Fendt Vario v JD autopower transmission

[NewlandFarmServices]

Iv read quite a bit on here and others about the JD autopower box. Before you all say don't go there lol I'm just curious of how they drive. As I'm used to fendt Vario and the ease of the joystick. So on Fendt to go faster just push lever forward and back to slow. Braking exhaust brake and lever back. It's so simple. But looking at the JD autopower it's little knob with a dial and just baffles me how it works as seen videos but be interesting how it performs. As it is any good for loader work, baleing etc. Iv heard the power quad box is better for transportation due to splitter used for engine braking. I'm no Deere man only driven few years back so bit out of water. Oh and I'm taking about the pre r series so 30 series as I no the new comman pro joystick is just about a fendt one.

 

[KB6930]

John Deere autopower is very good and simple to use
2 max speeds can be set with the little dial then simply shove either throttle to max (the engine speed will be sorted by the tractor as to what it needs) then push the lever forward to go faster pull it back to go slower
Great for multiple operator's and technophobes

Or you can just drive it on the throttle pedal like a normal gearbox etc

There's a but more you can fiddle with to get the best out of it in certain circumstances

 

[KB6930]

We've 4 autopower here and 3 power quad when we used to have 2 equivalent 1 power quad and 1 autopower there's no difference between them for pulling power the autopower will out grip due to being able to run at lower revs .
Only thing I don't like compared to vario is autopower doesn't actually stop at tick over or the lever pulled right back you need to touch the brakes to come to a complete stop
For round baleing the only other vario I've tried was the fastrac and for speed of reaction in speed changes and pulling away and stopping the autopower was way quicker.
Only Fendt experience I have was an old shape 820 on my plough and my 6930 walked away from it power wise with my 5 furrow on so I've never looked near a fendt again due to not being impressed and dealer issues

 

[NewlandFarmServices]

We've 4 autopower here and 3 power quad when we used to have 2 equivalent 1 power quad and 1 autopower there's no difference between them for pulling power the autopower will out grip due to being able to run at lower revs .
Only thing I don't like compared to vario is autopower doesn't actually stop at tick over or the lever pulled right back you need to touch the brakes to come to a complete stop
For round baleing the only other vario I've tried was the fastrac and for speed of reaction in speed changes and pulling away and stopping the autopower was way quicker.
Only Fendt experience I have was an old shape 820 on my plough and my 6930 walked away from it power wise with my 5 furrow on so I've never looked near a fendt again due to not being impressed and dealer issues

Thanks. Thanks for that. I'm just used to fendts so the Deere Vario bit new to me as my Fendt is so easy to drive but there doesn't seem much on the little stick in the Deere. I guess setting the revs to max is like having TMS on Fendt where the engine will control revs to the job requirements.
I'm trying to find good videos about how to use them but can't seem find any decent ones. If type JD autopower in Google it gives horror stories of box problems. A JD mechanic told me other week not to get a autopower and stick with normal box but heard the 30 series better than 10 and 20.
Do the 30 series have clutchless forward/reversing? Or use have use brake for example round baleing when have to stop then set of again.

 

[KB6930]

You can just shuttle but probably better to use the brakes round baleing I set speed 2 to 20k set 1 to 10k and work somewhere between the 2 when the bale is made pull the lever back to speed 1 shuttle into reverse and rest my foot on the brakes if you drop the shuttle into neutral it'll go to a complete standstill VERY quickly so best to hold it up in the middle over the neutral position and it runs smoothly to a stop helped by the brakes

Yes max revs is like tms

Never had any mechanical issues with boxes here but didn't get one till the 30 series had a couple of sensors but nothing that has stopped us yet

 

[NewlandFarmServices]

You can just shuttle but probably better to use the brakes round baleing I set speed 2 to 20k set 1 to 10k and work somewhere between the 2 when the bale is made pull the lever back to speed 1 shuttle into reverse and rest my foot on the brakes if you drop the shuttle into neutral it'll go to a complete standstill VERY quickly so best to hold it up in the middle over the neutral position and it runs smoothly to a stop helped by the brakes

Yes max revs is like tms

Never had any mechanical issues with boxes here but didn't get one till the 30 series had a couple of sensors but nothing that has stopped us yet

Oh right thanks. Might have to have a play in one see if it suits me. I use pedal mode 95% or time in Fendt for loader work then flick it to right to put into cruise. I take it Deere don't have cruise in the 30 series and will it drive in pedal mode rather than stick. Is yours a 50k one as heard can do 55k.

