4630FWD vs 445-545 FWD-Industrial models

I am wondering what the main differences are between these models, am considering a 4630 FWD. I have read the spec sheets on each, but wonder about the front axles, obviously the industrials are heavier, though the hubs look the same and or similar, the AG model has larger diameter front wheels.

Is the 4630 FWD compatible for loader use ? I see many that have them.

What Ford or New Holland loader is correct for a 4630 FWD ? 7310 maybe ? I see woods has a model that fits, but the front part of the frame may block the head lamps.

4630 FWD - 3 pt backhoe, light work, transplant trees, ditch or drainage, would you need a full frame to the loader, something fabricated to fit, or is using it lightly or carefully going to suffice. I don't really know the stress areas on this 4630 chassis, if I had an industrial, I would have to be a 3pt as well, so I could make use of the PTO and 3pt hitch when its not needed.

I may be close to making a deal soon, and am just wanting to insure I've made a good choice if I stay with an ag model. Any comments/opinion?

Thanks for your help.

I have a 445C 2wd with loader, PTO and 3 point. Used mostly for light logging and road building with a Gannon 3-way rollover box blade, plus snow removal and some ag work, plowing with a Ford 2 x 14" plow. I love this tractor, it is nearly bulletproof and gets around well with the diff lock and chains.

My suggestion is to decide if you're likely to do more Ag work or more heavy loader work. The 4630 will be best in the Ag work and the 445 or 545 will be better for the heavy loader work. The 445/545's are built close to the ground with the 16.9x24 rear tires. 4630 is taller, better for ag work or going through timber without building trails first.

With the 445/545 series, look for the 8x8 speed power shuttle trans with torque convertor lock up and independent PTO, or the 6x4 speed manual trans with PTO. Some early models have a 4x4 speed power shuttle trans without a lockup feature and no PTO available.

I've seen some 4630's with aftermarket loaders that have very tall frames that would seem to block your forward vision.

Use a stout trailer to haul a 445/545, my 445c with 4-post ROPS and 1200# iron, (2 weights per side) and 1200# fluid on the rear wheels, weighs 9450#.

Good luck with your search.
Guy

The 545D will be a very similar tractor except it will have a heavier front axle and the transmission generally has a torque converter in front of it although it's largely the same 8x8 syncro transmission. It will also have smaller wheels and different output ratios on the transmission and transfer boxes to accommodate the small industrial front wheels. I believe it also had a fairly full frame vs no frame in the 4630. For loader work I'd prefer the 545. For ag work... not so much. The 4630 can be equipped with a loader. Either a 7310 or 7410 depending on the exact vintage. The main weak point will then be the little front axle and gears if you decide to work it hard. You can also break the front bolster/axle cradle if you try hard enough....

Rod

That reinforces what I've tried to learn about the differences, which mind you, pardon my redundancy on this forum, as I have posted similar inquiries about the 445/545 industrials. The information is helpful in determining what would best suit my needs.

So we know you can get an industrial model that has the feature available to lock the converter, thus providing the means to do ag or drawbar work, without any detriment to the transmission, without that and I know it true with old direct drive caterpillars, those are best suited for drawbar work, whereas the powershift model is not and I think heat is a problem. I've looked at the aftermarket loaders, the woods looked like a decent fit and seems to have a heavier loader arm, factory or otherwise would suffice, as I won't be engaging in any heavy earth work, maybe spread some loose gravel from a pile on the driveway, mostly snow and surface work, my ole 850 with a wagner has done a little of each of that for 13 years now.

Appreciate the advice about trailering, I've seen the weight on these, 4630 was 5600+ bare tractor, its a 2 ton difference if comparing that way, loader would add more to the 4630, but still lighter than the industrial.


I believe I recall the one you have, you got it a year or so ago and posted here ?

Its interesting what you said about the woods, I would likely be towing some logs, probably use a heavier boom pole, few at a time, may be in the woods a little bit, but just enough to get a line on the logs, much of that I can access from a path or elsewhere, at least I have maintained those areas and kept them clear enough. I've seen a custom underslung exhaust for these too, to avoid limbs and the stack, the latter I'd prefer, but my 850 has a short 90 just to the loader arms and that works great for the woods.

Thanks for responding, its most appreciated and very helpful !

Rod, you've posted some greatly detailed information over the years and I've read same over time or its come up in a search. What you described as the differences between the 2 is what I was wondering. That in mind, and as much as I'd rather have an industrial, with the full frame loader and more capacity, knowing its best to have more tractor than not, there is more to it for me. Thinking back, I don't use a loader for lots of heavy work. Most would be loose gravel or crushed stone on occasion for the driveway. Logs I would tow in with a heavier 3 pt boom, to avoid a pick and carry of longer distances of any weight, most are 20" diameter max, some a bit larger but I can address loading as needed and within safe limits of the tractor. I'm not doing commercial logging by any means, just firewood and clean up. I guess I should research the loader and axle capacities to compare. I have considered small contracting and an industrial with a good 3 pt hoe with a full frame would be nice for that, but for a bunch of little things around here, no real heavy work, I'd have to think a 4630 would be enough, that and careful use. It appears the back half of one of these would be fine for a 3 pt hoe with moderate use, and I'd not have to own another tractor that was dedicated to a hoe, or a backhoe, thus allowing me use of the 3 pt hitch and the pto when the hoe is removed.

