Mecum 4020 WFA

[jdknucklebuster]

Fall Mecum auction has a 4020 FWA listed with almost no additional information. Not even hrs. Others I have saw sell have a serial number search from two cylinders to verify factory built. Were there many built by dealers or people buying a kit later?

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

If someone thinks there is money to be made putting parts together they will give it a try. I looked at a nice 72 4020 powershift with front wheel drive recently. Told him I would take it for a friend if he had it checked to make sure it was factory. He then replied that it was put together a few years ago. Nothing wrong with put together as long as you are not trying to pass off as factory. Untill just a few years ago there was no way to tell but records have now been found. There are also lots more 4320's with narrow fronts that were ever sold new now that a few have brought big money. Tom

 

[jdknucklebuster]

Tom, I assume the only records are held by the two cylinder group? Right now their serial number searches are running 8-16 weeks for results. Auction is 3 weeks away. I suppose somebody who has spent enough time around one of these could spot the assembled units. That rules me out as an expert+

 

[larryanderson]

The HFWA off a chopper is what my friend who has a shop used to recreate 3020HFWA P.S. for a customers collection.As stated before the tractors didnt have enough oil capacity or flow to make them work as well as combines and choppers.I think a serial number search thru Two-Cyl 319-824-6060 would help you verify it.They do sell well if complete but there are some pieces that are hard to find.The narrow front deal seems to be a fad right now and there were very few 30/40 series but more 20 series.We just put one on a 1206 for a buyer. There are different pedestals and the heaviest is more expensive and more rare but looks exactly like the original except for casting number.The total cost with new 11L 15 3 rib tires and correct 10 in rims was $560.The wide front sold for $1200.I am sure S,N.# wont tell which front end .The JDs that had S.N. search done before I got them basically tells dealership it was sent to and first buyer.The newer tractors can be traced easily by dealer in a matter of minutes and will reveal many details such as dealer warranty work and owners back a few years if JD was involved. In car world there are many clones such as Shelbys and Yanko and generally no matter how well done bring substancially less than the real deal. A nice low houred original 72 2520/4000 power shift will outsell a nice redone 4020HFWA.

 

[tomstractorsandtoys]

I would contact two cylinder as they most likely have the list of factory fwa tractors as there was not a huge number of them. They should be able to tell you if that tractor is on the list. I think it would be neat to have one someday and would have no problem with a put together one. Tom

 

[jdknucklebuster]

I contacted two cylinder. They do claim to be the only one with the ability to research the serial number as real, BUT they need to go down to Moline for the search and have no plans to make that trip for several months.????? For as many people as must be calling them right now for that tractors serial number, it would seem they could make a special trip to sell a bunch of certificates.
I think I have seen a picture of area below the steering wheel having a switch to turn on the FWA. That pc would seem to be hard to reproduce correctly without some real effort.

 

[rrlund]

I know where there's one siting in the weeds. We've taken the same route on a tractor drive two years in a row now and I've seen it sitting there in the same place. I've scratched my head as to why they'd leave it sitting out there and not at least pull it inside somewhere and stop the aging.