tc35 vs tc40

griz · May 31, 2003

Hello everyone, Yesterday, I went to the NH dealer and drove the tc35 and tc40. Loved them both (and most everyother tractor I have driven). This will be my first tractor. Somewhere I read someone mentioning that the 35 might be too underpowered for the size of the tractor. I drove them and couldn't really tell the difference. I figure if there is such a thing you probably can't tell unless you are pulling or using an implement. I was wondering if any of you 35 owners have noticed anything? I will be doing alot of loader work, along with box blades, bush hogs and maybe bh. Also, so far the price difference between the two is about $1500. Is the 4cyl. worth it? Thank you.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 1, 2003

griz: The tc35 shouldn't be "underpowered". Just purchased a TC40 myself a couple months ago (to replace a 50 year old Farmall with 23hp). I didn't consider the TC35 because I wanted a 2 liter engine size and am running a BH as well as FEL.

Remember, 50 years ago 20hp tractors were doing a lot of useful work. The TC35 will certainly do the work as it has the heavier chassis of the TC40/TC45. The TC40 gets around .6 - .7 GPH by actual measurement (pushing 100 hrs).

My advice? If you can do it without going hungry get the TC40. If you are going hydrostat trans (ugh) get the TC40. Otherwise, the TC35 is fine. You will probably spin the wheels before you run out of power with either one.

JEH

jinman · Jun 1, 2003

Griz, I wouldn't say the TC35 is underpowered, but the TC40 provides a big step in FEL and 3PH lift capability. If you want justification for the $1,500, you could work in percentages. You get over 10% gain in FEL & 3PH lift, horsepower, and number of cylinders for less than 10% in price. As John mentioned, you will also like the extra HP if you go with the "D" model hydrostatic tranny. You didn't mention that model, so I'm assuming you looked at geared transmissions. Only you know how you will be using the tractor and how much power you will really need. If you need the power, $1,500 will seem pretty small over the life of the tractor. If you don't need the power, $1,500 can buy some nice attachments. Your current needs and long-term plans should be your "decision-makers."

griz · Jun 1, 2003

Thanks for the response. If I go NH I been pushing towards the tc40. I think it would be more sutible in the long term.

JATO_RaT · Jun 2, 2003

Having just sold a more powerful tractor and dropping down to a less powerful one by about 10 HP or so, I have no second thoughts about it, power is just not an issue. The new tractor has 3 cylinders which is not only not an issue, seems to be even smoother then my 4 cylinder which was already very smooth. I agree with Jim about the loader. If the difference is only $1500, that extra lift could easily justify the cost. I'm not sure why NH derates the same loader other then hydraulic operating pressure for the two tractors. I'm sure they have good reason though. If NH was a tractor I was looking at, it would be either the 35D ot 40D, I like those models a lot. Rat...

jinman · Jun 3, 2003

With Griz saying he would be doing mostly loader work and getting a backhoe, he might want to consider the extra capability of the hydraulic settings on the larger tractor. Other than that, I haven't heard any complaints from the folks on this forum who own a TC35.

markie61 · Jun 3, 2003

( I haven't heard any complaints from the folks on this forum who own a TC35 )

How true....

It seems there are more complaints about too small frame size or too light weight (i.e., Class I, II, or III) than there are complaints about horsepower WITHIN those frame/weight classes.

Mark

JATO_RaT · Jun 3, 2003

Jim, do you know why the TC35 has less loader ability with the same loader? Is it simply a lower pressure relief on the hydraulics? While I never got to run a TC 40 around, I did use a TC 45D and the TC35D. You really gotta check those numbers to know what your sitting on. Thanks Rat

jinman · Jun 3, 2003

If I understand correctly, RaT, the only difference is the setting of adjustable relief valves. I haven't looked anything up for sure in my repair and parts manuals, but I'd bet the valves have the same part number for all the Class III tractors. Whether it's a marketing issue or there is a specific engineering reason, I don't really know.

spencer200 · Jun 3, 2003

The valve part numbers are identical when we order them!