So it seems, an industrial with a locking converter could do some ag work, I don't have much more than 10 acres tillable here now, I mostly do gardens and food plots, though its possible I could do some ag work in the future, it would be limited to low acreage.

The other thing is, what is available, I have seen relatively clean looking, non commercially used industrials under 10K, but have also seen for more money a low hour, clean 4630, which maybe, would sway me in that direction, with just a little sacrifice from what an industrial provides. I'm trying not to over think this, don't believe the work I'd like to do would be anywhere near pushing one of those to the limits of breaking bolsters and gears, so maybe its about as good a choice as an industrial.

Its a big deal for me to make this decision the way things are, and I honestly appreciate the information and advice!

Unless you're seriously going to do a LOT of HEAVY loader work, go with the 4630. Other than the specific points I mentioned, they're the same basic tractor and can both be made to do the same work. The problem with the 545 is that it will be a good chunk heavier and it struggles to drag it's arse around for lack of power and the heavy loader doesn't fall off in five minutes. If you've got a farm loader you can knock it off in 5-10 minutes and have a COMPLETLY different handling tractor. Personally if I was doing any amount of field work I'd not want a 545..
I only mention the front axle problems with the 30 series because I've had lots of them... but again I say... this 3930 here did a lot of hard heavy work that a tractor twice it's size shouldn't have done. When you use it for heavy pushing and lifting it concentrates 90% of it's weight on the front axle. Then put it in 2nd or 3rd gear at full bore... it will break something when it can't spin. Usual problem I had was that the bolts in the ring gears would break or back out, drop into the teeth and go crunch/BANG. Hello 2 grand. The 545 will have a bit different axle with less reduction ratio in it... and probably a slightly heavier hub. I also broke the front bolster on mine pushing snow/ice banks back a couple years ago. I never expected that to break until it did... but that's partly the nature of how a 7410 loader is mounted (it's not fixed on the front cradle and it has slop enough to get a good slap when you push hard and suddenly with it). Plus... I think this early model had a much weaker bolster than the later ones given they changed it perhaps a year after this one was built... That said... if I was mounting a loader on one today I'd skirt the front mount with 1" plate as deeply over the bolster and axle relief as I could to the extent that axle oscillation would allow it.

Rod

"Unless you're seriously going to do a LOT of HEAVY loader work, go with the 4630. Other than the specific points I mentioned, they're the same basic tractor and can both be made to do the same work. The problem with the 545 is that it will be a good chunk heavier and it struggles to drag it's arse around for lack of power and the heavy loader doesn't fall off in five minutes. If you've got a farm loader you can knock it off in 5-10 minutes and have a COMPLETLY different handling tractor."

Thats what I was weighing, the thing I like about the industrial is the increased loader capacity and the way its built. Getting past that, and never having operated either of these, its clear that I may not need the industrial type model for what I am doing, though I consider future needs, and its always wise to have more tractor than not. This mentality comes from being a full time heavy equipment operator for several years, overkill is always welcome LOL !

I do some field work, most of it is mowing, the least is food plots, the remainder is wood gathering, I like to tow logs to my house and process there, so I don't need a loader on for some of it, sometimes to push and clear light brush, vegetation, or small trees back. That industrial would be heavy in soft areas, which I stay clear of, on occasion I'll get bogged down, every few years though it seems. As long as I can move a little gravel, top soil or similar loose materials, grade same, and be able to remove the loader when not needed it sounds like a good fit. Trailering may be a consideration too, as my friends new F150 and a 16' trailer would easily handle a bare 4630, at 5600lbs or so, but go 10K for an industrial, thats 2 extra tons, that I may not need. Ideally I'd like both LOL, but I think you have helped me reaffirm my thoughts about a 4630. I've got a line on a decent one of those now. Well I think I'll pursue it, hopefully I can get it done, as something else will be sold to fund it, just waiting on parts to complete it so I can list or show it by Friday PM, that's if the parts get here on time LOL !

I just wanted to make sure the 4630 fwd front end was stout enough and not a problematic component with a loader on for the work described, sounds like it would be fine.

Thanks again for taking the time to post what you know about these !

Don't get too dreamy about handling a 4630 behind an F150. The only thing that's going to get handled is the F150... and probably man handled and mangled. 4630 base weight in MFWD form I think is somewhere between 5500-5900#. Add a farm loader you're looking at upwards of 7500#. Load the rears (16.9-30)... and they NEED to be loaded... you're closing on 9000#.
Just the same, I think for your needs the 4630 is probably more appropriate.

Rod

I would agree, tail wagging the dog, the one I am looking at is bare tractor, rust stain on rims, likely loaded rears, and some suitcase weights up front.

In comparison, I hauled the 850 with a loader, loaded tires, heavy rear counterweight, like a full stack of suitcase weights and then some, behind a 3/4 and I believe a 16' trailer, which I thought has (2) 7K axles under it, truck handled that no problem, braking included.

Was thinking it would be similar, that '14 F150 seems closer to a 3/4 than not, thought it may handle the same, but I'd not want to try 9K behind it for sure or take any chances when hauling anything like this, not worth the risk. I've got options for transport, locally one of the 2 small tractor shops has a very reasonable hauler, and my neighbor has a tandem mack and lowboy and he's reasonable, he just dropped 25 ton of stone for that ole 850 to spread on the driveway.