Too fast in reverse

Our JD 4010 has 3 reverse gears. R1 and R2 are good speeds but R3 is wicked fast (for my liking) hence rarely used.
 
I am happy with the reverse gears on both my larger tractors. As noted, the 4010 provides me 2 great reverse speeds plus one that feel like highway speed (not that I would ever do that). Our IH 1466 has 8 reverse gears with the TA so loads of variation there. No complaints here!
 
After reading all the remarks about fast reverse I can see that I sold my IH504 utility way too cheap as I disliked the slow reverse for snow removal. I did not have the shuttle option.
 
Gramps had a 340 Utility that he ordered while he still had the dealership, had one of the nice Wagner-IH loaders, power steering and the "Fast Reverser" shuttle shift option that worked pretty well. Also the first tractor I ever drove, at age 7 with my uncle on the fender to work the clutch. It loaded lime at his Savona stockpile for years, very dependable tractor, came home every winter for a going over/ tune up, and a little snow plowing
 
The first manure loader dad had was a Gladen-Hass on a 46 John Deere A with a narrow front. It was a hand full, no power steering, no live power, fast reverse. We installed a Baler Valve to get hydraulics. I was in heaven. It sure beat the hick out of that manure fork.
 
The Ferguson TO-35 and MF-50 had two speed transmissions. 6 forward gears and 2 reverse. The Hi reverse was often too fast and the LO reverse was too slow at times. I always preferred the TE-20 4-speed transmission which seemed to have the gears right where I wanted them.
My Massey with a hi/lo tranny is painfully slow in low reverse. If you’re in a hurry, shift to high. Otherwise, bring a book.
 
MF 175. Reverse low range, low Multipower, will get backed in anywhere unless it’s downhill.. Then the Multipower lets it run away, so you’re on the brakes, as well as the clutch.

Loader work, on the other hand is really frustrating. Too slow in low range reverse, too fast in high range in any gear.
Exactly! The non- multi-power tractors are really frustrating as you have no multi-power option there. Moving round bales is painful for the same reasons.

I have found that High Multi-Power, low range reverse works really well at least for moving round bales. Can't speak for loader work though.

I also dislike the fast reverse on the 2 cylinder Deere's and the N-Series Fords, especially when you have to back up a wagon and look over your shoulder. Plus it causes unnecessary clutch slippage and wear.
 
Our JD 4010 has 3 reverse gears. R1 and R2 are good speeds but R3 is wicked fast (for my liking) hence rarely used.
The 4020 did away with the R3 slot in the console (probably for safety reasons) but the gear was still there. I've heard of guys grinding out the 4020's console plate to access the 3rd reverse. In theory there would be a 4th reverse as well but it would obviously be unusably fast and there's no space in the console to physically access it.
 
My throttle lever moves from fast to slow,
How do you “adjust your speed for conditions” when you just have 1 reverse gear, or in the case of some tractors multiple reverse gears but even the lowest one is very fast?
 
I like my Ford loader tractor.
Its an industrial with the 6x4 transmission.
Has low/hi ranges with 3 forward and 2 reverse in each range.
Not as quick as a shuttle shift tranny but always the perfect speed whether going forward or backward.
 
Why are a lot of tractors so fast in reverse? That’s a pet peeve of mine, when you are trying to back an implement and have to ride the clutch to keep from going so fast you can’t control it. Just tonight I was trying to tuck my manure spreader in the back of the shed with my JD 730 and was struggling. Between the hand clutch and the lightning fast reverse it’s a wonder I didn’t hit something. I now know why so many old 2 cylinder JDs have a hitch on the front, to back stuff into a shed.

Lots of other tractors are like this too. My Farmall 806 is pretty fast in reverse, but not as bad as the JD. Even my AC D19 is a little too fast, but at least you can feather the hand clutch without issue. All the old Fords were lightning fast in reverse too.

I’ve also got an Oliver 1850 and it’s just about right in reverse. Mine has the 3 speed and you can creep back in under, and still pretty slow in direct. I’ve also got a MF 40 industrial shuttle shift, and it goes plenty slow backing up.

I just don’t understand why manufactures made certain tractors that back up so fast.
Utility and industrial tractors are designed for the close quarter work you describe, open field tractors not so much. Many utility tractors offer 8 speeds forward, and 4 reverse speeds minimum: 1960s+ Deere, 1970s+ IH, etc. Infinitely variable Hydrostatic transmissions are available too. No one tractor can be perfect for all jobs, but some are much better at select jobs than others.
 
Why are a lot of tractors so fast in reverse? That’s a pet peeve of mine, when you are trying to back an implement and have to ride the clutch to keep from going so fast you can’t control it. Just tonight I was trying to tuck my manure spreader in the back of the shed with my JD 730 and was struggling. Between the hand clutch and the lightning fast reverse it’s a wonder I didn’t hit something. I now know why so many old 2 cylinder JDs have a hitch on the front, to back stuff into a shed.

Lots of other tractors are like this too. My Farmall 806 is pretty fast in reverse, but not as bad as the JD. Even my AC D19 is a little too fast, but at least you can feather the hand clutch without issue. All the old Fords were lightning fast in reverse too.

I’ve also got an Oliver 1850 and it’s just about right in reverse. Mine has the 3 speed and you can creep back in under, and still pretty slow in direct. I’ve also got a MF 40 industrial shuttle shift, and it goes plenty slow backing up.

I just don’t understand why manufactures made certain tractors that back up so fast.
 
Why are a lot of tractors so fast in reverse? That’s a pet peeve of mine, when you are trying to back an implement and have to ride the clutch to keep from going so fast you can’t control it. Just tonight I was trying to tuck my manure spreader in the back of the shed with my JD 730 and was struggling. Between the hand clutch and the lightning fast reverse it’s a wonder I didn’t hit something. I now know why so many old 2 cylinder JDs have a hitch on the front, to back stuff into a shed.

Lots of other tractors are like this too. My Farmall 806 is pretty fast in reverse, but not as bad as the JD. Even my AC D19 is a little too fast, but at least you can feather the hand clutch without issue. All the old Fords were lightning fast in reverse too.

I’ve also got an Oliver 1850 and it’s just about right in reverse. Mine has the 3 speed and you can creep back in under, and still pretty slow in direct. I’ve also got a MF 40 industrial shuttle shift, and it goes plenty slow backing up.

I just don’t understand why manufactures made certain tractors that back up so fast.

There was about four different transmission speed options on the 720/730. Reverse maybe fast but it is only half the speed that the reverse is in a 70 or a G .
 
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