NEW 4300 owner

jorswift · Jan 8, 2018

Hello all,

I am new to the forum and somewhat to the tractor world. I have a Ford Jubilee for a couple of years that I am trying to sell. But I picked up a used 4300 with loader, scaper blade and box blade with trailer for a reasonable price (I believe).

I have never owned a diesel machine. I have never had a tractor with 4x4, loader, etc. Anything I need to watch out for? Any mods or anything to do to the tractor to help it out or me?!

I used it for the first time this weekend, temps were -5* F, to cut and move some wood. I have a carryall with pallet box on. Well after loading the carryall with some wood, the left lift control arm snapped. Is this something they are prone to do? I didn't even have that much weight. The tractor lifted it pretty easy.

Thanks in advance for all the much needed advice and help!

larboc · Jan 8, 2018

Never heard of that, I've lifted fronts of vehicles with a carryall on mine and had it at or over the hydraulic load limit (guessing around 3500lbs) with no issues. Check ebay, they get parted out. go to JDparts.com to find the part number and search that on ebay.

rekees4300 · Jan 8, 2018

Nor have I ever heard of a 4300 lift arm snapping. Perhaps it was previous damaged and/or the cold weaken it? The 3 point lift should be able to lift 2200 lbs according to my owner's manual.

One thing you do need to watch out for with 4300's is the failure of a part called the thermistor which would prevent it from starting. There are several good threads on TBN about that.

beenthere · Jan 8, 2018

Have a 4300 and never heard of a lift arm snapping either.

Have had many trials testing it with huge loads..

A picture of the broken part and close-up of the break would be of interest to see just what that break looks like. I'd suspect a pin had partially fallen out causing an unbalanced load.. but without a pic, cannot surmise that to be the case.

And after 20 years, have yet to have a problem with that "thermister", but know where to look for the problem if it happens.

Congrats on the 4300.. best of the best in that size tractor IMO

:welcome: to TBN

jorswift · Jan 8, 2018

beenthere said:
Have a 4300 and never heard of a lift arm snapping either.

Have had many trials testing it with huge loads..

A picture of the broken part and close-up of the break would be of interest to see just what that break looks like. I'd suspect a pin had partially fallen out causing an unbalanced load.. but without a pic, cannot surmise that to be the case.

And after 20 years, have yet to have a problem with that "thermister", but know where to look for the problem if it happens.

Congrats on the 4300.. best of the best in that size tractor IMO

:welcome: to TBN

Yeah, no idea on the break. It broke on the left side, so the one that isn't easily adjusted. It snapped right where the top thread meets the solid part. Its crazy, but I googled it and read a few others having similar issues. I already took it in to get welded, so I cant take a pic of the broken.

mike48130 · Jan 8, 2018

Not sure if it's the same as a 4310, but Worthington AG has a 4310, and maybe others in their salvage yard. I know you got it welded, but if you feel like replacing it, they might have one.

Phillip w · Jan 8, 2018

"Sure you didn't buy a massey, lol" I kind of think the cold played a big role in break. When it is really cold everything tends to break easier. That includes plastic, glass, cast iron and other type of materials.

larboc · Jan 9, 2018

Phillip w said:
"Sure you didn't buy a massey, lol" I kind of think the cold played a big role in break. When it is really cold everything tends to break easier. That includes plastic, glass, cast iron and other type of materials.

I don't buy that it should matter for that arm. I routinely use mine in pretty cold temperatures with a ~1500 weight box on the back bouncing around while moving snow. Coldest I've used it in is -30f but its commonly below zero.

Any pictures? Even post weld?

jorswift · Jan 9, 2018

larboc said:
I don't buy that it should matter for that arm. I routinely use mine in pretty cold temperatures with a ~1500 weight box on the back bouncing around while moving snow. Coldest I've used it in is -30f but its commonly below zero.

Any pictures? Even post weld?

