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Trade-offs.....

E

Eldon (WA)

Well-known Member
Mowed my first big job with the Deere 5525 today. I've mowed this field for close to ten years and have always done it in 4 hours with the AC 175D. The Deere is 4x4, so figured I could go a little faster with the bigger tires...not. I guess 7" shorter wheelbase makes a bigger difference. Anyway, mowed it at 3 mph just to stay in the seat. It took 1 1/4 hours longer and used 3 times the fuel, even though I used the Epto. The back window of the cab was so full of dirt I couldn't see out of it in the end, good news is my neck and nose was as clean when I finished as when I started LOL! This was a field I always dreaded mowing late in the season because of the dust...cost me about $20 more in fuel and some time, but I was ready to do another when I got done. Sometimes you have to make a trade-off!
 

PS, got a price on 6" rear spacers from Unverferth this morning....$346 each! Think I will just modify some of my rare Allis spacers.....
 
I guess most of that makes sense, 40% more horsepower plus the A/C, utility style vs. row crop. I imagine the turning radius is shorter on the JD.

Like you say, choices have to be made. Most guys rarely go back to the convertible once they spend much time in a cab.
 
That's how I feel about using a cab tractor with air
conditioning to rake hay. The 4020 has done it for
years and it's pretty small and nimble, but that little
umbrella doesn't cut it some days. It's overkill, but I
have the stamina to do A LOT more acres when I'm
not out in that dust and heat. There's no reason to
tough it out when the nicer tractor is sitting right
there.
 
Eldon:

Sounds like it's time to put a cab on the AC 175D, and hang a 12 volt box-type computer fan inside for cooling. LOL

:>)
 
Eldon check your tire pressures. The ride should not have been rougher. With the loader off lower the front tire pressure and check the rears too. I have seen then still have the shipping pressure in them. This can be as high as 30 PSI in the rear tires. You should be able to run them around 16-18 PSI. This makes a HUGE difference in the ride. Also some guys do not like to see the front tires flex much under load with a loader and I have seen them have over 40 PSI in them. That makes them rock hard.

Now for the fuel numbers. You say it took you 3 times the amount of fuel and that cost you $20 more. So if your fuel cost is around $2 per gallon that rough figures out to five gallons for the AC and 15 gallons for the JD. That is assuming you used 15 gallons compared to five gallons. I find those numbers hard to believe. The JD is also keeping you cleaner and cool.

The Nebraska Tests for the two tractors does not show much difference in fuel consumption at PTO speed. The AC 175 at rate horsepower (62 PTO) at PTO speed used 4.195 gallons of fuel per hour. The JD 5520 at rated horsepower (78 PTO) at PTO speed used 5.9 gallons per hour. The Nebraska test shows the JD 5525 using the E PTO at 63 HP using only 3.9 gallons per hour. So your reported results are vastly different than the Nebraska test shows. The Cab/AC takes more fuel but even running an 1 1/4 longer should not increase the fuel used that much.

So once again check those tire pressures. I have found many of them to be way over inflated. Many dealers never check and owners just look for flat tires not over inflated ones.
 
(quoted from post at 21:09:04 08/05/16) Eldon check your tire pressures. The ride should not have been rougher. With the loader off lower the front tire pressure and check the rears too. I have seen then still have the shipping pressure in them. This can be as high as 30 PSI in the rear tires. You should be able to run them around 16-18 PSI. This makes a HUGE difference in the ride. Also some guys do not like to see the front tires flex much under load with a loader and I have seen them have over 40 PSI in them. That makes them rock hard.

Now for the fuel numbers. You say it took you 3 times the amount of fuel and that cost you $20 more. So if your fuel cost is around $2 per gallon that rough figures out to five gallons for the AC and 15 gallons for the JD. That is assuming you used 15 gallons compared to five gallons. I find those numbers hard to believe. The JD is also keeping you cleaner and cool.

The Nebraska Tests for the two tractors does not show much difference in fuel consumption at PTO speed. The AC 175 at rate horsepower (62 PTO) at PTO speed used 4.195 gallons of fuel per hour. The JD 5520 at rated horsepower (78 PTO) at PTO speed used 5.9 gallons per hour. The Nebraska test shows the JD 5525 using the E PTO at 63 HP using only 3.9 gallons per hour. So your reported results are vastly different than the Nebraska test shows. The Cab/AC takes more fuel but even running an 1 1/4 longer should not increase the fuel used that much.

