tc30 gear questions

[rumproast]

I am in the market for a 4x4 tractor w/FEL. I made the rounds and test drove most of whats out there. We have 100++ acres of old farm land and stream side wet land that has grown over w/ alders and spruce. We currently have a 1974 case 680 (digs great but shuttle trans is weak and machine so heavy it sinks) and a 194? Int'l TD9 (spend more time under than on) and need something 4wd to to help reclaim some fields, bring in gravel, and make some trails. We have a limited buget and can't afford nor want a hydro.
After trying most hydro and gear models the TC30 felt the most comfortable. The location of the shifter is ingenious-similiar to my Cases shuttle and it shifts with ease. It is also one of the cheapest (15,500). However,compared to the kubota L3400 (16,000) the TC30s FEL is very low on digging power. Is this a common problem? Can it be fixed or a different loader? And now I have been reading of TC30s cracking between the engine block and bell housing. Is this true or not? I really felt good in the seat of the tc30 but don't want if not dependable. Also what works better in wet areas industrial (seem wider) or AG tires?

Just for info the following tractors are what I tried,..
John Deere 3203 ..salesman kept showing my hydro models in20,000 range
Branson ?280i.. great well built machine easiest by far to use and shift but 18,500 for an off brand?
TYM330.. another powerful great built sychro but 19300 for an off brand?
Montana 39hp hydro...nice build but tranny seemed weak
montana gear...hardest tractor to shift of all but tractor built nice
TC40 boomer sss ..nicest tractor but out of my price 21,000 plastic sucks
Massey 1528 gear very nice only 14,990 but I had a harder time fwd _reverse than the TC30. Salesman was the best he offered me to take it home to try with no strings attch he will even deliver and pick up..I foolishly declined. Seemed like he really believed in his product.
Kubota L3400 nice build powerful -TC30 is just slightly easier to shift. Tc30 also has a slower creep speed.
Kubota 3240 dt shuttle. very very nice but can't afford 19,500 +tax.

DISCLAIMER: this is just my experience and opinion, yours may differ.

I greatly thank you for your time and input ASAP...I seem to have developed tractoritis.

 

[RoyJackson]

I looked at the TC 30 before I bought the 790.
Personally, I think it's capabilities for it's size are fine...just my opinion though.
But I don't think it's going to be big enough for your needs. Only you can assess that.
How much of that 100 acres are you planning to work?
Are you going to keep the Case and International?


I also think you should look used. Try Used Farm Equipment & Agricultural Equipment - John Deere MachineFinder.com. Don't let that John Deere blurb throw you off. That site lists all brands of tractor.

BTW, where are you located?

 

[AndyMA]

The TC30 has been around for quite a few years. They have been reliable. The problems with blocks cracking are very few and far between. Last week I was at my dealer and they had several TC30's on display. I just happened to ask the service manager who I was there to see if he had had any problems with them. He said absolutely none in all the tens of machines they had sold.
Reliability wise it's probablu very close to the top of the list.

Andy

 

[VAChesterfield]

I purchased my TC 30 gear model a little over 3 years and 425 hours ago. I love it, and while I have from time to time dreamed of a bigger, stronger machine, the TC 30 fits my budget and has done everything I have asked it to do. My TC 30 has been completely reliable and I have never had to take it in for repair.

I have done some light clearing, mostly pines and hardwood scrub up to 4" in diameter, but it's time consuming and not something I'd recommend using a TC 30 w/FEL to tackle on a large scale. I gave up the task very quickly and hired a dozer to rough clear 3 acres, then used my TC 30 to transform it into my horse pastures.

I have been satisfied with the TC 30's digging power with the FEL (and the toothbar is a big help), but have lifted the rear end (and I have loaded tires) from time to time when trying to pop an especially tenacious hardwood stump out of the ground.

Some of my property is quite boggy, and I have mired the front end down to the axle (I have the Industrial tires), but have always been able to back out using the FEL to lift the front end out of the mud, then using the rear wheels to slowly back out.

I have used my TC 30 to blaze trails (a rough cut mower, a.k.a. bush hog, is great for this task), spread gravel, seed, and fertilizer, dig post holes, dig a trench for an invisible dog fence, move hay round bales, and a host of other chores around my 10 acre mini-ranch. My wife says I have every attachment known to man, but what does she know.

If I had 100+ acres, I'd look to get something bigger than a 30hp, but if my budget was limited, I'd opt for the TC 30. It's a strong (for it's class) reliable machine, that will give you years of service.

