TN vs TL

[Robert_in_NY]

That was a fun day, I don't know if you can see it but there is mud covering almost all of the tires. I had to unhook the wagon a couple times to get the baler unstuck even with the TL. That field was a friend of mine and his JD baler broke down so I was called in to help. I don't remember how many wagons we did that day but it was fun dodging the mud holes. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I asked my dealer if I can try the TL out just to see how much easier it would handle my baler. They knew up front I wasn't going to buy right then but we have a good relationship so I got to put some hours on it (had to keep it under 10). Took it on Saturday morning and returned it Tuesday when I had some time.

The TL is a great tractor but as I said I didn't feel comfortable in the cab. Kept feeling like I was going to hit my head even though I never did. Just one of those feelings.

I bought a Ford 7710-2 2 months ago to take over most of the duties the TN use to own. Now the TN still runs my baler but only until I set the 7710 up to run it.

This year I baled up 180 acres. Only one cutting except for one field that we needed for our own animals. I cut it before July and still only got 13 bales a acre on second cutting at the end of August. There has been no rain at all around here when we needed it so there is no second cutting.

As for an average year I will get two cuttings. If it is an exceptional year I might get three on some of my ground. Most of my fields are old that I have bought and am in the process of turning them over and putting them in a good fertilization schedule.

As for the pto, Rick would be better to answer your questions as to what difference there is if any but both the TN and the TL can feather the pto on if you want to. It isn't like my 1920 where when you engage the pto it lets you know immediately. One nice thing I like about my 7710 is that it has a pto brake so when you turn the pto off it slows it down immediately and stops it. Only thing I dislike is that it won't allow you to turn the pto shaft when hooking up pto equipment that is hard to turn by hand.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Ken, I forgot to mention, I run a 575 New Holland baler and it really works my TN.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

<font color="blue"> One nice thing I like about my 7710 is that it has a pto brake so when you turn the pto off it slows it down immediately and stops it. Only thing I dislike is that it won't allow you to turn the pto shaft when hooking up pto equipment that is hard to turn by hand.
</font>

I traded a 6610 for a TN75. I noticed that the PTO kept turning on the TN after disengaging. That didn't happen with the 6610. I wasn't aware that the 10 series had a PTO brake, but that explains why the difference. Since the 10 series tractors are considered the base striped models, I wonder why they have PTO brakes and the TN's do not. That seems a bit backwards to me. Wouldn't a PTO brake be considered an upgrade?

 

[RickB]

A true 10 series, not a Mexican 10S was not an economy spec tractor, but the top of the spectrum for that HP range in a Ford tractor, having a multiple wet disc hydraulically actuated PTO clutch. Actually, the Mexican-built 10S series also enjoy that feature. TN series tractors are all Fiat-based tractors with single, dry disc PTO clutches. They are either manually engaged via a long lever or servo engaged via a small slave cylinder activated by a manually operated control valve and short handle. Yes, the Ford faithful, and most clear thinking tractorheads agree this is a step backwards. TL Standard tractors are available with a similar single dry PTO disc that is manually engaged. Early TL and later TL Deluxe tractors have a wet, multiple disc hydraulically actuated PTO clutch. Dry Disc PTO clutches have no brake. TL hydraulic PTO's have a brake that is active only with the tractor running, I THINK.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Rick summed it up quite well, the 10 series tractors were the top of the line when they were released. If you want to have some fun, check ebay or www.wengers.com and order some of the old 10 series literature. I enjoy reading the literature from the 80's as it is fun to see how the tractor was being touted by Ford.

I will say this though, I wish Ford/NH still made the 7710-2 and I am sure many dealers still wish that. Make a few upgrades along the way (like a more powerful AC unit) but it would still sell quite well (at least in my mind).