouble. The service manger says that my tractor is one in a thousand and does not feel that this tractor is not a representation of what a New Holland TC 24D is. So the dealer picked up the tractor busted up front hub and all and I guess will have to call my sales person to setup an appointment to get my replacement tractor if that is what I choose to do.
Oh and by the way my driveshaft problem is no an isolated incident so keep and eye on it if you own a TC 24D. Believe it or not you have to split the tractor in order to change out the drive shaft. I do not understand why they would engineer something that is bound to get damaged so hard to replace. Do they not think the tractor is ever going to break or do they hope it makes it 2 years then the dealer service network gets to give it to you!

George

 

[rambler]

You've had more trouble with 1 tractor than I think I've had with my 6 tractors on this farm in over a decade....

I am concerned with one thing tho. You saw a problem, & you kept operating the machine. That is a real no-no. Do youunderstand mechanical stuff? You mentioned the big trucks...

When a front wheel on a 4wd tractor skids, there is something _serious_ wrong, and that tractor needs to be shut down right there. By continuing to operate it, you have set up stresses in the drive train that will again cause breakage of the drivetrain in future months or years.

Perhaps, if this is your mode of operation - to continue to use the machine after it is broken - that you had one or 2 defects in your tractor, but you mishandled these situations and caused all the remaining problems.

NH gave you a snowball, and you have made a snowman out of it by mis-managing the breakdowns.

I don't mean this in a bad or negative way, but you did ask for opinion. I think any action other than shutting the tractor down the first time the front wheel skidded has added much wear & strain on your tractor, & I would consider you liabel for 1/2 the repair cost - and any future breakdowns of the drivetrain.

Note that one of my old tractors has had a big rear end ring gear chip out 2 times. I understood the problem, and drove the tractor in that condition 4 miles to my neighborhood mechanic. I accepted the increased risk, and paid for the extra broken casting that this caused one time. Because it was my 'fault'. I understand the extra forces this put on my tractor rear end, and that I may have compromised my entire rear end housing, which costs $500 used plus several expensive mechanic hours if stress cracks show up. Do you understand the real bad things you did to your tractor by continuing to use it, and then drive it away, after there were obvious signs of a serious problem? I remember you cringing in anguish over seeing your tractor all ripped apart at the dealer. I guess I'm cringing in anguish at someone seeing a front wheel lock up, and still using the tractor - then hearing a bearing & gears shred themselves, but still manuvering around to try to drive the tractor away.... Such treatment will melt down the rest of your drivetrain. Ouch!

If you wish to operate machinery after major parts of the drivetrain are busted, you must accept the fact that more & more parts are being stressed beyond their limits, and you will continue to have more failures.

Just my opininon, from the very limited info you presented, and again I do not mean anything bad with my words. Perhaps you are bringing very much of this upon yourself.

--->Paul

 

[yellowsocks93]

Do you use a ballast box or other heavy rear implement when using the loader? This is one of the things I worry about with my JD. Having something in the front end go wrong because of the loader.

 

[LAGEORGE]

rambler,
I agree with your thoughts on my working it till it break philosophy but the truth be told as I had mentioned I did have too get the tractor back to a safe place and a wash with rain expected is not safe. I did stop using the tractor the moment I realized I had a real problem. Prior to that I did stop and look at the wheel and no problem then when I heard the noise it was making then I realized I was in trouble.
I did not want to run it more then I had too but losing it would be a bad thing too no? or wait maybe it would have been a good thing, let me get back to you on that one.
Well to follow-up on the day, dealer picked up tractor but before I was able to let him know there was a problem. So the driver just took down the driveway and onto the trailer no big deal. Service manager really did not seem to care about it as well. It already has a bad drive shaft and U joints anyways and he really did not know what New Holland had in store for my old one. I also visited my dealer and they had my new tractor sitting they’re getting plumped with the new hydraulics. Tractor looked OK next to the new one so I guess it still looks like it is in great shape. New tractor is a 2003 model so I hope it has lots and lots of updates. I did notice that New Holland is using whiter white paint on the wheels and new tires look really good. Salesperson says I can get it in time for Christmas. Gee just what I wanted to pay another $0000 for the same model tractor.
In closing I expect tractors to work hard and be reliable. I do not accept that maybe I am working it to hard because I am not working it more than most folks who are TBN. I do not see how I am responsible for: wheels falling off, ruptured fuel tank, hole in oil pan, bad drive shaft, leaking top seal, broken cruise control, bad tachometer or the latest broken left front whatever. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

George