John Deere Industrial 400 Loader Help

CrazyTown

New User
I am looking at an old John Deere Industrial 400 loader (no backhoe). The sheet metal is in really rough shape and it has a few small leaks. I can't tell how many hours are on it and the owner has no clue when the meter stopped working. The engine starts and runs great. It has to warm up for about 3 minutes before the loader lifts smoothly. What would be a fair price? I have no idea. I appreciate your help.
 
Without photos its hard to say. I would have a concern about the hydraulics. They should be fine as soon as it starts. Leaks can be expensive depending what it is. Location means a lot. Most hour meters don not work. know the owner. is he trust worthy. what oil pressure does it carry. does all the gauges works. power steering or not. does it have a 3pt. how is all the ball joints and steering tight. can you work on it your self or not. To get an honest opinion you will need more information an do your home work on line. do a search on the tractor. Once you buy it then for better or worse its yours. just my 3 cents worth.
 

I have attached some photos. The tractor has power steering, 3 point hitch and PTO but is missing the drawbar and drawbar supports. I'm guessing it never had one. It is a diesel. None of the hoses leak but most of them should be replaced. Tachometer works but none of the other gauges. Steering is a little loose. I can do most anything myself. I have looked around online but there aren't many of these things out there. The ones I have found usually have a backhoe.


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(quoted from post at 20:03:35 11/01/17) I am looking at an old John Deere Industrial 400 loader (no backhoe). The sheet metal is in really rough shape and it has a few small leaks. I can't tell how many hours are on it and the owner has no clue when the meter stopped working. The engine starts and runs great. It has to warm up for about 3 minutes before the loader lifts smoothly. What would be a fair price? I have no idea. I appreciate your help.

Looks identical to My John Deere 401

Have had mine for 20+ years and it is a great tuff machine.

3 minutes sounds like an excessive amount of time for the hydraulics to come to life.


When you start that tractor the pump in the transmission sends fluid to a tank mounted above the main hydraulic pump, the purpose of this tank is to supply a steady flow of oil to the inlet of the main hydraulic pump.
I seem to recall if you were to keep your foot on the clutch after starting the tractor it will delay the filling of this tank.

As far as value goes I have seen examples of this machine in VG condition at dealerships with asking prices of $10 000+

The one you are looking at is far from pristine but last I checked cows don't care what a tractor looks like.

I paid just under $3000 for a parts machine with a bad transmission, it had a rebuilt engine in it along with many other parts my old one needed and in my opinion it was well worth the price.

The steering column/control valve for the power steering can be somewhat temperamental on these units, mine is on it's 3rd one.
The coupler between the front of the engine and the hydraulic pump has been replaced a few times as well.

Gauges, the coolant gauge on mine will not move unless something is plugged up, runs very cool and at first I thought mine was not working.

Traction wise=very poor unless you have weight on back.
Messy winter feeding I run cast weights, loaded tires and chains.
With all of that it still needs a bale on the 3 point to really get around good.

If it was me and the machine was in good working order I would think a fair price would be somewhere between 3-6 thousand.

No idea where you are located but if you were not far off I have most every part you would need to bring that one back into shape.
Drawbar
Rollover protection
Fenders
http://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/photos/5542.jpg[/img:205f9dc44e]
 
What are they wanting for it ?

Plus side looks like good rear tires, and is that a quick attach front bucket ?

looks road hard ?
 
This is some very good information. I'm in Maryland. Wish I was closer, I would love to get a drawbar for it because I really think I am going to get it. I grew up on a 2030 which is very close to this unit. I loved that tractor. Thanks a lot.
 
Yes, he added a quick attach to it. That is a huge plus to me because I have a skidsteer and several attachments.
 
(quoted from post at 14:05:23 11/02/17) Yes, he added a quick attach to it. That is a huge plus to me because I have a skidsteer and several attachments.

If you do get it make sure the travel stops for the bucket forward tilt are not worn down or in this case make sure there was proper forward tilt limit stops installed.

In my case they were worn down allowing the bucket to travel past there pivot point which then locks the bucket forward, a little bump is all it then takes to snap in two the pivot arm at the end of the tilt cylinders.
If this happens it is cheaper to build one than buy one.
Even used =big$$$
 
Take a good look at the ears at the front of the engine block where the front bolster/casting bolts to it.Those tractors were notorious for the bolts getting loose and breaking the front of the block when used as a loader tractor.
 

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