JATO_RaT · Jun 3, 2003

Where is the adjustable relief valve located? Is it part of the loader control assembly? Just curious, was wondering if someone with a TC35D could on their own change the pressure setting. I know that from time to time it's advisable to check your hydraulic pressure as over the years it may be less then what it could be. Rat...

spencer200 · Jun 3, 2003

You could just look for the flat locking nut on the valve.

JATO_RaT · Jun 3, 2003

On my Kubota L48 it's located down underneath, I'm not sure where it is on the L3830, but its in the works already to verify pressure.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 4, 2003

Rat:

 I'm not sure why NH derates the same loader other then hydraulic operating pressure for the two tractors. I'm sure they have good reason though. 

Betcha its more of a legal issue than a physical capacity issue. Watcha think? JEH

JATO_RaT · Jun 4, 2003

I'm with Jim, I think like Kubota and the minor differences between models like the L3130 vs L3430 and the L4330 vs the L4630, it's all marketing. You gotta have a reason for the person to consider the next model up. Hey, it worked on me! Rat...

markie61 · Jun 4, 2003

There are 50+ pages of info in the manuals about the hydraulic system, but I think I found the directions for adjusting pressure (I don't know much about hydraulics.....).

The "comination system relief valve and diverter valve assembly" is located on the right side of the engine (it has a sticker with a picture of a book on it.) The bigger nut underneath is the "cap plug" for the "system relief valve assembly."

"If required, adjust the relief pressure setting by adding or removing shims from the relief valve. One shim, .03mm/.012in thickness, wil change the relief pressure appx 10 bar(150psi)." It doesn't say whether adding shims moves it up, but from the picture, it looks like the shims add spring pressure to the poppet, therefore increasing the pressure before it bypasses.

Shim kit = SBA340293230 contains (3) .03mm and (1) 0.1mm shims.

pressure reading for TC35 = 157bar/2275psi
pressure reading for TC40/45 = 172bar/2500psi

Apparently, it's not as simple as turning a wrench....

Mark

JATO_RaT · Jun 4, 2003

Interesting

MODiesel · Jun 5, 2003

What if it does all boil down to HP? Maybe NH is setting the limit at extemes, such that a full load in the bucket, on some sort of sloop, needs to be handled by "X" amount of HP for safe operation?

I only note this because my terrain varies quite a bit. Moving from a TC29D to a TC40D, along with corresponding loaders [7308 vs. 16LA], I've found more than a few areas where I can accomodate heavier loader weight on a slope than I could previously. What if the 3 cylinder TC35 can't comfortably haul the same loader weight up an inclne, possibly in reverse, as it's 4-cylinder'ed cousins?

That's just a supposition. However, I've come to learn more and more not to misjudge engineers. Sure, "marketing" always tweaks the numbers as they see fit, but basic functional differences should indicate different design targets.

Later,
Jay

jinman · Jun 5, 2003

Jay, I think the overall load handling capacity of a tractor relates more to it's geometry and weight than horsepower. However, the engine must be capable of handling the primary loads of the hydraulic pump, transmission, and PTO all at the same time. Each of these things scrubs off horsepower and the TC35 has less of this resource than the TC40 and TC45. I agree with you that there are probably specific engineering reasons for setting the pressure relief lower on the TC35. The interesting part of this to me is that with the drive components being the same, the TC35 may last forever because its driveline is never stressed at the level of the TC40 or TC45. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ...now that doesn't mean I'm gonna' work my TC45 any less. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JATO_RaT · Jun 5, 2003

Jim as usual you seem to always have great responses and well thought out. I was thinking about this HP thing and really HP will determine how fast something can do something rather then if it can do it. I have also found that my new 3 cylinder diesel, (actually I have two 3 cylinder diesels now) is as smooth and quite possibly a little quieter then my 4 cylinder diesel in my previous tractor. Ironically, this diesel is the 3 cylinder version of the 4 cylinder in my previous tractor with the same bore and stroke. Rat...