TC35A or TC40A questions?

Hardwoodsgreen · May 19, 2005

This is my first post here, but I have been reading this forum for some time doing the research on my first tractor purchase. You guys are a wealth of tractor knowledge and have been alot of help, thank you! Presently I am leaning toward the NH TC40A FWD with a 16LA FEL, with the quick detatch bucket, filled R4 tires, 6' finishing mower, and 6' rotary mower, delivered for $22,900. This is from my local dealer and I beleave he is a good guy that will be there for me after the sale. My questions are, Is this a good price for this combo?
I can get the TC35A with the same set up for $1,300 less. Is the differences between the TC35A and TC40A worth the difference? {5 more HP, 3 cylinder to to a 4 cylinder, 300 lb more 3 pt lift, 200 lb more FEL lift, later resale?} I have 12 acers to keep up, finish and rotary mowing, scraping, tilling [small garden], dirt and gravel moving. I think I could do it all with a TC30, but had rather get a larger tractor just in case I want to do more later, I hope the TC40A is not too much for what I need it for and that is worth the $6,000 difference from the TC30. What are your thoughts and opinions? Any add on recommendations? Thanks for your help!

Tim

djradz · May 19, 2005

Others can probably comment better on the price, as several have bought similar setups much more recently. However, just a couple of thoughts:
Yes, I believe the $1,300 is worth the difference toward getting 4 cylinders and and additional 5 hp.
Do not get your tires filled with chloride. You will forever regret it as any leak, or just any splashing in the filling will result in potential rust/corrosion. If you dealer can't fill with "RimGuard" (beat-juice) or some other non-corrosive liquid, get the filling done elsewhere.
A 40 DA with filled tires is a little heavy for finish mowing around a home, but it certainly can handle it. You just might want to consider a smaller garden tractor or mowing machine, skip the finish mowing deck for the CUT, and just get the rotary cutter.
You might want to include a rear blade in the deal, or certainly look to pick one up later.
We all sing the praises of the electronic rabbit/turtle range shift and you won't get that on the 30. I believe the 30 does have the same brake pedal arrangement as the 40, that is both on the side opposite the hydro pedal, so that is a plus. If not, it certainly would be a negative in my mind. You want to be able to maintain speed (hydro pedal position) while pushing one brake pedal.

I love my 40D, but it is big. Not that it's that much bigger than a TC30, but with those big industrials, it sure looks it. I think your decision should certainly consider how much work you will do near/around the home, and how much out away from it, where you have more room to manuever. I'm sure you will be happy with either machine, no matter what you finally decide.

jinman · May 19, 2005

( I have 12 acers to keep up, finish and rotary mowing, scraping, tilling [small garden], dirt and gravel moving. I think I could do it all with a TC30, but had rather get a larger tractor just in case I want to do more later, I hope the TC40A is not too much for what I need it for and that is worth the $6,000 difference from the TC30. )

Tim, what you are experiencing is called "size creep" in my book. You know what size tractor will work, but you just want that bigger tractor because it will do so much more with much more ease. I'd suggest you don't let it get the best of you.

There is a lot of difference between the TC35A and the TC30. The class III Boomers have many of the features of larger tractors like adjustable width rear wheels and much higher hydraulic flow. They also can be modified with many added features you'll never get onto the TC30. Now, the TC30 is a great litle tractor, but with 12 acres, I think you could probably use the TC35.

Do you need to go up to the TC40? Probably not. Since you are looking at a gear tractor, you will be able to get every bit of the torque of that tractor to the ground. Nothing will be lost, but for the same price, you could get a class II tractor with hydrostatic transmission. From the jobs you describe, that might be a consideration to look at. You only mentioned tilling a small garden. Everything else is ideal for a hydro. ...just a thought.

You have done your homework well on the differences in the TC40A to the TC35A. I don't think it's worth $1300 in your instance with the gear drive tractor. 5 hp is much more important for hydro than a gear tractor in my opinion because the hydro taps out an extra couple of horsepower as heat.

