Where the TC45D is NOT deluxe

[MDNY]

Jinman,

Pie charts and graphs are what the mgt. folk like to refer to when they discuss P&L. But the bottom line should really be legal action in terms of wrongful damages and injuries. What would happne if this broke at the wrong time, on the wrong slop and the tractor flipped over or something happened.

NH should be more concerened about legal action. Every company today who sells any product has to factor in the liability into the equation. Unfortunately some engineer over there either can't design worth [censored] or he is just working on the cheap end like he was told. I wonder how much a full weld would cost vs the spot welds. I bet I would pay the extra few dollars.

 

[JohnMiller3]

Hi Jim,

More than likely not an “engineered” problem as much it is a “supplier/vendor’s” “quick” way out… and of course it’s up to NH’s QC to demand that part to be made the “right way” or find another vendor that will…

On the other hand… {not to make light of the aggravation/inconvenience/annoyance caused…}, it’s a “minor” defect compared to say - something “internal” in the transmission for a major breakdown… so in a way you’re still in great shape Jim… /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[jinman]

Michael, in all fairness to New Holland, I have decided to give them a chance to do the right thing and sent them an email with the photos and information. I even told them about my posting here on TBN and encouraged them to issue a recall on behalf of all the other owners who still have this weak part installed in their tractors. If I get a response, I'll post it here and let everyone be their own judge of the response. I surely hope it will be favorable for all owners./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[jinman]

John, you may be right that this is a vendor part and not manufactured by NH. The design engineering is probably good, but the manufacturing engineering and QC is not up to spec. I wonder if they have ever done any kind of stress testing to determine how strong the welds need to be? .../w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif...I guess they have done testing and "it" is "us."/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

...and you are correct that this could have been a lot worse if it were an internal failure, but I haven't posted all the other defects I discovered while disassembling my tractor. These are little things that all add up to poor workmanship and it's embarassing to report (pride in ownership and all...) I'm gonna' do it because that's what I should do. My photo-essay will follow. Can you believe that to remove a footpedal mechanism requires the entire operator's platform be removed, steering console be disassembled, loader mounting post be loosened/removed, and yet-to-be-discovered fun stuff? And in addition, it's raining here today, so I'll probably have to wait to get started. To quote my good friend Charlie Brown, "AARRGH!" /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif You gotta' keep a sense of humor.

 

[BeeBop]

I keep soo bad wanting to go w/the NH45D but the more I read about your woes I wander back over to Kubota territory. Seriously, if you had it to do all over again, would you?

 

[jinman]

Don,
I looked at an L4610 prior to buying my TC45D. I can tell you that the Kubota dealer was just across the highway from the New Holland dealer. He wanted almost $3,000 more for the L4610. The NH dealer has a reputation of standing behind the products he sells better than any other dealer in the county. I also like the layout of the New Holland. Sooo... would I do it again? Absolutely! Would I have decided to disassemble and fix my own tractor knowing now how hard the job would be, and that my dealer would have fixed my tractor anyway I wanted? No, I would not have undertaken the job myself, but in the process I learned a lot and am sharing it with everyone here so they can make informed judgements. Yes, I'd do it again, but I don't know if I would if I didn't have the great dealer. That's the most honest answer I can give you./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[jinman]

In another thread, Billfires posted about my TC45D, so I am moving my answer to his question here.

<font color=blue>Jinman, has New Holland offered you any form of compensation for the problems with your 45d? I would think that the factory should do something to make up for the problems you have encountered with your machine. It is one thing to have something unexpectedly fail but most of the problems seem to result from "penny pinching" by the bean counters. At the price we pay for these tractors we should not have these design problems. Just my opinion.</font color=blue>

Bill, I could not agree with you more that New Holland is "penny pinching" on this particular part. I don't think there is anything wrong with building a part as cheaply as you can as long as it will perform up to spec. In my opinion, they have made a part that is going to fail on a disproportionately high number of tractors. The best "compensation" New Holland could do for me is to issue a recall for inspection/replacement of this part. Other folks might disagree with me and that's okay, but for me that's all the compensation I want. I've written to New Holland and asked them to do the recall. We'll see what they do, but I "wouldn't hold my breath."/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[billfires]

Jinman, thanks for moving my reply to the right thread, I assumed that was where I was posting it to. Need to be more aware of which thread I'm reading. You are a good customer of NH that has probably been responsible for a few sales on the class III Boomers. I hope they do the right thing.

Bill C

 

[BeeBop]

JinMan, I have priced out both machines and the 45D is $24,705.00 w/the 4n1 bucket, quick attach plate and brush guard respectably priced from Senter tractor and the 4610 HST Kubota is $23,995 w/the 4n1 bucket and as you know the guard is w/the Kubota Loader respectably priced from Heins Eq out of Rocky mt. The Kubota dealers in this Raleigh/Dunn area were $1,110.00 higher than Heins! I will agree that the NH is hands down more comfortable and better suited to operator comfort. I wish there was a magazine that pushed both tractors to the limit and graded them accordingly. I know this, I have beat and banged my Kubota over the span of 5 yrs and not one single problem, not a single one, knock on wood so that makes it very tough in making an impartial decision.

 

[MDNY]

Jimman,

Suppliers should be held more accountable since they are contracted to build a part to spec and someone didn't notice the problem or it may be a recent production issue. Either way it should be corrected. The part that concerns me is I am not a mechanic, I have friends who can help, my father can help, but it the tractor stops working in the winter and you need your driveway cleared who do you call? It could take a week or more to get it fixed. That would not be good. I guess that is my biggest concern. Luckily you knew how to disassemble and prepare the part for repair. Me, I don't know much about it, but I am willing to learn and get the help.

Look forward to your further updates.