John Deere 5055 4WD Question

Got a call late yesterday from the people that own a sheep farm across the river from me could I unload a load of hay they had headed their way so I did that.Come to find out they have a JD 5055 4WD that won't move they had problems before the local dealer sent out their service truck and the mechanic said they needed an up grade to the computer that cost $500 for the
upgrade,service call etc etc,ended up costing them over $800.Does all this sound legit?Plus the tractor has the same problem now as before and I think the dealer is wanting to charge them again to come out.Any suggestions or ideas I hate to see them really get took.

If it?s not under warranty dealers willing to admit they didn?t fix it and come look at it again on their dime are few and far between. Not saying they?re not out there and I know of a certain one or two on here that would ,but just saying nowadays they?re rare.

One of my neighbors had a similar issue with hisJD loader tractor. It would start and run fine. Just won?t move. Dealer came out with his laptop, cleared some codes or some BS , then it was good to go, till next time. Few weeks later, same issue. This time it went back to the dealer for some on board computer replacement parts. Yes it cost $$, no idea how much, ended their problem. What happens when JD decides to no longer support this technology??

Maybe the more this happens to the computer controlled tractors the price of older units will rise ? May be hope for my oldies yet. lol.

That is one of many reasons I don't want a tractor with a computer. With the laws we have , I don't know of any way but pay to be legally robbed. I have come across many stories like this locally. One of the worst was a guy about an hour west of me in Carthidge,Tn. I was there to buy a mower for a IH 140 from him. He had a couple of nice looking deere tractors he was threatning to "get rid of". It seems that a few years after he bought one of the tractors he went back to the same dealer and bought a round baler. When he hooked up the baler it wouldn't work. He called the dealer and they sent a service tech to help him. The tech spent parts of 2 days going back and forth to the dealership and working on the tractor and baler. When he finished it worked as it should. In a few days the farmer received a bill for over $2000 ! He went to the dealer and complained and was told that when he plugged the plug from the baler control into the plug on the tractor it "blew something" because the two weren't compatible . They replaced what was blown and reprogramed the tractor and everything worked. The farmer was not happy so the dealer knocked about $300 off the bill but it was still almost $2000. I don't know much about computers on farm machinery but some of you guys may understand what happened. My last job with the school system was as a vocational supervisor. When I bought equipment I had it in writing it was to be set up and running to avoid things like this. I hope those poor folks don't get taken.

All the electronically controls on newer tractors are great when operating correctly & can be a nightmare when they fail. I'm glad my tractors are all manual control even the one the frt end loader with hyd reverser.

I was dealing with the farm manager and the fellow that owns the place came out and asking about my AC 185 I unloaded the hay with,said that was the kind of tractor he thought
they needed(LOL)I have no desire to own any of these new tractors with all the electronics,I've heard similar stories about every brand.

My guess eventually some clever person will offer replacement copmuters for these tractors. People will only be held hostage so long. And they will dare anyone to stop them. Just like all of the people around here deleting the emissions junk from brand new diesels. The dealers around here encourage people to have it done.

A friend has one and had the same issue. Turned out to be water in the fuel filter. When anything shows a code they just won't move to prevent damage. New filters and it worked fine. Happened to him twice in a year.

I have been looking and considering a almost new low hour 5055 with a factory cab. Hearing your story is sure making me want to reconsider. May be the reason Tractor House has so many low hour ones for sale.

As far as brands go all the tractors are starting to look alike,just a different color,,and they all have similar electronics that are troublesome,..I know it won't happen but if some one offered a 100 hp tractor with "No" bells and whistles,,the kind where you actually pull a lever to turn the PTO on or shift,,they would sell like Hot cakes..

Tim, do you remember the Mexican 4455 that were sold here in the states in the 90s? No cab or electronics and a syncro tranny. I put a cab from a 4440 on one for a neighbor.

(quoted from post at 10:17:06 12/05/18) As far as brands go all the tractors are starting to look alike,just a different color,,and they all have similar electronics that are troublesome,..I know it won't happen but if some one offered a 100 hp tractor with "No" bells and whistles,,the kind where you actually pull a lever to turn the PTO on or shift,,they would sell like Hot cakes..

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Cars and trucks are looking just about all the same too. The EPA and other regulations narrow down the shape and size to something similar .
Their III and Tier IV mandated the use of computer controls .

I would not want to be his insurance agent,those computer/wiring problems cause fires.

DoubleR: I am as green of a fellow as you can get. I will never own an India built JD tractor. Your buying the LOW end /cheapest tractor they make. This model is to compete with a Mahindra. I would not own one of the newer ones of them either. They all have had to install computer systems to meet EPA emission standards. So your betting the cheapest built tractor is going to be the most dependable. NOTTTTTTTT LOL

The older models of either, that did not have to meet the tier 4 emission standards where not bad tractors. The electronics made them into a lemon in my eyes. I am not alone in feeling this way either. Look at tractor forums and you will find more dissatisfied owners than happy ones it seems.

Let me tell you the story of an Agco tractor with cvt that wouldn?t move sometimes and sometimes it would. Dealer mechanic came spent 15 minutes ten of that taking to me not about the tractor but just bsn the dairy got a bill for 800$ welcome to modern computer controlled junk

I have friend that bought a new AGCO worked great until just after the warranty ran out, has had nothing but trouble with it since then.

(quoted from post at 21:30:10 12/05/18) DoubleR: I am as green of a fellow as you can get. I will never own an India built JD tractor. Your buying the LOW end /cheapest tractor they make. This model is to compete with a Mahindra. I would not own one of the newer ones of them either. They all have had to install computer systems to meet EPA emission standards. So your betting the cheapest built tractor is going to be the most dependable. NOTTTTTTTT LOL

The older models of either, that did not have to meet the tier 4 emission standards where not bad tractors. The electronics made them into a lemon in my eyes. I am not alone in feeling this way either. Look at tractor forums and you will find more dissatisfied owners than happy ones it seems.

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I recall hearing the same about those durn fool computers in cars and trucks .

We can both be glad we have old tractors that work and when they don?t it?s usually a cheap fix

I am a old guy and like old tractors, but when we have a job to do I will pick the newest best riding, quietest, tractor we have. It uses 2 gallons less fuel a hour than the 4040 JD it replaced. No computer issues in 4yrs. It has just 1100 hrs. Fuel is over $2 right. So it has saved at least $4400 in fuel.

You're right some of the bills I hear of for repairs is stunning,the guy with the AGCO was up to around 10K$ the last I heard.For 10 grand I could buy several real good tractors.
Heck I don't have 10K in all the equipment and tractors I used to make hay with this past year.

Thing is you hear about the ONE bad one, dozens of times, but you never hear about the THOUSANDS of ones that are running trouble free.

That?s how I am . To many people are scared to get a little cold or hot or dirty and of course the nieghbor has. New tractor we need one to .