So once again check those tire pressures. I have found many of them to be way over inflated. Many dealers never check and owners just look for flat tires not over inflated ones.
Click to expand...

The fronts had 35-40 in them and I took them down to 20 the other day. I didn't check the rears. I think a lot has to do with the fact that I stand up most of the time on the AC and my legs take up the bounce. The mole hills get pretty hard out here this time of year....As for the fuel consumption, I have had days when I used less than a gallon an hour...rarely go over 2 gallon an hour. A typical light dry grass field like this one rarely takes over a gallon an hour. I didn't measure the Deere, but the gauge shows less than half with a 33 gallon tank...it just seems like there is a lot going on with the Deere...lots of engine, tranny and hydraulic noise...I actually used my headset radio for awhile because it was quieter. Lots of heat coming off the tractor when I got out to clean off the mower....guess it takes fuel to make that heat!
 
(quoted from post at 20:20:24 08/05/16) Eldon:

Sounds like it's time to put a cab on the AC 175D, and hang a 12 volt box-type computer fan inside for cooling. LOL

:>)
Click to expand...

Believe me I have thought about it before. I simple narrow cab, just tall enough to clear my head when I stand up, 12 volt swamp cooler in the back....maybe a turbo to up the engine hp abit....perfect mowing tractor!
 

Eldon you may have more fuel than you think. The tanks on the JD 5000 series tractors had more fuel in the lower half than the top half. The top fit around the three point and top link. My 5210 will drop to 1/2 tank fast and then run twice as long on the lower half.

I also believe your AC had a perkiness motor and that is a fuel efficient motor.
 

Eldon you may have more fuel than you think. The tanks on the JD 5000 series tractors had more fuel in the lower half than the top half. The top fit around the three point and top link. My 5210 will drop to 1/2 tank fast and then run twice as long on the lower half.

I also believe your AC had a perkiness motor and that is a fuel efficient motor.[/quote]

That could be...I will fill it with 5 gallon cans to get a better estimate.
The 175 I use has a newer 248 Perkins in it, black with yellow stickers...listed at 75 HP a bit more than AC original, only 16hp less than the Deere's 276.
 

Was this motor a factory running change or was it replaced with another "like" motor???[/quote]

This one isn't factory, drain plug is on the side which is inconvenient, and it only holds 7 quarts of oil compared to the original engine which takes 8. It also had a Lucas pump on it when I bought it, but I put an original CAV pump from a 170 on it....not that that should matter....
 
That Deere is just going to burn a lot more fuel than the Perkins.But Hey it had to be great You Done it riding in a John Deere the ultimate machine on the face of the Earth(LOL)
And you love it now just wait until it gets to be the age of the 175 and those repair bills on the front ends of those Deere's are fun too,friend of mine just spent
over $3500 on his.
 
It takes some power to run the air conditioner. Folks often say their new cab tractor uses more fuel than the open station tractor it replaced.
 
Drop the air pressure in the tires. If you are using a suspension seat with a shock absorber, pull the pin out of one end of it. You'd be amazed at
how much smoother the seat rides....the softer tires help to reduce the possibility of a jolt, or just increase the tension on the springs if worried.

If all that fails, get an air seat with the built in compressor. My Branson came with one and I wish I had it on all my tractors, but removing the
shock abserber action I mentioned works ok on my Fords, considering what it would cost to equip all units.
 
(quoted from post at 09:23:27 08/06/16) Drop the air pressure in the tires. If you are using a suspension seat with a shock absorber, pull the pin out of one end of it. You'd be amazed at
how much smoother the seat rides....the softer tires help to reduce the possibility of a jolt, or just increase the tension on the springs if worried.

If all that fails, get an air seat with the built in compressor. My Branson came with one and I wish I had it on all my tractors, but removing the
shock abserber action I mentioned works ok on my Fords, considering what it would cost to equip all units.
Click to expand...

Went to check the air pressure in the rears...valve stem at the top and I got nothing but water....guess the tractor is heavier than I thought! Time to get some dry wheels and tires on it. You would think being fluid filled would make them ride even smoother...
 
(quoted from post at 21:44:21 08/05/16)
Eldon you may have more fuel than you think. The tanks on the JD 5000 series tractors had more fuel in the lower half than the top half. The top fit around the three point and top link. My 5210 will drop to 1/2 tank fast and then run twice as long on the lower half.

I also believe your AC had a perkiness motor and that is a fuel efficient motor.
Click to expand...

Little over 10 gallons to fill it....not as bad as I thought.
 
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