Trying out the Dark Side...

Needed a 4wd on the farm and a neighbor that passed away last year had one on his estate auction. JD 8630 with a 40 series engine in it.

Overall: tractor is OK, not overly impressed.

Quad Range is better than what IH had to offer in 1978 (86 series). Cab is about the same noise level as our 1086 IH, was probably quieter when it was new. Fuel usage is OK, about 1 gallon per acre pulling the 27 foot Flexi-Coil air seeder.

It looks like something that would be difficult to work on when things go wrong because stuff is squeezed together under there. That's pretty much what turns me away from it. Of course the fact that it has a 40 series engine in it reinforces my belief that JD couldn't just do it right the first time.

Again, not overly impressed - but it is 27 years old already. Dad bought it because: A. the price was right. B. this neighbor was VERY particular about maintenance and care of his equipment.

Planning on coming home for the summer. I only get about 6 weeks off from teaching. Longer vacations throughout the year though (3 weeks for Thanksgiving, 2 for Christmas, 1 in March, and 2 in April). I just wish my wife could get in at my school so our vacations matched.

Getting back to the tractor, I should know this, but am forgetting. What is the difference between 30 and 40 series engines in that tractor. Quite sizeable cubic inch difference as I recall. I don't think IH's 466 engine was anything to write home about either in the 4366. You dual those tractors up all the way around it takes some horse power. I think I'd take a Deere over any other articulated tractor, mainly for the transmission and inboard planetaries.

These kids are only interested in TV shows and video games. There is one that is really interested in cars, so I offered to have him come over and help fix/maintain my car so he can learn. "That sounds like work, no thanks." so he isn't really a car guy then. Doesn't even want a ride in my del Sol targa top (almost a convertible)...

I am trying to teach them something about farming when I can so that they are a little more educated about where the food they eat comes from.

Like already mentioned, all 619 cubes. There are several differences between the 30, 40, and 50 series engines. Each was an improvement on the previous. The 30 series biggest problems were: hard starting, cracking heads and blocks. The threads in the block of the 30 series came all the way to the top of the deck (flush) so when you tightened the head bolts the threads actually pulled up out of the block slightly, causing problems. The 40 series engine had threads recessed into the block, along with a better injector pump, etc. 50 series improved on this further.

30 series engines seem to be lucky to last 5000 hours (this one only made 4000 before being replaced) and the 40 series last 10,000 or more. Haven't researched the 50 series yet.

I prefer the JD 4x4 in the earlier years. The newer CaseIH (9280) etc. seem to be good in our area.

8430, 8440, and 8450 are ALl 466 cubes.