JD 5203??

Ran BIL's JD 5203 today and moved some round bales of hay. I may have been mistaken about the model number but it is one of the made in India models. Has a FEL and a 3ph bale spear. Moved 2 5 x 5 bales at a time easily. It has the good quick acting JD hydraulics, good easy turn power steering and really good brakes. I was favorably impressed. Paint is good and shows no sign of fading. Did make loud diesel noise and for some reason has a straight exhaust so was noisy. Not ready to go out and buy one but it is nice.

KEH

I have a 5105 it too is noisy compared to newer JD's but not compared to the older ones. Loader is really strong too.
Sure beats the heck out of the old 2 cyl. with a loader and manual steering I used awhile back.

They are a nice basic tractor, I don't care for the gearing, but I wouldn't turn one down if some one gave it to me.

Three reverses, SNAIL, RABBIT and WARP.

John Deere 5203
John Deere 5203 tractor photo
2003 - 2008 5003 Series
Utility tractor
Series next: John Deere 5303
Series back: John Deere 5103


Overview

Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Photos
Tests




Production:
Manufacturer: John Deere
Factory: Pune, Maharashtra, India

John Deere 5203 Engine:
John Deere 2.9L 3-cyl diesel
full engine details ...

Capacity:
Fuel: 19 gal [71.9 L]
Hydraulic system: 10 gal [37.9 L]
Front axle: 5.3 qts [5.0 L]
Front hubs: 0.85 qts [0.8 L] *

3-Point Hitch:
Rear Type: II/I
Rear lift: 3,591 lbs [1628 kg]

Power Take-off (PTO):
Rear PTO: independent
Rear RPM: 540
Engine RPM: 540@2400

Dimensions & Tires:
Wheelbase: 80.7 inches [204 cm]
Weight: 4647 to 5044 pounds
Front tire: 7.5-16
Rear tire: 14.9-28
full dimensions and tires ...

5203 Serial Numbers:
Location: On the tractor frame, front-left, above the front axle.

- Serial numbers unknown -


Links:
Temperature sensor: potential cold-start advance sensor failure leading to a no-start condition


John Deere 5203 Power:
Engine: 56 hp [41.8 kW]
PTO (claimed): 47 hp [35.0 kW]
PTO (tested): 48.77 hp [36.4 kW]
power test details ...

Mechanical:
Chassis: 4x2 2WD
4x4 MFWD 4WD
Steering: hydrostatic power
Brakes: differential wet disc
Cab: Foldable two-post ROPS.

Hydraulics:
Type: open center
Capacity: 10 gal [37.9 L]
Pressure: 2800 psi [193.1 bar]
Valves: 1 or 2
Pump flow: 9.5 gpm [36.0 lpm]
Total flow: 16.3 gpm [61.7 lpm]
Steering flow: 6.8 gpm [25.7 lpm]

Electrical:
Ground: negative
Charging system: alternator
Charging amps: 40

Battery:
Number: 1
Cold-cranking amps: 623
Volts: 12

Good feedback. That tractor is kind of - sort of similar to my 5055d.

So far so good with mine - knock on wood.

The engine on mine is turbo'd and the engine is somewhat loud, certainly more so than my fine old MF50. The engine has a nice bark to it when it hits a load too.

Some things that stand out to me is:

- Power steering is very good.

- Tight turn radius - almost pivots about the rear tire contact patch, making lining up the 3 pt hitch to an implement very easy. Same with drawbar too

- Great visibility, except at the corner of the rear fenders, where a clamshell would not block the view as much.

IMHO the number 1 reason to buy one of these tractors is the 2.9L engine. I have seen them used in harsh environments with military generators and they are terrific. Mine has gotten better on fuel economy as I get it broke-in.

Bill

Had one on a feed wagon at a large horse farm I worked on, it was ok, but seemed cheap. As I said before I'd take the Ford 4600 they had any day over the deer.

Some of the vegetable farms around me use the 5103, 5203 JD's as trailer tractors. You wouldn't believe how the help races them around the fields.