New guy with 4440

Hello everyone just bought a 4440 and Im sure Ill need plenty of advice. Going to use it for bushhogging, hay and loader work on a small cattle operation in Kentucky.

I am new these tractors and getting started on my operation and this tractor has 8000 hours so its a risk but Im hoping for a couple years before anything major needs fixing. Oil and coolant looked good, loader (almost new westendorf ta45) and three point worked great, quad range shifted fine, lights gauges everythung works. Has a little blowby maybe, but starts good. Main concern is a slight whine underneath in the rear while idling which might be the main pump I guess, not sure how its supposed to sound really. Owner said its always sounded that way and is fine, guess Ill find out.

Anyway, looking forward to putting her to work. I left the farm for the Air Force, ended up being a close air support pilot, but the farm never left me. Have always wanted to get back into it. Im out of the military now and am trying to get something going with a small cattle operation.

Hope I made a good choice on the tractor. Cant afford newer stuff, scared of the maintenance on all the electronic stuff, and have always loved these old John Deeres. Learned to drive on a '58 430S when I was little enough I had to stand up to get enough weight on the clutch to get it to go down. Had one of thise die cast 4xxx series toy tractor when I was a kid and always wanted one since. Hope my nostalgia didnt overcome my judgment but there it is.

Welcome to YT. Thanks for your service in the AF.


Whine in rear could be a leaking hyd valve or possibly trans pump. Main hyd pump is in front of radiator driven by engine crankcase. I suggest your service if you don't know how long since hyd filter was changed & hyd sump screen checked/cleaned. One needs to drain trans oil or insert the nozzle of a running shop vacuum into hyd filler neck opening to check screen. Screen is located on LH side between hyd filter & rear axle housing.

Thank you sir. It is being delivered soon, and I will change all the fluids when it gets here. I am assuming engine and hydraulic oil changes are pretty straightforward. For the hydraulic is it sufficient to just pull the plug, drain and then take the filter housing off and reinstall with new filter? Will that get it all out? Is there more than one filter for hydraulics?

Also I have heard about that screen and that it needs cleaning is it in the filler neck or below near the filter housing.

Thanks for yall's patience the learning curve is steep on new equipment and feels silly not to know some of thus basic stuff.i want to get up to speed fast, so where is the best place to get owners and the service /technical manuals? Dealer, or is there a better source?

Screen is located on LH side of trans case in between hyd filter & rear axle housing.

Awesome thanks!!!

You're welcome. Photo is of a 20 series tractor but screen on 40 series is located in a very similar location

Ok. On new to me vehicles I change all the fluids. Ill put in all John Deere fluids and filters.

Are there any gotchas on flushing the radiator/changing coolant? Do these tractors need sca additives?

(quoted from post at 16:50:36 01/19/16)
Thank you sir. It is being delivered soon, and I will change all the fluids when it gets here. I am assuming engine and hydraulic oil changes are pretty straightforward. For the hydraulic is it sufficient to just pull the plug, drain and then take the filter housing off and reinstall with new filter? Will that get it all out? Is there more than one filter for hydraulics?

Also I have heard about that screen and that it needs cleaning is it in the filler neck or below near the filter housing.

Thanks for yall's patience the learning curve is steep on new equipment and feels silly not to know some of thus basic stuff.i want to get up to speed fast, so where is the best place to get owners and the service /technical manuals? Dealer, or is there a better source?

Click to expand...

// You can download 4440 parts cat. on jdparts .com ,, jdpubs.com is best source for manuals ['AND' "highest " price, I get a lot of my shop manuals on e-bay ; a lot of good reprints there //..And don't miss new in plastic 'original 4440 or oper. manual a bargain at $20 .... Hope this help you to get [very important to have Manuals].......