JD 4440 let me down today!!!

Got home form Rochester Tuesday afternoon. The wife's surgery went well(Monday). She is still up there until next Monday. They wanted to keep a close eye on her. Plus they are doing rehab on her three times each day. She ran me off. LOL saying I was making her nervous.

So I am helping do the livestock chores with all the cold. It just takes time to keep everything going.


The JD 4440 I bought in 1981 would not start today. That is the first time I can remember it would not go when I needed it. It has right at 14,000 hours on it, it had 250 on it when I bought it. The trouble was not too serious. The coolant heater element went bad. So the block was cold. I just took a K-1 space heater and two sheets of plywood and let that warm it up for about an hour. Took right off then.

With all the cold weather and more livestock (tonnage) that we have ever wintered, chores are taking some time. My son and I are putting in 12-14 hour days. Nothing real hard just time consuming.

Example: The Brood cows usually never have to have water provided to them. There are several springs in the pastures that usually never freeze. Well they froze this winter. So I am having to haul them water. Had to break out the old propane tank heater. That will take a 100 lbs. cylinder ($60 exchange right now) a week in this real cold weather. Usually can let them into the barn/cattle yards where there are automatic waterers. All the yards are full plus some. LOL So I have to haul 1000 gallons twice each day. That takes an hour.

Then just the regular bedding and feeding the critters. Plus I don't move as fast in the cold anymore either. I really watch my step with all the ice we have.

I will be glad when the weather warms up a little bit.

Monday is going to be colder, hang in there.

I agree, hauling water stinks, here's what we used on a horse farm I worked on. What do you use? Any pics?

Hi JD Seller,
Glad to hear your wife is doing well. Glad to hear your ok too, even though this winter is taking its toll on many people and especially livestock. Hang in there, you've farmed long enough to know that there is always hope coming soon for better days. Take care.
Kow Farmer Kurt

Different scene, but you asked

Water to the pastures, LOL, we had the same problem, hot summer days, important, one stock tank we ran a hose to from a relatives house who lives on the attached land at the end of the field, the 2 others, I found a another use for the quick tatch forks on the loader, I could haul the stock tank to the barn and fill it, haul back, repeat, little seat time every morning was ok. I really wanted a pair of those 275 gallon food grade tanks in galvanized cages, just I stopped working there when I needed surgery on my leg, so it never happened, I see them advertised a lot, looked perfect for what I needed, I like your set up, double duty and its high enough to flow out !

Billy, if you can find the right place they GIVE those %$#@ things away...

That cold wears on you, heavy clothes, etc, everything gets slower, I think we have a solid week or more of this, but it'll warm up, days are longer already, I can see the sun has moved a months worth on the horizon. Greenhouses should have planted already, so before you know it, it will be here, and you'll be busy !

Yes it worked good, I think they had about 15 pastures spread all around, so the went around 2x a day to fill stock tanks. The wagon was pulled by a farmall 460, I think it was it maybe a 560? Gee I can't remember now. Lol. But I rather use the ford any day!

JD no surprise the 4440 let you down, it's a Deer :lol: !

Rick