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4230 -good tractor?

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G.I.M

01-07-2001 17:26:47




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I'm looking at a 4230 tractor to run my JD 686 snowblower (540 PTO, 96" cut, dual auger, 120hp-rated gearbox). Currently, I'm using a 3010 diesel, but low reverse is just too fast and not enough horsepower to run the blower good. Also have a 4620, but that just has 1000 rpm PTO, so can't use it. Any opinions on 4230's? What are this tractors strong and weak points? Did Deere make any internal changes from '73 to '77, or are they pretty much all the same? One person told me that even though the 4230 was JD's replacement for the 4020, but it never was nearly as good a tractor as the 4020. Any thoughts?

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John Perkins

08-19-2003 14:36:54




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
I need to bale hay on 15 flat acres, and spread manure. I have an opportunity to buy a 4230 with low hours for $11,500. Is this the tractor for the job and the money - or is there something else I should look for? Any advice would be helpful.



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G Taylor

01-09-2001 09:03:55




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
Father traded his 4000 for a 4230. The cab was a welcome rest from noise & the elements. It did jump out of "C" range. Too bad we never knew about that spring.Used it for 9 years & the slower reverse was better in snow but a "creeper" would have been even better.The Perma Clutch is more abuse resistant than the dry plate clutch. Only service was one airconditioning recharge & normal oil/filters. After nine years he traded it for a mfwd 4050, 15 speed, soundguard. It's as much better than the 4230 was over the 4000.

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Oaktree

01-08-2001 16:53:07




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
The 4230 is much heaver than a 4020 the ones we had ran 14000# with duals on. The 3 pt is rated 1000# heaver and the paltform height is around a foot taller.The rear end got wider planetaries in mid 1975 and the newer cloth seats in cab tractors were more confortable. One uncomfortable thing about the 1973 model we had was the 18.4- 38 tires on the rear made the tractor feel like you were going downhill. We probably should have gotten larger front tires as you tended to slide forward in the seat. The biggest complaint was the constant need to use either to start them. The 4430 my brother had started much easier.

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HiK

01-08-2001 07:41:35




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
The 4230 is probaby my favorite of the newer generations. I don't know why anyone says a 4020 is more comfortable, and easier to use, cause I'd take the 4230 any day. Mine's got almost twice the stock horsepower, and it's holding up just fine, no problems at all. The clutch is giving a little trouble, but with 20 years of hard loader work, it's no surprise that it need some attention now. The only other problem is that the gear shifter's worn out! Mine is an open station syncro-range (great for the loader), but I've also spent some time in 4430 quad ranges w/cab and air, and the biggest problem with them is the air conditioning. I say go for it! Great improvemt over the 3010 for what you want to do!

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Greg H.

01-08-2001 09:40:48




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 Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to HiK, 01-08-2001 07:41:35  
HiK,
I have to agree with you that a 4230 is alittle peppier, and a little more tractor than a 4020. I also like the quadrange transmission that I've also used on a 4440, and a 4450. It might just be our particular tractors, but I have to tell you that after a day of mowing hay, or spreading manure, my back hurts less when I'm on the 4020, verse the 4230. For some reason it doesn't seem to bounce you all over the place as bad as the 4230. It might be just a matter of the tires I don't know. One thing I will argue though is that I like the quadrange transmission, and I don't care what anyone says about it. Later on Greg H.

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LDL

01-08-2001 11:45:36




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 Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Greg H., 01-08-2001 09:40:48  
Doesn't take much to be peppier than a stock 4020.



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Greg H.

01-08-2001 12:22:29




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to LDL, 01-08-2001 11:45:36  
Yeh they were built alittle heavy for their HP rating, and seem alittle sluggish, but they also hold up fairly well under continued work conditions all things considered. Again though, you're right they arn't a hot tractor by any means. They do ride nice. Greg H.



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Lee Smith

01-07-2001 19:49:27




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
A farmer I used to work for several years ago had one. I drove it plowing cotton until he went to bigger equipment. Then we just mainly used it for loader work, mowing, and pulling spreaders. All in all it was a good tractor. Plus points were strong engine and hydraulics. The quad range was somewhat of pain. If I can remember correctly, I plowed in C1 then would kick over to C2. The tractor did have a bad habit of shaking until RPM (not overreved) was matched to the next gear choice. It also ate up compressors for the AC. I don't know where you live, but a cab without AC down South in the summer is like being in an oven. The seat was not very comfortable and little leg room in the cab for tall folks like myself.
For the most part it was a good tractor but it could never touch the 4020 in ease of use and operator comfort. Try it out first and Good luck.

