****"Don't panic, there is hope!
You can buy loader support kits that attach the rear axle to the loader bucket. These supports take some of the force off of the transmission housing when you lift items with your loader bucket."****
Realistically speaking, you shot yourself in the foot when you included the above statement in the same post where you also discredit New Holland. The point you try to establish about "inferior" machines, pretty much turns out to be a case of "owner failed to research" first. I also agree with johninmd. Adding weight or ballast to the BACK end of tractor would only INCREASE the tendency for the bell housing to crack and break. Putting a FEL on a tractor sort of converts it to a "see saw" or "teeter-totter" with the front axle acting as the pivot or fulcrum. Put enough weight into the front bucket and you can lift the back end off the ground, unsafe for sure, but less likely to break the tractor in half. Add a bunch of "ballast weight" to the back end and the tractor is more "stabile" and "safer", but, now the bell housing is carrying not just the mass of the back end, but all the added ballast as well. I'm mildly curious to know if you purchased this machine "new" or used. If you bought new, and the loader was already installed, I can understand how you could be bitter about not having been informed of the strengthening and re-inforcing options available (informed by the dealer). If you bought this tractor "used" with FEL, or added the FEL after the purchase, then the entire episode boils down to a case of "caveat emptor"...buyer beware.

This isn't the first time this has happened, and other tractor brands are involved as well, for various reasons including loose mounting bolts. Doing a search on another forum under the Ford/New Holland sub-forum, it was mentioned that a fairly late model F/NH loader may not be designed to back-convert to a F/NH tractor that's just a few years older. The dealer should be on top of this issue tho.

johninmd,

Ballast makes a huge difference, both in safety and in distributing stress. In the OP's case, and as it was from engine tech's post, it was the first thing that came to mind after reading his story.

Cheers

JDFANATIC

***"Ballast makes a huge difference, both in safety and in distributing stress."***
Yes, ballast makes a difference in stability, and thus, safety, but ballast WILL NOT decrease the loading to the bell housing nor will ballast keep the bell housing from breaking.

that's the way i saw it mownie, all it would do is maybe make you not have a clue as to when casings were about to snap.

***"all it would do is maybe make you not have a clue as to when casings were about to snap."***
Precisely right.

I just had this happen to my TC 40!!!! I'm waiting on an estimate from NH.

Have just done the same damage to an MF1230. The clutch housing suddenly snapped in two with a bang. And at 13 years old MF could not supply another as a spare part. What rotten service! It is ironic that if I were to need a similar part for my 48 year-old MF35 it can be easily supplied!

There is no space nor even any location points along the top of the MF1230 transmission to fit any strengthening - so the best option is non-existent. Fitting something under the transmission is a very poor compromise and has to be compatible with a potential mid-mounted mower.

Don't be using these compacts for any serious loader work! They just do not have the strength where it counts. They are excellent for most other tasks within their horse power parameters.

I managed to purchase a much older MF1230 which I cannibalised for the much needed clutch housing. It cost around £3000 and a £400 workshop bill. On the plus side I have now a second MF1230 without a middle!

First of all sorry to read about your tractor blueseatx. But as it has been said that is how all compact tractors are made, with no frame. I have a 2000 TC29D with a 7308 FEL and backhoe on it (think 756c). I am a General Engineering contractor and have other heavy equipment and have used my NH way harder than it was designed. I am retired and just broke the Clutch Housing in half with the loader cleaning up mud. There have been quite a few tractors broken by the loader. First off the stress of a 1000lb load in the bucket equates to many times that at the mounts of the loader at the clutch housing due to leverage. I also don't agree about your statement of New Holland is "junk". My little tractor has held together relatively well for 15 years. I have 2700 + hrs in the seat and it has done what I asked of it. Also it is nonsense that if you put weight in the rear of your tractor that it will offset the loading on the clutch housing. It will break just as fast if you abuse it. Using any weight behind the rear wheels will add stability for lifting the FEL and it adds stress to the clutch housing. Remember leverage, it has a tendency to "arch" the tractor in the middle, right where the clutch housing is. Carrying loads in the bucket over rough ground will shock stress the tractor as it bounces up and down. Made to handle a fair amount of it but sooner or later it could snap.

I have separated my tractor in my shop and I am going to replace the broken clutch case @ $1,300.00, plus a new clutch disc, bearing and clutch release plate(pressure plate). Wow major job just to get the clutch housing out!

KMT. I totally agree with your analysis. Some loader main lift ram hydraulic circuits are fitted with an in-line shock absorber. This should help somewhat. I have attached my photo of the MF1230 clutch housing - before a weld is attempted!!!!

