John deere 8r tractors
- Thread starter John
- Start date
- Location
- norfolk
We have just replaced our 5400 hr RT with another.
It's been a reliable bus, had a fuel pump issue oil leak on the sump that's been about it apart general wear. After driving a challenger B and C the RT is miles ahead as far as cab, comfort and gearbox go.
It's been a reliable bus, had a fuel pump issue oil leak on the sump that's been about it apart general wear. After driving a challenger B and C the RT is miles ahead as far as cab, comfort and gearbox go.
bluegreen
Member
G. Shropshires (Huge fen farm) have just got a 765D with a 775E also due in December I understand, plus two more 765C to change next year and one 8345RT which is soon to be the oldest of their five smaller twin tracks. This means four times since the green one arrived they've passed on replacing the other CATs with another RT Deere?? It cant just be a cheaper price or they wouldn't have bothered buying the 8345RT in the first place!
Deerejon
Member
G's have got a fair mixed fleet to be honest. And doubt it all comes down to price.
Could you expand on the hitch?
Roy Stokes
Member
- Location
- East Shropshire
I doubt that G's actually own any of their tractors, their Shropshire base just up the road from me uses hire for their requirements and it seems all about the best hire deal, a few years ago it was all green, now mainly blue
- Location
- norfolk
G's own the crawlers, majority of everything else is on contract hire. They bought the deere as the driver wanted it as he had always had deere's as it replaced an ageing 8530, I had 14 years at g's and they have had jd crawlers since they first came out, 8300, then a 8410, which was very unreliable so when challenger came with a demo it was a massive improvement which is when they first had one followed by another the following year.
Deere have moved forward with their machines where challenger seem to have stood still somewhat IMO
Deere have moved forward with their machines where challenger seem to have stood still somewhat IMO
Darren
Member
- Location
- Lincolnshire
Challenger is standing still while its gearbox decides what it's doing. Give it a few minutes, clunk, lurch and it'll be right.
After having a 936 for 3 weeks this summer, what Agco need to do is give their Fendt division the challenger with a remit of "spam it the f**k up and don't spare the horses".
Then it would be a serious contender to the latest 8rt's
After having a 936 for 3 weeks this summer, what Agco need to do is give their Fendt division the challenger with a remit of "spam it the f**k up and don't spare the horses".
Then it would be a serious contender to the latest 8rt's
James 6920
Member
- Location
- Kent
Having driven two challengers in my previous job a B series and C and now driving a JD 8345rt and spent some time in a 8360rt I feel i can pass some opinion on!!
The challengers do what there design to do, work hard and lug along some heavy tillage kit without many thrills or bells and whistles, yes the c series I had was noisy in the cab and the gearbox lacked any "finesse" but i felt it was pretty bombproof and worked hard without much fuss. Now the 8rt is a different tool, the cab is in a much higher league than the challenger much more operator friendly, quieter, apart from cvt whine..... It's command arm has everything to hand, the only thing in the cab I find not as good is the seat, the challenger c series had the vrs seat which seemed more comfortable. In terms of power ive not found much difference I do feel tho that the challenger felt better balanced in the track department it seem to turn better and was more postive when turning under load, the other thing that I find strange is that the challengers have pivoting mid wheels where as the Deeres are fixed and do not pivot, would this make much difference??? Who knows.
Overall all if I could melt the two machines down and mould them in to one then I think it would be one awesome twin track crawler!!
Just be nice if case made a smaller quad track...........
The challengers do what there design to do, work hard and lug along some heavy tillage kit without many thrills or bells and whistles, yes the c series I had was noisy in the cab and the gearbox lacked any "finesse" but i felt it was pretty bombproof and worked hard without much fuss. Now the 8rt is a different tool, the cab is in a much higher league than the challenger much more operator friendly, quieter, apart from cvt whine..... It's command arm has everything to hand, the only thing in the cab I find not as good is the seat, the challenger c series had the vrs seat which seemed more comfortable. In terms of power ive not found much difference I do feel tho that the challenger felt better balanced in the track department it seem to turn better and was more postive when turning under load, the other thing that I find strange is that the challengers have pivoting mid wheels where as the Deeres are fixed and do not pivot, would this make much difference??? Who knows.
Overall all if I could melt the two machines down and mould them in to one then I think it would be one awesome twin track crawler!!
Just be nice if case made a smaller quad track...........
dondeere
Member
- Location
- Brandesburton
Had four 8 series machines 8520t,8530 with stocks h track,8345rt and a 8360r each one was better than the previous.
reliability wise the 8345 rt did 1500hrs without a spanner on it great machine.
8530 h track pulled like a train shame the tracks couldn't handle it.
reliability wise the 8345 rt did 1500hrs without a spanner on it great machine.
8530 h track pulled like a train shame the tracks couldn't handle it.
Pheasant Surprise
Member
- Location
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
You know what they say BG, once you go black, you never go back! 
- Location
- south norfolk
I think they look the rubbish in black
Nick...
Nick...
Chae1
Member
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
That's pretty good 1500hrs without a spanner on.
dirty harry
Member
- Location
- east of east midlands!
our 8r has done 1500hrs & is in for major gearbox surgery at the moment, deere knows theyve got a problem and are sorting it out, so cant grumble really as got another here to keep me going, the pick up hitches are the same as those fitted to the 6 series and not fit for purpose, after 3 yrs complaining eventually got a new h/duty dromone one being fitted whilst its in for surgery anyway which should solve that. what else, front prop shafts breaking - nothing new these have gone on our older ones before aswell.
when the its all working right they are a brilliannt tractor, the gearbox is very good and a lovely place to spend a day or two (and a night or two), i dont think id buy a newer 8r without a warranty though as electrics seem to create issues and "gremlins" that dont actually exist!!
would i buy another, having tried some others this year and got prices in the deere is a yes again.
when the its all working right they are a brilliannt tractor, the gearbox is very good and a lovely place to spend a day or two (and a night or two), i dont think id buy a newer 8r without a warranty though as electrics seem to create issues and "gremlins" that dont actually exist!!
would i buy another, having tried some others this year and got prices in the deere is a yes again.