5425 tranny

[unreconstructed]

Have the hots for a 5425 and want to pose question to you fellas.

Comparing the 9f3r tranny to the 12/12 power reverser--do you think the 9/3 to be a substantially more maintenance free tranny than the 12/12 over time?

The JD descriptions seem to intimate that the 12/12 is for more heavy duty applications than the 9/3. Not sure that makes sense to me.

Does the 9/3 sync make loader operation a little bit more easy vs the old 9/3 which is in my 5203 (totally not sync)? I know it would not be as easy as the 12/12.

I know this tractor has some bells and whistles, but would like to KISS it as much as possible if I let loose and get one.

thanks for any insight you might give me.

ge bates.

 

[RickB]

This will be a can of worms. That said, I firmly believe power shuttle tractors as a group will have lower power train repair costs than dry-clutch manual transmission tractors, either synchronized or not, over the life of the tractor. The advantage of a 9/3 synch over a 9/3 crashbox would be marginal. Either of these opinions will be challenged by those who disagree. An abusive operator can trash a dry clutch in an afternoon, and a negligent maintainence schedule can trash a power shuttle clutch pack way, way before its time.

 

[unreconstructed]

I welcome the opinions--certainly don't want to create a firefight over trannys. I ask only because my experience is limited to gear trannys from the 1950s and 1960s as I grew up on the farm. With 40 years of work since then I have been able to acquire some acreage, inherited my Dad's home place, and have bought a 5203 and a 2320--the first the gear crash box and the second a HST. I have no experience with what are "exotic" trannys to me. I am considering an upgrade to the 5425 from the 5203 as it has features that interest me. I have had occasion to use the loader quite a bit and although the complete stopping of the 5203 is something I can live with, I don't really want to repeat this if I go to a more expensive unit. No complaints with the 5203. I have not used the new sync transmission that come with the new 5203 and do not have a clue how much difference that makes with loader work. thanks for the response.

 

[Zebra5]

I also hope to get a 5425. I want the 12/12 PowerReverser. The wet clutch and left hand reverser are the main reasons.

 

[81husky]

I have a 5225 with the 12/12 power reverser and with only 60 some hours on the unit I sure can't speak for the longevity, but it sure is nice going forward and back with the flip of the lever on the column. I come from the old school too, of dry clutches and stick shifts, so I was a little apprehensive of this new (to me at least) technology. Other than it took a little while to get used to no reverse gear on the transmission, I really like it. You can still use the clutch anytime you want to change direction, you just don't have to.

 

[unreconstructed]

I took the leap and have decided to go with a 5325 with the 12/12. Dealer is installing a 3rd rear remote on it and I will pick it up in a couple of weeks. I searched the net, don't remember the forum, but found some negative comments about the tractor's 5 cylinder motor having injector problems and also some negative comments about fuel efficiency. Hope those are isolated cases about the injectors. Guess I will find out about the fuel consumption. Am pretty spoiled with the 5203 but the 5325 seems to fit almost exactly what I want.

 

[ddivinia]

You won't regret the Power Reverser - I have had it in my 5525 for right at 3 yrs now with almost 500 hours - no problems so far.

D.

 

[tjkadar]

On a previous tractor, we were ready for a new clutch after around 800 hours - a lot of FEL work on a dry clutch. Our next tractor had a wet clutch with a hydraulic reverser. We never looked back. Our new 5425 also has a wet clutch and hydraulic reverser.

I drove a 5325 with the 9f/3R tranny and I prefer the 12/12 much, much more. I don't think you'll regret the transmission at all.

 

[unreconstructed]

that's what my dealer said about the 12/12. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[DK_Farms]

I have a 5525 and I know for a fact that you will be very pleased with your purchase. My only regret, in hindsight, is that I bought the 12/12 instead of the 24/24 tranny. It's not an issue until I'm operating PTO driven equipment. I have found with the 12/12 that 80% of what I do is in B range. At pto rpm, there is about a 1.4 mph difference between B2 and B3. And a 1.6 mph difference between B3 and B4. I know it doesn't seem like a big thing, but I always like to operate on the hairy edge of efficiency and I feel like I would have been happier with 24/24 and its smaller speed change increments. Even though I find the tractor very reasonable as far as fuel consumption goes, I also regret not getting the E-PTO option so that I could bush hog light materials at the lower RPM to save fuel. Once you get used to the Power Reverser, you'll love it. If you can use it like it was designed, in other words stay off the clutch, your clutch will last alot longer, too. The only problem I have with the Power Reverser is when I am on the 5525 all day, then jump on the 4610 hydro, I find myself reaching for the danged lever!! I have over 600 hours and have had NO problems with the tractor. The lesson I have taken away from this is, next time I buy a tractor, I am going to get EVERY option available from the factory.

