4300 range selector shaft

[mlip]

Hello,

I'm new to JD, thinking of buying a used 4300 nearby. The range
selector lever has become disconnected from the shaft. The seller
says the shaft has "fallen" into the tranny case. Apparently an angry horse boarder forced the lever and broke the shaft purposely. Is there any way of
getting the shaft out without splitting the case? If the case needs
to be split, any idea what it should cost at the dealer? My local dealer says $1500....ouch. Thanks,

Mark

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

Hello,

I'm new to JD, thinking of buying a used 4300 nearby. The range
selector lever has become disconnected from the shaft. The seller
says the shaft has "fallen" into the tranny case. Apparently an angry horse boarder forced the lever and broke the shaft purposely. Is there any way of
getting the shaft out without splitting the case? If the case needs
to be split, any idea what it should cost at the dealer? My local dealer says $1500....ouch. Thanks,

Mark

I do not see how you can retrieve it without splitting the tractor. I split my JD 4400 one time and you are talking major work. I split mine on a dirt floor sitting on wooden blocks. Can you get the seller to discount anything on the tractor to help pay the expense of the dealership doing the work ??

 

[mlip]

She's selling the machine for 6K, it has a 430 loader. Thats a really low price. It has 1400 hours, has been used in a big horse barn. Apart from the broken shaft its pretty dirty, has a broken plastic piece, but looks like its basically sound. Its a bit of a dice roll, but I'm going to take the plunge.....

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

She's selling the machine for 6K, it has a 430 loader. Thats a really low price. It has 1400 hours, has been used in a big horse barn. Apart from the broken shaft its pretty dirty, has a broken plastic piece, but looks like its basically sound. Its a bit of a dice roll, but I'm going to take the plunge.....

$6000 ,is it 4 wheel drive ??? I would go for it in a minute....you can find lots of parts on ebay if needed. Make sure you post some pictures of your discovered treasure....

 

[mlip]

yes its 4 wd. not a hydro tho. still a deal.

 

[Jim_Fisher]

She's selling the machine for 6K, it has a 430 loader. Thats a really low price. It has 1400 hours, has been used in a big horse barn. Apart from the broken shaft its pretty dirty, has a broken plastic piece, but looks like its basically sound. Its a bit of a dice roll, but I'm going to take the plunge.....

You might want to run the serial number through Deere's Product Improvement search at Product Improvement Process : : John Deere. There were improvements available for the range selector on the 1998 and 1999 models. Also, be aware that the 1998 and 1999 mfwd models used a different front axle than the later models. They turned extremely tight but tended to scuff turf.

 

[mlip]

Jim, Thanks, thats a great suggestion, I'll check it out.

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

You might want to run the serial number through Deere's Product Improvement search at Product Improvement Process : : John Deere. There were improvements available for the range selector on the 1998 and 1999 models. Also, be aware that the 1998 and 1999 mfwd models used a different front axle than the later models. They turned extremely tight but tended to scuff turf.

I have the older style axle, but I do not use mine for lawn care. For $6000 I would buy it with either axle.

 

[Jim_Fisher]

I have the older style axle, but I do not use mine for lawn care. For $6000 I would buy it with either axle.

Agreed. Sounds like a motivated seller to me.

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

Agreed. Sounds like a motivated seller to me.

Jim,
With that kid of price it would make a motivated buyer as well.

 

[dfkrug]

Yes, a $6K price sounds like the seller has already factored in the
selector shaft problem. (I hope it is stuck in LOW range.) I do not
know how many hours on the machine, but watch out for rust. A
tractor confined to horse barn work for 7+ years often suffers from
rust in its nooks and crannies, due to all the horse urine.

That said, grab it!

 

[mlip]

yup. Stuck in low range. It has 1400 hours. Its at the dealer now. He's preparing an estimate of what nees to be done. I'm sure it'll be at least 2K. Its still a great deal. Looking forward to getting it home.