JD4520 e-Hydro not pulling up slopes

[belky]

I have a 1 year old JD4520 e-Hydro; was set to purchase power reverser right up until last moment but sure am glad I had a change of heart as the hydrostatic is superb on my hilly property.
Terrible predivery / delivery work from dealer with multiple omissions/errors by dealer and makes me wonder what else they have neglected.
Now still trying to determine if motion match has a either a very, very subtle effect, or mine just does't work?
Also despite a grunty 60hp engine, and I do love the sound of it, I find my self rarely being able to get tractor to pull in C range on anything other than totally level ground. As I had nothing to compare this, I assumed it was due to the weight of 400cx loader and 650kg. rear ballast, but I recently talked to a JD rep at a field day who said it should tackle small hills with ease. Also seem to need to be always moving around in B range with revs up at 2000rpm to get up even my smaller hills. Seems my dealer may need to come out again.
Despite above, still love my tractor and look forwards to dry weekends to get on and away from it all.

 

[dusty3030]

Any pictures of the hills?
What RPM are you running at that you are having trouble getting up the hills?
It would be normal to be running in B range most of the time.
I have a 4120 with loader and I never have had a lack for power in B unless I had a disk or box blade in the ground or was using the loader in some heavy material. I do run at 2000 to 2500 RPMS though.
On C range I only use it rarely, it is just for moving quicker down the road and not "working" but have never had it bog down running in C, but I haven't tried a big hill in C either.

 

[kencunningham]

When going up the hill are you pushing the pedal all the way down? If so that may be your problem. I dont have a tractor like that, but im sure someone who does will chime in on the pedal issue. Im pretty sure pushing it all the way down is like being in a hight gear, if you let up some on it, then the ratio goes down.

 

[dusty3030]

Load match is default on, it will prevent (or try) the RPM's from dropping by decreasing the speed on the ehydro.
So, if you were in C and running at say 2300 rpm and hammered the forward pedal to the floor and started up a steep hill the load match would automatically "let up on the pedal" for lack of a better way to describe it to keep the RPM's up. If it is NOT working then it could be the cause of the posters troubles.
Still, would like to know what RPM he is running and what kind of hills are we talking about.
Motion match is just a setting on the "rollout" you will get if you are going and take your foot off the pedal. IE, hard tire skidding stop or more gradual.

 

[belky]

Thanks Dusty and Ken. LoadMatch on. Unfortunately photos of hills don't show gradients well, but will try to find an app that may add grade to photo. Not trying C in steeper areas but at bottom of property where hill is very gentle leading onto flat area. Driving across flat and turning into the gentle grade to turn around. Tractor stops and either then slowly will move into grade and around, or not move at all, so I'll change into B for the turn and then back into C on the level area. Say have only done this if slashing or mowing, so PTO on and revs 2 3-400. Going up hills, generally in B, A goes up better, but just too slow. Used to drive with around 1500, as manual states thought this is max torque area, but again seemed straining, so now sitting at around 2000rpm and is better. It doesn't bog down as such, up the stopper hills, B, just feels like it wants to be moving faster. Throttle needs to be at least ¾ and it just slows if i back off. (Note have a LX277 ride on and am aware that when it struggles on a slope, more gas actually makes the problem worse and I need to back off to git moving forwards). Perhaps load match may be doing something, I'll try with it off.
Have been used to driving around at 2000 rpm now, just thought it seemed high for everyday travel, esp. with max available down at 1500 rpm.
Will try some things on weekend including a photo with showing some perspective of grade and get back to you.
Basically though, if in A or B at high revs, theres no place it hasn't been able to get me. Wheels at 2.1m, dealer put them at 2.3metres in area but looked too much like a monster truck, and hill stability is superb, though always aware care needed.
As for motion match, bought it because of what it was supped to as figured shorter stops on hill, longer stops on flat lawned areas, but just can't perceive and difference. Should it be noticeable.
Thank you for your time and thoughts gents, and sorry as it was past sleep time after I started question here in Aus. Time for work now, log back in tonight.

 

[dusty3030]

Well, you probably well never be real happy with performance mowing in C range, the gearing is too high. C is good for moving from point to point at a higher rate of speed and not so much for mowing.

Running a cutter try it at 2300 or 2400 RPM, B range, foot to the floor you should be able to mow at 6 or maybe 7 mph and be able to have the power to get up any slope. I have the same tractor with less horsepower and I mow heavy thick grass with a 6 foot cutter in B range, 2400 rpm and foot to the floor and rarely ever does the load match slow it down.

 

[belky]

Thanks Dusty, but problem with C is even with just loader/ ballast on, not mowing. Mowing in B well, but as you say need full near all way down whilst doing so. Will check a few things on weekend, including speed of B. C sure does feel nicer though when going!
Cheers mate.

