Auto steer for John Deere tractors, any model, any year
Deep Sand Tech puts affordable FJDynamics auto steer on John Deere tractors of every age, from a 4440 with the original seat to a new 8R, steer ready or not. If it has a steering wheel and power steering, Deep Sand Tech has you covered! Every system comes with sub-inch RTK accuracy unlocked, a two-year warranty, fast phone and remote-login support from Oklahoma, and a 1-year buy back guarantee.
Get a quote for your Deere Call or Text (580) 394-0089Three ways we steer a Deere
Electric motor kit on the column
AT2 Lite, AT2, AT2 Max or AT2 Ultra. A motor and a model-specific bracket bolt to the steering column and turn the wheel. Fits any Deere with a steering wheel. This is what goes on the 30 through 60 series, the 5000s, most 6000s, 7000s, base-model 8000s and 9000s, and the track tractors. Most farmers install it themselves in an afternoon.
AH2 hydraulic kit on the factory valve
Deere’s guidance-ready option put a hydraulic steering valve on many 6000, 7000, 8000 and 9000 series tractors, STS and S-series combines and the 4-series sprayers. AH2 plugs into that valve. We do not replace it. If your Deere has no valve, we can add one. Any tractor with power steering can run a hydraulic kit.
Newer R-series
6R, 7R, 8R, 8RX, 8RT, 9R, 9RX and 9RT steer over Deere’s CAN network from the factory, and Deere does not open that network to other brands. On these we run the electric motor kit, or wire the AH2 to the steering valve. Both are working in the field today. We tell you which after we see the model and year.
John Deere model families and what fits
What each family came with from the factory, and what we usually put on it. A family being listed means the option existed, not that every tractor has it, so we confirm on your unit before anything ships.
| Model family | From the factory | What we usually install |
|---|---|---|
| 30, 40, 50, 55 and 60 series 4040, 4240, 4440, 4640, 4840, 4050, 4250, 4450, 4650, 4850, 4055, 4255, 4455, 4555, 4755, 4955, 4560, 4760, 4960 | No steering valve. Power steering only. | Electric motor kit on the column. These are the tractors we put the most kits on. |
| 5E and 5M 5045E to 5100E, 5065M to 5115M | No steering valve. | Electric motor kit. |
| 5R 5090R, 5100R, 5115R, 5125R | Guidance-ready units have a hydraulic steering valve. | AH2 hydraulic kit if the valve is there, otherwise the motor kit. |
| 6000 series 6100 to 6930, including 6420, 6620, 6330, 6430 | Premium guidance-ready units have a valve. Standard-cab units usually do not. | We check your unit. AH2 on the valve, motor kit on everything else. |
| 6M and 6J 6105M to 6195M, 6145J to 6210J | Guidance-ready option had a valve, base models did not. | AH2 if the valve is there, otherwise the motor kit. |
| 6R 6105R to 6250R, 6R110 to 6R250 | Steers over Deere’s CAN network from the factory. | Electric motor kit. Ask us about AH2 wired to the steering valve. |
| 7000 series 7200 to 7810, 7720 to 7930, 7130 to 7630 | Base models have no valve. Later guidance-ready 7020 and 7030 units do. | Motor kit on the 7200 to 7810. We check the 7020 and 7030 series for a valve first. |
| 7R 7200R to 7310R, 7R210 to 7R350 | Steers over Deere’s CAN network. | Electric motor kit. Ask us about AH2 wired to the steering valve. |
| 8000, 8010, 8020 and 8030 series 8100 to 8530, including 8410, 8420, 8320, 8330 | Base 8000 and 8010 have no valve. Guidance-ready 8020 and 8030 units carry one over the rear axle. | AH2 plugs into that valve with the Deere hydraulic harness. No valve, motor kit or AH2 with a valve added. |
| 8R, 8RX and 8RT 8225R to 8400R, 8R230 to 8R410, 8RX, 8RT | CAN network. The 2010 model year 8R came with a hydraulic valve instead. | Electric motor kit, or AH2 wired to the valve. The 8310RT and 8335R are both running our hydraulic kit today. |
| 9000, 9020 and 9030 articulated 9100 to 9620, 9230 to 9630, 8560 to 8970 | Base models have no valve. Guidance-ready 9020 and 9030 units do. | Motor kit runs these well in articulated mode. AH2 on the valve where there is one. |
| 9R, 9RX and 9RT 9360R to 9620R, 9R390 to 9R640, 9RX, 9RT | CAN network. | Electric motor kit, run in articulated mode. |
| Track tractors 8000T to 8030T, 9000T to 9030T | No valve. | Electric motor kit or AH2 with a valve added. |
| Combines 9560 to 9870 STS, S550 to S790 | Guidance-ready units have a hydraulic valve. | AH2 on the valve. The motor kit also works, a 9660 STS runs one. |
| Self-propelled sprayers 4700 to 4940, R4023 to R4045, 408R to 616R | Guidance-ready units have a valve. Three different valve setups by model year. | AH2. Send us a photo of the valve and we match the harness before it ships. |
Not on the list, or a different brand wearing the same model number? Call us. We have put kits on 1983 4640s and on 8360Rs.
