Some John Deere Changes

[Z-Michigan]

One big savings is fuel economy since you can leave the throttle at idle. You still have the option to override the feature by adjusting the throttle to where you want it. This update will be an option the ehydro versions are still going to be available

Or you can be like me and simply adjust your hand throttle regularly based on what you're doing. I find it no biggie to adjust a couple times per minute if I'm doing FEL work or something else with varying power needs.

 

[canoetrpr]

I actually don't like the idea of some of the electronics here. I don't mind setting a throttle at a fixed position - nice and simple.

Maybe I don't see the benefit of the eHydro or the HST+ or autothrottle advance because I don't use the tractor in difficult situations or for a living. My land is all flat and I've been perfectly happy with the plain ol hydro on my Kubota L3400.

I guess you can set some of these things off in both the Deere and the Kubota GL but it is still something extra electronic that adds to the complexity of debugging problems.

Just MHO.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I definitely agree. All the wizardry is neat, but in terms of what I have bought and would buy in the future, give me simple, reliable, easy to fix, and inexpensive. (I own a JD 5105)

 

[canoetrpr]

I see it as a value vs. complexity thing. I think that something like hydro adds a ton of value to ME. So I don't mind the extra complexity. Plus its not electronic which is a plus.

Electronic dashes etc. have little value to me but I do like some of the other things that come with the premium tractors - better ergonomics, telescopic links, higher capacity loaders etc.

It's quite possible that once one gets used to the productivity some of the electronic features offer, it might be hard to go back ;-)

 

[Engine66]

Ummm, can we just keep things as they are? I cannot keep up anymore with all the "improvements" happening in every facet of life...including tractors. Cell phones that fit inside your ear, refrigerators that connect you to the web for recipes, cars with more buttons than a 747...come on already. Maybe I'm the big party pooper in this gig, but all I want is to go back 20 years when it was all "normal." What's next, back scratchers while you mow your lawn? Where are the brave men in the corporate meetings who speak up and say "Men love metal, let's give em' some more of that stuff?"

To the fine men and women who fly 747s in their cars, search for recipes on the web from refrigerators, and put those little cell phone thingys in your ears, I apologize for the cave man in me that just wants some fire, stone, water, and a John Deere tractor with lot's of metal. (Ok, and a cavewoman too...a simple one please...helps with the blood pressure.) For the corporate types who keep making these changes...meet me in the alley at sundown...I promise it will be a quick meeting. Thanks.

 

[jeffster]

I totally agree. Using your car example, take a look at how ridiculously expensive it is to fix most things on them nowadays, not to mention the fact that if it doesn't throw a code pointing right to the problem, most mechanics just throw their hands up. In fact, it amazes me what qualifies as a mechanic. What happened to the good old days when they knew how to really troubleshoot and could fix most things with a paper clip and some chewing gum?

That's the primary reason I did not go with the eHydro on my 3520. I like simple and oddly enough simple tends to last a long time in most cases. Our other tractor is a 70s JD 820 that is old, ugly and runs like a champ. I want to say the same thing about the 3520 30 years from now...

 

[BryanM]

Well Jeffster, being a auto mechanic for almost 18 yrs now, I would love a machine or computer that would give me a code or point and tell me what is wrong with a car or truck. Because if you think thats what happens you are strongly mistaken! As far as being able to diag a problem now a days it is way more difficult much more than ever before that is a guarentee!

As far as the cost of cars I will not go into, I too think it is outragious but we as the consumer demanded more and got pick'er about our cars and trucks. Tractors I believe will follow suit by putting more advanced technology towards the tractor world and whats that due to the price I dont think you even have to take a guess!

 

[jcmseven]

I concur that some of the advancements we see can at times seem "gimicky." As we all know, though, competition and expectation of the customer is what drives these companies to innovate. Over the years and for the most part, John Deere has provided advancements that help the consumer be more productive. I have not always felt they were necessary but each seemed to have its place. I feel that this advancement will be the same. I will say that I did not feel Loadmatch was necessary either when I first used it, but in my 4310 that I traded, the tractor would have been virtually non-functional on my property without it. One more thing I neglected to mention that actually was one of the most significant improvements for 2008 is that the backhoe will now be compatable with a cab tractor. This I know makes many potential cab tractor buyers who wanted, but could not buy, a loader with their machines quite happy.

John M

 

[canoetrpr]

One more thing I neglected to mention that actually was one of the most significant improvements for 2008 is that the backhoe will now be compatable with a cab tractor.
John M

This one is really worthwhile.

 

[jeffster]

Well Jeffster, being a auto mechanic for almost 18 yrs now, I would love a machine or computer that would give me a code or point and tell me what is wrong with a car or truck. Because if you think thats what happens you are strongly mistaken! As far as being able to diag a problem now a days it is way more difficult much more than ever before that is a guarentee!

As far as the cost of cars I will not go into, I too think it is outragious but we as the consumer demanded more and got pick'er about our cars and trucks. Tractors I believe will follow suit by putting more advanced technology towards the tractor world and whats that due to the price I dont think you even have to take a guess!

Maybe I should have stated that better. Most of the greener mechanics I have ran into really rely on thrown codes for diagnosing problems (talking engine related, etc., not things like U-joints). I happen to know first hand on my diesel truck, if they aren't getting a code stored that they can read, they will pretty much ignore whatever the complaint is instead of spending the time and try to isolate it the old fashioned way. So, I am definitely not trying to belittle mechanics in general, but just stating what I know. As a specific example, the Duramax's are known to have EGR related issues. Most of the time it throws a code, but sometimes the EGR is completely hosed and still doesn't throw a code. For the ones that don't, I have heard numerous stories about how the "mechanics" just say there is nothing wrong as there was no code.

Which is reason #1 I look for someone a bit older to have look at my vehicles.