Even More 990 Vs 4000 Series Questions!

johnbilt · Aug 13, 2003

I'm looking pretty seriously at the 990, mainly for loader work. I want to move dirt and gravel around my 2 acres and perform landscaping and gardening work. I would also like to be able to dig out underbrush, do some ground leveling, dig postholes, scrape the driveway, plus plow snow in the winter. I'm hoping that the 40HP machine will stand up to this.

Is the lower pressure hydraulic system on the 990 a major factor in the perfomance of the loader ?

I'm used to running a standard gearbox on a tractor, so I can't see the extra $$ for the Hydro Trans. I would probably tend to go for the shuttle shift version, if I did go with the 4000 series.

Any advice/experience appreciated.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Skeptic · Aug 13, 2003

I would think a 40 HP would handle all of that pretty easily.
I have a eHydro and love it. One thing about the hydro transmission is that everyone in the family is able to use the tractor and help out. (now, if you are trying to keep seat time to yourself /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif ).
I went with the 4310 because I wanted the hydrostatic transmission and liked the creature comforts /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cost/comfort/convenience... each has a certain value that only you can decide. Which ever you decide-- you will love!

rancar · Aug 13, 2003

so I can't see the extra $$ for the Hydro Trans. I would probably tend to go for the shuttle shift version, if I did go with the 4000 series.

Don't discount the 4x10 series eHydro so quickly if money is the only criteria you are using to judge whether or not you need eHydro. If you are doing a lot of loader work, then eHydro will certainly come in handy and is likely the best tranny to have with this kind of job. It' extra cost is well worth it. It runs real smoothly with its feather touch electronic controls.....much better than the old 4x00 series HST trannies.

...Bob

JC4HD · Aug 13, 2003

I second what Bob /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gifsays!

Docsknotinn · Aug 13, 2003

Make that a third vote on Bobs post.

joecdeere · Aug 13, 2003

Ask how much your dealer gets for a clutch and to install it, figure if you're like most loader users you will go through one every 400-600 hours, if you're gonna work a loader, a hydro is the only thing to have, you will find you do a lot of clutching and backing up. May I suggest you rent a small loader with a gear transmission, if you can find it, and I think you will decide the hydro is what you want. BTW, I always look at what the rental yards have, they tend to know what will hold up the longest, and give them a better return for their dollar.

_RaT_ · Aug 13, 2003

As a big advocate of HST, I think that a shuttle works quite well for loader use. The need to replace a clutch at 400 to 600 hours has not been my experience. I think that HST actually has advantages that far exceed even it's loader use applications. My favorite reason to have HST has got to be its ability to precisely control my ground speed while mowing. I find at my place, even with considerable work in leveling the grass areas, I still have many "pot holes" from gophers to erosion etc., using HST allows me to navigate these jarring experiences easily because it instantly slows down the tractor both because of less fluid flow and because of the resistance to movement it offers as a consequence of decreasing that flow. A manual transmission tractor (my International 454 for example) requires one to throttle back, slip the clutch, disengage the clutch and brake. The easiest is to slip the clutch to slow down unless I'm going downhill, then its clutch and brake. With HST, the speed up/slow down response is immediate as your foot decreases pedal pressure. My other reason for having chosen HST is the control I have while mowing backwards on the banks of my pond. Besides the control/auto braking on these very steep banks, it allows me instant forward/backward movement as I zig zag back and forth to position myself for the next cut. There are some areas so steep, that having the HST transmission has allowed me to cut what otherwise is a real experience with my International, a manual transmission. It can be done, but it's definitely much slower. If mowing as I describe is not part of your normal duties, you may find that the advantages of HST are not as valuable as do I.

You mention your prior experiences are running a standard gearbox tractor, I think many if not all of us can say much the same thing. It took some convincing on my part to go HST. Understand it is not our desire to increase the number of people with HST but rather simply to inform you that our experiences with HST has been positive, especially for those of us who have had, or still have a standard gearbox tractors. There is nothing wrong with a gearbox tractor and without a doubt, some situations where it is superior. Pulling ground engaging equipment like a ripper(s) is certainly a strong candidate for a standard gearbox. Rat...

yellowsocks93 · Aug 13, 2003

I love my 990 and the manual transmission. Its a good tractor with tons of power comapared to my old 4300. A question for any other 990 owners: How much gear grinding do you get for on the go shifting or shifting while stopped? Thanks.

Nick
990 4x4 turf, 272 RFM, 430 loader, 25A flail

_RaT_ · Aug 13, 2003

Nick, as well you should. Any tractor, regardless of make or transmission, certainly beats the heck out of nothing at all. Ones choice in transmission should have little impact on his/her ability to so many things that we otherwise would not want to do. My neighbor uses a 790 and on occasion, I have borrowed it. I found grinding gears was prevalent only at the very begininng of getting familiar with it.

rjp444us · Aug 13, 2003

Ask how much your dealer gets for a clutch and to install it,

You should ask the dealer how much a Hydrostatic pump and the install is. I would rather pay for the clutch!!!! I own a 790 and I would put it up aginst a hydro any day doing loader work it is all in what you get used to. I use my tractor commercially every day I am not impressed with the tractor, size vs power I would not buy another. I would like to know more about the 990 and how they work size vs power. I should be fair about this it is not the tractor that I dislike it is the implaments 70 loader and the #7 hoe garbage cant say it enough garbage. Should have bought after market stuff everyone I have talked to likes them much better a lot less complaints.