I'd just caution you to make sure you get the tractor you need for your jobs. Your are buying new, so there is no reason not to get what you need. Look at yourself in the mirror and go with your gut feeling on which tractor you really need. Go get that one and be happy. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

djradz · May 20, 2005

Tim, I just caught (through Jinman's observation) that you are looking at a gear tractor. For the work you are considering, especially the mowing of a smaller parcel, I'd give very, very serious consideration to a hydrostatic. Forget all about the size issue for the moment, if you are a little strapped, pick the smaller unit in a hydro. Most of those of us who have had both a gear and a hydro, would never go back to a gear for 95% or more of our tasks. The hydro is ideal for mowing, you keep the mower or cutter blades at a constant RPM and vary your ground speed as needed with the push of the hydro pedals - could be better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Propertymaint · May 20, 2005

I was in your predicament about a year or so ago. I went with the TC40D and haven't looked back. My previous tractor was a hydro so I knew I wanted it. I do a lot of different work semi-commercially with mine - loader, backhoe, mowing, the hydro trans with two speeds on the joy stick is great (I only wish NH had a 2wd/4wd button on that joy stick also). I agree, the 4 cyl engine provides more torque that is required by the hydro trans. For the extra money I went up to the 40 from the 35 and have been happy I have done so. A few of the landscape supply centers around here have 3 cyl tractors to load mulch, loam etc, and even when they have a smooth operator on them, they seem to bog down when going into a pile. Last week I was spreading out 100 yards of fill for a customer and was sure glad I had the extra torque of the 4 cyl. The only thing you might need to look at is if you are going to be moving this tractor from place to place. A class three tractor is going to need at least a 3/4 ton pickup to tow it regularly. I tow mine a lot and ended up putting a dual rear wheel conversion kit on the truck. It made it a lot more stable (especially when some knuckle head cuts in front of you). Whatever you decide it's never a problem to have too much power, but not having enough tractor can sour an otherwise pleasant experience in a hurry.

chatcher · May 20, 2005

You can rationalize just about any choice, and probably be happy with any of the choices you listed. I am sold on the NH class III tractor and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Is there any reason the larger size of the TC35/40 would be a disadvantage for you? Do you need to maneuver in tight places, get through narrow gates or small garage doors, or minimize pressure on the ground? If the answer is no, I definitely recommend the TC35/40. Once you make that choice, do you plan to run any PTO attachment that will require more than 30 HP? If not, I'm not sure what the 40 will do for you that the 35 will not. More power to the ground? With R4 tires? There are very few instances where the 35 would not provide more power than the tires can transfer to the ground, and those would generally be when a ground-engaging implement is pulling the rear wheels down against the ground, like a turning plow or box blade rippers. As for lifting capacity, the difference is due not to horsepower but to a different relief valve pressure setting, so in a way it means you are operating further from the design limits of the loader and rear hitch (I understand the TC40/45 may have some stronger front axle parts, and changing the relief pressure on a 35 to match the 40/45 could theoretically allow you to abuse the front axle, but the option is there for those that are willing to take the risk). My loader bucket is slightly larger and much heavier than the one normally sold with the tractor, and I can still lift a full bucket of dirt, so I'm satisfied with the capacity I have from the factory.

You didn't mention the DA models, so I guess you aren't looking for a hydro. Some have written that the TC35/40/45DA hydro is pressure-relief-valve-limited in putting power to the ground, such that the 40 & 45 won't pull any harder than the 35. I can't say, but once I learned how to use mine I have no trouble pulling very strongly (the secrets are RPM's and proper pedal use).

PineRidge · May 20, 2005

(the secrets are RPM's and proper pedal use). 

It's no secret any longer as Chuck gave it up. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Hardwoodsgreen · May 22, 2005

Thanks everyone for your responses! They have been most helpfull!

Tim

djradz · May 23, 2005

Tim, I'm not sure of what NH provides for a loader joystick on the non-hydro tractors, but the one on the D-series hydrostatic, has an extremely useful rabbit/turtle electric range-shift button that greatly increases the ease of use of the loader. If your still leaning toward a gear version, you may want to compare the two.

chatcher · May 23, 2005

( Tim, I'm not sure of what NH provides for a loader joystick on the non-hydro tractors, but the one on the D-series hydrostatic, has an extremely useful rabbit/turtle electric range-shift button that greatly increases the ease of use of the loader. If your still leaning toward a gear version, you may want to compare the two. )

The non-hydro should come with a plain round ball on a stick. I'm sure the deluxe joystick would fit, but you would need to find something else to use the switch for, because for sure it wouldn't work as a gear shift. (Maybe you could mount a gun for hunting rabbits and turtles /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)