79 John Deere 3040 any good?

Thinking about buying a 79 John Deere 3040 90hp with 10k hours on it for $19k https://www.tractorhouse.com/listing/for-sale/219610911/john-deere-3040-40-hp-to-99-hp-tractors

Vs a 92 Ford 4630 that is in pretty good shape other than door window missing with 5k miles 8x8 sync shuttle tranny for $13k

Which one is easier to source parts / rebuild and which do you recommend buying?

I plan on tilling, brush Hoggin, moving dirt/wood/snow, and basic farm chores.
Maybe make hay down the road.

I really like the JD but guy has no info if it has been rebuilt $19k with 10k hours seems like a lot but the thing doesn't look like it has that many hours isn't banged up, or rusty, also has new interior installed. I think the ford will do everything I mostly need but I'd rather go bigger and not have to trade later.
If parts are easy to get and affordable for the JD maybe its worth it as the ford is getting harder to get parts.

What do you guys think?

You mean 4040 ?

Chuck I think it is the euro version of the 2940? If you heard of that? Not a tractor I would purchase, dry clutch a problem.

(quoted from post at 15:15:15 01/30/23) Thinking about buying a 79 John Deere 3040 90hp with 10k hours on it for $19k https://www.tractorhouse.com/listing/for-sale/219610911/john-deere-3040-40-hp-to-99-hp-tractors

Vs a 92 Ford 4630 that is in pretty good shape other than door window missing with 5k miles 8x8 sync shuttle tranny for $13k

Which one is easier to source parts / rebuild and which do you recommend buying?

I plan on tilling, brush Hoggin, moving dirt/wood/snow, and basic farm chores.
Maybe make hay down the road.

I really like the JD but guy has no info if it has been rebuilt $19k with 10k hours seems like a lot but the thing doesn't look like it has that many hours isn't banged up, or rusty, also has new interior installed. I think the ford will do everything I mostly need but I'd rather go bigger and not have to trade later.
If parts are easy to get and affordable for the JD maybe its worth it as the ford is getting harder to get parts.

What do you guys think?

Click to expand...

That 3040 has been assembled in mannheim,germany, between 1982 and 1986. From 1979 to 1982, they had the opu cab (square and made by sekira).
It has been exported later to the usa, and had new US fenders installed and the rear three point reassemble to look like a 2940.
It still has a disc wheels, which are good on an utility tractor. Much easier to remove them if you have to.

I grew up on a 2wd on one, and it had 18500 hours when it was sent to Africa to help misionaries. Still running today...
Same clutch, but we were told the foot clutch pedal was not a foot rest.


The loader itself has some values. They are good tractors. Only downfall is the transmisdion pump inside the clutch housing can fail. A single split is required to fix that. Not a big deal to do.
I see that this 3040 has dual pto speeds, ifwi amnot mistaken. This will allow to run bush hog at about 1200 rpm if grass is small and shift to 540 and 2400 enfine rpms if required.

Parts arenot a problem at all, you can get original or aftermarket parts everywhere.

This post was edited by fdt860 on 01/30/2023 at 09:43 pm.

I think I'd choose the Ford over the JD. I think Ford hyd system is much simpler to diagnose/repair than JD closed-center systems.

Sounds like the way to go, so you think the
JD is worth $19k with 10k hours?

(quoted from post at 10:53:21 01/31/23) Sounds like the way to go, so you think the
JD is worth $19k with 10k hours?

Click to expand...

The 3040 is more of a 12K tractor. 15wk with the loafer max.
The hours are not a concern if the maintenance has been done on time.
The Ford might be a better tractor.

The main issue with ford is the sleeveless engine. Keep coolabt changed often.

I have never seen one but I always figured a 3040 would be about the perfect tractor. Just enough weight more than a 2640 to make it actually usable on snow. Like a 3020 as far as size but with a sound gard body cab...the price is a bit much though but If the thing had powershift and a loader it might not be out of line even with a few hours. Parts availability wise might not be be the most common green one but I doubt it would be a problem

IMHO from previously being employed for 21 yrs @ JD dealer & serving as dealer service manager for 13 yrs the hyd system on JD rowcrop tractors is much more reliable than JD utility tractors hyd system. Rarely do RC tractor rockshaft seals & RS piston seals fail but that's a common failure on JD utility tractors. Rarely does rowcrop hyd filter relief valve fail but both items mentioned are common failure on JD utility tractors built between '65-'92