JD 4250

[ayrshire86]

hello,
ive been looking for all around farm tractor for plowing and chopping. im young and currently have 140 acres i work and milk cows. im somewhat new to JD but with the incentives they offer me to buy green, it makes the most sense. anyways local dealer has a 4250 with 5200 hours, good shape cab 4x4, powershift and good tires. asking 23000. will this be enough to do what i need, (chop and 5 bottom plow) can the pump be turned up to make 140-150hp and what should i be looking for or concerned about as far as problems go. its a 1984 model and in my price range. thanks.

 

[LonM]

That should handle what you need it to, but turning it up a little might be needed in order to pull 5 bottoms (depending on your soils). It would be well worth the time to try to talk to the previous owner to verify the hours. For an MFWD 50 series with only 5200 hours I would expect to pay in the mid-30s around here (SD/MN). They are very good tractors if they have been serviced regularly (trans oil, filters, and coolant changed regularly). I think these have a gear driven water pump, and when the seal starts to go it can put coolant into the oil. Good Luck!

 

[ayrshire86]

thanks, are they simple to turn up? is there any information available to walk me through it online?

 

[cushman]

LonM is right about the possibility of the gear drive water pump failure to load the crankcase with coolant.We have rebuilt several engines due to that situation. There is a pump drain hole to prevent that from happening, but is easy to forget and hard to see to clean.

 

[Tx Jim]

Back when I plowed I pulled 6 14" MF moldboard just fine with my 4255 2WD(same hp as 4250). $23,000 sounds cheap for a 4250 MFWD cab PS with 5200 hrs. I wouldn't consider selling my 4255(10,750 hrs) for $23,000

 

[Mike M]

Something sounds a bit off ? That price sounds more like a 4230 with cab 2wd.
If it checks to be true snatch it up !

 

[LarrySTN]

Cushman, do you have any suggestions on how to keep the weep from plugging once you have rebuilt the water pump?

 

[LonM]

The adjustment is pretty simple but I lack the experience to guide you through it. There are many on this site that can help you with that but you may need to post a new thread to catch their attention. Having an idea of hp output as it is would be very helpful, as the one you are looking at may have been turned up already. Having thought about it, I have to agree with TxJim. A stock 4250 should pull 5 bottoms in most conditions.
Lon

 

[D-]

I pulled 5x16 with a 4020 then a 4430.
4430 was better on chopper.

 

[ayrshire86]

i dont know the complete story on it but im going to look at it tomorrow. thats all that was written in the ad with no pictures. we have heavier ground over here too.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 17:22:48 01/19/14) Cushman, do you have any suggestions on how to keep the weep from plugging once you have rebuilt the water pump?

There's a piece of foam that is suppose to be in the water pump drain hole on the 6076 engines. I religiously check the engine oil on my 4255 every time before the engine is cranked(10,750+ hrs with no overhaul)

 

[coonie minnie]

For that price, I'd have to wonder if it had 15,200 hours and not 5,200.

Been there. Have several high hour horses myself... nothing wrong with that. Just don't pay too much for them.

 

[tim s]

Yes they get new agatn every 10,000 hours

 

[larryanderson]

I buy and sell nice tractors and what you describe would be a bargain.I would dyno it as they vary in H.P.and some aren't far off of what want.The MFD ,powershift,good,tires and 5200 hrs all say premium tractor and would easily be in the middle 30s.I picked up a 4450 MFD P.S. 8K+ hours,price was $15K,[divorce deal] and that was plenty ,as the hours were correct but needed A/C ,some glass,hood wasn't nice ,seat and interior needed help,tires fair and those kind of tractors are hard to sell.You should be able to tell hours by wear but not always.Good Luck as it seems a little to good to be true but could be.

 

[Eric in KY]

I messed up. Sorry about that.

 

[Eric in KY]

My mistake. I'll try again.

 

[Eric in KY]

I got a 4250 2-wheel drive this past summer. Absolutely love it. Right around 5700 hrs. Excellent condition. Mid 30's on price. I looked at some European 4250-4255 models that were cheaper and also some others that the tack had either quit or been replaced when engine was rebuilt. I'd be real skeptical about that price on those hours for that model. Something doesn't add up. Good luck.