JD 2020 Diesel

[rick67]

Hi, I am considering purchasing a JD2020 diesel and would like to know any tips on what to check out on this machine. Known problems, etc. I have been strictly a 4020 man till now so I don"t have much info on these machines. Anything to watch out for would be appreciated. Are parts available,etc. Thanks for any replies.

 

[Tx Jim]

I would run a scan test on engine & hyd oil plus the coolant.

 

[tim s]

Pulling the trans oil filter and checking for shiny sparkles will tell most of the story, they are bad about the brakes failing and going metal to metal filling the system with fines,,fixing this problem is about like curing cancer,,,,

 

[JDemaris]

In regard to the engine -check oil pressure after it's been run for over an hour. Unlike the 1020 . . . the 2020 has two balancing shafts that get loose. The often get skipped/neglected during inframe rebuilds. Seems after the 2nd in-frame - those shafts and bearings are worn out. Symptoms are - good oil pressure for the first 1/2 to 1 hour of running and then - drops down to or near zero at low RPMs.

You also might want to check to see which fuel injection pump it has. If it has a Stanadyne/Roosamster C pump - it's obsolete and cannot be rebuilt. Deere offered conversion kits for them at one time.

If it's a very early 2020 it can have single-seal sleeves which are prone to leakage. If it was ever rebuilt - it would of been upgraded to a three seal per sleeve system.

I'd check the steering for slop also. 2020s had trouble blowing 0-rings inside the steering column until the material used was upgraded.

Also might want to see how well it cranks over when hot without turning "off" the hydraulic pump.

 

[D-]

If you're used to a 4020 prepare to be very disappointed in utility tractors.

 

[larryanderson]

The 2020 wont be half the tractor a good 4020 is.The 2520 on the other hand was a really good tractor and actually the ones I have had seem to be as good or better than a 3020.

 

[KIP in MX]

Yeah, we had that problem on ours and ended up replacing the transmission case in early '70s. $$$. But, it was a handy little tractor. We traded it and a 3020LP on two new 2640's. Never did care for those.

 

[JDemaris]

"Half the tractor??" In what unit of measure? Half as "good?", half the weight?, half the fuel efficiency?, half the durability?

Comparing a 2020 to a 4020 is silly. Apples and oranges. They both have their uses both can be useful and rugged machines. A 2020 can be more useful and cheaper to run doing work that requires less power. The engine and transmission is cheaper to rebuild and many people prefer the Dubuque "twin stick" trans over a Power Shift or sloppy SynchroRange that came with the 4000 or 4020. Also many prefer the lower stance of the 1020/2020 series. I find it a little amusing when someone praises the 2520 but condemns the 2020. 2520 is basically a 3020 with a 2020 engine swapped into it. Both are excellent tractors.

I've seen several 3020s get junked and parted out when the PS trans was blown or engine balancing-box blew apart. When such repairs are needed in a 2020 - they are a lot cheaper and easier.

 

[Tx Jim]

Straddling the trans on a JD utility tractor especially with an underneath muffler on a 90+ degree day will give the operator a HOT memory they won't soon forget. 2510/2520 may share the same engine with utility tractors but not the same hyd system.

 

[D-]

JD
2520 hsa 2030 eng. 2510 has 2020 eng.

 

[JDemaris]

Yes and both are Dubuque 300 series engines.

 

[JDemaris]

Some 2020s and industrial 400s have the same
hydraulic pumps as 2510s and 2520s, more or less.
Many 2510s came with 8 cylinder pump housing but
with only 4 pistons stuck into them. Rated at a 1.5
cubic inch displacement. Replacement pumps were 8
cylinder rated at 3 cubic inches. Same as the
"upgrade" pump used in 2020s and 400s (and 300s as
well). The standard pump was the dinkly little
German pump.