JD Quad Range--what year and series???

[RonR]

I'm drooling over getting a 20-50HP vintage JD with a quad range transmission. Most I've seen advertised don't show the quad range.

Was that just availalbe on the 30/4020 series?

I'd like to find a 1020 or 2020 with that transmission.

THANKS.

Ron

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Quad-Range came out with the "NExt Generation" Deere's in 1973, on the 4000 Series only. They never were on 4020's or 3020's. (That would be a powershift or Syncro-Range tranny) You'll see the quadrange listed as a "Partial Powershift". In 1973, the 4030, 4230, 4430, and I THINK the 4630 had Quad Range. It was also sold with the 40 series. (i.e. 4040,4240,4440, Not sure about 4640, and the 4840 DIDN'T have quad available. (Full Powershift only)

The Powershift available with the 20 series (2520, 3020, 4020, 4620 (???) was a slick operating design. (4320 wasn't offered with powershift. Only Syncro) Also not sure about 4520.

 

[RonR]

Ah, I have my terminalogy incorrect--not the quad range.

What I'm after is not powershift, but the Syncro-Range tranny! It's what I recall from my 4020 days..............

So, may I ask the question again?????????

I'll try to edit. THANKS.

Ron

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Syncro tranny was in just about all the XX10 series, XX20series, some XX30 series. Some of 'em had strange shift linkage, but they were the standard tranny on the best selling big tractor of it's day with the 4020. There's many, many of 'em still around. The syncro was the tranny for the 5010, 5020, and 6030. They were the major league HP of their day.

 

[RonR]

Thanks!

That helps my searching.

ron

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

I think that the transmission was mis-named. It should have been named Psycho-Range. They can be a real bear to shift. I recently drove a vintage 4320 which had zero "feel" through the shift lever. I learned that you gingerly leave out the clutch and hope for the best.

I never spent a lot of time running them. It is probably like anything else...once you get used to it, it isn't that bad.

I think that the transmission was offered up to the "Iron Horses" (Deere's 40-series tractors in the late '70s). After that, the Synchro-Range transmission was discontinued.

 

[RonR]

Understand about Psycho range.

That's the way I felt the first time I tried to figure out how a JD4020 shifted! I grew to like it, and IF I ever get another JD, I'd like to get that tranny.

ron

 

[EquipmentJunkie]

A 4020 is near the top of my wish list, along with a 3020 and a 4320...but that was from a post from the past.

I don't know which transmission I would opt for, if and when a 4020 or 3020 enters my life. I was always partial to the powershift as a kid. Now that I am older and hopefully wiser, I know that those powershift transmissions will likely be more costly to maintain. I just hope to agonize over that decision some day in the future.