Yeah, I can post a pic later of the weld. I just got it back this morning.

beenthere · Jan 9, 2018

jorswift
I think you mean the "lift link", and not the lift arm, as you mentioned it is "without the easy adjustment. Welding it should work, as seldom need to adjust that side from my experience.
Here is pic of the left lift arm. and of the left lift link.

jorswift · Jan 9, 2018

beenthere said:
jorswift
I think you mean the "lift link", and not the lift arm, as you mentioned it is "without the easy adjustment. Welding it should work, as seldom need to adjust that side from my experience.
Here is pic of the left lift arm. and of the left lift link.

Yes, sorry for the confusion. The link #28 in diagram broke right at the first thread. Why are they $250-300 for that part? WOW, they are proud of them.

jorswift · Jan 9, 2018

Here are a couple after weld pics.

Phillip w · Jan 9, 2018

We used say it was a John Deere thing (high price). Now it doesn't really matter what brand you have, parts are high. And is a dealer knows they got you over a barrel ( no salvage or after market parts available), the really stick.it to you. Car dealers are also getting that way. Agco wanted about 800 dollars for a part I know they didn't have 200 dollars in. The trick is they were the only place that had what I needed. It is almost crooked. Things get cheaper in a hurry when there is salvage and after market parts available.

larboc · Jan 10, 2018

jorswift said:
Here are a couple after weld pics.View attachment 535131 View attachment 535132

Ahh, that's what broke. I thought you meant the cast arm that does the lifting. My 4300 was missing an entire side of 3point parts so I made the draft link from bar stock and then bought a $15 lift link and welded on a link end from agrisupply and made a new one that is easier to adjust than the JD unit.

jorswift · Jan 10, 2018

larboc said:
Ahh, that's what broke. I thought you meant the cast arm that does the lifting. My 4300 was missing an entire side of 3point parts so I made the draft link from bar stock and then bought a $15 lift link and welded on a link end from agrisupply and made a new one that is easier to adjust than the JD unit.

Can you send a pic of it? Interested in how to do this if it happens again. Thanks.

larboc · Jan 10, 2018

jorswift said:
Can you send a pic of it? Interested in how to do this if it happens again. Thanks.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...352891-my-new-4300-project-3.html#post4423274

rekees4300 · Jan 10, 2018

Phillip w said:
We used say it was a John Deere thing (high price). Now it doesn't really matter what brand you have, parts are high.

JD dealer wants $800 to fix my 4300 fuel gauge. He said "the whole panel must be replaced". I said "I can live without gauge!"

mike48130 · Jan 10, 2018

rekees4300 said:
JD dealer wants $800 to fix my 4300 fuel gauge. He said "the whole panel must be replaced". I said "I can live without gauge!"

They have aftermarket clusters on Ebay for $230. I need to fix mine on the 4210, and have been looking for one. Maybe this spring I will tear into it and see if it can be fixed. I looked for a used on for parts or to use, and they were running about $100, so for that, I'd just buy the aftermarket. I like to have the fuel gauge, so it bugs me.

Phillip w · Jan 10, 2018

jorswift said:
Here are a couple after weld pics.View attachment 535131 View attachment 535132

I busted a turn buckle that makes yhe5 connection of the top member of the 3 pt to the tractor-implement. Same situation and don't really know how I did it. One of those flukey deals. Welded it back together and still going today. That fix you got there just may out last the tractor.

dfkrug · Jan 11, 2018

mike48130 said:
They have aftermarket clusters on Ebay for $230. I need to fix mine on the 4210, and have been looking for one. Maybe this spring I will tear into it and see if it can be fixed. I looked for a used on for parts or to use, and they were running about $100, so for that, I'd just buy the aftermarket. I like to have the fuel gauge, so it bugs me.

That is the first I heard of a new aftermarket cluster. That is what an $800 JD price tag will do:
bring out the competition. Nice.

The fuel gauge may be fixable. First thing to look at is the connectors, assuming you checked the
sender.

As for the hour meter, one guy on TBN has a thread about fixing it, with some success. I just added a
separate hour meter.

As for the 3-pt lift links, I had some broken ones from my 2 4300 rental tractors. I prefer the
aftermarket (Agrisupply), and they are quite inexpensive.