ford4wd08

Member
I plan starting up a small haying operation at some point in the near future. I have a lot of sentimental value tied to a 4230 and know for the most part is is a good tractor. It will be the primary tractor in the operation until I add some smaller utility tractors. I plan on starting with just small square bales, and the 4230 should be plenty in that aspect. Is there anything I should look for in the years these were made? Any major changes? The models I am most interested in are quad ranges with sound guard cabs. The one I remember was difficult to start, but once it was running, it was fine. Any advice is welcomed!
 
For the best of the 4230's you will want serial # 34,665 and up, and they are more than worth the extra money .
 
(quoted from post at 11:52:37 06/08/17) For the best of the 4230's you will want serial # 34,665 and up, and they are more than worth the extra money .

If you can trust tractor data, looks to be a mid 76 to 77 model year? What are the changes made on them?
 
I have one that is my main chore tractor.
Bale and cut hay, grind feed and bushhog
with it. Has over 12000 hours on it. The
hard starting if probably weak injectors.
Been thru several set on mine.
a162304.jpg
 
The hard starting can be fixed with a new Piston/liner kit,, the originals had a lower compression piston that caused the hard starting,, the changes at that serial number were many, out board shifters and an improved sychronizer assemble were a couple of the better ones..
 
(quoted from post at 12:48:24 06/08/17) The hard starting can be fixed with a new Piston/liner kit,, the originals had a lower compression piston that caused the hard starting,, the changes at that serial number were many, out board shifters and an improved sychronizer assemble were a couple of the better ones..

Just looking around on tractor house.... It seems the later model ones bring a small premium.... I guess you are saying the improvements make it worth that? I'll focus on a 77 model to be safe.
 
At 9900hrs I put a reliance kit in it. It had plenty of power but was using a lot of oil. I think mine is a 1974, power shift.
 

Dad had a 4230 for years. Miserable to start until we found the battery ground in the right side of the engine block just would not make a low resistance connection. Even when the block and battery cable end were shinny.
 

Found the VD with a meter, polished the connections and the VD problem still existed. There was no guessing. Cable end looked good but was rotten and the grounding stud that turned into the block had rusted threads.
 
What's the changes after that serial number? I have one a bit earlier that that we had the PTO come out the back grinding corn. Snap ring inside broke. Had to replace the rear case
 
Nothing on the PTO,,improved synchronizors, out board shifters, improved steering control, the Hi/Low would not shift as the clutch was depressed, some things with the injection system, wider seat base with an improved weight adjustment,are some of the things that come to mind...some thing that can cause a lot of trouble with the PTO is Dry slip joints, this puts a lot of pressure on the shaft as the tractor follows the land contore..
 
The JD service manager at the time said it was a problem on the powershift only. 4020 had the same problem. Snap ring would break or spin in the groove an eat the case out letting the shaft start moving forward and back. They could build up and machine a new snap ring groove or just get a salvage case. We did the latter.
As far as the wider seat well, I believe that was done a year or 2 earlier. 73-74 models are the only ones around here that have the narrow
 

Put many hours on one & for the most part has been a trouble free tractor. Frt end heavy in
soft ground but there is a lot of tractor too. @ 8600hrs. Had some oil spitting out the exhaust
we installed the new upgraded pistons & liners went though the whole engine at the time, that
upgrade woke it up & we didn't know it needed or wanted it.. We don't use it much in the winter
months so the cold start hasn't been much of a issue for us. With the updated kit it does start
easier than ever be for. Quad range has been trouble free for us. I like running it, 2wd its nible
for it's size 4 post open wish it had a cab sometimes..
 

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