4040 thru 4455 Questions

I'm considering a higher hp and heavier tractor for discbine duty and also bringing down loaded kicker wagons full of square bales from
some of our higher/hilly areas safely and have widened my scope to include the 4040 thru 4455 JD row crop tractors.

From what I can glean, it might be a good idea to go with a model with the 466 engine vs a 404, so that would put me into a 4240 or
newer/larger tractor. I've read the non-turbo's use as much diesel as the higher hp turbo models - don't know that is an issue. I'm OK
with powershift or quad, but lean to quad for more ground speed ranges and perhaps less costly repair? I'd get a cab'd model.

What I'm finding is the lower hp models with these tractors are as pricey or more than the larger ones. A nice 4240 can fetch more than a
4440.

Probably the best model I've seen of these is the 4055; 466 engine and turbo - but IMHO very sought after and price reflects.

Question is - if I found a decent higher hp model with turbo, i.e. 4440, 4450 or 4455 - can one turn the hp down, without issues, to a 4240
hp? The reason I say turn down is two fold, 1. is simply wet stacking as we'd never load a 4440 fully. 2. potential for twisting 540 pto
drivelines. Maybe none of this is a concern and one could run a 4455 as an oversized chore tractor - no problems (wet stacking).

Also - 4x2 and hills. I gather these "Iron Horse" John Deere tractors are heavy! With good tires, is a 9x18 kicker wagon full of square
bales going to push one of these tractors down a hill?

Thanks,
Bill

The 4055 4255 4455 are basically the same tractor and bring close to same money.If power shift is desired the 50/55 is much better than 40 series.The factory ISO scv boxes are better on 50/55.The 4240 I have had were not as economical as any with turbos.The 4050 had two motor options a 359T [very economical] and 466 non turbo not much different in power.I buy,,sell and use several 20/30/40/50/55 series tractors and tires hours and maintenance are key.I see where a 72 4020 just brought 37,500 with 2000+ plus hours in immaculate condition but sounded like it had cab removed and some painting done so to me that is not a true original. I did sell a mint 1900 hour 4250 quad for $42K and it was as nice as I have ever had that were not new.

A 2950/3150 MFWD will do what you want. Either one in decent shape with a cab can be had in the 20k range. They both have a good gear selection with adequate power to discbine and bale.
Trying to detune a 4040-4455 will create problems,hard starting,inadequate power when you need it, and will have a hard time getting around on the hills with a baler and wagon with the extra weight of the tractor.The tractors were designed to operate efficiently to utilize the power band of the engine. Unless the engines are worn out there should be no wet stacking unless they are constantly idled and not up to temp.
No reason either of these tractors would be pushed around by a kick loaded 18' wagon.

IMHO 2950/3150 is not even close to being in same league as a 40-55 series rowcrop tractor. Hyd's on Mannheim built 50 series tractors leaves a lot to be desired

My 4455 doesn't pull a full load anymore. We pull a 12 row planter at most. My wife hauls pulls a 500 bushel wagon in the fall. It never wet stacks. As far as twisting PTO shafts I used it to pull a F vermeer baler and never had any trouble. 1 thing nice about the 30-55 series tractors is that you can ease the PTO in gear unlike the newer ones that it's in gear or out no easing.

You could dial the maximum fuel delivery back, especially if the fuel has been turned up by a previous owner. I don't think that would reduce wet stacking, but it might save a slight amount of fuel. Maybe study the Nebraska Tractor Test to find the HP levels that delivered the maximum fuel efficiency at full RPM and at PTO speed.

I have a 3150, and a 2950 both. Each are 4wd. These are haying tractors and have given me good service for many, many hours. Most guys who bash them are just so used to bragging how much better a green tractor is then any other color, that they soon have to bash their own brand that isn't the same model the prefer. If the German tractors were bad, they would be selling like the Russian tractors do. The sales number prove they are GOOD tractors. Al

Al Baker
So you're lucky and had good service from your Mannheim tractors BUT I'll stand on my statement from serving as a former JD dealer service manager that the hyd systems on Waterloo built tractors are much,much better than the Mannheim built tractors.
Jim

IMHO, the 4450 and 4450 are the best combination of HP and size, also have 640 and 1000 PTO.

I would forget turning them down unless someone really turned them way up. The newer JD 40-50 series tractor just do not wet stack like the 20-30 series do. I would prefer a JD 4240 or 4440 over a JD 4055 466 non turbo. The non turbo tractor was noisier. Now the 15 sp. power shift is the best transmission hands down. I would also jump over the JD 4040. I have one and it is handy as it is an flat top fender model but the 404 motor is a major draw back. Harder starting and noisier. Look for a nice JD 4240 or 4440 and you will be happy. Also these tractors are going to weight in around 15K with much of any weight on them. So a hay rack is not going to push it much.

Al Baker The Mannheim tractors your talking about where good when they were newer. Now when your looking at them with 7-10K for hours the hydraulic system risks are ten times worse on those Mannheim tractors. I have never spent $10K on a Waterloo built, tractor's hydraulic system. I have done that on a Mannheim built tractor several times. The charge pump system with it internal steel lines just is not as rugged of a system.

Now you want to talk motors then the 359 motor is a top notch motor. Better fuel economy. The transmissions are fine. The Hi-Lo shift can be an issue. but that ties back into the charge pump system issues.

Bill, I am/was in roughly the same situation that you are in. However you apparently have a much thicker wallet. For the margins I am getting on hay, a good 4030 or 4230 is what I am shopping for. The 40 or 55 series is merely a fantasy, it makes for just too much capital tied up in a small haying operation. Do not think you would have any safety concerns pulling a loaded 9x18 unless you have REALLY steep hills, and I think if you have issues, you should either partially load your wagons or stay off those slopes entirely.

The 4430 we bought last year is turning out to be an excellent tractor for our round baling operation. I sold the drum mower and bought a 1120 haybine and it really makes hay cutting nice and easy. The tractor does not even know the Vermeer 605H is even back there. Tractor has 7000 hours and has lots of life left in it. We installed a 260 loader for bale handling.

No regrets.

4430s can be had in the low teens in good condition. Lower than that if you want to take on some repair issues. 40/50/55 series tractors are in the 20's on up. Too rich for my needs. The 30 series does just fine. Small operation - 200 to 300 rounders a year.

John