 

[KB6930]

Oh right thanks. Might have to have a play in one see if it suits me. I use pedal mode 95% or time in Fendt for loader work then flick it to right to put into cruise. I take it Deere don't have cruise in the 30 series and will it drive in pedal mode rather than stick. Is yours a 50k one as heard can do 55k.

No no cruise mode basically they're as close to a normal gearbox as you'll find to drive but you can go any speed you want.
All our 50k ones do 55 on gps

For loader work I'd set a max speed then drive it on the foot throttle kinda like a normal tractor downside is as I said before you'll be used to lifting of the pedal and actually stopping and holding where the Deere will creep

 

[NewlandFarmServices]

No no cruise mode basically they're as close to a normal gearbox as you'll find to drive but you can go any speed you want.
All our 50k ones do 55 on gps

For loader work I'd set a max speed then drive it on the foot throttle kinda like a normal tractor downside is as I said before you'll be used to lifting of the pedal and actually stopping and holding where the Deere will creep

Ok thanks for the info. Yes it might take bit of getting used to but like anything once had bit of time on things it should be ok.

 

[Frankzy]

Always wondered why the Deeres will creep since afaik they are the only ones that do so, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[benny6910]

Oh right thanks. Might have to have a play in one see if it suits me. I use pedal mode 95% or time in Fendt for loader work then flick it to right to put into cruise. I take it Deere don't have cruise in the 30 series and will it drive in pedal mode rather than stick. Is yours a 50k one as heard can do 55k.

Newer r series have a pedal mode but in 1700hrs I’ve not used it so I couldn’t tell you what it’s like. In my opinion jd auto power is easy to use, you just push the leaver forward into 1 or 2 and it will run to the speed you have set it at. The thumb roller is for you to set the speed your desired speed, so if your wanting to go 5kph you twist the roller till it’s set at 5 k then if you have the lever pushed full to the first position then it will do 5 k with your throttle fully open. Depending on what setting you have the transmission in that will determine what the engine runs at to keep up to the set speed.
After driving one for half a hour or so you’d soon get to know how it works.

 

[Lewis821]

If you spec the jd with the command pro joystick its identical to the fendt to use

 

[Galcam]

If u get a drive in a Deere with command pro it may be something compatible to what’s in a Fendt from what I remember of the Fendt I drive. You can set two speeds on it with the thumb wheel or via the screen and to engage any of those selected speeds flick the command pro lever to the right. Touch the brakes and it will bring tractor to full stop. Pulling command pro twords u and moving it fwd or backwards allows u to creep and u can set that creep speed to what ur comfortable with. Command pro changes completely how u drive JD vs the little stick with thumb wheel. You will never ever use the shuttle again.

 

[Deerefarmer]

Can you pull the command pro back to a complete stop like a fendt?

 

[KB6930]

Newer r series have a pedal mode but in 1700hrs I’ve not used it so I couldn’t tell you what it’s like. In my opinion jd auto power is easy to use, you just push the leaver forward into 1 or 2 and it will run to the speed you have set it at. The thumb roller is for you to set the speed your desired speed, so if your wanting to go 5kph you twist the roller till it’s set at 5 k then if you have the lever pushed full to the first position then it will do 5 k with your throttle fully open. Depending on what setting you have the transmission in that will determine what the engine runs at to keep up to the set speed.
After driving one for half a hour or so you’d soon get to know how it works.

Done 3500 hrs with my R tried pedal mode once and it's not like pedal mode on any other vario never tried it again and never will

 

[benny6910]

Done 3500 hrs with my R tried pedal mode once and it's not like pedal mode on any other vario never tried it again and never will

What actually does it do? Maintain your set speed without having to use the throttle?

 

[KB6930]

I can't remember I think you still had to set the throttle it was a total waste of 10 minutes fir me so never tried again

 

[daveydiesel1]

For road work i prefer the jd autopower just put her in auto and work with throttle pedal but for field work i prefer fendt, John deere in question is 6920 so don't know about command pro

 

[Chips]

Pedal mode is great for hedge cutting and feeder wagon , allowing you to control your speed with your foot while your hands are free to steer and control the brusher

 

[daveydiesel1]

I think nh autocommand or case cvx is the best for stop start jobs such as hedge cutting and balin

 

[Frankzy]

I think nh autocommand or case cvx is the best for stop start jobs such as hedge cutting and balin

Especially Case with its sliding handle allowing you to control everything seamlessly with the right hand makes for a nice operation.
After that I'd rate Deutz TTV as second best.