Valtra Direct longevity

[Matthew Britton]

Right, First off, if possible I would like this thread to remain factual and as on topic (non brand bashing) as possible.

I have not been financially in a position to change tractors for quite some time. Now that we have moved and life is settling down I think in the next 18 months we should do something. I have had Autopower John Deere’s on and off since they were introduced, the current 6920s cost us a fortune 2 years ago and is now ok but at 10k hours probably needs to be demoted a little. I have had an interest in Valtra for years but never owned one. We would probably buy one at around 3-5k hours and keep it long term. My question is what are people’s experience of Direct gearboxes for longevity, I know where to send autopower boxes now for a refit but no idea on Valtra Directs and I don’t want to drop us in the . A main Valtra dealer once warned me off anything with 5k plus as they are unreliable in the transmission which has sowed the seeds of doubt!

 

[daveydiesel1]

@DrDunc

 

[Shropshire Farmer]

Don’t

 

[kill]

Look at tractors and plant website and have a looky at the first hit on tractors?
Also a T163D on eBay to have a look at.

 

[Shropshire Farmer]

Lots of software issues with direct and versu on 4 series.

 

[Yale]

Lots of software issues with direct and versu on 4 series.

That’s a bit vague,a bit like saying John Deere engines are iffy.

We have a n121 and a n103 which perform well however are irrelevant.

Contractor 3 miles from me had a 3 series direct ,something around a t192/3 or t202/3 maybe and had no end of bother,in the end did a deal with the agent for a brand new t214 versu.

There are machines out there which have had serious issues however it’s working out whether it is relevant to a model which you are looking at.

 

[Matthew Britton]

I would be looking at a 4 series. Before my 6920 gearbox went wrong I was thinking about a Valtra direct. I went to look at a T163 at Mc Lean tractors in Dorset. It was nice to drive but error codes. I also tried an N163? They in fairness did say that the transmission had been repaired but was ok. I got down the road on a test drive and it promptly died and refused to move. Got it going in the end but has got alarm bells ringing. I have been doing this long enough to know that they all go wrong but now we live in France I don’t want to buy a problem that a) costs us a fortune and b) having to sort it with a minimal command of the language! With the turbo clutch feature on the versu I could live with gears happily enough but having had cvt’s I would prefer to stick to them.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Does the tranny itself giv trouble or just the electrical side of things

 

[agcoparts]

Stay away from early T2 and T3 until 2014. The main problems already modified were C2 clutch, hydrostatic pump hydraulic lines, and synchronizer noise in early models. These faults were modified in those series and already the last direct T3 models they are pretty reliable tractors.The direct T4 is reliable and a fantastic tractor

 

[Matthew Britton]

Does the tranny itself giv trouble or just the electrical side of things

That is the question I would like answering! @agcoparts Has answered it from the side he sees but I would also appreciate any user opinion. Sounds like the series I would like should be ok. Are the transmissions the same in N and T models of the same power?

 

[agri knives]

I have a t 254 versu , it now has just hit 2000 hrs , in that time I’ve replaced 3 fuses caused by dodgy wiring on the machines behind, so fair to say that it has been 100% trouble free in the first 2000 hrs, the transmission is so smooth that I won’t be buying a direct , the versu seems to have a better reputation for reliability . I’m in the market for a 234 and a 194 secondhand , it’s hard to pay for these new tractors so I’m looking at tractors in the 1500-2500 hr range probably €40 k less than new. Anybody got high hours on the versu models and how are they going , since the cir clip issue has been modified are there any other problems .

 

[DrDunc]

@DrDunc

Feck knows, mines only done just shy of 3000 hours

The mechanical design and internal layout of the unique valtra stepless tranny should in theory outlast anything else.

It's a lovely comfortable easy days driving, whatever the job it's doing

 

[Jon]

Stay away from early T2 and T3 until 2014. The main problems already modified were C2 clutch, hydrostatic pump hydraulic lines, and synchronizer noise in early models. These faults were modified in those series and already the last direct T3 models they are pretty reliable tractors.The direct T4 is reliable and a fantastic tractor

Blimey.
I have an early T2 Direct.

What am I waiting to fail ?

 

[DrDunc]

Stay away from early T2 and T3 until 2014. The main problems already modified were C2 clutch, hydrostatic pump hydraulic lines, and synchronizer noise in early models. These faults were modified in those series and already the last direct T3 models they are pretty reliable tractors.The direct T4 is reliable and a fantastic tractor

Is this a clutch pack for the speed change when at 50% of maximum speed in whatever range (A to D), or C2 clutch pack in the powershift versions?

At 50% speed in the selected range, the direct is mostly hydraulic power transfer, at 25 and 75% it's mostly mechanical, giving it 8 speeds of maximum efficiency. This is why it's more efficient than any other stepless gearbox, and one of the reasons why it should in theory outlast anything else.

I was told that the hydrostat epicyclic pump drive "stalls" at 50% max range speed, then rotates in the opposite direction to alter the speed of the motor. It isn't a clutch pack and gearshift, but a similar idea to the Claas cmatic transmission. The advantage of the valtra over the class is that it has 4 ranges and 8 points of maximum mechanical torque transmission. The claas has one ratio, pump and motor swap roles at half max speed. The efficiency is therefore very poor and by comparison the hydrostat use subjected to far greater torque transfer than the far more mechanical system of the valtra.