 

[ddivinia]

I have a 5525 and I know for a fact that you will be very pleased with your purchase. My only regret, in hindsight, is that I bought the 12/12 instead of the 24/24 tranny. It's not an issue until I'm operating PTO driven equipment. I have found with the 12/12 that 80% of what I do is in B range. At pto rpm, there is about a 1.4 mph difference between B2 and B3. And a 1.6 mph difference between B3 and B4. I know it doesn't seem like a big thing, but I always like to operate on the hairy edge of efficiency and I feel like I would have been happier with 24/24 and its smaller speed change increments. Even though I find the tractor very reasonable as far as fuel consumption goes, I also regret not getting the E-PTO option so that I could bush hog light materials at the lower RPM to save fuel. Once you get used to the Power Reverser, you'll love it. If you can use it like it was designed, in other words stay off the clutch, your clutch will last alot longer, too. The only problem I have with the Power Reverser is when I am on the 5525 all day, then jump on the 4610 hydro, I find myself reaching for the danged lever!! I have over 600 hours and have had NO problems with the tractor. The lesson I have taken away from this is, next time I buy a tractor, I am going to get EVERY option available from the factory.

I too find that more gears would be nice.

ePTO is a nice thing to have for sure.

I would have gone 24/24 but I am not sure I like the electronic PTO engagement. I kinda like feather the PTO engagement - especially on larger items like balers, 15' mower, etc.

D.

 

[tjkadar]

I had an ePTO on my Kubota and it did a good job of feathering in the PTO. I imagine the John Deere's would be just as good. The tractor does fine feathering the clutch when you engage drive or reverse.

 

[bjcsc]

Hey, I'm happy to see more and more 5X25 owners around here!

Let's be careful, though: 540e (or ePTO as some of you are calling it) isn't electro-hydraulic engagement. The engagement lever is still exactly the same. There is simply a separate lever that gears up the PTO to reach 540 at 1700 RPM.

That said, I feel the same way as DK_Farms. I wouldn't change anything I have except I would have either gone 24/24 or had the creeper kit installed. When I'm running my boom flail mower or my tiller I would be happier moving a little slower. The 540e lets me move slower at PTO speed, but when I need the higher HP I don't always need the higher ground speed. I think I'm going to get the creeper installed once I figure out which one of the two they offer I want.

And like DK_Farms, after I spend a day on the tractor, I often back my car out and then turn on my right turn signal as I'm braking...

 

[tjkadar]

They way I read it, ePTO is like the eHitch; electrohydraulic. 540/540E PTO is the economy PTO. John Deere sure likes to keep things confusing for a boy of my simple intelligence! Maybe we should stick to EH Hitch and EH PTO for the electrohydraulic and ePTO or 540/540E PTO for the economy PTO?

 

[doctor51]

I have an '08 5525 with the 24/24. It's a piece of junk that's almost KILLED me and my extremely experienced operator. Shifts to neutral sending the tractor flying out of gear every time it points down hill! Not too funny with a heavily loaded bucket. Now at the dealer's shop for over a month... no fix... no explanation. Tractor has less than 50h on the clock. Also has a baffling fuel problem. Overall this unit is a very dangerous piece of crap. Owned JD's all my life, now wishing I bought a MF.

 

[tjkadar]

I have an '08 5525 with the 24/24. It's a piece of junk that's almost KILLED me and my extremely experienced operator. Shifts to neutral sending the tractor flying out of gear every time it points down hill! Not too funny with a heavily loaded bucket. Now at the dealer's shop for over a month... no fix... no explanation. Tractor has less than 50h on the clock. Also has a baffling fuel problem. Overall this unit is a very dangerous piece of crap. Owned JD's all my life, now wishing I bought a MF.

I would hesitate to say the unit is, "a very dangerous piece of crap." It appears that many other tractors, utilizing the same transmission, are not experiencing the same issues you are reporting. This doesn't mean that your tractor is not malfunctioning, nor does it mean that it isn't a serious problem with your tractor. However, it is not indicative of this particular transmission as a whole.

I would also be very concerned as to why the issue has not been diagnosed after a month. Is your dealer not up to the task? Has any contact been made with John Deere corporate?

Curious, do you have a 5425 and a 5525 or did you have a typo?

 

[jd110]

What shifts to neutral? The left shift lever, right shift lever, or the electrical control for the reverser?