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Cullom, Illinois | Per the previous posts, I pulled the 305 on the dyno today. There was a question as to whether the plate on top of the air cleaner restricted the engine enough to limit horsepower and raise fuel usage. Engine made 265 HP with and without the plate installed. And it used 14.5 gallons per hour at rated speed with and without the plate installed. So absolutly no difference there.
I did learn something that may be of interest. If you turn on the cruise control, lower the rpm from 2100 to 2000, under full load, the tractor will only use 12.5 gallons per hour and make just as much horsepower. And as you unload the engine, mimicking field conditions (like chiseling where you hit tough spots and then easy spots), the fuel usage goes even lower. Without the cruise on, the engine uses fuel at a higher rate, loaded or not. That's 14% less fuel doing the same work.
Makes sense now how Deere and Agco get fuel efficency out of their IVT transmissions. Idle back the engine, speed up the tranny, to maintain ground speed when you don't need the power. And then reverse the process when you do.
So I guess the tractor isn't so bad, once I learn how to use it.
As for the radiator getting plugged, I added some weather stripping around the bottom of the hood and made sure the foam at the top of the radiator was in place. Think this will help the problem a lot.
Tractor still needs a bigger fuel tank (200 Gallon) and a cleanable air filter, but all in all, a good solid tractor for the price you pay.
BTW...for you GENISIS tractor owners out there. Pulled the old 8870 with 4000 hrs on the dyno too. Rated at 180 PTO HP from the factory, pulled 235 HP on the dyno. Wish the heck they had kept that same motor in the newer Genisis tractors. One of the hottest motors ever. Pulled as high as 280HP!!!! And how many of them do you see on tractorhouse with over 5000 hours and still going strong. |
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Southern Alberta Canada | Thanks for the update, good info. I've known about the gear up throttle back thing for years but it's hard to convince people it works. |
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NEIA | I saw the same thing on fuel usage out in the field. Did not believe the fuel readout. Makes no sense. The harder you pull it, the lower the rpm's went, the lower the fuel consumption went. Mine was reading 13 g/hr at 2000 rpm. Pull it down to 1800, working it hard and it reads 12. Don't believe the readout. Mine was using 14.5 and the console never went over 13. Tried using the cruise, but I always needed/wanted full power/speed, so it didn't work. Not saying yours isn't right just my observation on my 280.
Should also say I have an 8870 also. Best tractor ever in my mind. Way better tractor than my 280.
Edited by TJH 12/13/2011 20:54
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Cullom, Illinois | I did it this spring planting corn cause I didn't need the power. Didn't realize it would work this fall subsoiling when the tractor is pulling real hard. Live and learn.
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Flanagan, Illinois | I can't believe your dealer brought a dyno out to your place to check it, LOL |
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Wisconsin | What did the 305 and 8870 do at PTO speed for HP? Also, what year is the 8870?
Was the dyno a digital self adjusting read out, or the older mechanical style that says a HP number based on a certain RPM, and then is off when the RPM's vary from that? |
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Cullom, Illinois | Both dyno tests were done at rated engine speed. And the dyno was the old mechanical style. Meaning, we pulled the dyno down until the tach on the dyno was at the correct speed. I'm sure the numbers could fluctuate 10HP either way, just wanted to get an idea of whether the air intake plate was lowering HP or not.
It was a 1996 8870. And yes, the pump has been off and set to the top of the specs. Not turned up, just set to the top of the factory specs. My understanding is some tractors can be at the bottom of the specs and really come to life if the pumps are checked. |
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| We have an '97 8870 with 6800 hours that had been on the dyno a couple times at least and both times was around 230 pto hp. I've never ran this tractor over 1950 rpms or so for anything except road travel and its spent a lot of hours pulling a 5 shank in line ripper. That was a heck of a load at times for it too. Its pretty good on fuel as well. Good tractors. |
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North Dakota | roo,
I just purchased a 305 versatile mfwd and they delivered it the other day. Saw your first post and noticed when I got it in the shop the hood on the left side is about 1 1/8" from touching the steel plate. The hood gasket touches on the right side but in the middle it starts to have a gap until it widens out to 1 1/8" on the far left side. You can actually stick your hand under it. Also, as you said, even if the right side was all the way down, it still needs to have metal for it to rest on for about 12".
