Need Advice on JD purchase

[ddivinia]

I'm not trying to be rude, but do you feel it's that hard to move 2 levers to choose your range and gear compared to 1?
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I am just pointing out the situation. I have both and transmissions and less experienced operators will take the EH any day. Depend on the situation - it can be more complex to use. 5525 with PR with 15' batwing behind it. Not a great time to have a brain fart on backing up...





I understand your trying to say to get your certain speed it's more involved. But you make it seem as if your exerting all of your energy and brain power to do this. Once you use the PR one time and run through all of the gears at PTO speed, you will remember which one's will work for what. Also if your in doubt, you can refer to the sticker on the tractor fender or the owners manual for a chart that will list the mph in each gear at pto speed.
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Actually - that changes as conditions change. Cutting hay, baling, I have to change my ground speed depending on the windrow, grass density, etc.



In terms of being able to vary speed, yes the hydro is simpler in that aspect. But my argument to your comment of "Anyone can drive the hydro - not so with a PR" is that as long as you can operate anything motorized or mechanical, then you can drive both transmission's.
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That is somewhat insulting. Many people have never driven a stick - only automatics. That is the case with my wife. She can drive her Corvette with a 6 speed now but it is not her preference in transmission.



With loader work were back to the "don't have to use the clutch" point. All you have to do is move the reverser lever between "F, N, & R", the clutch is more of an option. Would it be better if you got comfortable with the clutch?, yes it would, but is it a necessity?, no.

Depending on the load in the bucket, etc - you will be buying a clutch in a hurry with not using the clutch. The adjustable shuttle helps, etc. but it ain't perfect. Not sure what kind of FEL work you are doing but I do a lot of work with a grapple moving trees, brush, etc - use the clutch is imperative.

I suspect we will see EH move up in the product line and we will see the same kind of situation we have in the curent 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx products lines - majority of sales are EH.

D.

 

[WH401]

Depending on the load in the bucket, etc - you will be buying a clutch in a hurry with not using the clutch. The adjustable shuttle helps, etc. but it ain't perfect. Not sure what kind of FEL work you are doing but I do a lot of work with a grapple moving trees, brush, etc - use the clutch is imperative.

I suspect we will see EH move up in the product line and we will see the same kind of situation we have in the curent 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx products lines - majority of sales are EH.

D.

Yes, a less experienced operator will be happier on a hydro, but that's not to say they wouldn't be able to operate a PR. No matter what you have attached to your tractor or the job you are attacking, moving in either direction is as simple as flipping a lever, or just moving your foot to a different pedal as on a hydro. Essentially you have the same basic operational characteristic's in that aspect, it only requires 1 slight movement to change direction.

Again, it's all in how you look at the situation. Yes, hydro will pretty much stop and slow down instantly, but it isn't complicated at all to change speed or slow down on a PR. A slight bit more involved, but hardly brain surgery.

I'm not trying to insult your wife. It's more of an insult to suggest that a person has to be smarter or more in tune than the "average Joe" or "Jane", to be able to operate a PR. Even if you have no prior experience with manual's, anyone can move 2 shifter's while holding in a clutch on a stationary tractor and then push a lever.

Even if you have load's in the bucket that are right on the edge of the load capacity, your not going to hurt the transmission. In a true manual yes, but that's why there are true gear mesh manual's and then there are PR's. A PR is designed to have the transmission control the majority of the clutching so that the operator doesn't have to. On a gear mesh you could definately wear the clutch out quicker with an inexperienced operator or lots of FEL work. But not so on a PR, the hydraulically actuated clutch is completely immersed in oil and it would take a lot more to heat it up and cause damage.

I have no doubts that hydro's will continue there movement up the chain. One good example of this is the new E series machines, such as the "3" E's, everyone of them has a standard hydro transmission. But I doubt they will get rid of all type's of manual transmissions. Yes, hydro's sell more, but the niche for manual's is still to great to completely do away with them.

 

[Karl2]

Yes, a less experienced operator will be happier on a hydro, but that's not to say they wouldn't be able to operate a PR. No matter what you have attached to your tractor or the job you are attacking, moving in either direction is as simple as flipping a lever, or just moving your foot to a different pedal as on a hydro. Essentially you have the same basic operational characteristic's in that aspect, it only requires 1 slight movement to change direction.

For having used both PR and EH I agree that once one gets the hang of it changing direction with PR is not much of a bigger deal in most situations. However in a few situations having to use hand controls to switch between reverse and forward can prove a serious handicap. Those are jobs that require a lot of back-and-forth movements over relatively long runs at relatively high speeds in an open area.

A good example of this is snow clearing with a rear blower. Such a task requires the operator to spend as much time going in reverse than he/she does moving forward and when backing up doing this most operators find it more comfortable, not to mention safer, to twist their body on the seat towards the back in such a way that only their right foot is left able to move relatively freely. The arm that is stretched over the steering wheel usually can't reach other controls without having to twist the body back forward which is not practical, but operating the direction pedals with the right foot remains very easy. This has a significant effect on job time and efficiency.

That said, the price to pay for the convenience of EH is less control over power distribution so one may have to settle for a few more HP to achieve equivalent work capacity.

 

[WH401]

For having used both PR and EH I agree that once one gets the hang of it changing direction with PR is not much of a bigger deal in most situations. However in a few situations having to use hand controls to switch between reverse and forward can prove a serious handicap. Those are jobs that require a lot of back-and-forth movements over relatively long runs at relatively high speeds in an open area.

A good example of this is snow clearing with a rear blower. Such a task requires the operator to spend as much time going in reverse than he/she does moving forward and when backing up doing this most operators find it more comfortable, not to mention safer, to twist their body on the seat towards the back in such a way that only their right foot is left able to move relatively freely. The arm that is stretched over the steering wheel usually can't reach other controls without having to twist the body back forward which is not practical, but operating the direction pedals with the right foot remains very easy. This has a significant effect on job time and efficiency.

That said, the price to pay for the convenience of EH is less control over power distribution so one may have to settle for a few more HP to achieve equivalent work capacity.

I think it also depends on the comfortableness or preference of the driver as well. When I go to mow under tree's with the finish mower, I find it much easier to have the PR for "rear facing" directional changes than the hydro. Usually I tend to lean back to the left with my left arm over the seat, holding the back of the ROPS with my left hand, while leaving my right hand on the steering wheel. At this position you tend to have your left leg tucked up more towards the back left of the floor with your right food pushed down into the right front of the floor for support. All I have to do then is use my right hand to flick the reverser lever to change direction. Being that there's only one handle, it's easier to find something with your hand while blind then your feet when sitting in an awkward position. But that could be based on skill or preference as well.

The most important thing though, is as long as your happy with the functionality and operation of your tractor, nothing else matter's.