Operation 8N: To Sherman or not to Sherman, That is the ?

Your decision depends mostly upon what you use your tractor for. If show purposes, by all means get a combo.

If you travel any distance on the road under tractor power, the step-up version may be useful if the terrain is relatively flat. The step-up is useful for little else.

I have a combo in my 51, and use underdrive almost exclusively. My 51 is used mostly to make the first round with a 5' cutter in irregular, obstacle infested and sometimes steep fields after which I switch off to a bigger tractor/mower. The slower speed adds to the N's inherent nimbleness and increases torque delivered to the mower. In conditions such as these, it is very useful in an N.

Keep in mind that the Sherman affects PTO/pump speed. If you use your N for tillage, the decreased PTO/pump speed will slow the response of your draft control.

Dean

I have had the Sherman OD tranny in my 8N since I bought it in 1970. I found it to be useful at first when I didn't have a trailer to haul the tractor, so it did many road miles. It allows you to get more mph if you run the engine full throttle, or allows the engine to run at a lower RPM if you want to go the typical road gear speed of approx 15 mph. I usually throttled back to get the lower RPM and thus less wear on the engine.

Since I built a tandem axle transport trailer in the late 70's, I have never used the Sherman hi range. So in effect, the thing is just a future repair waiting to happen.

On the down side of this argument is that when the Sherman is shifted into Hi, the hydraulic pump and PTO also turn at the stepped up speed. Being a 4 piston pump, the hydraulic pump sounds like it is beating itself to death, and it probably is.

Now if someone would offer to trade me a Sherman Lo range tranny for my OD, I'd be right there. For many jobs, the 8N 1st and Reverse gear is too high a speed.

With regard to Colin's question below, the Sherman steps up and down the PTO RPM just as it changes the wheel speed. A baler is pretty unhappy at any PTO rpm different than the prescribed 540, so the Sherman is of no advantage to the baling operation.

Paul in MN

Colin, MN

Thanks!
Colin

Colin