 

[mfreund]

The Owners Manual is your friend. C is for road travel. B is for most work. A is for ground engaging work. The roll out in the motion match is adjustable. Follow the procedure in the manual.

 

[Ken]

My 4520 power reverser with 400 loader with 6' bush hog I use in "B" range and 2200 t0 2500 rpm will run steady in 4 gear and power to spare. as fast as want to ride the tractor.
Pulling a loaded trailer in "C" range and coming to hill have to drop back to 3 or 2nd gear depending on load. would think it was not designed to travel in road gear and still mowing in hilly country.
I have pulled bush hog in "C" first gear almost same as "B" range and 4th.
Some times mowing where rock in field to tree stumps travel "A" range and 1st gear still to fast if hit a stump.
ken

 

[belky]

Thanks guys, will check again with load match off on weekend and see him many km/hr I'm getting in B with reeves 2-2000. So seems most use tractor at these revs at most times.
As for motion match, have set to to shortest short settling and longest long setting; just does;t seem to make much difference but will check again on weekend.
Yes Mfreund, have had 2 best friends: manual and trctorbynet

 

[TSO]

Like others have said, Hi range is really only meant for distance road travel. You're not going to have much "uumph" with that gearing. My Massey is similar, though I'm able to sometimes plow snow with my 8' rear blade in Hi if the snow isn't too heavy. When traveling around the area (over to my buddies house) there are a few decent inclines, and in Hi on the road, it'll drop (with cruise on) from around 16 mph to around 13 mph when going up those inclines.

Keep in mind, your 60 HP engine doesn't really equate to 60 HP at the ground the same way a gear tractor does. Your engine is turning the hydro pump, which turns your gears/wheels. HST travel depends on the hydraulic system more than the engine HP, which is why we all say HST doesn't put power to the ground the same way gear does.

Just food for thought...

 

[4310]

Try it without load match on. On my 4310 load match will slow my speed way down even if I'm going on flat terrain.

My motion match switch is a bit different than yours, basically just off and on but if it is on I can tell a difference. It's subtle but noticeable.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use C range for light tasks such as landscape raking, pulling an 8' spike tooth harrow and roller to cover seed. I also use it to move across the fields quickly and for road travel. Most of the time I use auto throttle with the exception of tilling and mowing. For planing and box blade work I use A or B depending on the load.

 

[belky]

Thank you all. I'll be out trying a few things tomorrow and let you know.
Has anyone used motion match and do you notice a marked difference b/w long and short setting?
Cheers


oops, just caught the 2nd line of your reply 4310: thanks . Will give it another try on the flat.

 

[mfreund]

Yes, I use the long when using the MMM. I use the short for loader work. I can tell a difference because the tires skid to a stop on the lawn, I know that I left it on short. The motion match is adjustable on my 4310.

 

[4310]

Sorry for the short hijack but.....how do you adjust it on your 4310? I had to break out the owners manual to see if I was missing something but it just says that it's a two position switch. Either short or long.

My 4310 is a 2004 model.

 

[Furu]

I do not know what kind of ground you guys cut on but with my 4720 and a Woods brush bull on the back I rarely use full pedal even in A range. I have an older model 2007 4720 so have a little less hp (3) and do not have eco PTO so if I want the cutter at the rated speed I need 540 PTO thus higher RPM. But in A range if I went full pedal, most of the time, I would tear up my equipment and would destroy my back and neck. Terrain would bounce the cutter off the ground and I would have bruised hips from the seat belt. I can't imagine cutting in C range. The tractor bounces enough in C range with full pedal when road traveling that it makes me concerned unless I am straight on hardtop not even a gravel road. I have found it works well in the flat when road traveling if the rpm is up but it does not have the ability to put much power to the ground. I use B range for some loader work and heavy loader transport long distance of materials.

 

[jenkinsph]

Furu,

One of my important reasons for having tractors is for smoothing the properties imo. After working the fields over it is much easier to travel at higher ground speeds.

 

[Furu]

Furu,

One of my important reasons for having tractors is for smoothing the properties imo. After working the fields over it is much easier to travel at higher ground speeds.

I guess that would be true if that is what one uses their tractor for (smoothing). I have enough other activities that occupy my time that grading and leveling a field to that point is not one of them. I remember back in the late 60's cutting several hundred acre parcels and they were not smooth enough for those speeds and those were used for grazing and haying. If you have a small acreage that you deal with then I can see it.

 

[cartod]

I rarely have a use for C range unless I'm running down the road to help someone out. My terrain is very hilly here in WV and I don't like the burning smell of B range climbing hills. A range is slow but I always keep in mind this is a tractor and not a 4 wheeler. I switch in and out of A and B frequently depending on the job at hand. Speedy work on hilly terrain can be a recipe for disaster.

I never really realized how much horsepower a hydrostatic transmission uses up until I got this machine on hills. If all you have operated before was a gear driven tractor, it takes time to get used to the power robbing hydro-drive.