What to Look For on a 1969 JD 4020 w/loader

I am new to the forums. I live in Eastern NC and we just bought a small farm. We don't have a tractor and have decided to try and go the used tractor route to avoid debt. We have about 30 acres of cultivated land. I can fix most anything and there are a ton of local farmers that I can get help from, so I am not so worried about a used tractor. I settled on a 4020 because I read a lot of things about them and there are so many different models, I thought I would try and focus on a few models.

I am going Friday to look at a 1969 John Deere 4020, Diesel and it has a John Deere 148 loader.

I was hoping for some tips on what to look for other than the general mechanical condition and how it runs. Like where is the name plate or serial number located so I can verify the year and model.

I appreciate any feedback, maybe I can become a regular on your forum.

Thanks
 

While I like the idea of little to no debt . There is something to be said for something without 50 years of wear, tear and corrosion from mud and manure .
https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/64-john-deere-4020.html
 

b&d
I agree 4020 doesn't have the fuel emissions,electronics or common rail fuel system of the newer tractors to contend with.

SN tag on 4020 is located to the RH side & a little above rear pto shaft.
 
The 4020 is a great tractor....but with only 30 acres, something smaller....and
newer....and cheaper.....may suit you just as well.

Ben
 
(quoted from post at 11:28:37 07/01/20)
b&d
I agree 4020 doesn't have the fuel emissions,electronics or common rail fuel system of the newer tractors to contend with.

SN tag on 4020 is located to the RH side & a little above rear pto shaft.

There is all kinds of low hour pre particulate filter emissions tractors bought for hobby farms from 2000-2007 . Now those hobby farmer are retiring . Lots of newish mechanical injection pump tractors are the market .
 
Kurt, if it is a power shift, make sure the pto stops when you pull the lever back. If it keeps spinning, good possibility it may need tranny work. If it is a syncro,
check the clutch adjusting bolt, if it is toward the bottom, should be plenty of clutch left, if towards the top, looking a a split soon for a new clutch. When it starts,
make sure it doesn't "race away" -good sign that it will need an injection pump rebuild soon. Check the fluids. Shift it through all the gears forward and back. I am sure
others will have more for you to check. Best of luck.

Mike
 
When you run the tractor, stop and hold clutch down, then run the loader up and down full travel, see how many strokes before it runs out of oil to run loader. If it starts shuttering right away you have some
hydraulic issues. Should get two to three full strokes.
 
I have a 4020 gas with a 158 loader. Those 4020 make a good unit. We only started out with 14 acres and now down to 6 ? so don't worry about being too large for your 30 acres ! You can do small jobs with a big tractor but hard for a little tractor to do big jobs !
 
(quoted from post at 15:19:33 07/01/20) Kurt, if it is a power shift, make sure the pto stops when you pull the lever back. If it keeps spinning, good possibility it may need tranny work. If it is a syncro..
Could you expand on power shift vs synchro, is one better than the other? Reliable? I believe this tractor has synchro.
 
Take Care of it and a 3020 or 4020 will last another 50 years
cvphoto49198.jpg


cvphoto49199.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 17:47:58 07/01/20) . Could you expand on power shift vs synchro, is one better than the other? Reliable? I believe this tractor has synchro.

Syncro-range trans has 4 ranges with 2 fwd gears in each range with 2 lowest speed ranges offering reverse. These trans can be shifted on the move within each range by simply depressing the clutch BUT one needs to stop tractor movement to change ranges.

Powershift trans is a semi-automatic with 8 fwd/4 rev gears that can be shifted on the move simply by moving gearshift lever. This type trans has a foot pedal referred to as an "inching pedal" that controls a hyd valve to aid in attaching equipment to tractor.

Both are reliable trans but as with all equipment expensive to repair. Powershift can be jerky changing some speeds.

Shown in photo below is SR shift pattern on LH side & PS shift pattern on RH side.

mvphoto57754.png
 
Another fun fact about the syncro trans is if the syncro is working properly you can actually shift into a low gear like 1st or 2nd without stepping on the clutch. Do this on flat ground and no implements hooked up. Tractor in neutral, with lever in between 1st and 3rd gear, slowly push the lever into 1st gear. The tractor will slowly start moving forward and once it reaches speed you can pop it into 1st gear. I've done this on a couple of tractors just to see how the syncro was working. One of them the clutch pedal did nothing because the throw out bearing was gone.
 

I looked at the tractor today. Original owner. Drove it thru the gears, exercised the loader, nothing i could find was wrong with this tractor. The owner has taken care of this tractor very well. I am going to buy it and will be back with a lot of questions....
 
Happy Fourth! And you have what looks to be a good looking tractor to celebrate it with!

I wouldn't worry to much about those who were saying you should get a smaller tractor for your 30 acres, a moderately bigger tractor means you have to work it less, which is good thing on older machines. Plus a bigger loader on a bigger tractor means you can lift heavier things, not an inconsiderable benefit as I'm sure you will find out.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top