Is the John Deere 4020 overrated next to its contemporar

Poppy Johnny · May 13, 2023

Not sure if this goes in this part of the forum or in tractor talk but I feel it's a worthy discussion to be had, moderators if I got it wrong, please forgive my ignorance.

Now for starters don't think for a moment I am dissing the 4020 it's an awesome tractor and ushered in a new age for the Deere company.

That being said I often feel off put when people seem to place it on a pedestal especially in most cases far over the other tractors that came before it especially the two cylinders, I mean sure objectively it is a better tractor, but we can't really use that metric alone otherwise any modern tractor is automatically better by default.

I mean if you want to argue from the standpoint of setting a standard or being innovative isn't something like the model 'D'
also just as innovative for it's time? And on that note isn't the 4010 the arguably the one that set the innovation bar not the 4020?

I also think a big part of it being placed on a pedestal over so many other fine tractors is the simple fact that most of the people who would use forums like ours or restore tractors can remember 4020's as they first came out while most of the older models have faded from that personal connection.

Your thoughts? :wink:

Scott 730 · May 13, 2023

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

There was good tractors before and good tractors after
I like my 3020s every bit as much as the 4020 . Up until
this new value line junk they are building to keep up
with the junk value line tractors agco and Fiat sell they
got better each model I thought maybe Ill say up until
the first 8000 series anyway

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

The dain had a 4 cylinder engine all wheel drive and a 3
speed shift on the go transmission that was 1915 just
think If we wouldve stayed on that track. Deere had a
prototype cvt transmission when then were testing the
new gen tractors and also a prototype sound guard cab

GreenEnvy · May 14, 2023

We had a 4020 for 20 years. Great grandpa bought it new in 1964. It was a standard or wheatland with powershift transmission, diesel engine and cab. He traded in a JD 830. Good as the 830 was there were things the 4020 did a lot better than the 830. The fame of the
4020 does get overblown but that doesn't take away from the fact it was the right tractor as the right time. I run a Case 930 CK every summer plowing a shelter belt for a land lord. Long as its only hooked to a plow, its a fine tractor. But to do anything else with it, sucks.

41B-boy · May 14, 2023

Hey Scott,
waitin' for the brawl?

Cute gif

730 Diesel pony... finest tractor EVER built. ( thought I'd pour some gas on the fire )

Fr. Bob

Hay maker2 · May 14, 2023

Will a 4020 outpull in IH 806 or Oliver 1850?
The IH or Oliver will win.

The 10/20 series offered greater improvement over the rest. The introduction of operator comfort, removing the shifter from between your legs, and closed center hydraulics set Deere apart from the rest.

Hydraulics alone = Power wet brakes, power steering, better response times on the SCV. There is a reason why you can still steer 60 years old 4020 with 2 fingers going across plowed ground; IH and Oliver could not don that when it they were new.

The 20 series was the start of the shift where the IH, Oliver, and other owners were trading their tractors in for John Deere. The production numbers show this. As well as the others eventually merging or selling out completely.

tomstractorsandtoys · May 14, 2023

I do most of my work with a pair of 4020. What sets them apart is the operator comfort and the hyd system.
You can operate them all day and not be wore out like so many other brands of that time frame. Dad said when
going from the two cylinder to the 4010-4020 was you could do so much more work at faster speeds and not be
shot tired at the end of the day. They came out at a time when farmers were expanding and replacing a 730
with a 4020 often meant you could buy or rent the farm next door and still get the work done. Deere also had
terrific dealer support and there were plenty of dealers. In the area I grew up they were almost no Case or
MM and very few Olives as we had few dealers. In my area of WI you find lots of 4020's with loaders, on feed
wagons and as general chore tractors still in daily use. You don't see any AC 190's, Oliver 1800, Case 930's
or IH 806's still in daily use. When using a 4020 you don't think about it being a 50 year old tractor. Tom

Fixingfarmer · May 14, 2023

Hydraulic system was the biggie. They got that right enough it
stayed in all future generations. Same with the 6 cylinder
setup. Still using their original measurements to scale until
you get to the overhead cam big engines that they have all
kinds of problems. So not overrated but thats coming from
someone whos great grandfather bought it new and its still
here...it changed the game thats for sure

rockyridgefarm · May 14, 2023

I do not think it was overrated. When the 4010 came out, IH was comfortably in first place for sales. The 4020 knocked them out and they never recovered.

The operator comfort did that. Easy intuitive controls that are quickly understood by even the most inexperienced driver and a comfortable seat will sell a lot more tractors than any other feature.

rockcreek4630 · May 14, 2023

Your wright in most deere circles it is
like nothing exists between the two
cylinders and the 20 series. I hate the
dash controls in my opinion that was a big
step backwards from the two cylinders. If
I need to use the rockshaft or hyd abunch
I will get on my two cylinders first. That
is why the late 20's are so popular.

coonie minnie · May 14, 2023

I agree 100 percent.

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

I would rather have dash controls than between my legs and both sides of the seat like the other brands .

rrlund · May 14, 2023

Funniest thing is, you could make this same post on the IH forum, make it about the Farmall M and get the same
biased, emotional responses.

GreenEnvy · May 14, 2023

I still have my grandpas 1949 Farmall M bought new. I can see why he bought it over other brands at the time.

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

What is biased about levers between your legs and poor hydraulics that the other brands had ? Took case and Ih until they merged to get a full powershift transmission and ease of handling that Deere had in 1964. So I guess you are right the other guys are biased and emotional . As far as the Oliver out pulling the Deere it tested 1 more horsepower so whos biased ?

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

Ih was the leader in the farm equipment business for many years.

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

GreenEnvy · May 14, 2023

I know. Thats pretty common knowledge even among Deeriods. We had lots of IH equipment back in the day. Everything from crawlers to trucks to cream separators.

Muir hill 101 · May 14, 2023

We always had green tractors and ih implements dont know why that makes me a hemrohid but ok

Is the John Deere 4020 overrated next to its contemporar

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