Models I Should Look At

[Clodhopper Pete]

I am in the market for an 85 or 90 HP tractor and am leaning toward a JD because we have a local dealership for parts and a couple of crackerjack JD mechanics in the area. I"d like to find a 4020or 4000, but are there other models I should be looking at, or ones that I should avoid?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Tx Jim]

I'd look for a later model with a Quad-Range trams(16 sp) and SGB(cab)(4030/4230/4040,4240) if it were me as it would cost the same or maybe a little more than a 4020/4000. I'd stay away from the tractors built in Mannheim as they are more prone to hyd failures.

 

[coonie minnie]

Buy what you like.

I agree with some of below, the Waterloo tractors are a cut above the Mannheims.

Earlier 4020s bring less in general than the console tractors, and at least with sycro transmissions, have somewhat less to go wrong. The powershaft clutch is manual and not hydraulic assist, so that is one less thing to leak.

As for the Gen II tractors like 4040 or 4230, they are good too, but I hate the Quad transmission. In my mind, it was Deere's attempt to make something as miserable to operate as an IH. There is a reason that powershifts of these models seem to bring more than the quad range tractors.

Good luck. Buy the best you can afford... it will be the cheapest in the long run.

 

[4020guru]

I agree with the II new gen tractors or the sound guard series. The quad range is a great transmissions, and the 4020s are becoming highly priced for the work they can do .

 

[4020_1966]

Pete,
It really depends on what you plan on using it for. I love the 20, 30, 40, 50 etc series. They all are great on the right job. I have a small operation and primarily no till, sometimes disk or pull a field cultivator, blade drive ways, and loader tractor stuff. I went with my 66 4020 and it has been ideal for my needs. Half the cost of a 4230 with SG cab when I got it about 5 years ago. I ran open station until this winter and added a YAR cab to it. The console model 4020 costs more and is a little more advanced in the hydraulics which is fine until repairs are needed. Each newer generation is a little more advanced in some fashion and repairs can get pretty pricey depending on what it is. Power shift is convenient and easy to use but for what I do synchroshift made more sense.

 

[Tx Jim]

coonie minnie
You forgot to mention that powershift tractors require more hp to perform the same task because the powershift consumes so many more HP to operate. Plus PS trans are a lot more $$$$$$ to repair than a QR trans. I'l take the Quad-range any day over an IHC hard shifter trans.

 

[johndeerefan]

I really really like the 4020 or 4000 for user tractors. I have both! But, for value you can get a 4320 for the same price if not cheaper than a 4020 and also gain more hp.

 

[coonie minnie]

I'm not so sure... ever fix a quad range? The
hi-lo went out on my 4230 8-9 years ago... and
just the cost of rebuilding that was more than an
engine overhaul. We didn't touch the rest of the
gearbox.

As for the power thing, Nebraska tests for power
shift vs gear were negligible on horsepower in the
later series tractors. Maybe Deere set the
injection pumps different, but only 2-3 hp max
difference on things like 4620 and 30 series.
Maybe economy is poorer on powershift.

I have one quad tractor, and the rest powershift
in my 30-50 series lineup. The quad is the last
choice of anyone here, even though it has more
speeds. Having more speeds doesn't seem to make a
big differece if the next gear up or down involves
2 levers, and some unsycronized shifts.

And some people love 'em. Just not me. Given
lower prices (it seems) on quads, I must not be
alone.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 22:01:03 05/24/13) I'm not so sure... ever fix a quad range? The
hi-lo went out on my 4230 8-9 years ago..s.
Maybe economy is poorer on powershift.

If being an ex JD dealer service manager and having supervised the rebuild of the hyd hi-lo qualifies then YES. I've also supervised the rebuild of a powershift and the cost of rebuild of hyd hi-lo won't even begin to warm up the cost of repair of a powershift.

