55/60 series large frame vs 8000 series tractors

Craig C

Member
I would like to know everyone's thoughts on 8000 series tractors compared to the 4955 or 4960. I understand the cab is nicer on the 8x00, but I am more concerned about my ability to keep it in the field without a Deere service tech. Will the 8000 put power to the ground better enough to put up with the electrical issues. The increased hydraulic flow would be a benefit to me as well. How accessible is the transmission if I need it on a table? I understand the routine on the 15 speeds in the 55/60 series, but don't know how the 8000s are serviced. Are the 8.1 engines that much of a longer life engine. We have been looking at higher hour tractors and initially we have been looking at buying and rebuilding after first season, and then I read people saying they are 13-14000 hrs and untouched. I'd just like to know your thoughts from a mechanical standpoint. In the long run am I just better off with a 4960 with the fuel set up a little to match a 83/8400
 
The 8000 sreies is a pretty nice step up, at least from comfort status. Like most things, the design got better as time went on, but I've used 3 of the 8000's, and they were all ahead of the 4850 we have.

Some concerns: the 8000s have a couple of real jerky spots in the transmission shifting (4-5 is one). There is a way to adjust that, but it is still rough even in today's new ones. If you are doing a lot of heavy PTO work, you may be a bit disappointed, as PTO speed is pretty near wide open. Those tractors have a significant "power bulge"- more power at lower RPM, but you won't take advantage of that unless your implement falls well below PTO speed. That wasn't rectified til the 8x30's.

By and large, though, I'd say the 8000s were the one series Deere actually moved ahead... I still like my 4450 and 55 more than any 7000 series thing, and the 6000 is a complex little bugger, too.

I'm not sure what to say on the high houred ones. There are a lot out there for sale, and they sell at a discount. If you were to look at one or several, I'd suggest you take a good mechanic versed in them along.
 
Is that trans calibration still a Deere only thing? We've already got a couple 50/55 series with 15 speeds and mfwd and they don't bother me too much. They are smooth with working ranges and I have no complaints with the transmissions. But I keep reading about the 8000s being extra jerky.
 
The 8000 series will turn better ,the cab is nicer and quieter,road speed is higher,The large frame tractors are a better buy than the 4455 as the 4455s actually bring more. There are many with a lot of hours with few problems.I am buying going to buy a 8100 over a 4455 due to reasons stated earlier.After 2007 things changed with the EPA regulations.
 
A friend has a 8200 with around 6000 hrs. The tractor has done everything from tillage, pulling a 16 row planter, spraying, fall tillage. In the fall we run a catch wagon with it. Never have any trouble with the tractor.I don't notice the shifting as being jerky. Been a great tractor.
 
The 15 speed transmission in the 50-55 series is great, no doubt about that, we have 3 of them.

The 16 speed in the 8000 sreies has a few shifts where everything has to reset (i think that is the reason)and they can shift very abruptly if you are not ready for it. If you are doing some PTO work with the throttle wide open and not a big drawbar load behind you, 4th to 5th can about throw you out of the seat. I am told the 10 series (and I think the late 00 series) was better from this standpoint, but I can also tell you that even the new R series will do this as well.

The same thing happens higher up, perhaps 11-12, but usually I have the engine at a lower RPM there, and it is less noticable.
 
Thanks guys for the responses, but I guess my biggest concern is when you have problems with the tractor from the flywheel back, is the 8000s more or less desirable to repair. I've got a 6410 and have had the tranmission out to fix the problematic gasket and reverse brake pack. That's definitely a different twist on transmission removal if you've been there. That was a cheap fix that wasn't a terrible ordeal after I built a cab tilting tool. Deere won't rent or sell you one! How's it done on an 8000 series? I'm kinda leaning toward a 4960 and juicing the pump a little. Dads wanting to go newer, but I'm not convinced yet they are better.
 
I have no experience with either a 4955 or 4960 but have a lot of experience with both an 8410 and a 8420. They are very comfortable easy to drive tractors with virtually all the controls at your right hand. The 16 speed power shifts are smooth with no jerkinesss. The 8410 has had a rebuilt transmission but the 8420 has never had any problems. They are used as planter tractors in the spring and grain cart tractors in the fall and are the nicest tractors I have ever driven on a grain cart. Like any other newer tractors it will probably be the electronic glitches that finally kills them before the mechanical ones do.
 
This winter, at a small shop in Newton KS, there was a 4840 there for transmission rebuilt, fully disassembled, and a 8300 for seasonal check. The hood of the 8300 was removed.

It is very obvious looking at both tractors that the 8300 is much easier to service. Getting the trans out is a small deal. The trans is one big castings, there is no need to do the 3 splits thing. If you need to go to the rear, then I think that you can roll the rear axle off with the cab on.
Of course, the 4840-4955 was a great design, but a 4955 is just a glorified 4520 powershift, mecanic wise... The MFWD and the 15 speeds are just adaptations to the 4520 design... By 1995, there was a better way.

The cab can stay in place as, the trans is totally ahead of the cab.
I have seen a 8400 once with the engine removed for overaul, and it seemed like the easiest thing in the world, because, you just remove the oil pan bolts, remove the rad, unhook the U joint at the flywheel, and away it goes. It is very rare that you do not want to remove the pan if you remove the engine, so I tought this was a clever way to do it, compare to other tractors.
To some extend, the frame of a 8000 is exacty same way than the old Oliver 18-27 that I have.

