JCB dualtech vs powershift and various other questions

melted welly

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
DD9.
Does anyone have experience running the 2 types? Is there a difference in fuel usage? Mechanic says far fewer issues with dualtech than powershift, but we’ve put 9000hrs on current 6 speed and touch wood it’s been fine.


Also 130hp engine vs 150hp. is the bigger one worth it or do you mange fine with 130?
Wouldn’t be doing much towing. Never found current 140hp version wanting on power.

60% on yards/roads etc 40% off road, handling Hesstons, grain, general loader work.

Looking at 538 60.

Anyone with manitou headstock on one? Is the crowd geometry affected in any way compared to Qfit? Don’t like qfit, manitou design far nearer, plus have 2 Manitou’s so makes sense.

Also screen guards, is visibility affected overly? Replacement screen about £460, full length guard £480 ish, seems cheap insurance.
 

Niteforce

Member
Location
East Yorks
Had both on demo and wasn’t that excited about the dual tech . Then after trying the power shift second I found you had to old it on the brakes a lot compared to our older power shift. They also wouldn’t lift as much as our current machine even though it had a 600 kg larger capacity. Still waiting for a reply from jcb/dealer to see if this could be remedied. Nobody seems in a rush to sell me one .🙄🙄🙄
 

melted welly

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
DD9.
Had both on demo and wasn’t that excited about the dual tech . Then after trying the power shift second I found you had to old it on the brakes a lot compared to our older power shift. They also wouldn’t lift as much as our current machine even though it had a 600 kg larger capacity. Still waiting for a reply from jcb/dealer to see if this could be remedied. Nobody seems in a rush to sell me one .🙄🙄🙄
What engine(s)?
 

Jim75

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Easter ross
Got a dual tech just over a year old, best 5k ever. Everyone who drives it loves it. Bought some feed barley and loaded myself with a new powershift. Just didn’t feel natural after being used to the vario. Having to hold it on the brakes. Not sure I’d want a full length screen guard but each to their own.
 

melted welly

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
DD9.
Got a dual tech just over a year old, best 5k ever. Everyone who drives it loves it. Bought some feed barley and loaded myself with a new powershift. Just didn’t feel natural after being used to the vario. Having to hold it on the brakes. Not sure I’d want a full length screen guard but each to their own.
I figured a screen guard could always be taken off.
Broke screen on current one, got new fitted and within a week I’d put a tattie box thru the new one 🤦‍♂️ Costs £150 for old style fitted, new is just shy of £460ish, guard £25 more than the glass.
 

Jim75

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Easter ross
I figured a screen guard could always be taken off.
Broke screen on current one, got new fitted and within a week I’d put a tattie box thru the new one 🤦‍♂️ Costs £150 for old style fitted, new is just shy of £460ish, guard £25 more than the glass.

visibilty is 2nd to none imo with the curved one piece so wouldn’t be keen on restricting it but get your point. As for fuel if you’re coming from manitou you’ll notice a difference, for all the complaints with the manitou we swapped a 735-120, it was good on fuel but sure we’re using a good 1.5-2 litres an hour extra which over a year adds up. Only complaint mind you for overall better machine.
 

Lawless

Member
Had a 538-60 dualtech for just under 12 months. Done about 1200 hours on it, would never go back to a powershift gearbox again. Been running JCBs for decades and it really is the best of both worlds regarding gearbox. We do quite a bit of towing with it and find the bigger engine a bonus but never needed the extra hp for anything else.
we don’t have a screen guard.
 

mf7480

Member
Mixed Farmer
Was looking a these recently. Can't help on the gearbox but I always thought a 6m machine would be the way and it's what we've always had, but had a 7m on demo and found it wasn't any less manoeuvrable than the 6m machine. The wheelbase is identical, the carriage is something like 50mm further forward so next to nothing, and all the extra reach is gained by the lump behind the machine. I found that 'lump' made absolutely no difference to manoeuvrability or visibility, and it was noticable how I didn't have to boom out to load the feed wagon for example. It resulted in much quicker cycle times than our TM, you have to boom half way out for every single bucketful that's tipped in with that. The smart hydraulics are incredible, makes the TM feel like an antique.
 

