5020 with Detroit engine

Thought some of might enjoy seeing--and hearing!--a 5020 John Deere with a Detroit diesel engine at work in the field.

Believe the driver is wearing ear muffs !

John Deere 5020 repower at YouTube.

Wonder how long the axle bearings and gears will last with this 315 hp engine?

Heard the 6030 was known to be hard on axle bearings with 175 hp.

Don

Drive train life can be shortened even on a 5020. If the operator ballasts a tractor by the ton. Then hauls draft loads so heavy the engine lugs in 1st gear.
If the 315HP tractor is used with loads in the 5mph range. And isn't over ballasted to prevent wheel slippage. All maybe ok.
Slight wheel slippage under normal loads protects the drivetrain. And allows a spinout should a sudden shock load occur.

We DID have an axle bearing go out on Dad's 6030 one time, but we just flat BROKE the rear axle 3 times over the years we used that old tractor so hard.

It was always with the 8 row lister fertilizer mounted on the three point, set on 40 inch row spacings...

HH

OK, that is a good EXCUSE for me to keep running these slick tires on my 5020. I have two tires with excellent tread but have been putting it off because changing a 30.5x32 seems like it will suXX. Now I can say I am trying to save my drive train. On another thought I talked to a old JD service manager in my town that told me only time he saw inside a 5020 rearend was once an axle broke and they had to tear down to replace. He said you could see the flaw in the axle and it ran a few years like less than 1/2 intact. Anyway guys tearing the rear out of a 5020 are doing something VERY VERY wrong.

I want my 5020 to last forever, I don't see it as too heavy for the horses either, mine seems balanced and I only have a M&W turbo on my stock engine and have the pump set very moderately. It does not throw black smoke when in a bind, I pull a 20 foot schaeffer offset and it pulls it nicely in 5th, 16 shank Krause with 18 in sweeps (NOT TOO DEEP), 14 shank Graham Hoeme with factory shanks as deep as it will go. I don't feel I am overloading it and I really want to make it last so I ain't killing it. I Love that tractor and my blood is VERY VERY red....to the tune of that is my only green machine or implement.

oh forgot about the 300 JD backhoe but it is YELLOW...HA HA

railhead,

If you think a 5020 is FUN, you should come play with my 'lil 'ol toy!

<img src = "http://ndtc3500.stellarnet.com/~blweltin/Bob/StuckOne.jpg">

<img src = "http://ndtc3500.stellarnet.com/~blweltin/Bob/StuckThree.jpg">

Very NICE!