4400 Combine

Does a JD 4400 Combine have any major issues or items I should look at/for? Is it hard to work on like the 6600? There is a 4400 near by for not a lot of money. Don't know condition yet. Thanks. Paul

Early ones without the rotary screen are prone to overheat. Lighter shafts/bearings than 6600, same basic design so maintenance would be similar. They were a good machine in their day, just like some of your other choices of the era.

MAKE SURE THE HEADS COME WITH IT AS USED ONES CAN BE EXPENSIVE. GOOD LUCK IM LOOKING FOR INE IN THE EAST TOO

One thing to look for on a 4400 (or 4420, for that matter) is the two separator uprights coming off the front axle. To these cast pieces are bolted the main part of the separator. Many times the bolts in these get loose and wallow out the holes causing misalignment of all the parts. Look for cracking around this area and for any missing bolts. A properly fixed combine will have larger and harder bolts in it. This happens commonly around 2500-3000 hours. Also, look for damage around the rear hood. Deere came out with an update kit that braced the rear hood where it bolts to the separator. The channel iron brace is easy to spot on one that has been updated. A straw chopper that gets unbalanced causes vibration that cracks and weakens the rear hood along with the weight of the chopper making the hood veer back and forth (sideways), causing trouble with walkers, etc. Look for stress cracks in the rear hood mounting area. These problems all seem to show up as these combines approach 3000 hours. The 3300/4400 combines were built as "price" combines and were not built to the quality level of the 6600/7700 combines. While they were (and are) good combines they will show wear before the larger combines will. Mike

Thanks everyone for your comments. These were helpful. Paul

If the combine has been cared for the JD 4400 isn't all that bad of a machine. Handles a 4 row corn head and 13 foot platform easily. I have a JD 4420 with about 2000 hours on it and basically do routine maintenance to keep it running. I have put over 25,000 bushels through it some years. Like was said the rotary screen on the radiator is pretty important. Brother in-law had a non rotary screen 4400 and it was always overheating. They are probably a little less forgiving on settings for the thrashing, separating, and cleaning areas than a 6000 because they are just smaller all the way around - assuming both are running 4 rows. Put a six on the 6600 then once again settings are more critical. Look under the cab side at the bottom of the grain tank where all of the corn moves out. Most have wear holes. Can it be fixed?? Most wrap some thin sheet metal under the auger to plug the holes and fasten it with sheet metal screws. Check the auger tubes (clean grain and tailings) underneath for wear or rust through. Can be fixed with new partial tube welded on the bottom. The JD 4400/4420 are nimble machines for sure. I have a JD 6620 as well and it takes a lot more space to turn around!! Overall my experience is good, running about 4 mph in 175 bushel per acre corn at 18 - 22%. The 4400/4420's are not going to have hydrostatic transmissions, so they are not as handy. On the other hand you are probably going to have a transmission which requires less $ to keep running. I think the 329 engine might be a little more prone to cavitation of the sleeves unless good antifreeze and/or inhibitor has been used. I run Deere antifreeze conditioner in mine. They are not all than much harder to work on than most others. I have had good luck with mine, but with 2000 hours it isn't worn out.