New Body Panels for JD4500

[larboc]

No vandalism. Was doing allot of land clearing. Thought I was pushing a big brush pile but there was a 2" dia. branch in there that got under the bucket but high enough that it pushed into the grill. Grill was fairly strong, and before it broke it pushed back on the side panels all the way back to the cowl, cracking all the parts along the way. For a couple of years I have been patching w/ SMC repair (fiberglass work), but the repairs break, cracks get bigger, etc. Just time to bite the bullet.

Yes, I should have had a better brush gaurd, but isn't hind site 20/20?

Check ebay for the factory hood armor and you can mod it from there. When I bought mine for my 4300 (same guard?) there was a guy selling ~5 of them and I got mine for something like $50 and it looked brand new with all the bolts and brackets.

 

[GhostWriter]

I'd also be interested in finding an after market source for JD4400 plastic replacement panels Looking around they all seem to be the exact same price. ie $121.64 for a front grill panel excluding the grill.

 

[RyeThomas]

I just purchased a 4510 in November, got a hood and L side as they were the worst. I need a cowl and R side at some point but they are so expensive I’m waiting till they crack a bit more. I found them online then went to my dealer, they were able to bring them in for a bit less. I leveled with them and told them I was purchasing for whomever would go lower, I wasn’t messing around and I didn’t care from whom. I figured they would tell me too bad and to get out but they ended up being a few dollars cheaper. They now know me as the cheapskate. They were still super expensive and seems there are no real deals on these panels. Best of luck, Rye.

 

[beenthere]

Curious, but what is happening that is causing the panels to break?

 

[Rustyiron]

I see your in PA, there's an outfit (in PA) that has a tractor & skid steer graveyard. Find a "Lancaster Farming" newspaper and look through it.
If I see his ad I'll post his name & number here for you.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I saw some cowls on ebay.

John Deere hood fuel door cowl set 45 451 46 461 47 471 LVU1263 FDIC | eBay

 

[GhostWriter]

Curious, but what is happening that is causing the panels to break?

UV light - The tractor was left outside and now the panels are so brittle that if you push on them they crack

 

[GhostWriter]

Much as I dislike following myself in a thread, I did find a source "Flip Manufacturing" for some panels just not the front and sides.

To elaborate on the UV damage, I did not own this tractor for the first 15yrs of its life. It was used to maintain a ball field, and sat in a secure but uncovered area when not is use. The screens are fine but the plastic is extremely brittle.

 

[larboc]

Much as I dislike following myself in a thread, I did find a source "Flip Manufacturing" for some panels just not the front and sides.

To elaborate on the UV damage, I did not own this tractor for the first 15yrs of its life. It was used to maintain a ball field, and sat in a secure but uncovered area when not is use. The screens are fine but the plastic is extremely brittle.

Nice find, did you buy any of these? Quality? Can't be any worse than OEM I'd guess.

 

[GhostWriter]

Nice find, did you buy any of these? Quality? Can't be any worse than OEM I'd guess.

I have not purchased the body panels yet. Needed a loader too and bought a gl545 farmhand. After I fabricate the brackets, paint the loader green to match, and modify the hydraulics, I'll be back on the panels.