JD keys

37 chief · Dec 8, 2020

I found a box of keys that belonged to my brother. A lot of keys. In the bunch of keys I found a JD key by it's self. I tried it on my JD 401. It worked. Does that mean all older JD keys are the same? He never owned a JD, but was a mechanic. Probably from one of the tractors he worked on. What good is a key if anyone can buy a JD key, and start the older tractors, and drive off. Stan

JamesJTX · Dec 8, 2020

I know all the 4020 keys are the same and found out this year after buying another X380 series mower keys are the same.

Jeff NWOH · Dec 8, 2020

I believe most heavy equipment brands use the same key across their lineup. You can buy master key sets with all the different brand's keys.

Tx Jim · Dec 8, 2020

(quoted from post at 16:33:56 12/08/20) I know all the 4020 keys are the same and found out this year after buying another X380 series mower keys are the same.

Correction the same key doesn't fit all 4020's. Early 4020's < sn 201,000 & some 2 cyl,s utilize A4700R ign key & later model 4020's utilized R45361 with longer body with Deer stamped until sn 255776 then 20-55 series utilize AR51481 key with the Deer stamped on it.

IIRC the later style key body was shortened due to tractor drivers breaking keys off in the switches from larger body key protruding out too far from ign switch

SVcummins · Dec 8, 2020

The newer 4020 takes different key then the old ones just have 2 prongs other than that they are the same up until the 8000 series

TractorTucker · Dec 8, 2020

I know my uncle's 3020 and a neighbors Massey 204 have the same 2 prong key. I don't know if the keys are original or replacements though.

Kansas4010 · Dec 8, 2020

Here is a picture of all 3 keys. The
earlier 2 prong key, the longer bodied
key, and the newer short bodied version.

Stephen Newell · Dec 8, 2020

Not just JD, a lot of tractors use the same key. I have a Kubota B5200 tractor and the key will fit any B series tractor they made.

SkipperII · Dec 8, 2020

We have master rings of keys (about 20) on our fire apparatus, that we can use to start tractors and construction equipment in case we need to move them, or use them.

karlinpa · Dec 8, 2020

2 PRONGE KEYS ON MY MASSEY85 AND WAS ON OLIVER 1800

Wheat47 · Dec 8, 2020

When I was a tractor mechanic in the 70's, I had a hand full of keys
I kept in my tool chest. Guy would call and say the tractor is out in the hills,
go fix it!! After I had to "hot wire" a couple, started collecting keys.
They saved me(or someone else) more than once!!

fixerupper · Dec 8, 2020

My dad had his 51 A Deere converted to battery ignition shortly after he bought the tractor new. A Deere dealer did the work, the key was two pronged. I assume it was a Deere supplied key they had on the shelf.

rustred · Dec 8, 2020

yes its pretty common for one key to many tractors. same with swathers , combines and even lawn mowers. my w400 has the same key as my 2-85 white. both are factory.

john in la · Dec 8, 2020

Caterpillar has padlocks for things like the battery box.
The same universal key that fits the ignition fits the padlock.

Butch(OH) · Dec 8, 2020

In all of my years of farming and construction buisiness I have never seen or heard of a machinery company that did NOT use a single key cut for everything, they all used one key. I once worked for one of the biggest construction companies in the Midwest and at that time everything they owned that could be converted to a John Deere switch had one installed so everyone had a key.

doug in missouri · Dec 8, 2020

Well, I used to drive a straight truck and sometimes a semi.
About 15 keys WILL unlock and start any tractor. Of course that was before Kubota became popular. Think Kubota uses 3 or 4 keys. DOUG

504 · Dec 8, 2020

I used to work for a guy part time who bought everything.I learned JD mower keys(most not all) and IH farm tractors all take the same key. The key for my F-932 is the same key as a 400,450,656 and 5088(including the doors).

moresmoke · Dec 8, 2020

And the latest ones have a double cut key with red plastic head, but again are the same across the product lines.

SVcummins · Dec 8, 2020

Yessir but now they’ve started offering keys that are specific to each machine if you want to upgrade I guess that’s for when you farm in da hood

the tractor vet · Dec 9, 2020

Then don't look
at the two massive key rings in my truck. If it is on tires or tracks i have a key for it . Looks a lot better when you have the KEY and your about to load a piece of equipment in the middle of the night and the cops show up . Really embarrassing when you have no key and you have the dash apart and jumper wires running everywhere .

Tony in SD · Dec 9, 2020

Lots of things have the same key. But most people don’t know that. Locks are a mere inconvenience. If someone wants in or start a motor they can with little effort.

Case Nutty 1660 · Dec 9, 2020

also unlocks the cab door

DownNDirty · Dec 9, 2020

In my younger years there were some tractor thefts that occurred in the county. A sheriff deputy came into the Ford/New Holland dealership I worked at and wanted to know who had purchased keys in the last month. I started to pull the report from the system based on the part number for the key when he saw the clear jar with keys in it behind me. We sold quite a few keys because the city people that would come up for the weekend would take the key out of their tractor and leave it at home when they returned to the "country" the next weekend.
The deputy got pretty ------ when he realized that we were just selling keys and not asking questions. Started exclaiming that we were part of the problem and the reason that tractor thefts were so easy by just selling keys across the counter. We needed to be more responsible bla bla bla.
When we told him the tractors took the same key and had been using the same key since the mid 1960's to now 2000, he was dumbfounded.

4xMF · Dec 9, 2020

At work I use a Weidemann articulated mini loader a lot. If the owner has left the key in his pocket I just use the key from the IH 856 tractor. They look exactly the same. Not sure if the tractors ignition switch has been replaced sometime or not.

JD keys

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