vantage

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Pembs
Was looking a these recently. Can't help on the gearbox but I always thought a 6m machine would be the way and it's what we've always had, but had a 7m on demo and found it wasn't any less manoeuvrable than the 6m machine. The wheelbase is identical, the carriage is something like 50mm further forward so next to nothing, and all the extra reach is gained by the lump behind the machine. I found that 'lump' made absolutely no difference to manoeuvrability or visibility, and it was noticable how I didn't have to boom out to load the feed wagon for example. It resulted in much quicker cycle times than our TM, you have to boom half way out for every single bucketful that's tipped in with that. The smart hydraulics are incredible, makes the TM feel like an antique.
I’m amazed JCB don’t offer the Dualtec gearbox on the TM.
 

E_B

Member
Location
Norfolk
We have a torque converter Agri Super 541-70 with 10,500 hours on it, and a dual transmission Agri Pro with 6,500 hours on it, 4 years newer.

The Agri Pro is a much, much nicer machine to use. No need to touch the brakes in the yard really. The rear diff has been rebuilt on the powershift, the brake servo worn out. Depends on the operator obviously but for jobs like feeding along a passage with an auger bucket, spreading straw with a spread a bale, etc the hydro takes all the strain off the machine. Worth the extra money IMO.
 

Jamer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Glos
I figured a screen guard could always be taken off.
Broke screen on current one, got new fitted and within a week I’d put a tattie box thru the new one 🤦‍♂️ Costs £150 for old style fitted, new is just shy of £460ish, guard £25 more than the glass.
It’s worse than that; the interior has to be stripped out of the new one to cut the glass out. - All the trim around the windscreen, the blinds and the internal cage. Couple of hours work apparently.
 

cows sh#t me to tears

Member
Livestock Farmer
As above.... Come standard with a screen guard here. Can't say I even notice it. Dust on the windscreen is worse than the guard.
As for the transmission. What's the saying? Best thing since sliced bread.....No its not. It's better, much much better. Wouldn't have a torque converter powershift one again if you gave it to me.
Yes, they're thirsty. But I consider it a small price to pay.
 

Jim75

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Easter ross
As above.... Come standard with a screen guard here. Can't say I even notice it. Dust on the windscreen is worse than the guard.
As for the transmission. What's the saying? Best thing since sliced bread.....No its not. It's better, much much better. Wouldn't have a torque converter powershift one again if you gave it to me.
Yes, they're thirsty. But I consider it a small price to pay.
I take it your issues have been sorted ……..
 

Yale

Member
Livestock Farmer
Only thing which worries me is the complexity of transmission and electrics long term.

Our 526s is 16 years old and can mend it mainly with a hammer , spanner and screwdriver.

Get the feeling these new ones aren't as ‘bush’ friendly.
 

cows sh#t me to tears

Member
Livestock Farmer
I take it your issues have been sorted ……..
With or by the new one?

With....Yes , steering noise sorted. New ones come with the "fix" as standard. So obviously was a known Gen 3 fault.
Still waiting on them to remedy the hvac issue.

That said. In no way have I had a transmission issue with this one, and the ac crápś all over the old model. For operator comfort and ease of use this transmission is the ducks guts.

Old one issue solved by it being someone else's problem..... I know it had done another flex plate after we traded it. I'll have to ask the mechanic if he knows if it came back Xmas just gone for number 7 :ROFLMAO: :rolleyes:
 
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devonboy

Member
Mixed Farmer
We are on our 2nd 536 95 with dual tech, 1st one ,535 95 was here from new for 3 years and done 3000 hours lovely machine to drive ,mainly yard work , but it averaged a shade over 8 litres a hour for fuel which we thought was brilliant, we had a email once a week on its performance stats. people think they are thirsty as the fuel tank is rather small.Usually drive it in eco but if you want the extra grunt it certainly goes when in power and its over 9tonnes in weight.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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