JD Seller - Question....

Over the years, I've read several of your posts. It sounds like (maybe) one of your favorite tractors is a 4020 - with a recent gas version added to the fleet.

What is it about the 4020 that for you - get your attention and you find them attractive to buy/use.

Just curious.

Thanks!
Bill

The JD 4020 is a good reliable 95 HP tractor that handles easily. Great power steering and brakes. Fast hydraulics and rugged transmission, if left at factory horsepower. Then add in the fact that they are fairly simple to work on and you have a good "work" farm tractor. I currently own 4 JD 4020s. Three are diesels and are worked every single day. Simple electric systems without any electronics make them well suited for the dirty life on a livestock farm.

The oldest is a 1966 model. I have four tachometers that add up to over 25K hours and it was twenty years old when I bought it. So it could easily have over 30K hours.

If you do not break a housing or something they are just about totally rebuildable. Since there where over 184,000 of them built you can find many after market parts sources. This helps keep the OEM parts prices down too.

The sad part of this is that they are getting too small for many of the common farm chores on today's livestock farm. We are switching over to JD 4440s on many applications. An example is the TMR wagons. The two main ones are over 500 cubic foot mixers and a JD 4020 will not handle them safely because of the weight. Another things is running grain augers. A 13 inch auger in wet corn will work a JD 4020 so we use a JD 4440.

To add to that, I have two. One was a gas that a neighbor bought new. He died and it set in a barn for almost 20 yrs. I bought it and put in a diesel engine. The other, another neighbor died and it had a loader and I needed it and got it. Both are power shift. They are about the most versatile tractors made. At least for this area. They have been used for transplanting and cultivating tobacco and would pull a 5 bottom plow and a 14 ft. disc. Or anything between. I'm not stuck on the 4020. I also have a 4430, 2510, and some IH's and Masseys. I like all of them. The 4020's are a convenient tractor to use.

You are right, even a MOWCO is all they want.

I will have to agree ,, and I am a Case man at heart ,, ,but I like a 30 -4020 .. my 4020 p -shift is used mostly for round baling, and for a hundred horse tractor it is the most nimble of all // ,i have found the 4020s Achilles heal so some of you should pay attention ;; if you get water in the tranny fluid it will do a number on the brake linings ,At Least I think That Was the Cause of all my Troubles,. some of you mite recall that I have spent more in repairs , because of the brakes discs leaving trash thru out the entire hydro system ,.watery oil caused from bad brake pedal seals allowed water in very easily ,,,,. and to add insult to injury ,,.I like to pressure wash to keep everything lookin nice ,..because of my ignorance , I rebuilt the steering motor ,had serveral rebuilds on the main hydro pump, hired a dum mechanic who declared my tractor needed the entire traction clutch pak replaced .., thanx to this forum and the brain trust here I am much wiser and realize I made a lot of wrong calls .. and the 4020 is simple compared to the new ones today of any brand..

IMHO 4020's greatly influenced JD's reputation and market share of today.

Thanks for the reply and experiences with the 4020's. I want to add a larger hp tractor to the fleet for a discbine and had in mind a GAS Farmall 756. I especially like the 756 model/hp, but based on input and reading, I think I'm abandoning any larger gas tractor. This puts diesel on the table again and I don't really want an 856, but maybe I should take a second look. If I'm looking at diesel, then a 4020 is in the mix. Everything I read about the early/late 4020's is generally good. Parts everywhere, a bullet proof tractor. I get the impression, while they are a row crop tractor, are very nimble like a utility tractor. That would be a plus and they sound like a great haying tractor too - which would be its primary chore around here.

I like what I've read regarding the powershift transmission and would lean toward on of those models if I got a 4020.

The #1 deal breaker on any tractor is if it jumps out of gear going downhill, pushed by a hay wagon or heavy implement and if the brakes are crap. Many tractors exhibit both problems. Just getting started looking at the 4020's in a more serious way. If you or anyone could comment on the powershift and how it handles on a downhill ride - would be great info. My expectation is the shear design of the powershift ought to preclude any jumping out of gear AND enable one to slow the tractor down, by shifting down on the fly and utilizing engine braking to further slow the tractor. Might need a second post on 4020 behavior when going down hill and the historical hazards that come with that model tractor and such things as good/bad brakes and jumping out of gear.

Thanks again,
Bill

In high school/college, I worked for four different farmers. Two small guys, one intermediate sized guy, and one big guy. All owned 4020's.

The small and intermediate sized guys, the 4020's were the main tillage/workhorse on the farm. The big guy, the 4020 was the small planter/cultivator tractor.

I think that's why they were so popular. Could be by any sized farm as either the big power or the little power.

Bill a JD 4020 power shift is a good tractor to have. Just one caution make sure the power shift is in good condition. They can be expensive to fix it they have problems.

The power shift is pretty bullet proof as far as your concerns, free wheeling and shifting on hills. They will not free wheel in any gear.

(quoted from post at 11:23:23 07/31/16)
.They will not free wheel in any gear.

Click to expand...

That statement is true as long as the differential disconnect stays engaged.