John Deere 6155R tractor review

John Deere’s new 6155R ‘mid-frame’ tractor is a seriously good bit of gear, with exceptional build quality, some of the best technology in the biz, and top-notch operator comfort

Testing the latest high-tech offering from any manufacturer is exciting and this particular example – John Deere’s new 6155R courtesy of Cervus at Ballarat – is no different.

This machine is the largest in the ‘mid-frame’ six-cylinder line up which, like all 6000 series John Deere’s, comes complete with full-frame chassis design.

The rear hitch, axles and the optional loader attach directly onto this, while the engine and transmission are cradled within allowing the chassis to take up the strain, not individual components.

While the full chassis is a tried and tested design, this machine is also equipped with the new high tech StarFire 6000 receiver which allows full auto-steer.

The 6155R features some of the best technology in the business

ENGINE

The 6155R is equipped with John Deere’s own tier four-compliant 6.8-litre, six–cylinder engine with maximum power of 195hp plus 40hp Intelligent Power Management (IPM) boost. The boost kicks in for either the PTO (over 2.5km/hr) or transport (over 15km/hr).

To reach tier-four compliance the twin turbo engine runs EGR, DPF, DOC and SCR to keep a cap on the dreaded black smoke – gone are the days of being able to see where the tractor was in the paddock by the billowing black smoke from the chrome stack!

Aside from many of the negatives in terms of engine complication to reach tier-four, one positive is engine service intervals are set at 750 hours while hydraulic oil needs dropping every 1,500 hours.

Another positive and welcome modification from the 30 series is the engine oil dipstick and fill point are within easy reach for daily checks, given the extra heat thanks to the engine gas reticulation extra cooling needed. Due to space being a premium, the air cleaner unit is mounted high on top of the engine; although the handy mesh pull-out screens on the fixed radiator are another classic Deere feature operators have become accustom to.

TRANSMISSION

Operators have a smorgasbord of transmission options when it comes to the 6155R. The test machine was the Premium Plus spec with the 50km/hr IVT complete with CommandArm. Other variants include the PowerQuad Plus, AutoQuad Plus or Eco and DirectDrive Eco, all of which come with either 40km as standard or optional 50km on the Eco variations.

The John Deere Infinitely Variable Transmission (AutoPowr/IVT) uses a combination of mechanical and hydrostatic power, providing step-less, and continuous power from 0-50km.

While a multi-function joystick is absent on the Command Arm, the transmission is, in my opinion, probably the easiest to operate on the market. This is thanks to a single lever controlling the transmission with two ranges (0-20km/hr and 0-50km/hr). Ranges are not a mechanical change; operators simply push the lever forward to go faster, or gently pull back to slow down. For more precise control a roller wheel on the top of the controller allows very accurate speed settings for jobs such as precision planting or harvesting.

The power zero capability within the transmission allows the tractor to remain perfectly still on steep hill when drive is stopped to the transmission. Different drive modes (eg pedal, custom, PTO etc) allow the operator to choose the best setting to allow the engine and transmission to find the most fuel-efficient combination.

This set-up makes operation an absolute breeze for anyone who has spent a bit of time in a Deere.

There is no denying this is one of, if not the largest, and most comfortable, cabs on the market

IN THE CAB

There is no denying this is one of, if not the largest, cabs on the market. John Deere claim an extra 20 per cent more room over the 6030 series premium cab and comfort levels will not disappoint.

With up to 16 front and six rear work lights (the test machine was even equipped with LED lights) burning the midnight oil shall no longer be an obstacle.

Sitting in the large comfortable seat the visibility is excellent with large full-glass doors which are easy to shut even compared to some six-pillar designs. The ‘R’ series is equipped with a very good size passenger seat and visibility to the drawbar may be slightly better than the 6030 series.

The most noticeable thing about the cab is the noise, or lack of. It is easily one of the quietest cabs I have been in and with climate control and the large premium spec seat there is very little to complain about in terms of comfort. Even small things like the new door latch make the doors easier to close compared to the older models. Sometimes it’s the little things that count.

The CommandArm is not the most sophisticated armrest on the market but it is comfortable and with access to four electric remotes, auto steer, two headland management options, PTO switch, linkage control as well as the transmission functions and throttle, there isn’t much you can’t get your hands on.

