4610 or 4710

Eyehelp · Apr 29, 2004

Hey guys
I have been lurking here for about 18months as I consider what tractor I need. I think I have narrowed it down now after all the good info here. I have 24 acres, mostly pasture, that I need to keep cut. I know I want a hydro tranny so that has led me to the 4610 vs 4710. I would like to use a bush hog for cleaning around the creek banks that are all grown up and use a finish mower to keep the pasture groomed (no livestock at this point). I plan to get the 460 loader also. My questions:
How big a finish mower can I expect to be able to pull?
How big a bush hog can I expect to be able to pull?
Is the additional 4 hp worth the additional cost?
Can you pull up prices for attachments on the deere web site?
Thanks for all the info I have benefited from up to this point and for your thoughts on these questions.
Bob

Boiler74 · Apr 30, 2004

I went with the 4710, and one reason was to get over the 40 hp rating at the PTO. IF you go by JD specs, once you get to 40, you can use a pull-type MX10 (10') rotary cutter. I considered that when I bought, simply for future use. I went with an MX6 for now, and couldn't be happier. Plenty of power. My brother also wanted over 40 hp PTO to use an implement he wants to buy, so the 4710 was the way to go. I don't know if you'd notice 4 hp, but if your the type to get buyer's remorse the first time the tractor doesn't have enough power, better get the 4710. I know that's the way I am. So I bought the biggest I could get with the hydro tranny.

Hope that helps.

J.

timb · Apr 30, 2004

Bob

I'm hoping to be able to decide between those two myself depending on what's available (I believe the big-frame JDs are actually out of production at the moment in prep for the replacements due out later this year). Personally I'd like the 4710 just so there's no doubts. But bear in mind that while the 4710 does get you 'over the top' and potentially into bigger implements - those implements can be a LOT more expensive than their slightly smaller counterparts. Example - the 4710 is rated to run the 12 foot batwing finish mower (and one of the local dealers was running just that setup to mow/showoff around his facility last year) - but I could never justify the prices of that type/size mower for personal use. A six or seven foot RMM is as far as I'll go and either one will be sleeping under most conditions with that size mower. Ditto the rotary mowers. You could run an MX8 (not 10) pull-behind (not 3ph type) with the 4710 while that is supposed to be a bit too much for a 4610. But I think that 8 footer is twice the cost of an MX6. Doubt whether I could justify it. Of course, as they say YMMV.

Frankly if availability is limited to just dealer stock I'll be happy if a local dealer can come up with either one at a reasonable quote.

Tim

Kyle_in_Tex · Apr 30, 2004

I would buy the 4710 if I could do it all over again. I'd buy a 6' shredder for the best price per foot. If I could find a good deal on a used 8 or 10 ft model, then I'd consider that. A 6 footer will be a good compliment to the 4710. All depends on how high you let your fields get and how rough they are. You are on the right path by opting for a hydro...Kyle

Boiler74 · Apr 30, 2004

The 4710 will use the MX10 pull-type. See the link.

http://www.deere.com/servlet/com.deere.u90785.specscompare.view.servlets.SpecsCompareServlet?module=prodcat&sbu=Ag&userAction=specs&PciModel=MX10XW&ModelName=MX10%20Rotary%20Cutter&tM=FR&pNbr=MX10XW

I'm not saying you could chop real tall or wet stuff, but the MX10 is rated for a 40 hp + machine like the 4710.

J.

timb · Apr 30, 2004

Depends on which way you approach the question from - the 4710 attachment specs themselves include the MX8 in pull or semi-mount, but not the MX10 in any form.
4710 attachments

40hp is technically enough to run a hay baler too - but plenty of folks here will warn you away from that idea with a tractor the size of the 4710.

My point was - it's nice to know the 4710 will run an 8 foot (and maybe a 10 foot) rotary - but the cost jump from a 6 foot to an 8 or 10 foot of equal 'stoutness' is rather alarming. The 'advantage' of the 4710 over the 4610 might be all theoretical, depending on you particular circumstance and wallet.

At the end of the day - I still want the 4710 anyway, if I can track one down around here. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tim

Waldo · Apr 30, 2004

Eyehelp,

First of all, welcome to the TBN family /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Second, nice to see you have your eyes on the right color tractor /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I'm hardly qualified to answer your question regarding the 4610 vs 4710 (my little X595SE should get here next Friday /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif), but I can help answer:

( Can you pull up prices for attachments on the Deere web site? )

Click here to goto the "build your own" section of the John Deere web site. Select "Tractor and Attachments" for #1 and "build" for #2 (you may need to over ride your pop up blocker) and then press the continue button. Now just use the drop down arrow under for "Equipment for Compact Utility Tractors" to select the implement you want to check out. USE CAUTION, this is very addicting /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Have fun,
Waldo

chevy · Apr 30, 2004

Bob,
I faced the same choice a year ago. I went with the 4710 because it had a larger engine & more horse power. I have been very happy with the 4710. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Chris

Kevin37 · May 1, 2004

Bob
I guess I'll chime in here, even though I'm still staring at the calendar waiting for my tractor to be delivered.

I went with a 4710 e-hydro, 460 loader and an MX-6 cutter. I have 25+ acres with about half of that field. I looked at the 4610 and also pondered the need and cost of the extra HP. When the dust settled, I took the position to get the most I could in the frame size I wanted. After looking at all the possible implements I might be running in the future, I never wanted to be sorry I didn't get the most power available. When I started this quest 16 months ago I thought I would be getting something the size of the 4410. Then I started reading TBN and was quickly educated by the experience of the members regarding realistic expectations of tractor size.

