Question for other 3005 / 790 owners.

[TomWhite]

I am still somewhat new to this tractor, and have question for other owners of the same model.

Do you find that the gears shift more smoothly at one RPM range than another? In other words does the transmission seem to shift more smoothly at say 1,500 RPM than at 2,000 RPM? Perhaps 2,500 RPM?

With mine it seems to be a bit of hit and miss. I'm very familiar with geared tractors, and I'm sort of suspecting that part of it might be that the tractor is so new, and will smooth out over time, and as I become more familiar with its own "personality".

Well, what say you?

 

[Mech]

The transmission isn't syncronized in any gear. If I don't let mine stop or almost stop I will grind the gears. I haven't found any way around that. If anyone else knows how to shift and not grind without stopping please clue me in.

 

[TomWhite]

The transmission isn't syncronized in any gear. If I don't let mine stop or almost stop I will grind the gears. I haven't found any way around that. If anyone else knows how to shift and not grind without stopping please clue me in.

Yeah, I know about the non-syncro bit. It just seems to me that (even coming to a full stop) the tranny is smoother shifting sometimes at differing RPMs.

 

[Mech]

I honestly haven't noticed hard shifting. I don't do much loader work, mostly ground engaging work, grading and snow plowing so I don't really shift all that much and when I shift under a load it has stopped before I try to shift. If I get some playtime this weekend I will try to notice shifting. I also rarely run mine over 2000RPM. Most of the time it has plenty of power for my 5ft BB and always has more than enough power for my snow plow.

 

[RobS]

I haven't experimented but I do know at higher RPMs (like PTO speed for sure), it does like to grind. Even at full stop and a few seconds with the clutch in. My guess is that lower RPM, even idle will always be better as there will be less "windmilling" of the drivetrain. Even with the clutch pushed in, there can be enough friction in the pilot bearing and plate drag to spin the transmission gears a bit. I can't think of any tricks I've used successfully to avoid it, but if anyone does I'm all ears...

 

[Mech]

It's fairly obvious that JD isn't all ears on this one. I'm amazed that they put out something like this in today's market. Anyway, there are no tricks and everyone has made enough good comments on the subject. In a previous post listed below, I stood on my soapbox as I do now. Ditto these comments for the 990 that has the collar shift transmission.

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The 790 is a very old design, almost identical to the 30 year old Yanmar I had. I knew what I was getting when I bought it and if I had planned a lot of loader work I would have bought a 3000 series. The 790 is a great tractor for what I do and I'm not unhappy that JD still sells them.

 

[diesel466]

I have a new 3005 and have always had sliding gear transmission tractors. I do not see a differance in rpm. Mine too is still new so maybe it will change. I am glad JD still sells these tractors, I know there is a big push to hydro tractors but for me I will always want a gear drive. The early 4000 collar shift trannys had problems so they are not perfect either ! I mow and plow snow with my tractor and do not mind the shifting. My opinion.

 

[adamls78]

I don't like how a slide gear shifts but it is better than a Hydro trans any day. A Hydro eats all the power up that your tring to get to the ground. I think that a slide gear it stronger to, thats probaly why JD or Yanmara use it. It may be an old design but I don't have to think about it missing up like a Hydro.

 

[Mech]

I certainly don't want to be part of a transmission war. I've driven tractors since I could walk and the only time I've driven a hydro I put it through a fence because of my inexperience with the Kubota pedal arrangement. However if I did a lot of loader work I would certainly get a hydro or a shuttle shift. For my work the 790 is a lot of tractor for the money so I'm glad that I bought it. One time I did about 3 hours of loader work however and I was exhausted.

 

[Willl]

I can't think of any tricks I've used successfully to avoid it, but if anyone does I'm all ears...

Mine used to, not any more. Don't know whether it was me that changed or the 790.