quad range, syncro, or power shift?

[swindave]

in the 30-40 series what is your favorite transmission?
i like the quad range, but i never used a power shift, just more gears to chose from,
whats your favorite?

 

[cornerpost]

Have owned all three. For tillage quad offers better speed selection. For spraying or planting or snow blowing power shift.

 

[rrlund]

I owned a Quad and a Syncro, but never a powershift. I did rent a powershift 4040 one spring though. I liked the Quad best, but the problem was, if you were running a round baler or something and wanted to go from 4th to R1, you banged that clutch pack back and forth five times to get there, 4 to 3, 3 to 2, 2 to 1, 1 to R2, R2 to R1.

 

[fdt860]

What? A normal quad goes direct from 1 to R1.
I read somewhere that some people put the speed shifter of the synchro on quads so you can do 3 to R1.

If you want to do 4 to r2 for loader work, one simply needs to flip the lever of the Hilo.

 

[rrlund]

Does it drop straight from 1 to R1? I traded mine off 18 years ago so I don't have it here to look, but I thought it came down at an
angle from 1 to R like it does from 3 to 2 so you went from 1 to R2? If you have more recent knowledge that my old memory then you're
right and I'm wrong. I don't know, other than that shifting through so many gears to get there, I thought it was a pretty good unit.

 

[Tx Jim]

I'd choose a Quad-range over a 8 speed Power shift anytime. I've baled over 150,000 rd bales with a JD tractor with quad range trans & never baled with the trans in "4th" gear of any range. I usually utilize either B1,B2 or C1,C2 depending on ground conditions The advent of bale push bars/ramps eliminated the need to back up before ejecting bale from rd baler. Photos below is Quad range shift pattern with approximate MPH in each gear

 

[rrlund]

Ya, I usually tried to bale in B or C 1 and 2. I'm in hilly country and don't have a push bar, so backing up on hills has to be done probably 20% of the time. It sure beat the heck out of a syncro for baling, that's for certain. Start a bale in 1 and go to 2 when it's started, back down to 1 to start the twine without clutching. I never used that powershift that I rented on the baler. I returned it after I got the corn in. My cousin had a 4040 powershift, but he never commented on it as far as baling with it. I think it was just better than his open station 3020 so there wasn't much to talk about.

 

[IowaJohn]

I've got a 4430 quad. It used to be our big tractor in the field really liked being able to powershift between 1&2 in both b&c ranges. I was surprised when we put a loader on it how handy it is from 1&2 forward into reverse, I think it's handier than the 8 speed powershift in a 4020 when doing loader work. I live in the rolling hills of western Iowa and use the 4430 to patch critter holes and blowouts in terraces, I move alot of dirt with the it. Don't have to own or hire a dozer.

 

[tim s]

Quad Range is My favorite,less shifter issues than a sychro range, and better speed variation,,

 

[larryanderson]

The 8 speed powershift were very durable.Having only 8 speeds made them about like the syngro for gear selection.The quad had the extra gear selection and on the go shifting and are probably the first choice.The upgraded 15speed powershift in 50 series made them the number one choice.A 30series with syngro is discounted. The PTO brake and more labor to fix is a minus as I know of a couple powershift bills that were more than tractor was worth. I just had a PTO brake fixed on a syngro everything worked fine except if clutch was disengaged it lost steering and hydraulics quickly .I expected it to be weak pump but my mechanic is one of the best and knew exactly what problem was.I bought a good running 4840 for salvage with transmission problems and owner had estimate of $15K to fix

 

[alfa2]

I agree with Cornerpost it depends what the tractor is used for I like the powershift for feeding cows planting spraying baling raking tedding etc the quad shines on tillage running a forage harvester and hauling tanks a lot of the time just slap that lever to the side and it's all you need both are very good transmissions never cared much for a synchro since I had a 706 outperform a 4020 on an IH 570 spreader spreading poultry litter

 

[4520BW]

I have a 4230 and a 4840 both powershift and a 8430 quad. I would rather have a powrrshift on my small chore tractors but the quad is nice for field work. My 4250 powrrshift is great for round baling with 15 speed then the 8 speeds.

 

[SVcummins]

Seems like the fiat fan boys live to post how hard a John Deere powershift shifts but they all shut up when you ask if they knew you can adjust the shift speed ? Had a John Deere “technician” tell me how bad they were he had worked at John Deere but when i asked him the same question uh well uh .. atta boy and your working on tractors for a living?