JD 4630

young tractor · Jan 9, 2015

Hi guys,
I am looking for some advice regarding a few tractors. I am currently farming with Olivers about the 80-100 horse size. They are getting small for proper tillage and spring field work. I am looking at upgrading to a JD 4440,4630, 4640. I would probably have a budget of $15000-$20,000. My dad had a 4430 and had rear-end trouble. He also had a 4440 and a 4630. I wish I had all of them, but he lost the farm in the hard times in the 80's. When looking at these with this much age on them, what should I be looking for problems. Would it be a deal breaker if a tractor had a quad range vs. power shift. Typically at what hour range does it seem most likely have engine or transmission problems? I see a lot at the 10,000 hr range being sold. That seems to me that they are wore out at this hour range. I appreciate any and all insight.

DeltaRed · Jan 9, 2015

10,000 is a that 'majic' number.Those are big tractors that have worked HARD most of their life.I would stay away from it.BTW,My neighbor just rebuilt the pto and hydralics on his 4630.Cost 11,000.He now has the engine and trans to look 'foreward' t

h sure,lots of guys report that they have LOTS more trouble free hrs than that,but I think that is a 'rare' tractor.And remember,a 4630 only has a 1000 RPM pto.

Tx Jim · Jan 9, 2015

Hours of use and reliability is determined by what type maintenance that was or wasn't performed on the individual tractors. Keep in mind that 4630/4640 only came with 1000 rpm pto shafts no 540 rpm available.

rrlund · Jan 9, 2015

I wouldn't trade my 2-135 Series 3 White for one,that's all I'm saying.

young tractor · Jan 9, 2015

rrlund,
How many horse is that? Are they as expensive to fix and to buy? Is the cab as nice? Can you work on them as easily as the big olivers? I am tired of going deaf in my cab while plowing.

Tx Jim · Jan 9, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:45:57 01/09/15) I wouldn't trade my 2-135 Series 3 White for one,that's all I'm saying.

That makes us even as I wouldn't trade my JD 4255 for your White 2-135

vscummins · Jan 9, 2015

10,000 is a lot of hours on any tractor unless its a white they can go 50,000 hours and the still fire on half a revolution of the engine and still haven't burned the first tank of fuel yet . But seriously 10,000 is getting pretty wore out and your goina spend a lot of money sooner latter not matter what brand it is on the engine and hydraulics and clutch and transmission .

Mike M · Jan 9, 2015

Well a post just the other day showed Machinery Pete's tractor list and there was a 4230 I think brought $ 34,000 ? so these JD's may be out of your budget area ? The IH models were going "crazy" prices too.

rrlund · Jan 9, 2015

They had the lowest decibel cab available for their time. You can buy one cheaper than a Deere,and don't let anybody fill your head with the myth that the Hercules is expensive to repair. Everything about them is fairly simple to work on. I had a 40 series Deere. Every little thing that ever went wrong with that thing,the dealer had to split it. I had to put a clutch in mine going on two years ago. Then the Over/Under had to be rebuilt this year. I pulled the engine myself both times.
A 2-155 would be a better comparison to the 4630 as far as horsepower and the fact that they only had 1000 PTO,but they were the same basic tractor as the 2-135. If you really want to move up,go to a 140. Same tractor as the 2-135,but with a Cummins engine.

Jerry He · Jan 9, 2015

What you may need is a Case 1170 or 1175.The transmissions are almost bullet proof. The engines are long lived if taken care of. There is no power shift trans to fail. They also have both 540 and 1000 pto. Now the really good part. You can buy two or three of them for the price of a JD and two of them for the price of an IH.
another good point is fuel consumption. the Case will not be as thirsty as some other brands. Had a neighbor that was a green die hard but got into a spat with the JD dealer in 1976 over a substandard 4430. He bought a new 1175 and said it was the best tractor he had ever had. He could not believe the power it had and the low fuel consumption. However a true green man cannot field a white colored tractor. Do not tell anyone I told you this. I am wanting the price to stay cheap so I can put more of them in my shed.

