Where the TC45D is NOT deluxe

[jinman]

I know you must be struggling with what to do. I too think the NH has the edge in design and comfort, but I also know you don't need to be worried about it breaking. Both of these tractors are nice machines. Since you have experience with Kubota, you might sleep better knowing you purchased another one. For me, I'm still satisfied with my New Holland. If they get this problem "rubbed in their face" enough, they will ensure it is fixed. ...at least I hope so.

 

[jinman]

Here's an update:
Saturday was rainy, but today I got a few hours of time this afternoon and got the repaired assembly installed and tested. It works perfectly. When I get more time, I have to reinstall the operator's platform and I'll be back in business. Between working a regular job and building a new house, it doesn't leave much time for tractor repair, but I refuse to get in a hurry. I take my time and try to do everthing correctly. I also enjoy it a lot more./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[BeeBop]

I think you're every bit tenacious enough to get NH to look at this poor design and do something about it. When dealing w/any dealership the main thing to remember is documentation, they hate this. It really is the pits to have disassembled the entire platform for one part of such a small size. I do think you have a fix now but the diameter of the part appears to be small to me but it's hard to say from a pic. Good luck w/the fix and NH.

 

[djradz]

Jim, did you have to pull of the entire platform, including the portion under and around the seat, of did just the floor/deck part come off separately?

 

[jinman]

Duane, I HAD to take off everything. The floor panels and seat platform are a single unit. That means I removed the toolbox, the FEL control valve cover, both side consoles, the seat, the floor (rubber) mat, the black two-part cowling under the steering wheel, the range shifter, pto control, 4WD control, 3PH control, and remote valve control, Parking brake handle, Numerous electrical connections, the FEL, the and the right side FEL mount which was on top of the bracket holding the HST swivel plate in place. When I say this is an exhausting job, I'm not kidding./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif But, It is all going back together nicely except for my side consoles which had captivated knurled nuts installed in plastic and some idiot assembled them so tightly the knurled nuts twisted in the plastic when I was disassembling them. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif When I tell you that I should have had the dealer do this job, I'm not kidding. It's not anything that I can't do, but it is really time consuming because I'm so particular about making sure things are correct. Another 6 to 8 hrs and I'll be done./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Even with the problems you've had... after looking at the pictures of your tractor.. I believe that you have a real nice machine. I was out sitting on mine this weekend, just doing some cleanup work... now looking at that picture of yours, with the large casted frame, and hyd' lines... my tractor's feeling a little bit inadequate.. ;-)

( 1997 NH 1920 smaller.. but still a nice machine)

Chris

 

[jinman]

It's ironic, isn't it./w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Something so massive in most places has a few rinky-dink parts that cause problems. You really hit the nail on the head with your comment. Just look at the massive loader pillar and undercarriage bracing and then think about those tiny little tack welds on the swivel plate. Again, it just doesn't make good sense. /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[jtn]

Several things I would like to respond to in this discussion as a NH TC45D owner and a equipment test engineer for a major manufacturer of construction equipment.

First I would like to take a guess as to why the bracket that failed was built the way it was. When a new model is proposed a target cost is set, that is to say the company tells the engineers "we need to produce this machine for $10000." With that cost set the engineers need to cut costs whereever they can to meet that goal. Having a robotic welder apply a tack weld to a bracket is much less costly than having a welder that applies a full circumference bead to both sides, thus a cost reduction.

Second, in NH's defence, I was told by good authority that the TC45D with a FEL was endurance tested to 5000 hours. I am not sure what their targets for reliability were or what operations were covered in the test but there is a TC45D with 5000 hours on it and presumably no major component failures. I realize that this may not make you feel much better at the current time but it will when you are up and running again.

For those of you out there worried about your machines the best thing to do is call your dealer with the tractor serial number. If the part was updated your dealer should be able to tell you whether your tractor has the new bracket based on the serial number. My machine, purchased new in January of 2001, has the tack welded bracket. I will be contacting my dealer to see if there is a replacement part and will let you all know what I discover.

I had a similar problem with my JD 970 purchased new in 1989. It, too, was one of the early production machines and not all the "small problems" had been worked out. The parking brake latch failed on it and there had been a change in production so my dealer replaced the bracket and lever with the new hardware.

In any case there are likely to be some problems like this on any new machine and the best thing to do is let your dealer and/or NH know so they can address it on future machines.

 

[MikePA]

There was a discussion in another forum, one of the Kubota forums I think, in which someone asked about model years of tractors. Their concern was born from drawing an analogy between model years of cars/trucks and tractors. The gist of the replies was that tractors go by hours and not by model year so buying a tractor off the dealer's lot was the same as 'ordering' one, i.e., you get the same tractor whether buying a 7500 that's been on the dealer's lot for 8 months or buying one that has just been uncrated.

While this is generally true, Jim's episode with his 45D is one reason why you (1) Want to buy a 'new' model or; (2) If you're buying off the lot, make sure all the running fixes are installed. The problem, which also ties to another post about Service Bulletins, there's no source of what running improvements your tractor should have on it.

 

[djradz]

Let us know what you find out. My TC 40D was made in January of 2001 also, and has the weaker bracket. However, I looked at this and wonder, really, if the weld normally needs to be a lot stronger? I know Jim's failed, but maybe he got one with bad welds. Pushing the pedals really doesn't put much strain on the welds where Jim's broke. Mostly the force you feel is the springs which return the pedals to the neutral postition, which seems to be completely independant of where Jim's broke. Anyway, I'll be keeping an eye on mine.