John Deere 7010-series tractors: Increased in hp and torque over the 7000-series, the JD 7710 and 7810 tractors went on UK sale in December 1997 until they, too, eventually made way for the current 7020-series in October 2003. James de Havilland assesses the enduring appeal of the 7010s
When John Deere launched its 6000- and 7000-series in September 1992, both of the tractor lines were
genuinely new from the ground up. Although it would be inaccurate to suggest these models were 100% glitch-free from day one, both the 7000- and succeeding 7010-series went on to be recognised as among
the most dependable ag tractors in their particular power class.
In broad outline, the 155hp 7710 and 175hp 7810 are powered by an 8.1-litre turbocharged six, a large capacity motor that is never likely to be stretched at these levels of output. The smaller 140hp six-pot
6.8-litre 7610 unit was not officially imported into the UK. But more on engine matters later.
As an aside, John Deere brochures list the 7710 and 7810 horsepowers at up to 174 and 190hp. This is down to all the various hp rating standards that can be used to determine an engine’s output, the key difference between a rated and max power stat, and the power boost modes that kick in on the later
common rail units.
Transmission-wise, both tractors arrived in the UK with a choice of two 40km/hr options, a 19F/7R PowerShift or 20F/20R PowrQuad. The PowerShift’s control was updated over 7000 tractors to ensure a much smoother shift, with 14 speeds in the working range below 14km/hr. John Deere modified the shift on the transmission again from Mar 1999, so check on upgrade status.
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