Buying Advice Deere 4700 "plastic" body parts

[4310]

Last fall I went from a JD850 (all metal) to a JD 4310 (all plastic body parts). I much prefer all metal.

I got the 4310 used and I think every piece of plastic around the engine, except for the hood, has at least one crack in it. The fenders are fine but they are made out of significantly thicker plastic than the plastic around the engine. If ALL the plastic was made like the fenders I don't think that I would have any complaints. As it is, I think the plastic up front feels cheap and flimsy.

It also seems to attract dust for some reason. I was wiping it off today and noticed that the plastic was building up static electricity. Not sure if that is why the dust sticks to it or not but i noticed that the metal on my loader was not nearly as dirty/dusty as the plastic and i didn't get static when i wiped it down.

I love my tractor though, just wish the engineers had made the plastic in front a bit beefier.

 

[k0ua]

I don't think the JD hoods and "plastic" pieces are painted. I think the color is molded in. I have a JD LT135se that is about 5 years old, and it still looks fine and has no cracks. It never sits out, and has fairly low hours. All of the Kubota's I have owned were all steel except for the front grill. My Kioti is all steel except for the front grill piece.

 

[RG1]

I don't think the JD hoods and "plastic" pieces are painted. I think the color is molded in. I have a JD LT135se that is about 5 years old, and it still looks fine and has no cracks. It never sits out, and has fairly low hours. All of the Kubota's I have owned were all steel except for the front grill. My Kioti is all steel except for the front grill piece.

Trust me, they are painted with JD's paint and colors over top of green Xenoy plastic. I have a video from JD here at my home (on VHS, but still works fine) that shows them doing it. Plus, the ops manuals tell you how to polish them without damaging the paint. Their words, not mine.

 

[k0ua]

Trust me, they are painted with JD's paint and colors over top of green Xenoy plastic. I have a video from JD here at my home (on VHS, but still works fine) that shows them doing it. Plus, the ops manuals tell you how to polish them without damaging the paint. There words, not mine.

OK.. I stand corrected.:thumbsup:

 

[kcflhrc]

OK.. I stand corrected.:thumbsup:

Trust me, they are painted with JD's paint and colors over top of green Xenoy plastic. I have a video from JD here at my home (on VHS, but still works fine) that shows them doing it. Plus, the ops manuals tell you how to polish them without damaging the paint. There words, not mine.

Actually this would be incorrect too. The plastic under the green is black. My destroyed hood on my 3032E is black plastic under the green paint. It may have been green plastic back in the VHS days but in the Blue Ray days it is black plastic.

 

[RG1]

Actually this would be incorrect too. The plastic under the green is black. My destroyed hood on my 3032E is black plastic under the green paint. It may have been green plastic back in the VHS days but in the Blue Ray days it is black plastic.

Well, you're sorta correct. They used both black and green back then and even now. I have stuff from both eras. It just depended on what the part was going to be used for it appears. Stuff like hoods are normally green plastic that is painted (though not always obviously), while some of the fender panels or other body parts have been both- green or black. However, the question was whether or not the parts are painted, and they are.

 

[kcflhrc]

Well, you're sorta correct. They used both black and green back then and even now. I have stuff from both eras. It just depended on what the part was going to be used for it appears. Stuff like hoods are normally green plastic that is painted (though not always obviously), while some of the fender panels or other body parts have been both- green or black. However, the question was whether or not the parts are painted, and they are.

I'm thinking my fenders may be green all the way through and then painted as you describe. Interesting why the hood is black, I would have thought green all the way through on all parts would have been a lot better idea.

 

[RG1]

I'm thinking my fenders may be green all the way through and then painted as you describe. Interesting why the hood is black, I would have thought green all the way through on all parts would have been a lot better idea.

That's what I always thought too. Doesn't make sense to use black that can show through easier. My fender panels on my 4500 were very thick, but were black plastic painted green. Most of the parts I have seen that were really thick plastic have been black, while the thinner stuff like many of the smaller hoods (like those on the lawn tractors sold at Lowe's) are solid green that are painted over. Doesn't seem to be a lot of rhyme or reason to. Makes me wonder if maybe they just used whatever their supplier had left over from another run.:laughing:

 

[toweeman]

I own a 4310 and lt150. Both are kept inside in a heated and air conditioned barn when not in use. 4310 has 750 hrs on it. The plastic hoods on both are falling apart. I have a few friends having the same problem with their JD tractors. The dealer and JD customer service are no help. The plastic is junk. A hood should out last the tractor.