John Deere JD4600 4.00 star(s) (15)

Plastic Hood, Grill, And Cowl Are Falling Apart
Model Year: 1999

My tractor is used for mowing and making a garden. I also launch my boat with it. I have not used a lot of hours. It lives in a shed. The plastic is falling apart and you cannot repair it. Even aftermarket is very expensive. The tilt steering wheel does not stay locked. I have a loader and turf tires. I would kill for R-4 tires but it costs a fortune to switch. The loader joystick is very sticky. It burns a lot more fuel that a 47 horsepower David Brown I that had for years. The tractor is overpriced. I think a Mahindra would have been a better choice for me.

Pros: Starts, runs well, HST easy to drive and work
Cons: Plastic parts, even aftermarket parts are plastic and expensive

Should Have Bought A Kubota Also
Model Year: 1999

I have had several JD garden tractors and loved them. I had bought a mid 70s Allis Chalmers medium sized 2 wheel drive tractor. It was well used. but with maintenance it did the job, so after about ten years I decided to upgrade. I researched my options for about two months, it came down to JD vs Kubota. My determining factor was , except for the motor on the JD, it was American made. I am sad to say I made the wrong choice. I have had numerous issues with it. My biggest issue is the plastic It started when I raised the hood, very gingerly,which I had done without issue for some time. I kept everything lubed. As it hood reached the latch which holds it up, the hood cracked. Ridiculous. I have done a lot of body and fender work. I tried everything to find a repair , from epoxies, fiberglass, and so on and roughed up the surface for better adhesion. Nothing worked. Within weeks the hood was in pieces from vibration. I broke down bought a new hood. At about 500 hours just about every piece of body panels on the tractor have either broken or cracked, to some extent or another. This is not from abuse!. I have had other issues from the neutral safety switch to the seat falling apart after a few years. Ball joints and tie rod ends are sloppy at a few hundred hours. with front knuckle joint seals leaking around the same time. I have put more money into cosmetics than mechanical issues. The best part of the tractor is the Japanese motor. I am disgusted. As far as service goes, parts are ridiculously over priced, and most I have found are proprietary. Our local service manager is a moron, and I haven't had much better luck with the techs, a general consensus, for our area.( I talk to a lot of other JD owners ). There is plenty more , but I'm tired of typing. As soon as it is feasible I am going to replace the tractor. Also my father and I bought a new 4400, we made a deal and saved cash , this is my only benefit I had with buying this model. My father passed away with about 100 hrs on his tractor. When I went to sell , it had been stored in a insulated garage. The pto wouldn't engage and it had hydraulic issues which weren't there when parked. I have more hours in repairs on these two hours than I can remember and I have a lot more to go. It is a sad state of affairs for America.

Pros: Engine
Cons: In general, but pretty much everything

Great machine
Model Year: 2000

I only gave 4 stars for build quality due to plastic failure on the tractor. It's parked inside when not in use, even in summer. I got it with a loader and backhoe. I think it had 150 hours on it when I purchased it. I have put a lot of drainage in, planted a lot of trees with the backhoe. This tractor starts all the time. I mix 4 gallons of diesel and one gallon of kero for winter time. It starts in -20F with out so much as a miss. I need to move up in horsepower now and hate to trade this wonderful machine. The hydrostatic drive makes it so simple to operate even my wife can use it. Winter is harsh here and this tractor has been the best money I have spent on the farm. From moving around bales to digging drainage to mowing paddocks (20 acres worth), this machine has proven to be dependable and more powerful than the horsepower designates. Properly maintained, it's a once in a lifetime purchase.

Pros: dependable, reliable, easy to maintain
Cons: plastic on the dashboard. Seems to get brittle with age.

Very happy with it
Model Year: 2000

Worked it hard and still going

Pros: Hysdrostaric drive
Cons: none

JD 4600
Model Year: 0

Had to replace fuel shut off and a seal in the steering valve. JD says the valve is unserviceable. A real disservice to owners. A witch to service.

Pros: Good tractor.
Cons: Expensive parts.

John Deere 4600 with Soft Cab
Model Year: 1999

This has been our primary utility tractor for the past 13 years. Used for snow blowing and plowing in winter. Loader work during summer, using dirt buckets, grapples, and pallet forks. Also used for brush hogging, roto-tilling, finish mowing, and a platform for a Long backhoe. We did trade this tractor on a new John Deere 4720 hopefully that will perform as well as the 4600. One thing to note is that we got our 2001 purchase price when trading it in after 1950 hours.

Pros: Great fuel economy and very diverse.
Cons: None.

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J-D 4600
Model Year: 2000

I use this tractor periodically for clearing trees and moving rock on my property. Even though I may go 2-3 months without starting it, it starts right up with no problems. Other than replacing the battery once, I have had no maintenance issues in the 12 years I've owned it. I got the 3-in-1 bucket with the tractor and it has been great for moving trees after they are down.

