4020 fix it or forget it?

[Forgotten_Orchard]

Hey everybody,

I've got a big question about my '68 4020, but please forgive the backstory first. . .
The wife and I just bought an orchard that hasn't seen any attention in years, and it came with a house, and a bunch of broken down equipment, including the aforementioned JD. We desperately need a tractor and shredder to start revitalizing the orchard (but we're on a budget), and I'm trying to figure out what's the best way to get there. Should I try to sell the 4020 as (rusty) parts and buy something running, or would it be worth it to fix it and buy a brush hog? Someone in the long forgotten past took it apart, and somehow lost the crankshaft, don't know what else grew legs in the meantime. To make matters even more interesting, we live in a place where everything rusts, and everything needs to be shipped in at high cost, but it's beautiful, and everything grows here. I'm handy, I weld, and do automotive repair, but I've never worked on a diesel, or any heavy hydraulics, but I've got friends around who have and can help. I'll attach photos, any and all advice or derision is welcome.

 

[dirttoys]

Hey everybody,

I've got a big question about my '68 4020, but please forgive the backstory first. . .
The wife and I just bought an orchard that hasn't seen any attention in years, and it came with a house, and a bunch of broken down equipment, including the aforementioned JD. We desperately need a tractor and shredder to start revitalizing the orchard (but we're on a budget), and I'm trying to figure out what's the best way to get there. Should I try to sell the 4020 as (rusty) parts and buy something running, or would it be worth it to fix it and buy a brush hog? Someone in the long forgotten past took it apart, and somehow lost the crankshaft, don't know what else grew legs in the meantime. To make matters even more interesting, we live in a place where everything rusts, and everything needs to be shipped in at high cost, but it's beautiful, and everything grows here. I'm handy, I weld, and do automotive repair, but I've never worked on a diesel, or any heavy hydraulics, but I've got friends around who have and can help. I'll attach photos, any and all advice or derision is welcome.

Oh my.

If you have the skills and time it would probably be very satisfying.

I personally would go another way.

Best,

ed

 

[CobyRupert]

Parting is such sweet sorrow.,

....but I’d part it out or sell “as is”.

People like those 4020’s and they were very very popular. They are iconic as they came to represent Deere’s transition into a new era. For a lot of small farms, back in the small farm heyday, they were often the first “big tractor” at 90Hp, and often the first diesel.

It’s nice to see them restored and a lot of people restore them as a hobby (or as a tribute to their dad, or their childhood, etc..) ....but getting yours to running condition looks expensive. And that’s just restoring the stuff you can guess needs to be done. Could be a bottomless pit if you then discover it needs a lot more.

 

[MossRoad]

Some base info on that machine...

TractorData.com John Deere 4020 tractor information

www.tractordata.com

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a bunch of those for sale. Many under $15,000. Maybe you could purchase a used one and keep yours for parts, or sell it to offset the purchase.

But first, you should probably decide the chores you'll be needing to do, and the size of machine you'd need to accomplish those chores within your budget. Then decide if that's the machine for you, or if your money would be better spent on a different size machine.

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/farm-equipment/for-sale/list/category/1109/tractors-100-hp-to-174-hp/manufacturer/john-deere/model-group/4020

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, and welcome to TBN!

 

[Forgotten_Orchard]

We'll, it seems like everyone is on the same page. I was kinda hoping for one crazy member to tell me to go for it and offer to sell me a used crankshaft, but I guess it's going on craigslist. . . Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate being welcomed to the forum so quickly! If anyone wants to work their way through a Hawaiian vacation, lmk I've got plenty of work.

 

[dirttoys]

We'll, it seems like everyone is on the same page. I was kinda hoping for one crazy member to tell me to go for it and offer to sell me a used crankshaft, but I guess it's going on craigslist. . . Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate being welcomed to the forum so quickly! If anyone wants to work their way through a Hawaiian vacation, lmk I've got plenty of work.