I don't think there will be regrets if you get the most you can get. Besides, if you break down the extra cost over 36 months of financing, you hardly notice. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Good Luck
Kevin

"Good morning Mr. Dealer, this is Kevin...is my tractor ready yet"?
"Good morning Mr. Dealer, this is Kevin...is my tractor ready yet"?
"Good morning Mr. Dealer, this is Kevin...is my tractor ready yet"?
"Good morning Mr. Dealer, this is Kevin...is my tractor ready yet"?
"Good morning Mr. Dealer, this is Kevin...is my tractor ready yet"?

Woodbeef · May 1, 2004

Ok,I have a question for you? Why the added expense of a finish mower for a pasture? Afterall you already are planing on a rotary,so why two mowers?

yellowsocks93 · May 1, 2004

I don't know how we just got a new one in last week from the factory. 4710 E-Hydro, 4x4, Titan turf tires. Nice looking machine I must say.

Eyehelp · May 1, 2004

Thanks for all your input. If I can find a 4710 that is the way I will go. My dealer has a 4610 on the lot so I hope he can find a 4710 and make me a good deal. Otherwise I may go with the 4610 if the deal is much better.

Woodbeef, my thinking on the two mowers is that I will start out with a brush mower to get the pastures more tame and clean up the creek banks and then move up to the finish mower to increase cutting width and quality later. I assume I can run a larger finish mower than brush mower?

timb · May 2, 2004

Nick - I sure hope you're right, I haven't gotten a quote or comment back yet from my closest dealer. However, that's what Kevin (Kevin37) was told two weeks ago. On the up side for him, his dealer was able to track down a 4710 in another county. I've seen the 'out of production' comment on a few other forums as well. Well, all I can do is ask and see how motivated the dealers around here are to make the deal work.

Tim

MikeInIdaho · May 5, 2004

You will probably be happy with either. I have a 4710 and the only time it seems stressed is blowing very heavy deep wet snow (as in berms), or deep tilling heavy damp soil with the 680 tiller (80") I have the 390 flail mower and it doesn't seem to require all the power, at least in my (mostly grass) field. I don't see the point of using a finish mower on a field unless it is very even with no rocks. I use the flail mower on the highest setting and I still hit rocks or scalp down to the soil occasionally.

timb · May 6, 2004

MIke,

If you don't mind my asking, what did you end up paying for your 390 mower and what do you think of it in actual operation? I will be needing to cut about 12 acres of heavy grass 'pasture' (up until this year had been hay/forage production), plus about 1-2 acres of 'lawn' that I had been maintaining with a riding mower but it doesn't need to be that good. Since nothing has any serious heavy stem/woody material (yet) and some of this is near houses/roads I've been wondering if a flail mower might make a better choice for both areas rather than buying both a finish and rotary mower for now. Never had an opportunity to use a flail mower myself yet.

Tim

Woodbeef · May 6, 2004

Ok,but I'm still lost as to why you want to use a finish mower on pasture land?

_RaT_ · May 6, 2004

I use a finish mower on my "pasture" land. I have a 80" brush mower and a 84" finish mower. The finish mower works so much better. It has four wheels so my sprinklers in the ground stay safe from the skids of a brush mower. The blades are shorter but turn faster and do a much better job of completely mulching the grass. It pulls the grass up and cuts. Suprisingly, it's blades are lasting as long or longer then my massive brush mower blades. The finish mower I have will easily handle 1" and smaller sticks. It lays the grass out the back very evenly as opposed to my front and rear chained brush mower. It requires about the same HP and stops much quicker when I disengage the PTO since there is far less length on the blade. Adjusting the height to an exact height is a snap. The blades change easier then my brush mower. It works better in wet conditions. There's my short list of why I like a finish mower and am selling my brush mower. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Rat...

MikeInIdaho · May 6, 2004

I think I paid about $3900 for it. I like it because it is tolerant of hitting rocks and other obstacles and it has a 12" offset that makes mowing the edge of a ditch easier. I've never tried it on a lawn because, regardless of how well the mower functioned, the R1 tires would tear up the grass.

timb · May 7, 2004

Hmm. That's pretty much as expensive as a decent rear mount finish and a rotary mower combined. No cost savings then, just a different approach. I still might chat with my dealer about it, I don't really have that much need for a true brush hog as in 1-2" woody stuff, I just didn't want to tear up a new finish mower on the rougher fields.

...regardless of how well the mower functioned, the R1 tires would tear up the grass...

Have you actually had trouble running your 4710 on your 'good' grass and had the tires make a mess? Seems like a lot of folks assume that R1s will automatically damage a lawn. Now we're sure not trying to keep a really nice suburban-quality / fairway level lawn here, but we run our Ford NAA (for pratical purposes same size and more rear tire ground pressure (loaded narrow tires) as a 4710) over the lawn regularly. Unless it's sopping wet it's nearly a ghost and doesn't seem to leave any more of a mark than our garden tractors. In fact the one GT with turfs seems to make a more visible track than the other with bar tires. Now when a full-sized ag tractor has to cut through the edge of the 'lawn' (like a 10,000+ pound IH) to bale - that leaves some tracks. Regardless I want the R1s for other purposes but it will be interesting to see what it does on our local clay/lawn.

Tim