New - Old JD Questions - Just a Few more.....

I've read a ton of posts on this and other forums and hope you can answer one last round of quick questions regarding the 5 series tractors as I am about to buy one. I'm posting here due to the older design nature of this tractor and hope I can tap into some of your knowledge of what I feel is basically a new, but old design tractor - the JD 5055d - two wheel drive tractor.

Looking at tractor data and reading a bunch of posts, I gather the 8F/4R collar shift tranny has been around for quite sometime - not something new, but I can't prove it. Do you know if this is the same 8F/4R tranny Deere would have used on a tractor 20 or 30 years ago? Is it a reliable tranny?

Reading about the overheating hydraulic issues and the melting fuel tanks, it looks like the "e" models are having this problem? Question is - would the 8F/4R tranny's be completely different from the engine back to the 3 point hitch and with it perhaps a design that's less prone to over heating?

I've got a Massey Ferguson 50 Diesel (which I'm keeping) and it is a great tractor, but I want something newer before the final tier 4 emissions come and the 5055d strikes me as a tractor design that has been around for 20 or more years, older design, but new - which is fine by me.

I am comfortable the 2.9L (179 cu in), 3 cylinder model 3029 engine is a great engine.

The only other thing I would consider doing down the road a few years from now is make some 4x4 round bales of hay, but for now, bush hogging and square baling.

Any concerns with the 5 series tractors aside from the above? Any advice, tips, etc., would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill

I think the 5055D transmissions are not close to the 30/40/50 & 55 series utility tractors. On brief research the 5055D utilizes ball brgs whereas the older models utilized mostly tapered roller brgs. The hyd system on the 5055D is a gear type open center while the older models are piston type closed center. I agree the 2.9L engine is very good.

I suppose I could be called prejudice as I grew up on a farm with JD tractors,worked for a JD dealer for over 21 yrs,have owned a JD 4255 since '93 and also own a '11 Kubota M7040. Sorry but I don't like newer JD utility tractors.

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure they are cost reduced to some
extent. India parts and labor surely don't account for all the
difference in price between a 5 series "E" and "M" model.