4430 ? thoughts

[nylon4020]

Whats the concensus of the 4430? May have an opportunity and curious. 1977 has a loader low hours with a known history. Thans for any info. I do have a 4020 so comparison to that is useful for my little brain to comprehend.

Thanks,
John

 

[usetob]

the 4430 is a little larger than the 4020. Be sure and check the front-end (bushings) if it has had a loader on it for long! I bought one new in 1974 and put about 15,000 hours on it before I did a in-frame. If your wanting to hear if it is a better over all tractor than the 4020, I can't say that, as I have had both
good luck

 

[Anonymous-0]

The xx30 series has a reputation of being hard to start if it is even a bit cool outside. I have a 4230 with 5000hrs on the clock that needs a little whiff of nose candy even on a summer day on the first start. Then it runs like a top.
If it starts good with out aids, be very interested.

 

[thurlow]

I too have had 4020s and a 4430; still gottem, as a matter of fact. I agree that they may be a little hard starting, but it's never really been a problem. What kind of transmission; personally, I like the quad better than the syncro or the 8-speed power shift. It's basically just a super 4020.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Sold mine last year after being second owner for 29 years, 11,000 hours. First engine, first PS transmission, original light rear end. Rated 125 pto hp, mine dynoed 137. Beats the snot out of a 4020. Only internal engine work was a connecting rod and lower bearings at 8700 hours. Used a pint of oil in 100 hours, right from the start at 2500 hours.

 

[nylon4020]

Thanks for the great info guys! It is a quad trans with a 148 loader. I have never run a quad...I have a synchro and really like it for loader work. 4200 hours. Sound gaurd that is in very good shape. The loader has been pranged and rewelded. Mine on the 4020 had been pranged but I had it reworked and got a better weld up than this one on the 4430. They added some reinforcement which doesn't look good. But it still is a decent 148 loader. Runs off of rear remotes. Had heard that the 30 series had some start issues. My 4020 starts at 20 degrees without heat if it has to but starts very well at 30 degrees with no heat. I did ask about starts and they said that they always heated and wasn't a problem to start. I think that will only be determined with independent testing. Otherwise a clean low hour so appreciate the information. How much of an issue is the lighter vs heavier rear end? 1977 possible to have either one?

John

 

[Pete76NY]

Back in the days I used to work on my Great Uncle's large large dairy farm in Upstate, NY...they had a B that we would use to rake or crimp, 4 4020Ds, 2 with cab and PS tranny, 2 open station with synchro...later the 2 synchros went away to be replaced by 2 4430s, both factory cab (not the Hinickers like on the 4020s) and power shift. Yes the factory sound guard cab with reliable AC and radio was nice and more comfy, yes they did the same work as a 4020 with a tad less effort, thusly were capable of a tad more work...I did't do much tillage work with them...mostly raking, conditioning, manure spreading and hay wagon hauling, so after the initial "New Tractor" thrill wore off I really had no preference (I never saw a starting issue on the 4430s). Given the choice today between the two I would say that my nostalgic self would prefer a 4020 open station PS, but for no good reason...4430s in my mind were a wonderful tractor...I just feel that Deere lost it's character (not quality) after the 20 series New Gens,
Note: Nostalgia plays a large part in opinions...my Dad worked the same farm a generation earlier with a Farmall M and a Massey Harris 44...he did occasionally putz around a lil with the 20s and 30s but given the choice he'd hop on that M every time!

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 00:18:27 05/12/10) How much of an issue is the lighter vs heavier rear end? 1977 possible to have either one?John

The late model 4430 should have the differential updates. The first years were the ones that dealer had to change rear axles from one side to the other side plus do other things that I can't remember today. If it doesn't have the mechanical aneroid but the later style aneroid on inj pump it will start easier also.

 

[Resting Relics 1]

Hey John,
During my years working as a mechanic at a John Deere dealer the 4430's were in their prime. Overall they were a very good tractor. The most serious problem we saw with them was when they were used for heavy tillage work for many hours such as plowing and disking. If they were used like that we saw some serious transmission and or rear-end failures such as failed bearing and worn out gears on the quads and syncros. If your not planning on doing heavy tillage for prolonged hours you won't find a much better tractor for the money.
John

 

[JMS/.MN]

If you kill the tractor in the field, and it has the mechanical aneroid like mine did, you can crank the batteries empty and it will not start. Exit the door, lean over the hood, and flip the little toggle- starts right up! Don"t remember how I found that out, but made sure to tell the kids when they ran it.

 

[tim s]

I have been flooded with 4430's the last couple of weeks, and most of them are worn out in various ways, most of them had the crapp worked out of them around here, but are still in use, the late 76 and 77 modles are "much" better than the early ones in many ways, but if your check book will handle it go with a 4440,,they are "way" better in many more ways,,I think that the 4440 is one of the best Deere's ever made. There are a lot of them around here and I rarely have one in the shop.