Thanks John, your housing is different of coarse than mine but the same break in it, good luck with it. I am considering lowering the pressure bypass valve in the loader hydraulic system to try and limit the stress on the clutch housing. Now that I am retired it is not that important to pick up as much in the bucket. Plus I still have a JD 310E backhoe for the big jobs. Let me know how your repair works out.

Remember that the origin of "tractor" is the "traction engine". Basically the design is an engine with wheels!

I have eventually got my broken clutch housing TIG welded. Seems to be a good job at a fair cost of £75 - and 2 month's waiting time! Just need it all assembled with a new clutch plate.

JD 522 w/504 hours bell housing cracked. I get it. There is a common defect in the design and an even more common defect of dealers not informing clients. Mine broke except not while using the FEL. I did have the bucket down so the front wheels would be suspended. I had the backhoe legs down so the rear was suspended and was digging a trench with the BH. Upon calling JD headquarters and hearing that they had never heard of such a breakage it made me furious that they wouldn't consider helping to resolve this rare never before heard of issue. I'm now a little more upset that I was lied to because this is an often enough occurence that "they" simply had to have heard of other similar incidents.

Jef Bearden 970-316-1423 just in case there are enough people for a class action style lawsuit.

the bell housing on my T1510 broke off where the loader attaches. how difficult is it to separate the tractor and replace the bell housing

or, would a weld hold the loader

2005 New Holland TZ24DA with 10 LA loader. First noticed a small leak at less then 100 hours now at less then 200 hours transaxle housing has a giant crack down the side and leaks so fast that it's now useless. This tractor only moved dirt on my acre. I have since learned that this is a common problem on many compact and sub compact tractors. My personal opinion is that the cast iron used in these casings is not of the same quality or strength that they were engineered to be. Most likely due to the back door corruption of overseas manufacturing.

I own a 25d and just broke it in half last week. I found this thread looking for parts. 2/2018

Our son-in-law has a Ford front loader tractor. He over-worked the motor one time years ago. So the tractor hasn't worked ever since. Does anyone know how he might be able to repair it. He can't afford to pay for someone to repair it (estimated repair cost is about $2000, he said). Is there a way to fix it without special tools?

Not sure what the $2,000 is for but if overworked, a good vacation is in order. Depending on the venue, $2,000 may be a good deal.

Sounds like good advice to me. Maybe more specific info would be helpful though. Doesn't everyone grab their kids outta school and hit the road in late June?

So, if there is a loader support kit available for the NH tractors I sure couldn't find it on my search of the internet. Does anyone have any idea where I can get one?

update: $5700 later and my tractor is up and running

My tc40 broke in half...but I had rear ballast & was bouncing in holes with fel full of base gravel

parts alone were $5000....a bad day.

I know how to feel for you! Hope your wallet gets over it soon!

I am going to be more careful with my tractor as I pick up logs which are sometimes quite heavy and can lift the rear unless I have ballast, which I totally understand does not help the stress on the casing one bit. I do have a Kubota though (L4600 so not a CUT) and I am gratified not to see any of those broken in this thread.

i have a 87 yanmar 226d with loader, it has the frame extentions from the loader brackets to the rear end.

I am on my third NH. First was too small then I got a 38 snapped the front axle three times with dirt or gravel. POS. They talked me into a new 40 and with just 30 hrs on it snapped the front axle with just 6-700 lbs of rock . The Shop told me they called NH headquarters and " they have NEVER had someone snap an axel like that"????? The 40 is listed as " Agricultural" but they told me I can't go over bumps with a loaded bucket because it puts too much stress on it??? I used to have a landscape company and my john Deere 29 could pick up holders do big my rear tires were off the ground and I drove and steered with just the front tires never snapped a thing. I'm glad I saw this because NH is definitely lying when they say they have NEVER heard of it.

My MF 1230 also snapped in two with a FEL without the extra chassis support fitted. It was built, not even with a cast iron transmission case but cast aluminium! However, thankfully it was weldable and with homemade reinforcements it has lived several more years merrily loading logs, etc.

Interesting, I'm going to look at a TC 24 with a loader tonight. The ad says mid hydraulic leak. What should I watch for?

Could be as simple as a fitting leak on a hose to a hyd pump seal weeping . Check the hydraulic tank oil condition a milky or foamy condition could indicate old water contaminated oil or a bad impeller on the pump needing replacement . As questions and take notes bud !

