Deere transmission operating question.

Jim Jimmers · Feb 8, 2012

Hello all, I have a brand-new Deere 5055-E tractor, with 3 gears & 3 ranges. (Old School!) The manual says to put the gear shift as well as the range shifter in neutral before starting the tractor. I never think to put the range in neutral, but I don't want to do anything that will harm the old girl. I could put a sticky note on the steering wheel, but first I was wondering am I even doing any harm starting it (clutch in, of course) with the range shifter engaged? Thanks for the help, as always. -JIM

beenthere · Feb 8, 2012

Likely just the safety hype added to the safety hype to be extremely cautious in the manual. Blame it on the sue-happy money-grubbing lawyers out to make a buck chasing the ambulance for anything that they can get to stick. Sorry for the rant.

I don't think you can harm the tractor, just be sure that it isn't in a setting that it will start in gear and move without your causing it to move.

blueriver · Feb 8, 2012

My 5520 has the 3 and 3 ... how do you shift yours into park? Mine has a "park position" and thats the position I start it in ... now the 5055-E may be different.

Verticaltrx · Feb 8, 2012

blueriver said:
My 5520 has the 3 and 3 ... how do you shift yours into park? Mine has a "park position" and thats the position I start it in ... now the 5055-E may be different.

They should be the same.

We have a 5045e and all that is required when starting is for the gear shift to be in the park position (or neutral). I always leave the range shift in what ever range it was parked it. Actually taking it out of range would be more dangerous as then the park position wouldn't be holding anymore. Also, when it is in park you don't have to push in the clutch to start it, you can start if from the ground if so desired.

AKfish · Feb 8, 2012

Verticaltrx said:
They should be the same.

We have a 5045e and all that is required when starting is for the gear shift to be in the park position (or neutral). I always leave the range shift in what ever range it was parked it. Actually taking it out of range would be more dangerous as then the park position wouldn't be holding anymore. Also, when it is in park you don't have to push in the clutch to start it, you can start if from the ground if so desired.

Yep... the new E's I sat on had a Park. My old 970 had the 9x3 transmission - without a Park.

Push the clutch in and start with that machine.

I'd have to agree with beenthere... just some serious "**** retentive" lawyer speak for the neutral-neutral language.

Don't guess it would hurt anything if you would re-start the tractor (if you'd ever stall it) by pushing in the clutch, either.

AKfish

JD5210 · Feb 9, 2012

I put both (gear and range) in neutral before I start. May not be correct but my reasoning is. I have noticed that if it is cold and the range is in A and gear in neutral and let out the clutch right after starting the tractor moves a little. Just me but I do not like this. On the gear, often I have the bucket on the tractor and to raise it I like to increase the RPMs some using the foot throttle and in turn cannot put my foot on the brakes. By already having it in neutral, I avoid, if the tractor should move a little I am not putting pressure on the park pawl. I just do not want to be the one in a million that breaks the park pawl.

If I am not on level ground I will use the brakes as it just amazes me how fast that tractor can roll down hill when in neutral.

jdtractor · Feb 9, 2012

I own a5093e with park . put shifter in park postion to start. From seat or ground, when in the seat nuetrual, or in park. I dont touch the range shift ,leave it in gear etc.....