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davpal: I tried one the 3588 at a demonstration back when they were new. At the time I already owned a 1066 with duals, plus I owned a John Deere 540A forestry skidder which I used a lot for tillage. Basically that 540A, much the same chassis as 7520 with less hp and it had 8 speed power shift. I came away from that 3588 quite disappointed. It gave you the feeling you were pulling a tillage tool the 1066 could handle, and doing it with a locomotive. Much too clumsey in my opinion. With articulated tractors, if the operator is seated on the front half you actually have a much better view, and very much smoother ride. I found the 3588 very rough if front wheels encountered rough teraine. When you start to turn right, the back half actually goes left for a brief period, enough so you loose complete view of the implement over your right shoulder. This is very much improved on machines with operator up front. A friend of mine bought a 3388 for use on his dairy farm. I stopped in one day when they were doing corn silage. I had rained a soil was greasy on top but not soft. They were actually using Allis 200 on the harvester and had 3388 on silo blower. They told me that under greasy conditions it was hard to keep harvester on row while pulling wagons using the 3388. I think it would be a case of not being able to make correction as quickly as you could with conventional 2 wheel drive tractor. I have a feeling all articulated tractors are harder on pto shafts than conventional tractors. History also tells us that pivot point on 2+2 was a disaster. 2,000 to 3,000 hours and you were replacing all pivots including steering cylinders. My 540A Deere had new bushings in the main pivot at 9,000 hours, and at 13,000 hours the steering cylinders had never been touched. Every winter my Deere got sent off to the bush, and hammered over granite rocks. Much harder lifesyle than farming, although I will admit dust was not a factor in winter. Regular greasing should keep dust out of those pivots.
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