So to me, OH of motor and trans is way faster on 8000s than 4955s. Abilene machine has rebuilt trannies and motor on the shelves for those tractors, so this can give an idea.

As far as hours goes, my wifes family has 2x 8300 with approx 17000 hours, untouched, in northern France. In Eastern Europe, they use them up to 25000 hours and keep them going...

As far as comfort goes, if you need to go fast, a 7710 with front suspension or a 8420 with the ILS is always better, altough the ILS can be pricey to overhaul if you have pull hard with duals for many hours. You have to pay for the feature.
But it means that any "3rd gen deere" without front suspension is now cheap, because peoples wants either an old tractor like a 4850 with no electronics, or a newer one with all the frills, the suspension being a must (like a gen II has to be diesel...).
 
As one who has worked on them both, the 4960 or the 60 series is the last Deere made. The new ones just don't do anything for me. As stated if the 8000 series tractors not being touched is/can't be right since they all were recalled for trans updates, before the 10 series came out. They still have to be split for pto clutch issues, the park is released by very high pressures and once you have a failure of pressure it locks up the trans no matter how fast you are driving, I have seen skid marks from duals on pavement, guy was pretty bruised up from the steering wheel catching him on impact. Just to mention a few when I worked for jd.
 
We bought a brand new 8400 in 1997 and ran it 7 years before trading. It was never recalled for a transmission update. JD might have sent a tech out with a laptop to update the transmission or recalibrate it as a PIP but that would have been it. Never had any downtime with it. Far as the 55/60 series vs 8000 series. My opinion its a no brainer to go with the 8000s. More modern design, more maneuverable, and the 8.1 is better then the old 7.6. 55/60 series were good tractors but they were at the end of their line. And I don't know how anybody can go back to a SGB after sitting in a 8000 series cab. The visibility out the front is hundred times better, more convenient to run and more room. And the concern on the electronics is almost laughable. These tractors first came out over 20 years ago and they are still here. The electronics on a 8000 is nothing compared to what they have now on this new stuff. Right now we have a 8300. It was exported to Europe but made its way back. Tach says 6,000 hrs but not sure if that's right. Don't matter anyway because if we have to overhaul it, it would be worth it. The 8000s are some of the best JD ever made.
 
Having worked on both I would definitely recommend the 8000 series over the older 55 and 60. They have been very reliable and are easy to work on. If you are mechanically inclined all repairs can be done without a Deere dealer. All the electronics are simple and with a list of trouble codes most problems are easy to diagnose. I have rebuilt transmitions, engines, and rear ends on both and by far liked the 8000 series over the outdated 55 and 60. There were never any recalls on the transmissions that I can recall. Just shift modulation updates to help smooth out the rough 3-4 and 13-14 shifts. I personally know of a older 8300 with almost 20,000 HARD hours on it!!! They all have pros and cons but you will like the 8000 series better!
 
i agree with every one else, go for an 8000 you wont regret it. transmissions are pretty simple, the later ones did shift better, i think 98's and newer were changed in how they shift to make it shift smoother. have done plenty of front axle seals at work but they aren't to bad and if done right will last a long time. 8.1's are far superior than the 7.6's for torque and they seem to have very good longevity as we have only overhauled one 8.1 in the 6 years that i have been where i am and we get plenty of overhauls due to our lower rates. we haven't had an 8000 we weren't able to fix yet and we don't have a laptop or anything like that. if your looking at an 81, 82, 8300 get a later one with the 8.1, early ones had 7.6's. we have had our 8400 since 2001 and are very happy with it, mine and dads favorite tractor even over the neighbors 8320 that we work with, ours is a 97 and has the older transmission but its not bad if you learn its little quirks and what to do with engine speed when shifting 12-13. some times if doing tillage on a hard pull it'll shift hard once then the next time doing same shift in same conditions its smooth. have had no major problems with ours. broken exhaust manifold bolts or blown manifold gaskets is kind of a common problem on them but they are an easy fix if your proficient at removing broken bolts. if you got the money for an 8000 (haven't followed prices maybe they run about the same) i wouldn't even consider a 55 or 60
 
Could one of you knowledgeable gents post a picture of an 8000 series tractor ? I have no idea how big, how much power they have. Thanks. b
 
I purchased this 8210 a couple years ago
Cheap because it was cosmetically dirty and high hours
10000
Got it home and first thing vacumed and armoralled the cab
Gave it a wax job and changed all the fluids
It has been a great tractor for close to 200 hp
I can't believe the visibility, comfort, and the way it shifts
It is so convenient to work on and service
Also very simple to rebuild with component trans and engine
I also would never want to go back to a SG cab
It has a buddy seat that give LOTS of room fo me 2 people
We have a local salt mine in the area and there is several large Jd loaders with the 8.1 engine that has 23000 hours on them untouched
Spend the extra and get a 8000 series look for a 10 series and u will get all the upgrades of a 8000
Haven't had any electronic issues on mine just change the oil
And it is so nice to enter and exit the cab , so easy
These tractors are the next 4020s of the younger generation
Good luck
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