JD 990

[Anonymous-0]

I am looking at a JD 990 tractor with a 430 loader, mainly to move 3x3x8 bales (about 900#) with a front spike. Just wondering if this tractor and loader combo would handle it, i.e. loader frame, front end, etc. Appreciate any and all input. Thanks, Mike.

 

[MSM]

Personally I wouldn't. It is probably over the limit for the loader,especially with a spear carrying the load out farther.That is also putting alot of extra strain on the front end.It might lift it,but as far as steering or stopping would be extremely marginal at best.Might look for a bigger tractor or smaller bales.

 

[leon]

The center of gravity of that bale will be quite a ways ahead of where the center of the bucket of the loader would be, so you'll need to reduce lift capability listed in the specifications of that loader by quite a bit. If it will lift it, you'll need a bunch of weight hanging on the 3-point hitch. I suspect, if you have lots of bales to handle, you'd be much happier with a larger tractor/loader combination with more lift capability and stability.

 

[Mike M]

You need plenty of counter weight on the rear.

That tractor should have a lift capacity alot greater than that. I know someone who has one and lifts round bales no problem with it.

 

[F-I-T]

I agree. I have a 4310 and wouldn't try it. My tractor would be too light for it, and a 990 is within #200 pounds all around the same weight. 990 also is only rated for 1500# lift on the rear, and if that is the rating at 24" behind the lift arms, the bale on the spear would be a much longer moment out back. Neighbor moves our ittle N.FL. bales around with a spear in the bucket on his 5200 series, and even it will bounce a bit in the rear. Unless you have to lift them up high, a three point spear works better/safer for me. JMHO

 

[leon]

Frank, did you trade tractors? Seems to me you used to have a 855. Maybe you still do but now with a 4310 along side. What transmission do you have in the 4310 and how do you like it?

 

[F-I-T]

Hi Leon:

I kept my 855. It ha a Model 72 belly mower, and I use it now primarily for lawn mowing. I also have a 70 loader for it, but at 2wd it works best for loading loose stuff.

I bought a 4310 earlier this year with 300 nours on it. It has a 420 loader and a 447 backhoe. It is very handy for the stumps and tree clearing that I have been doing. Not really big, but big enough to get things done. Real handy on pull-type things like my little Model B drill. Works great with a box blade, landscape rake, moving round bales on the back spear.

The 4310 has the eHydfro hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmission on the 855 convinced me that for manuevering around trees and general close quarters, hydro is best for me. I bought upgrade kits for mid-mount PTO and the automotive type cruise control. It already had the Power Beyond kit for the backhoe. I'm going to add an additional rear SCV so that I can operate a loader grapple or maybe a hydraulic top link, though I have not seen that much use for the top link to this point.

The eHydro works really well. Crisp and responsive. Being "fly-by-wire", the cruise control has good feedback so that you can engage it and then click the switch click by click up an down to find the speed that you need. It also has a very positive resume feature, so that I can run slow while carrying a load, and then hit resume to go to a higher speed to get back to the pile. It has an other interesting option that I use when I drill/spray/broadcast. You can set the maximum speed that you want to run, so that no matter how far down you press the pedal, your ground speed will not exceed that pre-set limit. Handy when you need to run at a fixed ground speed like when you are spraying or applying fertilizer.

My younger brother just bought a new 3320 I think, and he called me to ask about transmissions, because he wasn't that clear on the benefits of all the options, and I recommended the eHydro, and told him to get the cruise options installed as it was only like $150 from the factory. He is very happy with it as well.

Besides, "9 out of 10 squirrels agree on JD!"

 

[Mike M]

Well I do know that a model 4100 with the #410 frt. loader will lift an empty 330 gal propane tank listed as weighing 620 lbs. to full height(which isn't much) This tractor is WAY smaller then that 990 with a #430 loader so 900 lbs. should be no problem for it. The owners manual for the loader will show the specs. on it to double check. The others on here don't give these new compacts enough credit for what they can do.

 

[leon]

Frank, I think you made the right transmission choice. Until somebody comes out with a low cost, fuel efficient IVT for these little tractors, there's simply nothing that beats a HST, especially for mower and loader work. That 4310 looks like a very nice rig. Thanks for the pictures. I think I'll run my 855 MFWD a while longer. It has less than 900 hours and is from the last year of production. It's been a real workhorse for me and has been almost trouble free. The only maintenance I can remember, other than routine service, is replacing a pin in the joy stick linkage once.