Pros and cons of JD 2440 2640

[Tim14167]

I'm looking to upgrade from my 1965 JD 2010....Yes, I know that the 2010 was one of the worst thing Deere has ever made, but it has been a dam good and reliable tractor since we purchased it in 1970. Anyway, I been looking at a 2440 and a 2640 what are the main things I should look for on these two specific models? Any good points or bad points? Your thoughts are greatly appredciated.
 

[tim s]

It would be good if you could pull the filter bowl and check for metal fillings in it,,if it has a loader see if it cycles full up full down smoothly without chattering..These are good little tractors when they are good and nasty when they are bad, If some one was running cheap oil in them it deteriorates the brake linings till they run metal to metal filling the transmission with fine grey material, and this stuf will kill a hydraulic system..
 

[Tx Jim]

I'll add to what Tim stated to get a engine & hyd oil test kit along with a coolant test kit from your local JD dealer. I would also recommend looking at the hyd filter unless it had just recently been changed. Back when I worked for a JD dealer when the 40 series were relatively new it was unheard of for the JD engine cyl liners to get a hole in them from nasty antifreeze but today it's common.

Also if either prospective tractor has the hyd hi-lo or pto option I suggest to operate hyd's utilizing all the functions of these 2 mentioned options.
 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

I prefer the 2440 over the 2640.The 2640 seems to lack cooling capicty.If you work them hard they will run hot.In our area the 2440 and 2640 were very populer loader tractors and almost all 2640 owners complained of them running hot when worked.The 2640 has a hyd oil cooler that takes up part of the radiater space so you have a larger engine with less radiater.The 2440 has a full size radiater so there is more cooling area.Both were very good tractors.
 

[Tx Jim]

[MF Poor]

I've got one of each. ('79 2440/'78 2640) Owned the 2440 since new, 2640 since '85.

Neither have ever shown any tendency towards overheating.

2440 seems to be the LOUDEST tractor I've ever been around. The 2640 has just enough added low end grunt to make up for what seems to be a lack of same with 2440.

As mentioned, stay after coolant system because of wet sleeve pitting issues.

Neither of mine have hydraulic hi/lo. I prefer it that way. Both have been very reliable tractors.
 

[Catskill Pete]

Yes at least some of the 2640.s have a heating issue. It doesn"t show up until you have run.[worked] it for 3 or 4 hours on a warm day. But you will see the temp gradually increase to the red range. I always blamed it on too big an engine for that 2/3,s radiator set up. I don"t think it would be an issue if it had a full sized radiator. It never gets hot enough to cause problems, but it still makes me nervous. Thats the situation on my own 2640 and a friends. You can reduce the issue by keeping the radiator fins cleaned out, its much more sensitive to that situation than your average tractor. And if you are wondering the engine has been resleeved, the water pump was new and the radiator core cleaned, its seems to be a design issue not a condition one.
 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

Around us the dairy farmers would use them for loaders and then put them on the silage blowers so they got a hard workout in hot weather.With silage there are lots of fine dust blowing around and with the loader somewhat restricing airfow a 2640 would get hot fast.Between Dad and me we owned atleast a dozen of each and I always liked the 2440 a little better.For a chore or haying tractor you probaly would have very little problem.
 

[tomstractorsandtoys1]

Sorry I was wrong about the radiater size but the 2640's did have cooling issues unless you were very good with cooling system maintance.
 

[430]

My brother in law has a 2640 his dad bought new. Its been used primarily as a mixer and baling tractor on a dairy farm. The engine has never been touched and it has over 20000 hours on it. Still runs great and uses very little oil. He repainted it last year and it has not been used much after that, but it's made me a believer of them.
 

[MarknWaterloo]

Just bought me a "new" '81 2640 with a 145 loader last winter and I've been very pleased with it so far. Great running little tractor with plenty of power. Does great even with a good load in the loader. Of course, it also has a full set of wheel weights on the back. The only down side I would say is that the operator station is kind of cramped for a bigger guy. I'll second the opinion that is one loud little tractor though! Seriously, it's to the point you ought to wear hearing protection.