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HiK

01-08-2001 07:43:29




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 Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Lee Smith, 01-07-2001 19:49:27  
uncomfortable compared to what? I'd rather drive a 4230 for a day than a 60 (as far as comfort)....



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Greg H.

01-08-2001 06:03:26




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 Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Lee Smith, 01-07-2001 19:49:27  
the 4230 is a great tractor, but I think you might need to try to remember your gearing and groundspeed alittle closer. The 4230 I use alot in the summer time has 18.4x38 rubber, and according to groundspeed on the tach C1 is just under 6mph, and C2 is close to 7mph. C2 mowing hay with a 9ft JD disk mower, a person is barely able to stay in the seat on uneven terain, and I couldn't imagine pulling a plow that fast. The tractor my father inlaw has has over 7,000 hours on it and it was rebuilt a couple years ago. There is alot of power in that tractor, and I like to operate it,even though as someone else said it's not as comfortable as a 4020. The only problem I've noticed is that sometimes the Tractor will slip out of the C quadrant. Therefor I use B 3and4, and D1, and avoid the C quadrant all together when hauling insalage down hill, or mowing on steep ground. I like a 4230, and I like the quadrange transmission. I would guess that a good reworked 4020 could keep up with a 4230, and It wouldn't beat you to death. Just some thoughts Greg H.

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JDGnut

01-08-2001 12:05:16




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 Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Greg H., 01-08-2001 06:03:26  
Greg, On the 4230 jumping out of C range, there is a spring that goes on the bottom of the shift linkage, that helps hold the lever in this position. (C Range.) If the spring is missing, it tends to fall in to D range, or inbetween the C and D range. When this spring breaks, it just falls on the ground and is lost, and no one ever knows it is missing.. Next time U get around the tractor, look up at the linkage inside the right rear wheel and there should be a spring there.. It might be hard to tell where it is suppose to hook if it is missing.. If you dont see one up there, check out your local JD dealer.. Good luck.. later
JDGnut

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Greg H.

01-08-2001 12:28:46




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to JDGnut, 01-08-2001 12:05:16  
JDGNutt,
That's exactly what happens, it slips out of C, and goes part way to D range. Thanks for the tip, I'll check it tonight when I get home from work. Thanks again, Greg H.



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Lee Smith

01-08-2001 07:07:36




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 Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Greg H., 01-08-2001 06:03:26  
Greg, Believe it or not you can plow pretty fast down here. We have mostly level fields with very few slopes, grades and no rocks. Also, most fields are planted straight and not hampered by contours and terraces. Young cotton is plowed very slow so as not to cover it and we use shields on the cultivator. After it gets higher, the shields are taken off then you can hammer down. After a couple of passes of cultivating the field, the wheel row will just about be perfect so that the tractor will stay right on the money almost by itself. Also helping was a good tight frontend, very little drift in the steering and good tires with correct ballast. You should see them drive the highboys spraying. Those guys boogy on!

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Greg H

01-08-2001 09:28:24




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to Lee Smith, 01-08-2001 07:07:36  
Lee,
That makes more since, since you are row cropping like that. everytime someone says plowing I get the image of what molboard plowing is like up her in WV in the clay, and loam, with rolling and odd feild shapes. You probobly do move along alittle faster down in dixie. Later, Greg H.



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Dan

01-07-2001 17:47:14




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 Re: 4230 -good tractor? in reply to G.I.M, 01-07-2001 17:26:47  
I worked on JDs in the mid to late 70s and worked on a lot of the 30 series. I think the 4230 was a good tractor. It had basically the same engine as the 4020 the 404ci. It was rated at 100 hp though whereas the 4020 was 96 I believe. JD at that time at least seemed to rate the tractors a bit low though, we ran new ones on the dino and generally got over 100 hp. There were some initial problems in the perma clutch when they first came out, it wouldn't release right. JD did a recall on them and replaced discs and in some cases some of the transmission gears. We didn't have too many 4230s in this area, we had more 4430s and they seemed to be a great tractor. Here again they had the same ci engine but with a turbo and put out about 125 hp. Which transmission is it? Here we hardly ever touched a powershift whereas the quad or syncro range were more trouble.

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