Just purchased a JD 5055E

[Dan J]

I just purchased a 2017 John Deere 5055E. I really like this machine. It is comfortable, powerful and easy to operate. However, after using it for about 2 hrs the FEL would not dump. After some investigation, I found that the nuts that secure the cables from the loader controls had come loose. A few turns of a wrench and I was back in business. Fast forward 14 hrs of operation, I was cutting fairly thick grass on the farm land I own and the cutter stopped cutting. The PTO would engage and it would rotate the cutter but not fast enough to cut grass. More investigation found that the same thing had happened to the PTO control cables that had happened to the loader. I tightened them up and off I went.



I'm just wondering if this is a common problem?

 

[Garrett Wiggins]

First I have heard. Sound like the dealer missed it in the PDI.

 

[3Ts]

Another thing to watch for is the loader rising by itself. The cable will get dirty and will not allow the valve to completely return to neutral so you may have to "help" it return to neutral. I had the dealer replace the valve, but it didn't help much.

 

[boggen]

any new tractor, go over all the bolts / nuts with a torque wrench. new = once ya shake them up some, something can get loose.

who knows what happen, from someone not paying attention, to something out of spec for a torque wrench, to other. you would think everything would be nice and tight and stay tight. and that would be a nope.

have had electrical power tools screws/nuts/bolts need to be tighten fresh out of the box. have had screw/nuts/bolts that i have tighten to spec come loose on me, as soon as take my eyes off them on tractors to equipment and attachments for tractors. the stuff that "vibrates" really tends to see something come loose.

 

[Plantation Paul]

Some dealerships put substandard "mechanics" assembling the new stuff together sadly. I had problems with a new planter. Come to find out they had problems with the guy that put it together and let him go.

 

[Rara Avis]

I just purchased a 2017 John Deere 5055E. I really like this machine. It is comfortable, powerful and easy to operate. However, after using it for about 2 hrs the FEL would not dump. After some investigation, I found that the nuts that secure the cables from the loader controls had come loose. A few turns of a wrench and I was back in business. Fast forward 14 hrs of operation, I was cutting fairly thick grass on the farm land I own and the cutter stopped cutting. The PTO would engage and it would rotate the cutter but not fast enough to cut grass. More investigation found that the same thing had happened to the PTO control cables that had happened to the loader. I tightened them up and off I went.

I'm just wondering if this is a common problem?

Just a heads up...

Service 50 Hours
Inspect Tractor for Loose Hardware

Item Measurement Specification
Ballast Weights Retaining Bolts Torque 230 N.m (170 lb-ft)
Adjustable Front Axle-to-Knee Bolts Torque 480 N.m (350 lb-ft)
MFWD Axle Rim-to-Disk Nuts Torque 245 N.m (180 lb-ft)
MFWD Axle Disk-to-Hub Nuts Torque 310 N.m (229 lb-ft)
Adjustable Front Axle Disk-to-Flange Bolts Torque 175 N.m (130 lb-ft)
Rear Axle Rim-to-Disk Bolts Torque 245 N.m (180 lb-ft)
Rear Axle Disk-to-Flange Bolts Torque 550 N.m (406 lb-ft)
Multi-position Rear Wheels Rim-to-Disk Torque 175 N.m (130 lb-ft)
Front Axle Bolts Torque 480 N.m (350 lb-ft)
ROPS Mounting Bolts Torque 420 N.m (310 lb-ft)

Well, at least you didn't have to replace your leaky INDIAN rubber fuel line in your first week of ownership...