TC18 Update

[Anonymous Poster]

It's been just over a month - TC18 with 12LA loader was delivered 3/28 - and it goes in tomorrow for the 50 hour service - a little late because we worked hard over the weekend and got to 58 hours.

It had a hydraulic leak at the FEL joy stick when delivered, which I tightened, and a bent power steering arm, which was replaced under warranty, even though I might have bent it. Other than that, it has been flawless. I'ved used the brush hog (4' Rhino SE4) enough to approve of it, and picked up a KK 6' landscape rake that I'm still learning to use, but most of the work has been with the 4' box blade and the FEL. I will have a FEL mounted brush rake of one sort or another by next week - I'm hampered without it.

This little tractor has completely met, and exceeded, my expectations. 18 HP is enough for the Class I frame - I can spin the (unloaded) R4 front tires pretty easily, and find myself using the differential lock a lot (remember that Florida sand is pretty loose). The rear R4's are loaded with water.

Neat machine.

 

[hazmat]

Don,

Glad you are enjoying it. I remember putting 40 hours on mine in the first month. The "honeymoon" will start to slow down soon. I'll have had it a year in a month. 130 hours so far.

 

[TC18guy]

I'll ditto that. I've had mine for about a year also. I was also a little concerned about "only" 18hp when I bought it, but have had no hp problems. I've been amazed at everything I've been able to do with it. (I can't believe all the uses for a FEL!)

My only mechanical concern has been a whirring noise coming from the hydraulic somewhere. It seemed to be worse over the winter when it was cold out. I thought maybe the cold fluid was getting too heavy for the pump until it warmed up, but I still get some noise. I guess I should call the dealer and get it check out. I can't stand the thought of being without it this time of year. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[hazmat]

I got the same whirring noise. I found that it was more pronounced when the three point hitch was all the way up. Lower it a tad & it goes away.

I suspect that when the oil is thicker in the winter, the "feedback loop" malfunctions. The Feedback loop is what tells the three point to stop lifting when the position control lever reaches the end of travel.

The manual describes how to adjust the feedback loop. Probably in there somewhere under "position control"

I will be changing to the "thinner" oil F200? (New Holland's winter blend) when I reach my 300 hours. I keep the machine in the garage so it doesn't get super cold.

 

[dass]

I bought mine 2 years ago and that fall I changed the hydro oil switching to F-200. Works great year-round.When it's time for the 300 hr service I'll go with synthetic. The machine,other than a few little problems the first month,has been FLAWLESS. How I did without 4WD and the FEL all those years is beyond me. Anyway, the TC-18 is a great value ! dass

 

[TC18guy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. There is a section in the owners manual on adjusting position control linkage. I do think that some adjustment may be necessary as the noise will quit if I lower the lever a little bit. But I also get the noise using the Loader and the Hydrostat. It is not too bad now, but in the winter months It made noise for probably 10-15 min.s until the fluids are warmed up. I think I may change to the F-200 fluid before winter.

-Mike

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Picked it up from the dealer, today, after th 50 hour check. Total bill was $138 and change including tax, which I thought was reasonable. They didn't wax it, but they did touch up a scratch I put in the hood, without being asked, and no charge.

I had a bit of a hairy ride home, however, because I bought a damaged 6' box blade from the dealer for $100 (see brush & root rake in the Build-it-yourself forum), and the weight of that big blade threw off all my carefully located tie downs and changed the tongue weight. It was pouring down rain when they loaded it. One of my ramps broke from the extra weight and we had to load it from a dirt ramp. I tried to get it rebalanced, but it was a bit tongue heavy and the ride home in the rain was not fun. We made it OK - I brought it to my current shop so I can make the brush/root rake, and that's only 15 miles from the dealer. Then, it will go back to Okeechobee (about 45 miles inland) and get back to work again.

 

[TC18guy]

Don,

How big is your trailer and what do you tow with? Sounds like it is pretty sensitive. I've got an older F150 and I just bought a 16' trailer. I know the truck is plenty capable, but I haven't tried to go too far with the trailer & tractor yet. The 16' trailer doesn't leave a whole lot of room for adjustment with the loader on.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue"> The 16' trailer doesn't leave a whole lot of room for adjustment with the loader on. </font>

Good to know. I'm thinking about a trailer myself to do side jobs - Hopefully make enough to help pay for my tractor habit /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Is 18' big enough or should I shoot for 20? I've got a 2001 F150 Supercrew. Tow capacity 7,700#.

 

[TC18guy]

Come to think of it, I think my trailer is only a 6'X12'. I CAN fit the tractor with FEL & 6' BB on the 12' trailer. I pull it in with the FEL to the front hanging about 18" over front of the box of the trailer. It's a squeeze to get the lift gate up. I towed it 3 miles this way and wasn't too happy. There was too much tongue wt. Next time I will probably remove the 3pt implement and place it in the front of the trailer, Then I can drive the tractor up & place the FEL over & in front of the BB.

That should work fine for me, but if it doesn't I'll probably have to consider a longer trailer or my wt distributing hitch. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

This trailer is pretty well built with square tubing instead of angle iron with a nice removable 4' lift gate/ramp. I only pd $1,100 for it new. I couldn't justify the extra $$$ to go to the larger trailers with the same type of construction.