5425 tranny

ddivinia · Aug 18, 2008

DK_Farms said:
I have a 5525 and I know for a fact that you will be very pleased with your purchase. My only regret, in hindsight, is that I bought the 12/12 instead of the 24/24 tranny. It's not an issue until I'm operating PTO driven equipment. I have found with the 12/12 that 80% of what I do is in B range. At pto rpm, there is about a 1.4 mph difference between B2 and B3. And a 1.6 mph difference between B3 and B4. I know it doesn't seem like a big thing, but I always like to operate on the hairy edge of efficiency and I feel like I would have been happier with 24/24 and its smaller speed change increments. Even though I find the tractor very reasonable as far as fuel consumption goes, I also regret not getting the E-PTO option so that I could bush hog light materials at the lower RPM to save fuel. Once you get used to the Power Reverser, you'll love it. If you can use it like it was designed, in other words stay off the clutch, your clutch will last alot longer, too. The only problem I have with the Power Reverser is when I am on the 5525 all day, then jump on the 4610 hydro, I find myself reaching for the danged lever!! I have over 600 hours and have had NO problems with the tractor. The lesson I have taken away from this is, next time I buy a tractor, I am going to get EVERY option available from the factory.

I too find that more gears would be nice.

ePTO is a nice thing to have for sure.

I would have gone 24/24 but I am not sure I like the electronic PTO engagement. I kinda like feather the PTO engagement - especially on larger items like balers, 15' mower, etc.

D.

tjkadar · Aug 18, 2008

I had an ePTO on my Kubota and it did a good job of feathering in the PTO. I imagine the John Deere's would be just as good. The tractor does fine feathering the clutch when you engage drive or reverse.

bjcsc · Aug 18, 2008

Hey, I'm happy to see more and more 5X25 owners around here!

Let's be careful, though: 540e (or ePTO as some of you are calling it) isn't electro-hydraulic engagement. The engagement lever is still exactly the same. There is simply a separate lever that gears up the PTO to reach 540 at 1700 RPM.

That said, I feel the same way as DK_Farms. I wouldn't change anything I have except I would have either gone 24/24 or had the creeper kit installed. When I'm running my boom flail mower or my tiller I would be happier moving a little slower. The 540e lets me move slower at PTO speed, but when I need the higher HP I don't always need the higher ground speed. I think I'm going to get the creeper installed once I figure out which one of the two they offer I want.

And like DK_Farms, after I spend a day on the tractor, I often back my car out and then turn on my right turn signal as I'm braking...

tjkadar · Aug 19, 2008

They way I read it, ePTO is like the eHitch; electrohydraulic. 540/540E PTO is the economy PTO.

John Deere sure likes to keep things confusing for a boy of my simple intelligence! Maybe we should stick to EH Hitch and EH PTO for the electrohydraulic and ePTO or 540/540E PTO for the economy PTO?

doctor51 · Jan 28, 2010

I have an '08 5525 with the 24/24. It's a piece of junk that's almost KILLED me and my extremely experienced operator. Shifts to neutral sending the tractor flying out of gear every time it points down hill! Not too funny with a heavily loaded bucket. Now at the dealer's shop for over a month... no fix... no explanation. Tractor has less than 50h on the clock. Also has a baffling fuel problem. Overall this unit is a very dangerous piece of crap. Owned JD's all my life, now wishing I bought a MF.

tjkadar · Jan 28, 2010

doctor51 said:
I have an '08 5525 with the 24/24. It's a piece of junk that's almost KILLED me and my extremely experienced operator. Shifts to neutral sending the tractor flying out of gear every time it points down hill! Not too funny with a heavily loaded bucket. Now at the dealer's shop for over a month... no fix... no explanation. Tractor has less than 50h on the clock. Also has a baffling fuel problem. Overall this unit is a very dangerous piece of crap. Owned JD's all my life, now wishing I bought a MF.

I would hesitate to say the unit is, "a very dangerous piece of crap." It appears that many other tractors, utilizing the same transmission, are not experiencing the same issues you are reporting. This doesn't mean that your tractor is not malfunctioning, nor does it mean that it isn't a serious problem with your tractor. However, it is not indicative of this particular transmission as a whole.

I would also be very concerned as to why the issue has not been diagnosed after a month. Is your dealer not up to the task? Has any contact been made with John Deere corporate?

Curious, do you have a 5425 and a 5525 or did you have a typo?