TC18 Maintenance

JimBinMI · Sep 19, 2000

Hey all,

I've read about you guys doing the 50 hour service, which I did at 50 hours and the 100 hour service, which I almost did last weekend.

I had my dad pick up my stuff for me since my dealer is in my old home town where most of my family lives, 35 miles from me. I got out the manual and started reading to just double check that I was doing things correctly. As I read, it stated that I was to change the engine oil and filter at 50 hours, which I did, then every 100 hours thereafter! NOT at 100 hours...at 150 hours! I know that I can't hurt it by doing it early but I'm just not THAT ****! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I have zero oil loss with 50 hours since the 50 hour service, haven't added anything and still at full mark.

I trust in the people that built the thing that they know how long I can go between. Are your tractors EVERY 50 hours or like mine?

Just Being Curious, JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

Rich D · Sep 19, 2000

JimBinMI,

My TC29D says the same thing. I changed the Oil & Filter, HST Filter, HYD Filter, Fuel Filter - all at 50 Hrs. All Fluids looked great. The fuel filter looked brand new, with no sediment in the bowl. I changed it all anyway, just like all us good boys with toys should. I'm at 80 hrs. now, and like you, the fluids are at the top with no signs of use.

I like to make schedules for maintenance, that way I can easily keep track of what the heck I'm doing. I set my TC29D up on the even 100 hr. schedule for oil to match major fluid filter schedules. I also log all maintenance, no matter how small, onto a computer spread sheet. This sheet also shows all details of what parts were used, what they cost, etc.

Bird · Sep 19, 2000

JimBinMI, you're right. I changed mine at 50 hours and then at 150 hours.

Bird

Thomas · Sep 19, 2000

Yes my book says 50 hours the first change of oil and filters,than every 150 hours,but I change my oil and filter every 50 hours.
Also change my deisel filter in of April and the first of November.

Yep my dearler says I'm over doing it and throwing money out the window,but like the old saying "pay me now or pay me later" /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

How long did it take you Jim to do a complete service on your NH?

Takes me about two and a half hours,of coarse thats inclued couple cups of coffee./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Hope all going well for you and you can get some warm tractor time in before the furries start to dance./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Take care and stay /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thomas..NH

Rowski · Sep 19, 2000

JimBinMI,

On my NH 2120 I'm with the others. Did the break in service and the next services at 150 hrs and so on. The only thing I do more often is greasing. The bucket and backhoe get greased almost daily when in use. (if I use it over a few hrs that day) the the steering and other linkages (greaseable) every other time and then the only get a pump or two. The hoe and loader get greased till I see the grease coming out in good shape. The only thing is a need a battery operated grease gun. The hand gets a little tired. I used a pistol grip type grease gun. I may be over doining it with the greasing but like Thomas said pay them now or pay them later. I just pay the grease manufaturer now and the NH part later /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif. Who knows? I'll let everyone know in a few thousand hours.

Derek

Bigfinn · Sep 19, 2000

Did any of you experince a lot of fluid loss when changing the hydraulic filter? I don't know if I did anything wrong, but when I did the 5o hour service on my TC29, I lost about a gallon of fluid before I could get the new filter on. It was almost as if the hydraulics where under pressure, but the 3 pt as well as the bucket where down. Or is this normal?

Bird · Sep 19, 2000

Re: <font color=blue>a battery operated grease gun</font color=blue>. I assume you know then that such are available, Derek, but the price is pretty steep./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Do you have an air compressor? Air powered ones are much cheaper. I've never used the battery powered ones, so I can't say for sure, but I would expect an air powered one to last a lot longer, too.

Bird

Rowski · Sep 19, 2000

BigFinn,

Not sure. Is your tractor a hydro? Mine is a gear /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif 2120, different style than the TCs. When I did my service I unscrewed the filter and had little loss maybe a 1/4 qt at most. Then I filled the new filter 3/4 full with fresh hyd. fluid and screwed it back on. I forgot to mention my hydraulic filter is mounted up and down with the fitting end up.

Derek

Rowski · Sep 19, 2000

I've been eye balling the battery powered one for some time. Like you said pretty pricey. But being portable is nice. The compressor at "the home" shop is never left on so I have to fire it up and let it build pressure, it's a large one and noisy too. I will probably end up getting a air powered grease gun (cheaper, simplier, possibly easier to fix).

Derek

Bird · Sep 19, 2000

Yeah, Derek, being easily portable is an advantage. I was surprised to learn recently that my brother sells quite a few of the battery powered ones, and since he's selling to mechanics in garages that I know all have air compressors, I asked him why, and he said most of them go to tractor and farm equipment mechanics who make service calls in the field.

Bird