 

[daTeacha]

The TC30 is a time proven design as has been said. You find it familiar and comfortable because the design is about the same age as the equipment you have. Think of it as a brand new older machine. That can be either good or bad, depending on your point of view about plastics vs. painted and rustable steel and assorted other things.

I, too would question the size of it for 100 acres. It depends on how much you plan to do with the land and how big a hurry you are in to get it done. -- see the thread about mowing 32 acres with a 4' mower as an example.

It doesn't sound like you're planning to do any serious farming or anything of the sort. More or less like you want to set up a nice bit of country acreage for your personal use. If the trails are for walking, bikes, or 4 wheelers it makes it a lot easier than if you plan to drive a pickup down them.

What's the plan for those fields -- pasture, crops, hay?? If you're just going to keep them as wildlife pasture or something like that, the TC30 should be fine. If you plan to work the soil some and the fields are fairly large, the TC30 will still get the job done, but will take a little longer than a bigger machine.

The major recurring bit of advice here regarding a new tractor purchase is that they are all good machines and you should go with the machine and dealer that you feel best about. You like the ergonomics of the machine and the dealer seems to be a straight shooter. Give the Deere guy one last chance to show you a 790 or 990 and then "Go Blue!" (Sorry, Buckeye fans!)

 

[rumproast]

Thanks for all the great advice. Sorry about dbl posting -I'm new to this.

We only plan on clearing about another 10+ acres and make some roads for walking, atv, snowmobile, getting to fishing/swimming hole along with a garden. Already dug small farm pond w backhoe (all clay and ledge) and now the dozer and hoe have sat for well over a year. I plan on keeping the old hoe and dozer(notice I didn't say we) ...just need something dependable to help out.
I would buy a bigger machine than the TC30 if I felt it wouldn't put us in debt. We only own the land because, as little as 4 years ago, you could get it for $300/acre+- in bulk. There isn't much close by. Three tractor dealers are 40 miles east, 1 is 35 miles south, 2 are 50 miles SE.

I will give the JD dealer 1 more shot and insist on trying the 790 and 990.
As far as dealers go the Massey dealer took the most time to explain the workings and offered me the machine for a day free of charge. He also said he would pick it up free of charge if any warrenty work needed to be done.
Meanwhile 1 of the NH dealers would not even give me free delivery. TYM and kubota dealers were OK. Kioti dealer would deliver and pick up for free regarding warranty work.

Still not sure of tire choice.

Again thanks for your time and advice.
have any TD9 questions fell free to ask.

 

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. 100 ac and a tc 30? Not my first choice. In fact.. the only way I'd get a 30hp tractor on 100 ac was if i also had a utility or ag tractor that was reliable for the big work.. IE.. a 50-100 hp tractor too.. etc.

If I could only have 1 tractor.. I'd want something like 50hp.. or a 7-8' mower at minimum if I had to do mowing chores.. etc..

soundguy

 

[Bob_Young]

I started out considering a TC30 for my 50+ acres. Even had a friend with a nearly new TC30 w/FEL that was willing to sell it at a good savings. Glad I didn't go that way. Even the 45HP Kubota L4300 I ended up buying seems light at times, though I do value it's compact size around all the trees. I'm seriously trying to justify a Kubota M6040 while keeping the L4300.

I'd recommend anything from the Kubota L4400 or JD990 on up for your 100 acres. You're going to find that working with reliable equipment is addicting. You can tackle jobs and actually complete them without fighting with the machinery. Once you find out what's possible, your plans are likely to quickly expand. Do-overs are costly with equipment this expensive.
Bob

 

[JerryG]

If you were to go with Massey, I would suggest that you check out a MF1533 or a MF1540. See if they will let you try one of them at your farm. Go ahead and take them up on the try out. Sounds like they are willing to go the extra mile beyond the other dealers to get your business and to keep it.

 

[bjr]

This message board all about buying, but I'll be the first one to say probably what you already have is what you actually need. First you've proved that equipment will hold up doing what you want. You use the words "digging" "dependable". The newer Ag tractors with FEL's I don't feel will hold up under the aggressive use you will put on it. The older Industrial equipment is proven. Put some more money into whatever needs fixing and try to stay in dryer firmer ground, so you don't get stuck. Yes any of the newer Ag tractors can and do break in half using FEL's for "digging". The warranty on new equipment goes out the door if seller can prove abuse, ie, "digging". I'm an old construction mechanic and I've seen new stuff breadk aplenty. It looks cute sitting all clean in a sales lot somewhere, but can it accomplish "your" work? Repairing old equipment is time consuming and expensive. Repairing new equipment is tiime consuming and expensive. It's your money and your call. bjr