Couple of Post-Test-Drive Questions

[SLOBuds]

I took a quick spin yesterday on 3 JD CUTs: 4310 geared, 4310 hydro, and 4610 hydro. Up to now I've only considered Kubota's within a range similar to these. Decided to do some comparisons just to make myself miserable and life confusing. All of the machines drove very well I must say. Ergonomics were fine. I'm a big guy, so the 4610 of course was slightly better feeling.

These aren't questions about the difference in frame/hp.

Couple of questions:

1. This dealer said that 3% (yes 3) of his customers purchase hydro. He says that they are inherantly less reliable and they eat HP/torque. Do you think the 3% number is accurate? I can't imagine why there would be such a huge gap between his geared sales and his hydro sales. (I'm not trying to initiate another hydro debate here, because I am personally sold in favor of the hydro for my particular use. I'm just wondering if there is a significantly higher number of JD folks who stay out of the hydros.)

2. The JD hydro uses 2 pedals - goforward/goback. Kubota uses toe and heel. Does anyone think this is a big deal one way or the other?

3. The JD geared setup seems to need you to clutch between gears. Is that true? The Kubota seemed to let me just move from one gear to the next, on the fly. That Glideshift transmission thing.

4. The JD geared has a 'range' lever, and then a 2nd 'gear number' shifter, and then a forward/reverse lever. Kubota has one 'gear number' lever, and the forward/reverse lever. Is the extra 'range' lever a plus or a minus for the JD?

5. 4610 eHydro whine. I heard it. I didn't care for it at all. Has anyone actually had one of these fixed via that service bulletin order? And does the whine go away completely, without coming back?

6. Anyone experienced any consistent, non-repairable problems with that hydro?

7. What's your guess on how much longer a geard transmission will last compared to a hydro transmission, everything else being equal? (I might cross-post this. Sorry! But maybe we'll look at this as from a JD perspective.)

Thanks.

 

[BILL_K]

Martin:

How did the brush-hogging go!
How long didit take and what type
of equipment did you end up using?

Bill K
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bird]

SLOBuds, I probably shouldn't answer your post at all 'cause I have no proof at all, but I strongly suspect you found a dealer (or salesman?) who is full of malarkey. I really doubt his 3%, but maybe in his dealership; who knows? Hydro inherently less reliable? I doubt it and never had any dealer say that to me. Eats HP/torque? Maybe that's where he got that 3% from. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif You'll probably run out of traction before you run out of power anyway. Two pedals vs. heel and toe? Personal preference; which one do you like? Hydro whine? They all have it; just more so on some than others.

 

[SLOBuds]

(Off topic BillK. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif) L2900 with Verimiso (sp ?) flail.

The L2900 got a flat tire. I went through 2 flails with various broken parts. Then I gave up on the mowing idea after a 3rd lame excuse coming from the rental yard - moving on to some grading chores, filling in an abandoned swimming pool, running over and breaking water lines, pulling out unused fence poles, sitting behind a hot engine on a hot day, filling up a 20 yard dumpster with junk that's laying all over the place.

All-in-all, about 10% of what I expected to complete for 30% more money that I expected to pay! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Hey - thanks for checking!

 

[BillyP]

4610 eHydro whine? You must of had it in high range. As far as power, it'll pull the horns off a billygoat.

 

[markie61]

My thoughts...... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

1. Possible if he is strictly in ag country. But unlikely....
2. Class III New Hollands have the same arrangement as does Long Agribusiness. I like it ALOT! I guess I could have gotten used to the rocker pedal....
3. PowerVerser no clutch, eVerser no clutch. You CAN use it if you want ....
4. Apples to oranges - GST versus the usual shuttle shift
5. All HSTs seem to whine, especially when you lug them (low revs and high gear/load)
6. I am NOT getting dragged into THIS debate.....
7. See number 6!

Mark

 

[SLOBuds]

The eHydro noise is discussed in this thread:

4610 eHydro Whine

A service bulletin is out from JD and it looks like tractors are being repaired as they are serviced.

 

[SLOBuds]

He is in Santa Maria, along with every other tractor brand. That could be it. Mostly ag with almost nothing else. But still ... 3%. I liked the hydro so much better than the geared, that I really wondered what was wrong with me!

And when my wife watched me fiddling with all of the gears this weekend, she said 'I want one with an automatic transmission!'

Thanks!

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( she said 'I want one with an automatic transmission!'
)</font>

Me, too. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BillyP]

SLOBuds, the whine talked about in the other thread is a totally different sound. This whine occurs at startup, when sitting still.

The whine I'm talking about is best describe as a high gear whine. It only occurs when in high range.

I've had 2 John Deeres, a 4600 gear and a 4610 eHydro. Believe me, you'll thank yourself and the wife when you get the ehydro.