If there is one element of Deutz-Fahr tractors that is hard to condense into several paragraphs, it’s the transmission. Several systems were fitted across the board, but a synchromesh gear change was a constant throughout.
Alan Petrie, who worked for Cheshire-based Bruera Agricultural Services Ltd. from 1977-92, has extensive knowledge of these models and guides us through the fundamentals of the transmission systems used in each of the ranges.
DX 3
Before we get into the intricacies of the gearbox, it’s worth explaining the design of the DX 3’s dual clutch arrangement, and how this might differ from other tractor marques that you are familiar with. Alan Petrie explains: “It has a ceramic, paddle disc for the transmission, and an organic, full disc for the PTO drive. It is somewhat unusual in that it is the organic PTO plate that sits against the flywheel, and the transmission disc sits between two pressure plates within the clutch cover.
“The advantage of this is that the wear caused by the aggressive ceramic clutch disc does not damage the flywheel, so there are no additional flywheel re-facing or replacement costs when it is clutch replacement time.
“The clutch release bearings sit inside thrust rings, that press against the release fingers, so thrust bearing failure is rare. The transmission clutch is activated by a cable from the release lever on the outside of the bell housing up to the clutch pedal inside the cab. This arrangement helps to reduce noise transfer.
“The PTO clutch linkage comprises
