8F/4R Transmission Question

[leeave96]

Looking at a John Deere brochure online and the 5045d and 5055d have the 8F/4R tranny. I gather the gear selector is on the right hand side of the seat and the hi/lo/reverse lever left.

Question - how do you like the 8F/4R tranny, is it something new or tried and true, and is it awkward having to deal with two levers for fwd/rev motion? I've always used a Ford or MF with a hi/lo shifter and a gear selection shifter which included reverse with the fwd gears on the same shifter.

Thanks for any replies!
Bill

 

[deere5105]

Have owned/used both the 8F/4R(5105) and 9F/3R(5303). Actually preferred the 8F/4R. Getting used to the 9F/3R. Only gripe is in "B" Range where I normally stay for field and loader work the Reverse speed is a little to high for my preference. 9F/3R has Range(A,B,C) on left and Gear(1,2,3,P) on right. 8F/4R has Range(A,B,R) on left and Gear(1,2,3,4) on right.

Both transmissions been around long time.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Friend of mine has a 5105 with the 8x4 and he let me do some bunch hogging the other weekend since I don't have a smaller tractor right now. I've driven his tractor many times and I actually like the way his transmission is set up. I will say that his tractor always seems to be faster then what my old 5203 with the 9x3 was. I know for a fact that his low gear and mine were totally different. I could creep along while his tractor moves a bit faster. The 8x4 is the ideal transmission for bush hogging, light loader work, hay raking in my opinion. The speeds are just right. I'd prefer something different for a spraying rig or pulling a disk or plow though.