See the AT2 motor kit
The same kit that goes on a Deere. One minute and eighteen seconds.
What goes on the tractor
Things we have learned on Deere installs
- Deere steering columns take FJD’s column bracket with U-bolts. On a 4055 it is the U-bolt style, not the block style. On an older 4640, check that all six bolts bite the spline before you call it done.
- On a 6330 Premium the hazard switch sits where the motor wants to be. Move the switch or run a spline extension.
- On the 8000 series, look over the rear axle for a valve block with three plugs. The round shiny part next to it is a flow meter, the black one is the valve. If the valves are not over the axle, the tractor needs a different Deere cable that plugs straight into the valve.
- If a Deere or Trimble dealer installed guidance on your tractor before you bought it, the valve and the wiring harness near the column are usually still there even though the display and globe went with the old owner. That tractor is an AH2 plug-in.
- Deere’s 8 series and 9 series use different CAN systems. What works on one does not carry over to the other.
- On a 9300 articulated tractor with a wheel angle sensor, we run the display in articulated mode with the attitude sensor set to middle and control model 3. That is the setup that holds a line on terraces.
- Steering slop is the enemy. Loose U-bolts, worn tie-rod ends and ball joints show up as a tractor that hunts back and forth. We tighten the iron before we tune the software.
- Model and year, and whether it is two-wheel drive, MFWD, articulated or tracks.
- A photo of the steering column from the seat, so we match the bracket and spline.
- On 8000 series and up, a photo over the rear axle so we can see whether the valve block is there.
- Any implement you want rate or section control on, with the controller’s part number if you can read it.
Common questions from Deere owners
Will auto steer work on my 1979 John Deere 4440?
Yes. The electric motor kit bolts to the steering column and turns the wheel, so it works on any Deere with a steering wheel and power steering. The 4040 through 4960 are the tractors we put the most kits on.
My Deere was guidance-ready from the factory but I never bought the Deere system. Do I have to?
No. Guidance-ready Deeres already have the hydraulic steering valve in them. Our AH2 kit plugs into that valve and steers the tractor with our display and receiver. Nothing from Deere is needed to make it work.
Do I have to replace my steering valve?
No. If the valve is there we use it. On an 8310RT, for example, the kit plugs straight into the existing valve. If your tractor has no valve, you can either run the motor kit or have us add a valve for the AH2.
Can it steer a newer 8R, 7R or 6R?
Yes. Those tractors steer over Deere’s CAN network, and Deere does not open that network to other brands, so we either run the electric motor kit or wire the AH2 to the steering valve. Both are in the field today. Tell us the model and year and we will tell you which one.
Will it run my Deere planter or rate controller?
Steering, yes, on any tractor. Rate and section control depends on the implement. A lot of Deere planters and rate controllers have a plug that looks like ISOBUS but runs Deere’s own protocol, so we check the controller’s part number before promising rate control.
Do I need my own base station?
Usually not. Every kit ships with an RTK plan, and most customers run on the GEODNET network, which needs no base station of your own. Where coverage is thin we set you up with a base station or StarNav. We check coverage at your farm before we quote.
Who installs it and who do I call?
Most farmers install the motor kit themselves in an afternoon with our tech on the phone. Hydraulic kits take longer and we walk you through it or point you to an installer. After that you call or text Deep Sand Tech in Oklahoma, and we can log into the display remotely to help.
Other tractor brands
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