c_mayer - 1/22/2026 15:31
BobNESD - 1/22/2026 15:41
So what exactly is on the front axel drive system now? My dealer just keeps saying it’s the “Fendt drive”, whatever that means, and he doesn’t really know how to describe it. I hope they didn’t go screwing things up with complexity, was nothing wrong with a hydraulic motor powering a 4 speed transmission with a manual lever in the cab to shift gears. Why do all the companies think they have to complicate stuff with electric solenoids and buttons for shifting gears? If it’s a Fendt related idea, I’m probably not excited about it from a simplicity standpoint!
Because the old transmission and final drives were starting to have failures...it needed to change.
What is different...everything.
Transmission and final drives are a modified version of the FENDT Ideal 7 units...2 speed shift on the go transmission with wet brakes, and a diff lock. The only thing a little screwy is it now has it's own hydraulic system for the transmission, which is separate from the combine hydraulics...but it powered by the combine hydraulics. Essentially, you have a hydraulic motor driven from the combine system pump, powering the hydraulic pump of the transmission. It's still a hydro drive, NOT a CVT.
So, hydro drives the transmission, BUT, via software controls we have a cruise control function which tries to maintain ground speed, which is much different than we had before.
All in all, it's a good change, and needed in most parts of the country. The Gleaner reliability was being challenged in some areas by final drive and transmission issues, though not everywhere, enough that it was a growing concern. This should solve it
Chris
Yeah, I’m sure it’s going to solve all the problems, sounds absolutely ridiculous to me, probably just create all kinds of new problems, we really need software and a second hydraulic system for the combines transmission? It just feels like everything is on a one way fast track to over complicated, expensive crap, I always liked the Gleaner because of its common sense simplicity, this just doesn’t seem necessary. Couldn’t they have just beefed up the simple final drive and transmission system so they didn’t give out as soon? I’m sick of this German Fend crap influencing what used to be good simple machinery! I liked it better when Gleaner and Massey shared components and ideas better than this Fendt influence on everything.
Gleaner Combines