I completely agree with the assessment NH is a giant POS! I have a TC40DA with 437hrs that I bought new and have used it for mostly cutting grass a little clearing and digging holes to bury wild hogs.. The 250TL loader has been welded so many times I gave up and started replacing the steel components with those I fabricated. Bucket steel split completely from left to right and center brace brent when pushing thru some brush on a fence line. The caused the bucket to partically detatch and the lifting arms to break apart. Literally in the blink of an eye! I thought this was bad but no where near the rear magniture of the 3pt hitch. I broke the left hydraulic lifting arm from the cast iron bracket which is cast with the the rear axle and now I am not able to use any attachments until I ether replace the rear axle housing or fabricate a bracket to mount the lifting arm. (Of course the NH Dealer says they have never heard of such thing, nor where they admitting to the casting failures mentioned above) In addtion when this occurred the weld literally failed at lifting arm and tore off the left support bracket. BTW this can only happen if the the weld has poor penetration. I was pulling a 5’ box blade thru sand! Unbelievable! The other issue that has plagued this machine is the fact it will not start when hot. It has to completely cool off before it will crank otherwise turn the key and nothing. No one can diagnose or find the source. Good thing I’m very mechanically inclinded with a lot of experience because I have been forced to repair all of the other issues as no one in Columbus Texas has a clue what is wrong. I have had several tractors over the years and never experienced this kind of performance. In fact, I am still using my 1956 Ferguson 35 that originally I was going to sell but quickly found out is my go to machine because the NH is so unreliable. I have had many more issues but I think you can get the point. Best advise I can give you is don’t waste your time looking at these machines. If you do and you don’t know how to work on them, meaning welding, fabrication, mechanical or electrical skills and/or do not have the tools you had best budget another 3-5K for parts and 5-10k for labor a year. If not you are going to need it. best of luck!

I have a TC40A with backhoe attachment...its been used lke a rental. i bought it new in 2003, it had a support kit installed with the backhoe. The bellhousing was the first to crack, split the tractor and replaced...then 10 hours later the transmission housing broke...split the tractor and replaced trans housing, which is a major ordeal. Removed the backhoe and added more center support. Almost impossible to keep bell housing bolts tight...locktite doesnt help. No crack problems since the backhoe has been removed.

Is it a POS? Yes, but its my POS.

I believe there should be a massive recall on these units the poor engineering on these is ridiculous and we all should not have to pay for it. I do have a solution but it's different for each model. Run I beam from rear axle to motor bolt in on both sides move loader mounts to I beam no more stress on the Trans but you have added some weight to the tractor and pissibly

Sorry I did not know who's post but I do think all of us who have had an issue need to push this and make the manufacturers responsible. I am a qaudrapaleguc. And I do have small heard of Angus beef cattle only way I can feed is large round bales and if my tractor Brock like this. The animals would starve as I have no other resource. To get them fed. It's a crying shame anyone has to have issues like this I have used my 2002 jd 4510 hard it has 1400 hours I've replace a pinion shift once

And it would be vary bad if this happened o have lifted 2000 pounds of feed sacks with cake and moved them. No issue but this is bery concerning I being a mechanical engineer can see the issue with this design they should not be building this way.

i have a tc21d nh and the trans has broken completely twice.2001 w under 900 hrs on it!

Do not buy a hydrostatic the transmission housings are hollow!

I have a 2004 tc29d with aloader it has about 5300 hard hours on no problem very few hours with back wheels touching the ground

If you have problems with bolts repeatedly coming loose change to "Extra Hardened" hardware.

I have a boomer 40 that we have used to move hundreds of tons of boulders and gravel and dirt, 250 TL loader, and it came with a full front to rear brace. All factory all stock, we have had zero issues, and fyi THE REAR BALLAST BE IT A BUSH HOG OR WEIGHTS IS TO TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THE FRONT AXLE AND PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END DRIVE SYSTEMS as well as to prevent nose over on sudden stop or going downhill.

My tractor cracked in half so I went to the internet and what did I find? All this. I love my little tractor TC 33D. Case New Holland knows there is a problem why didn't they reach out and do SOMTHING about it. Mad as hell

All of this sounds like perfect grounds for a class action lawsuit but that is going to take a highpowered lawfirm to win. Unfortunately going up against a corporate superpower takes deep pockets and lots of spare time and i’m not willing to give up years of my life fighting. In the meantime i just keep advising anyone interested in a new machine to come look at mine, look at the low hours and i don’t have to say word. So far i have been pretty sucessful in spinning sales off to the competition. I can’t wait to get rid of this tinker toy. if there is someone out there willing to file I would be interested in signing on but unless everyone whom has experienced premature catistrophic failures is in, I think NH would bury you in legal fees

Sounds like bad dealerships to me.

When I bought my tractor (although not New Holland) they told m they would not put a loader on a tractor without a sub-frame.

I have my own gravel pit so I have moved thousands of yards of gravel without issue.

you will,i called the local nh dealership and they had never heard of bad trans housings .