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
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