4020 Powershift any good?

Between my Dad and I we've owned a 4010 and three 4020's and a 4430 and 4440,but we,never did own a powershift.I found a nice early model close to home and after experiences around other powershift transmissions,Im a little skeptical to say the least.I always heard Deere had a good powershift.Any truth in that?Thanks

i got a 3020 and 4020 powershift. 4020 has 10000 hrs on it and works great. 3020 has 8000 hrs and works great. but, anything can go bad at any time. i like my power shift deeres better then my ford s.o.s

I have a 4230 and 4440 powershifts. They are as close to bullet proof as you can get. No complaints here.

I have a 4020 with powershift that my Dad bought new in 1969. The engine has been rebuilt 1 time. Tractor probably has 10,000 hours on it. The transmission has never been touched. Had another 4020 that also had a power shift with a front end loader. We used this 4020 to clean out our poultry houses and load the litter with. This tractor went in and out of those chicken houses all day long when we were cleaning out. Some of our neighbors used this tractor for the same thing. No problems with this transmission either. Had a 4010, syncro-range transmission, that probably had 4 clutches put in. I would not be afraid of the power shift. I would consider it to be a reason to be more inclined to buy it. Drive it, shift thru all the gears, warm it up, if it aint right it will let you know. We have had a lot of John Deere tractors---60-620-630-730-4010-4020-4440-8430-6400-6420-7130. The 4020 would be my choice for the best overall tractor out of all of these. I realize the newer tractors are more comfortable to drive with thee air conditioned cabs etc. If the 4020 would have had all the creature comforts, it would have been a slam dunk for the best tractor that John Deere ever manufactured.

Powershift trans are almost indestructible. For loader work they rank right up there with a hyd shuttle shift. Three ways to shorten their life are allow water in hyd oil,run very low on hyd oil or tow without using trans disconnect lever. Down side is when they wear out they are very expensive($$$$$$) to repair and require a good,knowledgeable tech to repair them.

I sure thank you guys for all the replies.I really miss not having any 4020's anymore.If I buy it It'll see some tillage,but probably more hay handling than anything.

Powershift is handy and hard to tear up. They are harder on fuel than the syncro and were a little down on power at the same jobs.

I just had a really nice one come in today...I always did like the powershift models. This one"s worst issue was a froze up park cable and a few oil leaks...guy has had it over 25 years and has never been into the trans. or powershift unit.

If JD would not have thought they were tough they would not have put them in the 4840s.The 50 series was much improved by adding the extra seven gears.The newer P.S. 4020s with side counsel are hard to come by and usually bring a premium.The minus is they require a double split in some instances and can be expensive to fix if you happen to have problems.I just talked to a man with a 4640 with 4100hrs that[according to him] had a 3/8 bolt come out and did a lot of damage resulting in a large bill.Anything mechanical can have problems but most people really like their powershifts.Many went to the south where inexperienced people operated them hoping they would have less problems and thats one of the reasons you dont see many left as they were used up.

All the JD tractors I have owned I think my 4020 (1969) PS was the best tractor I ever own and has my vote as the Best tractor JD ever made in my book.

David Pidgeon
New Haven, Vermont

I think they are relly good. Never had any problems. Best baling tractor I ever ran.

I have a JD 4430 with powershift and I have been happy with it. I have had it about 18 yrs. When I bought it used it had a transmission problem. The mech split the tractor and replaced a few parts and put it back together and it would not power up. He tore it back down and found a hair line crack in the housing, He replaced the housing and it has worked great since then. There was no charge for the second split. I bought it from a tractor jockey with no warranty. Roy

We have a 71 side counsel powershift and they are pretty much bulletproof, I would not be afraid of it at all. In fact, you will throw rocks at your other ones after running it.

A simliar but heavier trans was used in the 4840 and ours has gone for 12k hours without ever once tearing it apart.