TC26 vs 29

daTeacha · Jun 13, 2006

Guess I'm a little late to this party, been away a few days. I have almost 45 hours on my DX29 now. I was concerned a little about the height over the 26, and the size increase over my little B7100 'bota I traded in, but right now I'm pretty happy with it. I wish for the extra power of the 33 now and then, as in coming up my driveway, but that's my only regret. I'm even getting used to the hydro. If you have hills, you will find the 3rd range useless for anything except driving on the road, which is what it is intended for. Other than that, it's a two range tractor. The loader is very strong. I have 900 lb hanging on my rear hitch, but a loader full of wet manure quartering up or down a hill is still somewhat unstable. I'm building a set of wheel weights that I hope will solve the problem.

For the rear, any simple blade can be angled to fit through your gate. You might want to widen the gate if possible, but with care you can a lot of things through narrow places. I have a tricky approach to my woodshed, between a large oak and the corner of the barn, but I get in and out without too much trouble if I take it easy and slow.

Welcome aboard, and enjoy the new toy!

kozak · Jun 13, 2006

OK BOB Skurka.....THAT's IT !! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Are you trying to imply that I am nuts TOO !! I have a TC35D on 2.3 acres......THAT's RIGHT !! What-da-ya think of that. HA !!

OK, just kidding BOB. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I have a friend just down the road that thinks I'm NUTS too. I love it. If you can't be NUTS, life would be far too BORING !!

TractorDale,

I think you made the right decision going with the TC29DA...your going to love the extra power & weight. However, hopefully you don't have alot of soft areas during the spring otherwise the TC29D will stay in the barn. Go with turf tires.....makes a big difference. You may end up getting a smaller riding lawn mower style tractor in the future. No big deal......the TC29D will be your powerhouse for the large tasks. You'll be one happy TRACTOR owner !! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Vic

Redneck_Randy · Jun 13, 2006

I've got a TC35A for 5.5 acres. LOL Wife says it's my Tim Allen Syndrome... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Randy

MiserableOldFart · Jun 27, 2006

Well, I got my TC-26DA last Friday. Got to use it for a very few hours before the monsoons started again. The Catskills is saturated.

Does anyone know why my posts said "imported"? Also, I was unable to get onto Tractorbynet without re-registering as a new member. I hope I didn't get thrown off for anything.. I don't think I violated any rules.

Anyway, the 26 is a very nice machine. Diesel stink is very minimal, something I was worried about. The tractor does throw quite a bit of heat, but not really a lot more than I expected. I can always add a fan to blow in my face. Since it's my first real tractor, there is a bit of a learning curve associated with it, but I'm anxious to get out and use it again. I did leave some pretty good sized tire marks and ruts where I was cutting - couldn't help it because everything here was soaked (now it's far beyond that.) Enjoyed moving some rocks that were lying around with the loader, though I thank God nobody was around to watch my lack of skill in scooping them up.

Somebody please turn off the water!

MiserableOldFart · Jun 27, 2006

Thanks for the info Andy. You are in what used to be my old stomping grounds when I went to UCONN. I think they finally gave me a degree to get rid of me.

daTeacha · Jun 28, 2006

Hey MOF! I'm sure you'll like the 26. Like I said, I was almost sure that was what I was going to get, but the lure of the 29's seat and telescoping link arms was just too much to resist.

There is a thread or two somewhere on this site about using the loader, on the general owning/operating board, I think. The big thing is practice with it a lot and don't try to do things fast until you are proficient. Even then, expect to goof up now and then. Practice making excuses for having holes in the yard that are way bigger than you wanted -- needed to level that spot, there was a stump buried there, etc. -- and back dragging the bucket to smooth things over.

One hint for picking up rocks and such is to go into them with the bucket nearly level, perhaps slightly down in front. As the bucket pushes under the rock, roll it back but don't lift. If anything, lower the bucket as you roll it back and the rock should slide toward the back of the bucket. Rocks are tough sometimes. They are very heavy for their size, oddly shaped, and often partially buried. You can easily overload the bucket before its full, or get so much weight in there the back end begins to lift up. Get a ballast box or some other rear weight and use it whenever you use the loader. Wheel weights or loaded tires will help a lot, too. Carry things low and slow. Why hurry when you're having fun? Besides, even going slow you get a lot more done than before you had the tractor.

MiserableOldFart · Jul 25, 2006

Thanks for the info, DaTeacha. I am getting better with the rocks now. I popped a few out that were way too big and/or heavy to pick up with the loader, but fortunately most of our rock here is shale. With a little four pound one hand sledge and a chisel, I can usually break off enough to get them in the loader. The trick is finding the right seam, hitting it just right, and using the appropriate four letter words- all at the same time. A couple of them didn't cooperate, but dropping a four hundred pound rock on them with the loader coaxed them into downsizing. Just mashing down on them with an 8 pound sledge hammer rarely has any effect at all. There is no such thing, really, as removing all the rocks here, but if I can reduce the ones that are small enough to get out and high enough to bother the mower, it will be a very good thing. Plus I am turning an eight foot drop about 15 feet behind my house into something that will resemble a little back yard someday, with a slightly more gentle slope than one step and 'gone'.

Someone should make a mini-rock hammer to run off these little tractors. Oh, and while I'm at it, stump grinders too. There are some out there, but not many, and I don't think many of them are for tractors this small. Since DR and a few other companies make them with 9-13 horse motors, the pto's should have plenty of power to run a properly sized stump grinder. Last but not least, an inflatable tractor shelter that can be blown up right over or next to the tractor using a large attached bellows that works by raising and lowering the loader on it a few times.

Anyone out there with a chipper/shredder on the pto? Do they work well?