Below is a comparison I stumbled onto comparing HP hrs/gallon
18.36 1983 John Deere 4450 Quad 140.33
16.15 1982 John Deere 4450 Power_Shift 140.43

 

[coonie minnie]

My dealer had $13,000 in rebuilding the hi lo and
replacing the perma clutch- some years ago
already. I'm sure a powershift total rebuild
would be expensive, but in the tractors I have
with powershift, which have a combined 46,000
hours (no BS!) we have had very few repairs. None
even approached the quad repair.

It's never been a favorite transmission of mine.
More economical, yes. But it comes at an
operations convienience price. 10 and 20 series
(or most of them) had sycros into the reverse
gears. Quads? No. Reverse gears of reasonable
speeds? Powershift yes- nice and slow, good for
attatching implements. Quad- all about 5 miles an
hour except A range, and that's plenty fast, too.

We operate a dairy farm, and so are running forage
harvesting equipment, manure spreaders, etc. Want
to go up one gear with the chopper or mower? Bump
the lever ahead, or grind gears with two levers? I
never liked the quad sequence- try going from B3
to C2 and back a few times every windrow. Soon
your just picking one gear, and theoretical
economy starts to drop as you are now going slower
to do the same job. Remember, those economy tests
were done running in one gear for a significant
amount of time. They did not measure fuel used to
do a given job in varying field conditions.

The poster asked for opinions. I offered mine,
not meaning to upset you. I guess this is why
Deere offed choices, right?

OK, end of my rant.

 

[larryanderson]

A nice GenII 4230/4430 with cab will bring about the same or less than a nice 4000 or late 4020.Price can affected by tires,hours,OH,A/C and all are cheaper to buy already installed.Dealing with 30+ year old tractors there are a lot of variables.My self I like good 4040/4240/&4440s that are turbocharged[maybe too large] and proven to be good tractors and good ones are around $20K.4000s are nice but with low number would be hard to justify price.I know of some side counsel 4020s at around 8k but not the type I can resell.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 08:22:43 05/25/13) My dealer had $13,000 in rebuilding the hi lo and
replacing the perma clutch- some years ago
already. OK, end of my rant.

Here's a parts lists for the major parts to rebuild the clutch and install a NEW HI-LO on a 4230. All I can say is your dealer charges way TOO MUCH LABOR!!!!!!!!!!!!.


R61066 PLATE,CLUTCH SEPARATOR ADD 140.00 USD
RE234306 DISK, WITH FACINGS ADD 88.51 USD 177.02 USD
R56961 PLATE, PS CLUTCH PRESSURE ADD 236.39 USD
R112385 PLATE CLUTCH SEPARATOR View/Update 215.00 USD
RE234264 CLUTCH DISK, WITH FACIINGS ADD 89.81 USD 179.62 USD
R50341 PLATE,CLUTCH BACKING ADD 397.84 USD

RE238232 CLUTCH, HI-LOW, ASSEMBLY ADD 3,310.01 USD

*Subtotal 4,660.88 USD

 

[coonie minnie]

Yeah, I know that. I'm VERY frustrated with Deere
lately. High priced shop, and rediculous parts,
too.

Latest example- I wanted a new alternator pulley
for my 5020. $121 and change! For the pulley! I
bought a new one for less than half that (still
too much) from a chain used parts dealer. And it
came in an older JD box! The parts stuff is
really hurting their business. Everything that's
over-priced or over-margined makes us value-shop,
which results in less total sales by the dealer.

Anyway ,getting off subject.

The consolidation of dealers means traveling 60 +
miles to a dealer not owned by the same
organization, too.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 10:26:40 05/25/13) Yeah, I know that. I'm VERY frustrated with Deere
lately. High priced shop, and rediculous parts,
too.

$8000 labor to R&R clutch & hi-lo in a JD Generation ll tractor is ""way past ridiculous"" to me it's robbery. All parts are high. I own JD,Ford,Kubota,Vermeer & H&S and the parts are ALL TOO HIGH.