Update your location!! Probably find a couple of volunteers

Best,

ed

 

[Tx Jim]

Welcome to TBN
If the piston rod & CS main brg caps original locations weren't marked then engine block would require being "lined bored" & I'm not sure if piston rods could be reused by resizing. One could locate/install a self propelled combine engine or salvage yard engine. Also closed center hyd's such as a 4020 utilizes if there's a hyd problem requires very knowledgeable diagnostic procedures. Rear tractor tires are expensive. I'll advise to sell 4020 & buy an operating tractor. I think salvage value which is dependent on location should be in the $2500-$3000 range. Granted the two tractor 1/2s will be a challenge to load on a trailer.

 

[Zebrafive]

We'll, it seems like everyone is on the same page. I was kinda hoping for one crazy member to tell me to go for it and offer to sell me a used crankshaft, but I guess it's going on craigslist. . . Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate being welcomed to the forum so quickly! If anyone wants to work their way through a Hawaiian vacation, lmk I've got plenty of work.

Very Tempting! Which island? As long as it's not all work and no play.
A 4020 seems way too big for orchard work. What does the used tractor market have to offer in Hawaii?

 

[PuffyC]

That looks to be less of a tractor and more of a good start to a salvage yard

Personally I'd keep it to rebuild just because I like doing that kind of stuff, but also buy another working tractor to do work now. If it's anything like cars, by the time you got done restoring it you'd have twice in it what it was worth but if that's what you enjoy doing it would be a lot of fun.

 

[Tx Jim]

OOPS I overlooked tractor was in Hawaii. That would probably making used engine/parts more difficult to acquire & salvage value unknown

 

[Leejohn]

Good used tractor are hard to come by and $ is way up on them. Don't over look a new one.

 

[zzvyb6]

IMHO, a 4020 is the ideal haying tractor, but not the best thing for an orchard operation: To big, more power than you need and not operational at the moment.
But, there are companies here in Michigan than sell re-manufactured crankshafts for anything. So, you could hold out to eventually get the 4020 put back together. But you may not even know why the crankshaft was removed. What other damage is there yet to be found? It may take you 5 months to get it all back together and running.

Best suggestion would be to get a used small subcompact diesel with 30 - 40 hp and hydrostatic drive to run a big (84") rear mower, can crawl under trees, pump water, supply backup electricity as needed, pull wagons and carts and is easy and cheap to run by anyone in the family. Lots of Kubotas and Deeres in our market and staying ahead of inflation because of their predicted longevity.

So, locate a dealer close by and see if they would rent you something to try out and begin your search and budget allocation(s) there.

 

[5030]

I'd part it out and loose it. Way beyond normal capabilities and you'll have serious bucks in it.. Basically a pile of junk parts but there will be a market for those parts.

Your issue is where you live. Hawaii will have limited audience and selling any or all parts on the mainland will involve serious shipping charges.

 

[Deere Dude]

Personally, I would buy a new 40hp cut with a heavy duty FEL and cart it away. Way to many unknowns with fixing a mess like that, But that's just me.

 

[rgr33]

John Deere parts are pricy
probably no used parts available locally
your needs seem to be more in the 40 hp range , with maneuverability a plus.
you Are going to need a FEL, preferably with a grapple

If I was in the same situation, I would look for a used unit in good condition.

 

[rgr33]

By the way, what are you growing in your orchard?

 

[dusty3030]

There is probably somebody on your island with a 4020 or that works on equipment that would buy your pile of parts and consider them manna from Heaven. You just have to find them.

 

[CoyPatton]

You said orchard, but not what type. Orchard to me implies trees, with at times weighted limbs with fruit on them.
I would not want to be trying to mow under trees with low hanging limbs with a JD 4020.
In your location, I have no ideal hiw the resell market is for that tractor! I am in the midwest of the lower 48 states and that size tractor is popular among hobby farmers that want to plant row crops (sweet corn, green beans, peas and such) as there are planters snd cultivators available that can be used in their hobby farms.
I would suspect that shipping cost would make repairs cost more than the tractor would be worth. Again no ideal as to used market in your location, but covid has done a number on the used and new market in my area. Very limited availability in both. Which has driven the used market pricing up!