Tried out a TL 100A yesterday

[Robert_in_NY]

I have been looking to get a 100pto hp tractor for next spring and was curious how my baler would handle with a larger tractor then my TN so my dealer let me try the TL 100A which is only 80 pto hp but was good enough for me to demo. Here is what I think of the TL 100A.

IT is a good tractor but could be a lot better with a couple changes. The TL handled my 575 fine even with the AC running which I figured it would. The chair was comfortable but I didn't like the rubber arm rest. Also I wish the seat would swivel a bit more. The view out the cab was great and you don't notice any post or such. The veiw over the hood is great as well. My biggest complaint is the height of the cab. It is way to short. For this reason I would be hard pressed to buy it. I am only 6 feet tall and I felt like I was rubbing my head against the top of the cab. The air seat was nice but if I lowered it to give my head more clearance I felt to short for the pedals. This cab would be good for a 5'10" guy but not me. The TL is also very good on fuel and hits 540 at a much lower rpm then my TN. So if my dealer ever gets a TS 115A in again I will try that one out as the cab looks much better then the TL's. Here are a couple pics, in the second pic you can see how much head room I have.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

pic 2

 

[JASTN70D]

I have noticed that there seems to be a push on by NH for clearance for access in to buildings maybe they are getting carried away with this. I did notice that the new TNA's seem to be fairly short for there HP size compared to the competition. You do know the Italians tend to be short. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifMy whole family can attest to that. : /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Actually I do not know if the TL's are even made in Italy

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I don't remember where they are built, when Woodbeef gets back on line he will let us know. I forgot to mention another dislike, I could only travel up to 18mph on the road as anything faster and the TL wanted to bounce all over the place. The front axel needs something done to reduce this problem as my TN is a lot of fun to drive on the road as it is extremely smooth. I do know that the TL is a lot taller then my TN. I will try to get some pics of the three tractors lined up today. Take care.

 

[RickB]

TNA's and TLA's are both built in Jesi, Italy. Both are the same height as the TN's and TL's that preceded them. The TSA cab is about a foot taller, but that is not entirely in the cab interior. At least one TL we sold was chosen partially due to lower center of gravity and cab height as compared to a TS. To each his own. I have heard no complaints on interior cab clearance from TL owners. One 6'4" owner is on his second TL and loves them.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Hello Rick, I am not trying to put the TL down as it is a very good tractor and I would buy an open station in an instant if I needed one but in my mind the cab was too short. The TLA is too small for my needs anyway and I was only demoing it to get an idea how my baler will run with the extra hp. My TN has trouble in thick spots making nice square bales as even in my second slowest gear I still get jagged bales from time to time if there is too much hay. The TL 100A took care of most of those problems which I had thought it would. As for size and hp the TS 115A is more suited to my needs and I would have tried one of them out but as you know they are hard to get right now. My dealer has a couple sold if they could get any. The TLA's are selling fast as well as they sold one last week and hope to have the one I tried sold next week. Please do not take my dislike of cab height as a knock against the TL as it is one of the very few shortcomings that tractor has. It is buyer preference and I prefer a taller cab (much like the old Rome tractors with a cab over 6' tall inside. It is nice to be able to stand up inside the cab to stretch your legs during a long days work. This is my only problem with the TL, I can not even start to stand up inside it. Take care and enjoy your day off.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Here are a couple pics to compare the size of the TL 100A with a TN65 and a 1920

 

[Robert_in_NY]

second pic

 

[Phred]

Robert,

So your really going after that TS or TL even though our hay deal did not work out /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I test drove the old version of the TL when I was thinking about a TN/TL purchase. Utlimately went with the TN due to cost.
I liked the older TL very much, but it sounds like I am just a hair shorter than you.
The biggest difference between the TLs and TNs is the weight. The low end TL models are even about the same hp, but they weight several thousand pounds more.
This could be handy in some cases; heavy trailers in particular.
You could also create more soil compaction. Stay out of a wet field with a TS or high end TL. You probably won't get it stuck but you may dig some ruts. But this is also true of a TN; its better to wait till it dries out.

Fred

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I am still thinking of a way to get your hay up here. I will keep you informed /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Almost all the fields I have baled this year are very good as far as drainage goes. This field I ran the TL in was wet and the TL did not sink any worse then my friend who was baling with his TN 75 cab tractor with loader on. The wider tires on the TL help it to off set the weight issue. Also, this field will be turned over and put into a pasture next year so it didn't matter much as it just didn't want to dry out. The TN's got stuck there 2 times when the wagon sank, the TL only once when a wagon sank. Unhooked the wagon and it was gone and didn't leave no where near as bad a rut as the TN's did when they spun with their narrower tires.

The main fields I bale at the farm are hilly and with my setup I need a heavy tractor. There is only two small spots that I need to worry about being wet there but for the most part I need the weight of the tractor to control the baler and wagons easier on the hills. Also, it will be the main tractor to do the tillage work on the farms so I have been looking for a 100pto hp tractor (hopefully for next spring). I have 1000 bales of 2nd cut clover hay in the barn that will make the down payment (up here it is going for $4-5 a Small square bale). Regular horse hay is in the $2-4 range and going higher. I am out of horse hay but come March I would not be surprised to see it hit $8/ bale for anyone who has any. I lost close to 10k bales of hay sales because I could not get enough as we all lost a lot of hay due to a stupid storm coming in 2 days early. Hay was ready to bale and it poured before the dew came off. So if anyone has hay within a couple hundred miles of Western New York give me a PM and I will try to work out a deal with you.