TN 65 clutch

FiftyOne · May 13, 2004

Howdy. I need some advice:

I've got a TN 65 that I just bought last august. It only has 70 hours on it. Its a 4x4 with a 32LA loader. It has the 8x8 synchro shuttle. I only use it for occassional bush-hogging, light loader work (very light), moving round bales, etc.

Anyway, last week the clutch went out of it. I've been driving equipment like this forever and I *know* how to operate a clutch and a tractor of this type. My dealer has it torn apart and is putting in a new clutch.

When I asked them what the problem was they implied that it was user error. They said they would submit it for warranty payment, but that NH doesn't like to pay clutch repairs since they say it is almost always the user.

As I said before, I use this tractor lightly and I know I'm not using the clutch incorrectly.

So, I ask the knowledgeable members of this board: have any of you had these problems with a NH TN of any kind? IF so, what was the cause and how should I handle this?

As far as I'm concerned, I love my TN 65, but if they aren't going to pay to fix it they can keep it and I'll sue them.

I'd appreciate any insights into this.

thanks,

-Eric

mahlers · May 13, 2004

It seems hard to believe that you could make your clutch go out after only 70 hours of use, and I haven't heard of any premature failures like that - but that's not saying much since my exposure is pretty much limited to the tractors on this forum. I'll bet something's faulty with the clutch.

RickB · May 13, 2004

We have repaired two TN clutches with pressure plate failure. Both were low hour tractors that were a couple years older than yours. Nothing of the kind lately. Clutch abuse would have to involve a severely worn or failed disc and relatively intact pressure plate. I would get a look at the parts that came out of yours, were I you. If they are filing a warranty, they should retain the parts.

AndyMA · May 13, 2004

My TN75 just had to be split twice to fix an oil leak problem. It has the clutch pack in oil so it doesn't have the same problem as yours, but what is interesting is that my tractor was assembled new without the O ring that seals the flange around the input shaft on the trans. Is it possible that you had some kind of oil leak onto your clutch? Or is it possible to misadjust a TN clutch so that it doesn't fully engage and is always slipping somewhat? That would burn it up pretty quick. I lost a clutch on my 2120 a few years back when the bellhousing got wet and the weep hole was plugged and failed to drain and the whole clutch kinda rusted together. How much loader work do you do. Slipping a clutch as you push into a pile can be tough on a clutch.
Good luck with your claim.

Andy

Andy

bgott · May 14, 2004

See if you can pay the difference and get them to install a TN 75 clutch. The clutch is cerro- metallic rather than fiber and should hold up a lot longer. The fiber clutch shouldn't have went out in this amount of time but you might as well use it as an opportunity to upgrade. My clutch was replaced due to oil leakage up the bent PTO shaft. My service manager told me that they were going to upgrade all clutch replacements because the cerro- metallic was only $15 or $20 more.

bgott · May 14, 2004

They've had to split it twice, eh? The fourth time was the charm on mine. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif We have had so much rain that all the time I've managed to accumulate since then is 10 hours, none of it PTO time. No leak so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Robert_in_NY · May 14, 2004

I do a lot of loader work and a lot of field work and I have never had a problem with the clutch on my 65. I am about to hit 500 hours today if the weather lets me work later on. As for this guys TN, I doubt it would be operator error for so few hours so I would imagine something is not right on it either from the company that made it or the guys who installed it.

FiftyOne · May 15, 2004

thanks a ton for all the replies. makes me feel better to know that others also think it can't be operator error... ;^)

I'll know more when I call into the dealership late monday. I'll let you know how it goes.

thanks,

-Eric

spencer200 · May 15, 2004

There have been numerous pressure plate failures on TN tractors. New Holland is well aware of the the problem. They have upgraded the pressure plate twice so far. This should be a warranty with no questions asked by your dealer. I think it is ridiculous for your dealer to have told you it was operator error with only 70 hours on your tractor not very wise in my opinion. Even if you where the worst operator going it would take more than 70 hours to make your clutch go bad.