RG1
Platinum Member
LMAO:laughing:
Buying Advice Deere 4700 "plastic" body parts
- Thread starter hartmacw
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PapaPerk
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- Kubota L3830, Ford Golden Jubilee, 1939 Sears Economy, Polaris Ranger 400, Honda Foreman 450 ES, 2004 Dodge Diesel 3500
Yesterday I went to look at a used 2000 JD 4700 with 1800 hours on it, FEL, PowerReverser tranny. The tractor ran and sounded good, all the fluids were clean, the FEL control stick was somewhat tight I thought and the loader was quite slow but no leaks. The clutch was strong - overall a good used tractor and priced right for what was on it. But I didn't buy itAlmost every non-metal part on the front was busted. I hesitate to call it "plastic" because I'm sure it's more than that, probably a pretty sophisticated polymer or something but I don't really know what else it is. I have done some reading on these forums and elsewhere since yesterday and I'm starting to learn a little more about it.
The whole front assembly behind the brush guard around the headlights was completely broken away from the tractor. The side panels were not not cracked but they also weren't fitting under the hood quite correctly either, almost like something had been permanently flexed. The hood had been replaced and was new, so who knows what the original looked like. Also when I would get on and off the tractor (220 lbs) I would notice the rear fenders flexing - to me - considerably. Coincidentally, there is a 4710 for sale on craigslist in our area right now with a big chunk missing out of the hood and owner says needs TLC. Lol.
I consider myself pretty good at taking care of equipment, therefore I judged this tractor as being heavily used for hard and rough work based on the condition of the body parts - even though really everything else checked out. Am I just being too picky? It's hard for me to equate what I know about JD quality with flexing and broken parts on their equipment. Am I off base here?
Now this is funny, the inline ad at the top of my page right now as I'm typing this is: "It takes a plasticologist to solve your plastic problems. Industrial Plastic Supply, Inc." Maybe I should ask them.
Totally agree with you. The plastic bodies are junk after a few years in the sun. I saw a John Deere with plastic body at the auction. It was falling apart. Chassis was in great condition. But the body was cracked something awful.
John Deere lawn tractors do the same thing. Body is junk in a few years.
Metal bodies are the way to go on tractors. One reason I bought a Kubota. Durable, good looking and repairable! Plus the tractor holds its value! When a person looks at a tractor that used with a busted up body they aren't gonna want it. And there's no way to repair for the average person.
Plastic bodies are fine on ATVs but they should be left off tractors.
RG1
Platinum Member
That's BS. You may well have seen a few junked plastic body panels, I am not questioning that, but to say they are all like that is just nonsense. I have a 24 year old JD garden tractor with their Xenod hood that has been out in the sun more than its fair share, and it still looks great, and it isn't all rusted out like a metal GT hood would be by now. I have seen just as many all metal tractors, including quite a few Kubby's that were rusted like crazy.
It isn't what they are made from. It's how they are taken care of.
PapaPerk
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Is your hood on a 318?
Sorry but colored plastic bodies do not last and very hard to repair vs. metal. You think those full plastic compact bodies are gonna be in good shape in 40 years? I highly doubt it.
The plastic bodies are cheaper to make. It's all about the company saving a buck. Saves on paint, stamping, assembly, etc. Just shoot some plastic into a die and you have a hood. It's all about money and nothing to do with quality. Less manufacturing cost = more profit for the stock holders.
RG1
Platinum Member
NO, my hood is on a 240. I've owned many different JD garden tractors over the years and the only one to have a fiberglass hood as original equipment was a 140 H3.
You can believe what you want, but posting misinformation doesn't do anyone any good. There have always been, and always will be Deere haters on every site. I like any tractor and I don't care who made it, so I'm not cheap shotting anyone to try to defend my position or what I own. I am just posting the truth and the facts, and they are- plastics can be made very strong, but with enough damage they can break. Plastics can be polished up when sun faded to look new again quite easily. Metal can be very strong, but can dent like crazy and rusts. A damaged metal part is no better than a damaged plastic part.
terryknight
Veteran Member
much easier for me to fix a dented metal piece than a cracked plastic one
RG1
Platinum Member
I don't care what anyone chooses to buy, but I do care that they get the facts straight. Plastic is just as easy to repair as metal unless someone loses the pieces that get broken. Neither will look quite right after being damaged and then "repaired".
RG1
Platinum Member
The entire body of a JD isn't plastic either. The only plastic on my JD CUT is the hood. The rest is metal.
As far as the sun thing goes, that is a moot point - plastic will sun fade, but so will metal.
As far as the sun thing goes, that is a moot point - plastic will sun fade, but so will metal.
