Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D

Posted by JD70Jim on August 14, 2001 at 07:37:30 from (64.197.39.213):

In Reply to: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D posted by IH1 on August 11, 2001 at 22:51:05:

It is my OBSERVATION that for this pair of tractors, pure horsepower comparissons are unrealistic. To begin with, these are tractors built 1964-1972 for the John Deere and 1967-1971 for the Farmall. If you really NEED horsepower, you can certainly indulge. There is always the 4520,4320, 4620 vs the 1256, &1066.

I do not expect that ANYONE would use either of these tractors as a primary, heavy use tractor in a farming operation. If you are needing the tractor to make a living from it, you would have a much newer tractor.

An older tractor of this size is now most likely to be a third string backup on a larger farm, most likelly to be found pulling wagons and running an auger, baling hay, or other lower horsepower requirements. If this is what you are needing, Fuel efficiency ratings, max horsepower, and whatnot are unlikely to be a major factor, unlike what you would be worrying about were you spending $100,000 on a new, high horsepower tractor and were planning 500 hours a year for it!

A hobbyfarmer, on a small acreage (100 acres or so) would be able to use the horsepower as it was originally intended. However, either of these tractors will deliver MORE power than is needed. I know this, being on a 116 acre hobby farm myself and using a 1968 4020D. I could certainly get along fine with less hp---a 2510 would actually have sufficient---but I LIKE the 4020! I also LIKE the other 4 tractors I have (but don't always need).

The biggest consideration, in my opinion, between the Farmall 856 and the John Deere 4020 is this: which tractor is more comfortable, is easiest to operate, has the most convenient controls, starts easiest, and will have the best track record for repairs. The "track record" for repairs should be judged on an individual evaluation of each tractor---not a group judgement of each type as a whole. I suggest that you evaluate each choice mechanically, operate each tractor for an hour (or more if possible) and buy the one which will make you the most happy.

Save the maximum performance debate for evaluating late model tractors, because you will need to know how much work you can extract from a high hours per year tractor, and also you could debate the horsepower producing merits of a pulling tractor, because that is what you need to know in order to win!

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D IH1 21:27:22 08/14/01 (3)
  • Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D JD70Jim 08:04:30 08/15/01 (2)
    • Re: Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D IH1 15:28:32 08/15/01 (1)
      • Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D farmerboy8 21:10:54 01/14/02 (0)
• Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D Cliff Neubauer 10:16:15 08/14/01 (3)
  • Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D IH1 21:14:47 08/14/01 (0)
  • Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D G Taylor value 10:39:36 08/14/01 (1)
    • Re: Re: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D JD70Jim 13:31:11 08/14/01 (0)

Post A Followup Name: E-Mail: Subject: Re: Re: Farmall 856 vs JD 4020D Comments: Optional Link URL: Link Title: Optional Image URL: Email Notification: If you check this box, email will be sent to you whenever someone replies to this message. Your email address must be entered above to receive notification. This notification will be cancelled automatically after 2 weeks.

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]