The touchscreen monitor is simple and logical to navigate around. Anything that has electronic control can be operated, adjusted, stored and saved on this monitor as well as split-screen auto-steer view.

The adjustable dash is clear and easy to read, using two large analog dials for engine and tractor speed, as well as two smaller dials that display fuel level and coolant temperature.

We couldn’t fault the Deere when operating through the soil

PERFORMANCE

To run the 6155R through its paces out in the field we hitched-up a Kuhn Optimer + disc cultivator and got chewing soil on a spud farm just out of Ballarat.

We couldn’t fault the Deere when operating through the soil. It was thick, clumpy and a tad boggy and the 6155R tore straight through it – so a big thumbs up for the 6155R with the discs in tow.

Impressive performance on the rough ground is partly thanks to the triple-link front suspension. With 100mm of travel it is proven that front suspension improves traction by always maintaining contact and therefore transmitting maximum power to the ground. The suspension has three settings: full auto; maximum; and manual.

Manual mode is a particular favourite as it allows you to raise and lower the suspension, especially handy while attaching front/rear hitch implements and trailers when you are just a few cm off!

The optional high-flow pump delivers 155L/min of hydraulic performance while the three-speed 540/540E/1000 PTO is electro-hydraulically operated and has exterior fender-mounted controllers.

Reviewers Jaiden Drought (left) and Harrison Hunkin

GPS TECHNOLOGY

The new John Deere Starfire 6000 is a big step up from previous models with repeatability which is guaranteed for nine months from the previous job.

Deere say it will last the season (12 months) but will guarantee nine months which means cultivation, planting, spraying, fertilising, harvesting and re-cultivation can all be accessed from the receiver and go on any AutoTrak-ready machine in the fleet.

If that isn’t exciting enough, accuracy of +/- 3cm is probably the best feature. Three cm’s is almost as good as RTK at 2.5cm without the need for a $25,000 base station (although the RTK will gain coverage quicker in challenging conditions).

The 4600 monitor on the CommandArm allows ISOBUS implements or GPS etc to be used as a split screen while still having the main tractor functions on the monitor to alleviate the need to fill the right-hand side of the cab with monitors.

JDLink is another option which has been around for a little while but is now becoming more widespread given the number of machines coming in with this technology to be able to talk back to the dealers.

Interesting information is being pulled with some tractors having up to 50 per cent idle time while combines can be broken down to idle, idle with full tank, transport etc. You can also export yield and coverage maps as well as guidance line sharing via JDLink. This is a great function for contractors and farmers to be able to measure productivity as well as remote diagnostic reports for the service centre. This allows some fixes to be sent from the diagnostic team to the tractor to resolve issues in the field without the need for a mechanic.

Another exciting feature that John Deere is working on is called ‘Expert Alerts’. This is where the reporting of diagnostic alerts and temperatures are being monitored by Deere on some tractors with JDLink, which allows them to have a large database.

In the future, there will be information sent direct from the factory to the local service manager alerting them to fault that will occur on the machine before it has even occurred. This information will also include the parts needed to fix that problem. This saves both the dealer and the customer from not having techs going out to the job, diagnosing the problem, going back to the workshop, ordering parts, waiting for parts to arrive, going back out to the machine all the while losing several days in the meantime – essentially reducing admin and downtime.

The new John Deere Starfire 6000

THE BOTTOM LINE

To summarise, this tractor is a seriously good bit of gear. Build quality is exceptional, the John Deere technology is up there will some of the best, and operator comfort is top notch thanks to the spacious, quiet cab.

The ‘mid-frame’ design allows compact manoeuvrability with 195hp of boosted punch. This compact allrounder comes equipped with plenty of technology and comfort to make the long days in the field turn into LED-lit paddocks at night, so you can burn the candle from both ends and really get some work done!

HITS

Smooth, easy-to-use transmission
Comfortable front and hydraulic cab suspension
The accuracy of the SF6000 GPS made us literally not even steerers
Large spacious and quiet cab
Touch screen-mounted on CommandArm allows split screen for GPS/ISOBUS implements and tractor performance parameters
Impressive LED light package

MISSES