VIDEO: First Drive – John Deere 5R Series

Emily Padfield 21 February 2009

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John Deere’s 5R range, which replaces the firm’s outgoing 5020 tractors, gains extra horsepower and load capacity. Emily Padfield put it to work on a wintry morning

Travel to Bavaria and you’ll find any number of high-spec sub-100hp tractors fulfilling a multitude of tasks. But in the UK, stock and arable farmers tend to be distinctly different customers when it comes to buying tractors.

John Deere’s 5R range aims to redress the balance. Three models rated at 80hp, 90hp and 100hp are designed, says Deere, to meet the needs of the medium-sized mixed farmer. In the UK, though they’ll inevitably be destined for livestock farms in the main.

Now the range extends to 100hp, the extra 10hp is expected to double the size of the potential market.

These Mannheim-built tractors have a dinky, go-kart feel to them. We tested the 5100 and 5090 models, the 5100 fitted with a JD 583 loader, one of the four available straight from the factory.

The 5080 and 5090 replace the 5720 and 5820, while the 5620 has been done away with, being usurped by the larger 5100. It’s worth noting that this is the first range to adopt Deere’s new numbering system, too.

JD5R-series-main

Nifty and nimble: The JD5R Series is the most compact in the line-up

Dimensionally, 5R tractors are pretty much the same as the 5020. A 4.5-litre PowerTechE 2-valve common-rail engine – borrowed and tweaked from the 6000-series tractors – resides under the bonnet to meet Tier IIIa obligations and with that the 5R has gained a charge air cooler, with its own fan. That’s what has necessitated the sure-to-be-dented lump in the bonnet. For those that are concerned about the close-meshed grill clogging up, there’s a reverse switch up in the cab to clear it of any trash that settles.

The “all-new“ slide-out cooling-pack (pictured) isn’t quite as easy to access as promised. A 10mm spanner is needed to prise away side-grills and a bit of gentle persuasion to shift it sideways. But there is at least a floppy slide-out mesh screen that can be removed to clear the main rad in the field.

JD5R-series-front

In the 5020 series, there was the option of up-speccing linkage lift capacity. Now the standard twin-assistor rams hoist 4.2t, making for a 20% higher payload enabling 5R tractors to handle larger, heavier implements.

Despite its bigger engine, the 5R still remains one of the smallest tractors in its class.

Transmission-wise, previous models had just the option of a basic 16F x 16R PowrQuad Plus box. It’s now possible to get AutoQuad, too, both with four ranges and four powershift gears from 3.3kph to 40kph. An “underdrive“ option is available, which despite not quite being a creeper function, doubles the number of ratios and brings speeds down as low as 1.5kph.

With the AutoQuad Plus function, operators are able to adjust the automatic shift points: In “power“mode it’ll shift up a notch at 2300rpm and down at 1900rpm. In “Eco“ mode it can be set to downshift at 1100 and jump up a cog at 1900rpm.

Deere now fits its version of “cruise-control“. Allowing operators to pre-set a maximum engine speed via a dial on the right-hand console, it alters the electronic governor curve so that the engine hangs on longer under load. This is said to help in light pto work such as fertiliser spreading. Just ram the hand-throttle right forward and the tractor will do its best to keep to the pre-set speed. According to Deere, this means there’s twice the power boost and a 20% wider power range at 550rpm.

It’s a pretty tractor, petite and capable. Sweet, if that’s a word you can use. The thing that really jumps out is its manoeuvrability – its turning circle could beat most pick-ups when it comes to swinging round in Sainsbury’s car park after the weekly shop.

Standard pto speeds are 540rpm and 540E, but 1000rpm is optional. External pto operation seems overly complex, but will keep the health and safety bods at bay.

Around at the back end things have had a bit of a reshuffle. Valves are split from side-to-side and extra slices can be bolted on if needed. The telescopic pick-up hitch is borrowed from the 6000-series.

JD5R-series-cab

There’s optional flow control and a multitude of different valve options to keep everyone happy. But the 65-litre/min flow pump means loader work seems a little sluggish and there’s no optional upgrade.

On the road the 5090 seems fairly plucky, but there’s a particular niggle when it comes to gear-shifting. Last year Deere introduced a de-clutch button across the range to allow pedal-free gear-changes. Good idea, but why put it where your thumb naturally expects to find the powershift up–shift button? It could really do with being on the front, out of the way of the up and down shifts.

The loader joystick also has two buttons on the top allowing operators to select powershift steps without having to grapple for the gear shift, a handy tool for loader work.

The 5100 fitted with the loader had 900kg on the back and seemed pretty well balanced. But if this is going to be your main tractor, it might be worth finding out about rear–wheel ballasting. Deere doesn’t advise it, but dropping off rear weights when you need to hitch on a trailer will be a pain.

Previously shared with Deere’s now mothballed pivot-steer telehandlers, the cab feels spacious and is now common to almost all Deere’s sub-100hp ag tractors built across the world from South America to south of the Rhine.

All-round visibility is exceptionally good. But with the glass roof hatch there’s a bit of a black hole when it comes to loader visibility thanks to the front cross-member.

FW verdict

This is a gutsy, premium-spec tractor, which feels inline with its bigger brothers. If livestock farmers and smaller arable operators can stretch to the premium pricetag, they’ll get a good workhorse.

JD 5100 tech spec

Power 100hp
Engine 4.5–litre PowerTechE common-rail with electronic fuel injection and charge air cooler
Transmission 16F x 16R PowrQuad Plus – four manual range changes with four step powershift, 40kph
Hydraulics 65-litres/min
Linkage lift 4.3t
Working weight 3700kg
Service interval Engine 500hrs; transmission 1500hrs
Price £43,234

What’s changed?

Engine To meet Tier IIIa emissions, a 4.5-litre PowerTechE two-valve common-rail engine has replaced a mechanically governed set-up. Also now 100hp option. New charge air cooler and separate fan for cooling.
Cab Dual gauge dashboard, driveline control centre in B-post.
Transmission PowrQuad and AutoQuad now available, as well as underdrive option.
Hydraulics Up to 3 SCVs plus optional SCVs with mid-mounted couplers.
PTO Oil-cooled multi-disc clutch. Standard 540/540E, but 1000 optional.
Lift capacity 20% increase in payload, up to 6600kg. Maximum lift capacity 4.3t on all models. Front linkage option up to 3t.

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