John Deere updates big tractors for 2022

BONDURANT, Iowa — The John Deere 9 Series articulated model tractors feature a 20 horsepower boost compared to previous models.

“The 9RX 640 is the largest articulated tractor on the market,” said Ryan Jardon, marketing manager for large tractors and tillage, during the John Deere Media Event. “Our largest tractors have been completely refreshed and updated for 2022.”

John Deere offers three machine forms in the 9 Series, including wheel, 4-track and 2-track. For the wheel version, farmers can choose from 9R 390, 9R 440, 9R 490, 9R 540, 9R 590 or 9R 640.

Four models are available with 4-track, including the 9RX 490, 9RX 540, 9RX 590 and 9RX 640. Two track models include 9RT 470, 9RT 520 and 9RT 570.

“Large tillage tools need lots of power and we have the maximum ballast articulated machine in the industry,” said Kyle Kirchhoff, John Deere marketing representative. “The 9RX and 9R640 and 590 are able to go up to 67,000 pounds of ballast, which is unmatched by anyone in the industry.”

This is important, Kirchhoff said, to avoid slipping by the wheels or tracks.

“You’re buying 640 horsepower and we give you 67,000 pounds to tie that power to the ground and keep you moving efficiently through the field,” Kirchhoff said.

“We looked at these tractors from front to back, top to bottom, so every key component that’s going to handle increased power was visited and addressed,” he said. “These tractors will run reliably with increased power and ballast.”

The 9R640 and 9RX 640 are powered by a Cummins 15L engine. All the other 9 Series Tractors feature the new John Deere PowerTech 13.6 L engine.

“We modernized that engine to give us performance, serviceability and reliability,” Kirchhoff said.

“With big air seeding, you need a solid torque curve,” he said. “When the going gets tough, the engine’s got to get to the torque curve and stay there otherwise we’re not getting work done.”

The hydraulically-driven fan, Kirchhoff said, provides the ability to precisely control the fan speed and control the engine temperature.

“This means we can increase our efficiency of how much we get out of the diesel we pour into the engine,” he said. “If the engine runs hot, we’re going to burn more fuel.”

Changes have been made to the hydraulic system of the 9 Series Tractors.

“The charge pump capacity has been doubled and we also made our hydraulic pumps smarter,” Kirchhoff said.

“As the demand on the pumps go up, the tractor reads a live time feed of how much oil is going to the back of the tractor,” he said. “The flow produced in the tractor is given to the implement with minimal restrictions.”

The John Deere 8 Series Wheel Tractors are available in seven models ranging from 230 to 410 horsepower. Four models of the two-track 8RT tractors are offered from 310 to 410 horsepower. The four-track 8RX Tractors are available in four models that range from 310 to 410 horsepower.

“These 8R Tractors have a central tire inflation system which includes an air compressor on the tractor and integrated plumbing to each tire,” said Aaron Ticknor with John Deere. “It allows the customer to monitor and control the air pressure of the tires from the cab.”

Farmers are challenged with running a compromised tire pressure.

“If you’re in a field you want to run a lower tire pressure and on the road you want to run a higher pressure,” Ticknor said. “So, we find customers are in the middle which is not ideal.”

With CTIS, as the farmer enters a field, they can push a button and lower the tractor tire pressure 10 to 14 psi.

“That means a much larger footprint in the field which reduces slip and compaction,” Ticknor said. “As you exit the field, you can adjust the tire pressure up to make sure you’re the most efficient on the road and this makes it easy for customers to run at an ideal tire pressure.”

The new 8RX tractors feature 1,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer capacity built into the machine with the ExactRate Tractor Tanks.

“There is a front fill kit available so customers can fill these tanks from the front of the tractor,” Ticknor said. “And for current customers with 8RX tractors, we have the ability to retrofit the tanks so they can also get the benefits of them.”

When this tractor is paired with the John Deere 1775NT Planter, there is 1,600 gallons of fluid carrying capacity.

“The tractor has an off-board pump to fill the planter tanks from the tractor tanks to keep the fluid level optimum,” said Brady Alley, with John Deere. “There is a rear fill option on the planter so you can fill the tractor or planter from the front or back.”

The 1775NT Planter can be equipped with factory-installed tracks.

“The main goal is to spread the weight over a larger footprint to protect the soil health,” Alley said. “On a planter, the majority of the weight is concentrated over the center section so we want to give the plants in the inner rows the greatest chance to achieve their highest yield.”

“This is a solution for increased capacity that customers have been asking for,” said Kevin Juhl, marketing manager for planting and seeding products. “Capacity is the ability to stay in the field longer to put more seeds down in the optimal planting window to give our customers the chance for the best yield.”

For more information about John Deere 8 and 9 Series Tractors, go to JohnDeere.com.