Powershift vs synchromesh

[Lowly]

I am in the thinking/looking stage of buying a 4320 to use on my farm. Would you guys lean towards a powershift or away from them? How are they holding up and how expensive are they to rebuild? I've only had synchro's (3010,4000,4020)so have no experience with the powershift.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Deere never produced a 4320 powershift. Just syncros.

 

[NY 986]

The neighbor on the next road over had a 4320 powershift. Keeping the transmission fully pressurized demands additional power that is not available at the drawbar/PTO versus a synchro range. The difference was usually just a couple of horses but if guys were trying out both versions of the same tractor they would feel the powershift was slightly underpowered. Most guys compensated by opening the fuel screw on the injector pump to gain back the power versus a synchro. Nowadays we are more sensitive to fuel usage so a opened up tractor will seem like a fuel hog depending on the job.
4320 syncro's are generally well liked and bring good money. 4320 powershifts were fairly uncommon. Any of the Deere powershifts when they come to the point where they need major rebuilding will be very expensive (I'm not saying synchros will be dirt cheap) and it will be critical to know the prospective tractor's history. Generally, either transmission is known for a long interval before they need work unless neglected.
You did not say your price range. Just a couple thousand more on average would buy a decent 30 series with sound gard cab. I've seen ROPS equipped 50 series (4050, 4250) with powershift (2wh) in the very high teens. Unless you are attached to getting a 4320, those would be my preferences.

 

[Ravgardner]

I used a borrowed 4320 two weeks ago to disc a field. The job took 7 1/2 hours, but I was enjoying it so much didn't even stop for lunch. Great tractor!!!
The syncro transmission worked well for me. Loved using the tractor. Went home and told the wife, "Got to get me one of these!" Needless to say she was not favorably impressed by my enthusiasm.
Oh well.

 

[Lowly]

I have a very nice 3255, so not really looking for another cab tractor. There are many summer mornings when I would chose to mow with an open station tractor if I had the choice. I thought the 30 series had a poor reputation for starting and power so have shyed away from them. A 4240 would work and of course a 4050 or 4055 but my thought was a that a 4320 in great shape would be less money than a really nice 4050/4055 and would do what I want it to.

The other factor for me is that I have something going on with my hips and either need a good ride with a terrific seat, like the 3255,or I need to stand up every now and then. I actually had to take the canopy off my 2755 so that I could stand up without going out on the step as I went along(I was pretty sure that wasn't really a good idea). Not sure how a 4240 with the 4 post would work for me. It's personal taste only but I've always thought the 40,50 and 55 series just don't look right without a cab or the 4 post ROPS.

I hadn't thought about the power loss with a powershift. I have two jobs waiting for this tractor when I finally decide on one, one would be mowing with a 10 ft disc mower on hilly land in heavy grass, the other hauling a 716A forage wagon up a steep gravel road to the silo. My neighbor's 4000 won't do it if the corn is green and heavy so I was thinking I needed a heavier tractor than a 4000/4020. The mower uses all of a 100 hp if you want to really step out so again I thought a 4020 would be worked pretty hard or I wouldn't go as fast as I want to.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[thurlow]

Have had synchro-range, quad-range and 8-speed power shift; don't really know which I'd choose, if that was only difference between 2 tractors......probably the quad. There are some TRUE experts who hang out here and you can take their advice to the bank; might take a few months for a new poster to pick 'em out. I find it interesting that Deere either did or did not make a power-shift 4320; (how can it be both ways?) the answer shouldn't be opinion, but fact...........waiting to find out the TRUTH.

 

[4010 puller]

I agree with that, they never made a powershift one. A 4430 quad range or powershift would be a good option as well at 125 horse, for basically the same money and you can get a good cab on one if you need it.

 

[PeterE]

The parts book doesn't show the power shift, and I don't think it was in the sales literature.

On the other hand, there is a Deere dealer in Maine who says he has one on the lot. Maybe somebody can go look at it.
Powershift 4320?

 

[M w J]

I could be wrong but I don"t think so .I think that 4320 powershift is a miss print . If you blow the pictures up you can only see 1 hyd filter . In another pic you can see shift knob behind the muffler and in the other shot from the front of the cab you can not see the shift lever where it would be if it was in park and powershift .

 

[tim s]

I agree also, you can put one toghether out of 4020 stuff but Deere didn't make one.

 

[tim s]

The 8 seed power shift is dependable exspecialy the newer ones,late 4020's and 42's and 44's, the older ones had some PTO brake issues,and park problems, the down side is fewer working speeds, We still have 1 4240 PS open station with a turbo it's nice for feed grinder and hay work.

 

[PeterE]

Good observation. I was wondering if it was a typo, but I didn't notice anything in the photos to tell either way.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Don't believe they built the 4320 in a Power Shift.

 

[JMS/.MN]

4320 tractors were only synchro- no Power Shift. I"ve had 3 PS tractors with almost 30000 hours on (collectively) and only a year ago did one need to be rebuilt- still pulled great, but the lining was separating from the plates. Replacement plates were different material- was a 40 series, No problem with the 30 or 50 series I have. Synchro is cheaper to rebuild, does not last as long.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Syncro only - fact!

 

[Tx Jim]

NY 986[/quote]he neighbor on the next road over had a 4320 powershift

JD didn't offer a 4320 with a powershift when I sold them when they were NEW. Parts catalog 1228 doesn't show any listing for PS parts for a 4320 either.

 

[NY 986]

I KNOW what I was told when I was younger regarding this tractor. There are times you have to take people at their word initially till you can prove otherwise. This was a farm where I could not just drop in and snoop around to satisfy my curiosity. The tractor in question has long since been traded away and until now never really was that concerned how it was outfitted. I always try to have some basis from which I present material on this sight. If I am required to quote chapter and verse from an OEM publication to make a point then most of the others here should have to do the same based on their obvious errors. I would say most information here comes on that basis. That is somebody referring to another they consider a trusted source but somehow got it wrong in one particular instance.
I really take issue with the implication I am some sort of BS artist on this site.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for posting back NY 986. I "knew" JD didnt build a 4320 powershift but you had some of us wondering a bit. Always wondered why they didnt. It could have been done if they wanted, its basically a 4020 back half anyhow, just beefed up a bit. And powershift was available on the 4430. Like others said one could be built out of salvage tractor parts.

 

[tim s]

I never took you that way, sometimes we don't see or remember things clearly, and some times the things that we do see are not what they seem to be,,,It all gets sorted out with a little thought.. There are a lot of strange combinations out there, my first thought was that someone put a 4020 PS together with a 4320 front end, it probably has been done, in fact my nieghbor has a 4320 engine and front half complete that he stripped down to make a pulling tractor out of, wouldn't take much to "build" one...

 

[Tx Jim]

NY 986
I wasn't implicating you of being an artist of any description.
But after all the years of working at a JD dealership and answering customers questions I try to give correct information if I know the answer.