Pros: Dependability.
Cons: Could use more weight for the horsepower.

Fourteen Years With a JD 4600
Model Year: 1999

In 1999, I purchased a new JD 4600 to replace my then 40 yr. old Ford 800. Other than one small hydraulic leak and a recent corrosion problem with the battery cables, it has been trouble free. It is used mainly for mowing in the summer and snow removal in the winter. A 6 ft JD MX6 brush cutter is used to mow both walking paths and entire hay fields. A JD 460 Loader and a New Idea 7 ft snow blower are use to supplement snow removal. It has also done ditching with a pull scoop and the loader.

Pros: Reliable, starts even on the coldest days.
Cons: Loader does not remain in fixed position due to internal leak.

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JD 4600
Model Year: 1997

Great durable tractor.

Pros: Reliable, powerful.
Cons: Seat rotted in two years. Some of the hydraulic cylinders are not servicable.

John Deere 4600
Model Year: 2001

Good tractor. Strong for only 39hp. I have 4-n-1 bucket and backhoe attachments. Both perform very well. One rear tire has leaked since I got the tractor. The dealer stripped out two lug nuts (one front, one rear), but since the tractor was in only for maintenance, and I did not use the tractor for several weeks I did not see it right away. When I questioned the dealership, they denied it. Great tractor. Wish JD would police dealerships a little closer.

Pros: Strong. Reliable.
Cons: Hydraulic lines (from WR Long) have been replaced twice.

John Deere 4600 4x4
Model Year: 2000

During the first three months I had to return the tractor to the dealership three times due to a hydraulic problem in the transmission (power reverser]. In the following 10 years the tractor has trouble free.

Pros: Very user friendly for front loader/land leveling work.
Cons: Canopy plastic started cracking during 5th year.

Great Used Tractor
Model Year: 2001

I have the HST transmission, 460 loader and 48 backhoe. I bought this from an individual seller, so the "dealer experience" rating of 3 means nothing. At the time of this review, I have used the tractor for 23 hours - removing stumps, leveling rough ground, carrying off brush and carrying wood. The loader seems very strong. The backhoe could be stronger maybe, but I'm using it hard. The engine has more than enough power for my use so far. The only problem I have right now is that the float detent doesn't work properly. I've heard there is an overhaul kit for the SCV that should fix this.

Pros: Big enough and strong enough for my use.
Cons: Many plastic parts.

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Lack of support from John Deere (Parts)
Model Year: 2000

Bought this tractor for mowing my 5 acers. I came with a loader I didn't really need. I went to John Deere to purchase a mid mount mower and found out that I needed the mid mount PTO kit, which is not available anymore. I can buy the parts to make it up for the tune of $2,600.00, when the kit sold for $440.00. Now the tractor sits, leaks oil from the front axle, the loader operates very slow. I thought I would be able to cut my mowing time in half, but now I just spent money I could have used on a red or orange one. I have 3 vintage John Deeres 1937, 1039, 1045 and I can buy almost any part I need but the newer ones I can't. Time to change colors.

Pros: Hydro trans is nice feature.
Cons: Poor Hyd. operation, very slow.

Wish I would have known
Model Year: 2002

I have replaced so much plastic on this machine I finally went to the dealer and asked for anything to cover the top... so he sold me an armidillow for $1500 PLUS INSTALLATION that only covers maybe 1/4 of the hood. Have had problems with the hydraulics and I will not go into how many more dollars have been spent. I hope the term will finally kick in that this will be the last tractor you will have to buy.....

Pros: ???
Cons: Plastic exterior and expensive to work on

Wish I had bought a Kubota1
Model Year: 2002

When I purchased my 4600 my father and I already owned 6 vintage John Deere tractors so we had ample opportunity to be impressed with John Deere durability and performance. After 8+ yrs now I am so discouraged with the workmanship and materials on my 4600. Have had to replace many of the plastic body parts because the small plastic fastening tabs break so easily. I am also extremely dissatisfied with the reliability of the 4x4 front differential and steering linkage components. I have had to replace steering linkage and ball joints, (several hundred each),and while it was still under warranty I had it at the dealer several times due to problems with it leaking but once it was out of warranty I repaired it myself and has not leaked since. Current issue with leaking oil pan is quite frustrating, have removed and resealed twice but still have to park it with a drip pan under it. Had to replace the radiator when it was just out of warranty, shop that rebuilt it said that it was manufactured with extremely thin/cheap materials. If I could have a do-over I would have purchased a Kubota because the body is metal panels, not plastics like a toy.

Pros: The front end loader is very quick to detach and the 4 in 1 bucket is great!
Cons: Expensive parts