NEIADan · Jan 9, 2015

In this area a good 4630 or 4430 can be had for 12 to 16k. Add another 5k to a 40 series. The 4430 or 40 will generally bring 2 to 3k more than the 46s. Mostly because of versatility with 2 speed pto. I bought a 4630 a few years ago with a fresh engine for $9200 complete with duals and weights. Been a good unit for us and runs cheap compared to the 466 engines I have had. Now when it comes to lighter chores without a cab. I will walk an extra half mile just to get out the 1955 Oliver to use and enjoy that melodious engine.

olliekid · Jan 9, 2015

if you are that familiar with the Oliver's, step up to a White 2-105 or 2-135. Very similar to the Oliver's and much cheaper than the Deere's.

JMS/.MN · Jan 9, 2015

Early 4430s had some rear end problems, with axles too light. I bought one of them in 1980, sold it a few years ago with 11,007 hours on it..original engine, PS, and light rear end. Main horse for many of those years. Have a 4240 with over 8000 hrs, (PS replaced few hundred hours ago, no engine work), 4459 MFWD with about 9000 hours, first engine, PS, rear end.

Josh in Pa · Jan 9, 2015

Where do you farm at? Have you ever no tilled? Some areas no till is not popular but here in my part of Pa it works very well. Your 100 hp tractor can do a lot of work if you are no tilling. Not a good answer to your question, but it works here and saves money and time. I do some tillage mainly to incorporate manure. I no till everything I can.
Josh

young tractor · Jan 9, 2015

Thank you guys for all of your responses.

notjustair · Jan 9, 2015

I sold one of the 4440s this spring for 18,000. It was pretty cheap, but I kept the best 4440 for me. I love them. They are/were both quad range. If they have been used as they should they are bulletproof. There isn't a lot to go wrong on them if people have clutched between gears and stopped between ranges. I'd get another in a heartbeat. I regretted selling the 4440 about three days after I did and tried to get it back but it was too late. I didn't need it anyway as I had bought a 7800 to replace one of them. The one I kept has 9500 hours. Still runs like new and uses no oil. That 466 is a pretty darn good engine. The only one I have had rebuilt was the one in the 8430, but it is turned up about 100 horsepower more and works pretty hard. If I remember right it was done about 9000 hours. I got the 4440 to pull a 36 foot disk once (when the 8430 needed the rebuild). It is the only time I have ever seen the temp guage move off of the cool side. She worked pretty hard but pulled her own.

OliverGuy · Jan 9, 2015

A couple of tidbits I have learned. A white 4-210 or similar can be had pretty darn cheap. Bought mine for $8500. Will chisel, field cultivate, what have you. Heck you can plant with it if you want. I also have ran a 4640 for a bit several years ago and had good luck with it, I liked it. If you want a big horse, I bought a cat 65 for 19,000 last year. Great cab, great tranny, long life engine, I rip with it and it just purrs. That's a little overkill probably. No one really likes them I guess and they go cheap, but they are very tough. My 2 cents

rrlund · Jan 10, 2015

I'll bet you wouldn't trade your 4255 for a 4630 either would you?

Tx Jim · Jan 10, 2015

(quoted from post at 07:32:40 01/10/15) I'll bet you wouldn't trade your 4255 for a 4630 either would you?

Nope.

buickanddeere · Jan 10, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:48:02 01/09/15) Hi guys,
I am looking for some advice regarding a few tractors. I am currently farming with Olivers about the 80-100 horse size. They are getting small for proper tillage and spring field work. I am looking at upgrading to a JD 4440,4630, 4640. I would probably have a budget of $15000-$20,000. My dad had a 4430 and had rear-end trouble. He also had a 4440 and a 4630. I wish I had all of them, but he lost the farm in the hard times in the 80's. When looking at these with this much age on them, what should I be looking for problems. Would it be a deal breaker if a tractor had a quad range vs. power shift. Typically at what hour range does it seem most likely have engine or transmission problems? I see a lot at the 10,000 hr range being sold. That seems to me that they are wore out at this hour range. I appreciate any and all insight.

Most drive train problems involve a turned up injection pump, a fully ballasted set of duals and a larger cultivator/plough/disc that what should be drawn by that tractor.

JD 4630

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