Choice between 4020, 4320, 4230

Hello,
I am looking at purchasing either a 4020, 4320, 4230. I will be using
it to run a bedder, plough, disk, and planter on roughly 5 acres. I
hope to acquire more acreage as time goes on. I know it?s not a lot of
acreage for such a big tractor, but I refuse to pay $30,000 for a
newer 5055-5065 tractor. I like that the turbo is on the 4320 vs the
4020 and the 4230. I don?t like the synchro transmission in the 4320.
I have found a 4020 with power shift and side console. I?ve read
where a 4320 and 4020 lose hydraulics when clutch is depressed...
is this true?! Any information y?all could give me on these tractors
would be great. Have any of you bought a tractor from Polk auction
company? Are they pretty good people and honest with the
equipment they sell? Thanks guys!

I run a loader on my 4020 and have never had the the clutch in long enough to starve the pump for oil one time. On a powershift the transmission pump spins whether the clutch is down or up so it doesn?t matter anyway . For a loader a synchro is just as good as a powershift anyway because you can shuttle from forward to reverse in the first and second shift stations . I never just jerk a powershift from forward to reverse with pushing the brakes to stop motion anyway

All of those tractors have what is called live hydraulic and live PTO
which means the hydraulic pump and PTO are independent of the transmission.
Simply put, pushing in the clutch pedal will not stop the hydraulic pump or the PTO.

The synchro 4020 transmission pump doesn?t pump when you have the clutch pushed in but in all my years I?ve never lost hydraulics while holding the clutch down . The transmission pump on the powershift turns as long as the engine is running

4230......a refined 4020 but with a much better cab, if it has a SGB. Between a 4020 and a 4320 for power.

Ben

Nothing wrong with a PS 4020, they are darned near indestructible. SV filled you in on the hydraulics.

I wouldn't buy a 4320 except as a collector's item, they have a "dry" PTO and foot clutch and are getting EXPENSIVE to repair.

4230 has a "wet" foot clutch and PTO clutch, (Perma Clutch) which is TOUGH and less dramatic $$$ to repair than the dry clutch assembly in the 4230.

You pose an interesting question because the what you have left unaddressed is as important as what you did address. How much 'more acreage" are you planning on acquiring and in what time frame? I realize that could be a very tough question. The other item not mentioned is your tractor budget. You mentioned you liked the turbo 4320. If you are not planning to get up to 200-300 acres anytime soon you may want to look in this model just from a collectors standpoint. You may be only putting 50 hours a year on it for a few years and wont have to worry about any expensive repairs if your get a solid one. Chances are if you use it and go to sell it in say 5 to 7 years you may actually make a couple bucks on it.
4020? What else needs to be said? They have passed all the tests of time. I suppose if I were you I might focus on a 1969-72 model. 4230? Great candidate especially if you you want a cab tractor there is no comparison with the 4020 or 4320. Cant say I ve heard anything about Polk Auction Co. Indiana, right? One thing is for sure, if you get any of one of these you will have the biggest tractor on the smallest acreage on your block!

A good 4230 would hard to beat but does not have the nostalgia nor collector factor that the older two have. Given the weather over the past couple of years in the northern US I would think about the Sound Guard Cab that the 4230 had as an option. Quad Range transmission equipped 4230's were wide spread and gives the operator the greatest variety of speeds along with partial power shifting. 30 series Gen II's were not the greatest cold weather starters but many were upgraded in terms of piston and ring arrangement to give much better starting. Most original 4230's should start with a minimal amount of block heater time if the engine is in fairly good condition. A good 4230 will most likely price out cheaper than a very late 4020 or 4320 in good condition.

If you want a cab, the 4230 has a much better cab hands down. Open station would be a closer choice, but a quad-range 4230 would still be my choice if the prices are equal. If you need 4230 power, look at 4430's too. 4320 prices can be higher as they popular for muscle tractor collectors.

Syncro-Range tractors have a small oil tank above the main hydraulic pump that supplies oil for a little time after the clutch is depressed.

I would go with the 4020. As mentioned above by Bob they are dang near indestructible and have stood the test of time.

Man thanks guys no doubt I will look a little foolish with such a big tractor on 5 acres, but I hope to buy 25-30 more acres across the street in time. Still not a ton of acres but building as I go is the plan and I don?t want to switch out tractors that often. The 4230 that I am looking at doesn?t have a sound guard cab but has the mfwd which is intriguing but don?t want the headache of repairing it. What kind of hours would be to much for these tractors? I?ve been told to look for on around 4000-5000 hours. And I know that?s a loaded question due to owner use and maintenance. Thanks for all the help fellas I?ll continue to chew on this topic and figure out what exactly I want.

I have a 4230 with over 10000 hours. does not burn oil and other than I now need to do the clutch has been a great tractor. with Front assist I would buy in a heart beat. Mine has a loader and is the first tractor grabbed for everything over my other tractors. 2394 case, 1070 case, 575 Belarus, 105 landini, 1650 cockshutt. They are such a nice all around tractor that I would go with that as I am familiar with them and love them.

Does the 4230 have a turbo on it?

(quoted from post at 10:45:58 12/13/19) Does the 4230 have a turbo on it?

Click to expand...

No turbo on 4230 but it would be my choice over the other 2 models mentioned in this thread.

(quoted from post at 22:34:05 12/12/19) Hello,
I am looking at purchasing either a 4020, 4320, 4230. I will be using
it to run a bedder, plough, disk, and planter on roughly 5 acres. I
hope to acquire more acreage as time goes on. I know it?s not a lot of
acreage for such a big tractor, but I refuse to pay $30,000 for a
newer 5055-5065 tractor. I like that the turbo is on the 4320 vs the
4020 and the 4230. I don?t like the synchro transmission in the 4320.
I have found a 4020 with power shift and side console. I?ve read
where a 4320 and 4020 lose hydraulics when clutch is depressed...
is this true?! Any information y?all could give me on these tractors
would be great. Have any of you bought a tractor from Polk auction
company? Are they pretty good people and honest with the
equipment they sell? Thanks guys!

Click to expand...

4230 for the Sound Guard Cab .
If the loader oil is properly returned via a ported filter cover, via a T in the SVC line or better yet a power beyond block. Even a 10 or 20 aeries synchro will not run out of oil.

I've never understood why it has to be A, B or C? If you can find fault with all three and can't make up your mind, choose D, none of the above, and keep looking.

Not necessarily a,b,c it?s more like just trying to get as much
information on all 3 before deciding. Just trying to make an informed
decision on a good tractor.