Deere 410C Transmission Problems

DanielW

Member
Hi All,

Hoping some of the experts here can shed some light on my problems. On our farm we've needed a backhoe for a long time, we've spent thousands each year getting others in and renting backhoes/mini-ex's. My Uncle found a Deere 410C 4x4 extenda-hoe for what seemed like an exceptional price and I went out to look at it. Drove it around a fair bit at the guy's place, dug some holes, moved some rocks and played with the engine. It all seemed well and good so we bought it.

That was all well and good on his flat land, but as soon as we got it to our hilly area we noticed a problem. When climbing a hill or starting to move you really have to rev it up to get it to go. To the point where I worry about not making it up some hills. I'm sure I wouldn't make it up many in a higher gear. It kind of feels like a clutch slipping, but it's a little too fluid and smooth for it. I also can't see one of these clutches going with the few hours it's got. The best way I can describe the symptoms are like an automatic transmission on a car going uphill where you have to give it a little juice before getting going, except much more extreme. Feels exactly like a little hydrostat utility tractor we have felt like when the pump went. It seems to have lots of power in the boom and loader though, although I haven't got a pressure gauge hooked to it yet.

Obviously we're no expert on backhoes. If anyone has ideas what the problem might be or how we might fix it it would be greatly appreciated.
 
First thing you have to determine is does it just have a clutch pack or do you have an hydrostat transmission. If its just a clutch pack then I would say your clutches are bad or maybe can be adjusted. If it has a hydrostat then it could have a problem with oil flow, filter bad, low oil level, internal leak, etc. Either way you probably should by a manual for it. Parts manuals are very good to have. Norm
 
The JD is not a popular digger here in the UK and I have only come across one or two,as far as I remember it had the conventional drive setup,torque,reverser four speed transmission,have you noticed how it performs in reverse,if you have a good reverse it means that the charge pump,torque and reverse clutch pack is good which would indicate that the forward clutch has an issue,do a stall test,note the engine rpm on high idle,go back to low idle.put the transmission in top gear and secure the parking brake, put the reverser in forward and move the throttle slowly to full and note the rpm,back to low idle and do the same in reverse and note the rpm,if for example the rpm reading for forward was 2000 and if it was 1800 for reverse that would indicate that the forward clutch is slipping,I don't know the specs but by the rule of thumb the engine should be bogged down by at least 10%,backhoes are the equivalent of a fully laden truck with the weight they carry,if it spins the wheels loading the front bucket that is about as good as it gets,is the fuel system clean and the engine running properly,does the machine freewheel no brakes sticking etc.
AJ
 
I have a deere 510c which is similar to your 410c only next model larger. My backhoe also was disappointing to me when i first drove it.When roading it is really slow climbing hills. The torque converter for the shuttle shift is the reason it slows down on hills. There is no direct mechanical coupling of the engine to transmission. It is the same principle as an automatic transmsission in a car or truck that allows you to stop in gear. My advice is to drive the backhoe front bucket up against a seemingly immovable object (large tree) In 1st gear it should spin the rear tires. If it will spin the tires most likely it is working as designed. That is the procedure listed in the Deere manual to check operation.
 
Thanks for the reply (and thank you to all others who've replied). I'll try the tire-spinning test when I can. Just changing all the fluids right now. The main hydraulic filter is proving to be a beast to get off, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

Thanks again!
 
I bought the correct size end wrench--decent size one and kinda an odd size if I remember--it does come off.......................and yes it is slow going up a grade----a lot of weight there to move. I use 3rd. on hills
 
It's important to realize that these machines are a simple manual gearbox behind a torque converter, so it won't downshift it will just slow down or not make the hill if in too high of gear. I have a 210C and love the machine but 3rd and 4th are basically just for roading it, if doing heavy digging with bucket or up steep grade especially with full bucket I use 1st, easier scooping and normal driving around 2nd is good. In 3rd it won't climb much grade without slowing a lot and that is hard on the converter too.
 
Its not only Deere that slows up on hills so do all the others,Case JCB,New Holland etc,the given spec for the 4x4 410C is 22 mph and only 19 mph for the 2x4,due to tier size.looks like the fastest way to go anywhere is in reverse.
AJ
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