5300 vs 2155

blainesdad · May 5, 2013

Needing some advice here guys. I have a 2155 two wheel drive tractor with a 175 loader that I use for unloading and stacking hay. I'm not crazy about the 2x4 operation with a loader and a roll of hay on the front. I love the 50 and 55 series tractors but have ran across a pretty good deal on a 4x4 5300 tractor with a 540 loader. Both tractors have the 2.9L 3 cylinder engines but what are the differences? I've never used a 9x3 transmission, how does it compare the 8x4 collar shift that I've grown accustomed to?
I really like the idea of having 4x4 tractor and loader, but don't want an inferior or less reliable tractor either...an advice or info would be greatly appreciated!

AKfish · May 5, 2013

The 50 and 55 series are a heavier build tractor than the 5300. The rear differential and transaxle housing on the 50-55 is considerably beefier. However, the 00 series are a very reliable utility tractor and the 9x3 tranny has been around nearly as long as the 8x4.

You might find that the 9x3 offers even a bit more flexibility than the 8x4. If it's a synchro model; I'd bet you'd like the change!

I believe that the 540 loader has a bit more capacity than the 175 model on your 2155. That would be a step up for handling hay bales.

If you can get some rear ballast and fluid in the rears on the 5300 you'll be happier as well... 'cause the loader is gonna make the rear end pretty light without some added weight.

AKfish

blainesdad · May 5, 2013

Yeah that's what I was afraid of...sacrificing quality and heavy built tractor for the 4 wheel drive. It does not have a shuttle so I'm guessing it is just a standard 9x3? The only trouble is finding a MFWD 2155 is nearly impossible. And I'm really not a fan of using a loader on a 2wd tractor for what I want it for. They just feel so unstable when they have a load on them. I just don't want to make a mistake is all.

Tx Jim · May 5, 2013

JD early 5000 series tractors have a history of clutch problems. My neighbor had a 5200 that took the strength of the "Incredible Hulk" to depress the pedal. 5000 series engines sound noisy to me also. Myself I wouldn't trade a 2155 2wd even up for a 5000 series MFWD.

fieldman12 · May 5, 2013

I own a 2155 but I have not run a 5300. I have however run a 5400 and a 5310 a good bit. First thing they are a lighter machine as mentioned but other than that I can say they are very tough. The 5400 was a 2wd with loader and it had a very very rough life. When he got rid of it the tractor had about 5800 hours on it and the transmission or rear end had never been touched. It did have a couple clutches put in in its life. The only reason he got rid of it a friend had passed away that had a nice 2wd 5310 with loader that he bought. I have run it a good bit also and its a nice machine. Although I dont have a bucket on my 2155 I will say I think I like it better than the others. It just feels and looks more solid but the others will do the job just fine.

fieldman12 · May 5, 2013

I will say also when he bought the 5400 slightly used we where worried how the hood and fenders would hold up since it was no longer metal. They held up with all that abuse very well just needs painted since the tractor set out allot and the engines are very good but a little noisy.

blainesdad · May 5, 2013

Fieldman you pretty much gave me the info I was looking for. They are a lighter, less quality built unit. As much as I want another 4x4 tractor I don't know if I want to sacrifice the quality of th 55 series tractors for what seems to be an inferior model
If they are both 2.9L engines, what is the difference in the two engines? I think the little 3 cylinders in the 2155's are noisy as well

Verticaltrx · May 6, 2013

blainesdad said:
Fieldman you pretty much gave me the info I was looking for. They are a lighter, less quality built unit. As much as I want another 4x4 tractor I don't know if I want to sacrifice the quality of th 55 series tractors for what seems to be an inferior model
If they are both 2.9L engines, what is the difference in the two engines? I think the little 3 cylinders in the 2155's are noisy as well

I grew farming on a 2550 row-crop (still have it) and have run 2150's plenty as well. I also have a 5203 and my father has a 5045e. The 5000 series are really a very close comparison to a 2150/2155 in size and performance. When you go to the 2350/55 and up is when there is a significant difference in size and strength. The engines are nearly identical, just some changes with fuel delivery and/or turbocharging (on the larger models and new stuff) to get the various power levels. After I had gotten so accustomed to the 50 series I really thought I wouldn't have much good to say about the 5000's, but for what they are they are a great tractor. The 9/3 transmission is great for loader work if it is the synchronized version, and ok if it is not. The 8/4 on the 50/55 series offers more reverse speeds, but the shuttling back and forth between fwd and rev are easier on the 5000 series.

Overall I've been pleasantly surprised with the 40-50hp 5000 series tractors. Where the do fall short is in the bigger power configurations where they are indeed a much lighter tractor than a 2350 or 2550. As for reliability, if you are looking at the early model 5000's then yes, there were a few issues, but only because it was a brand new model. The 55 series had more or less been perfected for 30yrs by the time they came out. Once you get to the mid to late '90s most of the bugs had been worked out of the 5000 series and I've seen lots in the 5,000-10,000 hr range.

blainesdad said:
They are a lighter, less quality built unit.....I don't know if I want to sacrifice the quality of th 55 series tractors for what seems to be an inferior model

A lot of people said the same thing when Deere went from the 2cyl tractors to the New Generation series, just sayin...:thumbsup:

Tx Jim · May 6, 2013

The pto control mechanism on 5000 series reminds me of a '61-'65 2010. I'll still vote for 55 series.

blainesdad · May 6, 2013

I'm really torn now. I would love to be able to pick up another 4x4 loader tractor at a reasonable price, but I'm concerned about not having as reliable tractor as I currently do. If there were a 2155 4x4 available somewhere I would buy it in a minute but I've only seen a handful of those sell within the last 5 years. I was hoping that the 5300 would be a closer comparison to the 2155. It looks as though the weight and stuff is there, and I will only be using this one to rake hay some and to unload and stack hay in the barn and occasionally feed with, I have my 2550 for my heavy hay work. I just know that the 50 and 55 series that I have had I know I can just get on them and start them and go, I don't know if that will be the case with this early model 5300.