I have checked the pin the hood rests on but that is all the way up. Also checked left side of radiator to see if it was holding the hood from coming down further but haven't found anything yet. Guess I will call dealer tomorrow as there is no way I can put it in the field as it is. Doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the radiator and air filter will be plugged in short order the way it is. Can't for the life of me see how it could get out of the factory door this way. I wish it would have not been delivered until after your post was read, and I could have checked it out beforehand. Never dreamt of looking for it while it was on the lot. I guess its my bad for not checking more closely. First new tractor I've ever purchased and I'm hoping buyer remorse doesn't start setting in.
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Northern CA | I have an 8770 Genesis and love it. It has 6600 hours. I have been looking at the newer Versatile tractors, maybe for a little more hp. What are you guys not liking about the newer ones? |
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NW Iowa | Have a 1995 8970 with over 8000 hours and going strong had a little trouble with lower end torque so took the fuel pump of and put a new bosch pump on. Dealer "tricked" the pump to make it have better lower end- did not turn it up at all. Dyno read 250HP and it has all of that. What a horse!!! This tractor is now a powerhouse love the tractor just wish they hadn't taken out the last 2 gears of the transmission, goes down the road a little slow. The agco allis has the same transmission but with 2 more top gears which add about 6 mph. Have been told it is possible to put them in this tractor but the cost doesn't seem to justify it. |
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Leeds, North Dakota | Kip, thanks for the reposting haven't seen issues with air cleaner, sealing hood yes, Scott. |
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Cullom, Illinois | North, don't get discouraged. I made a plate to add to the left side of the radiator and added some small pieces of rubber tubing to help fill in the gaps in the radiator. Took me all of an hour to do. It's a simple fix.
And remember, your saving almost $50,000 over a Deere. Hope that helps. |
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Cullom, Illinois | Scott, I think the radiator problem was the cause of the air filter getting plugged. Those front duals bring up a lot of trash when it gets damp and sticky this fall. That fan can move a lot of air and I think it was sucking dirt in through that area on the left lower side. Hopefully sealing this up will help correct the air filter problem.
And BTW...I removed the plastic cover over the air intake at the back of the hood and replaced it with 1/4" mesh wire screen. The dyno showed it didn't limit HP but I do think this was part of the reason the air filter alarm would go off once in a while with a clean filter installed. |
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NEIA | Well if you would ask my wife-everything. She had been driving an 8870. Those 2 tractors are so different. My bigger problems are with the tranny and the engine noise in the cab. The noise was the first thing she complained about. When you lug it down good you really feel like you should have ear plugs in. I have had to stop on the end to talk on the phone just hear the other party. The tranny when you shift from 6 to 7, 9 to 10 and 13 to 14. Shift up and it will throw you forward then back. Downshift and you about hit the steering wheel. This tranny has been calibrated many times and many ways. Pulling wagons it is very hard on them with the severe jolt. Broke a 1 inch bolt on one because of this. You have read about the rad and the air filter. My filter fills up with that really fine powder dust. Sealing the rad wouldn't help that. I have had alot of little crap go wrong. Dealer support was zero. They didn't know anything.
So she hated it and I was very dissappointed with it, so after only 9 months it is gone. There comes a time when you just get tired of dealing with all this stuff. Maybe if you had a good dealer to help. Still have my 8870. |
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Newfane NY | Thanks for the update. We have a Buhler 2210 and have had no problems in 1500 hours and everyone on the farm likes that tractor. Have a Versatile 485 on order and am looking at a Versatile 180. Dealer does not have the 180 in yet, which may be a good thing. Now I know what to look for, maybe.
For what they want for a 180 compared to nice used tractor.....it makes one think about a new 180.
John |
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Leeds, North Dakota | Kip, was reading a literature from Versatile, having reversing fans, not at work today, will check out in the morning and post back, Scott. |
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Versatile 305 update
