990 vs 4510

willy1947 · May 4, 2004

How does everyone like their 990's? I'm thinking about choosing it over the 4510, because of a $3000 price difference. Is it worth it? Assume the 4510 is geared w/power-reverser.

The FEL will not be used too much. The primary use will be bus hogging and grading.

Thanks,
Dave

johnbilt · May 4, 2004

Hi

I've been happy with my 990. It has excellent traction and power. The engine starts easy and runs smooth. The 990 is a great product. The tall tires and weight add up to a lot more tractor than a 790. The price, availability, and time was right for me. That doesn't mean that I'd never consider a 4XXX unit for the right deal.

1) How do you feel about working with a geared tractor without the bells and whistles ?? Did you get an opportunity to drive one of each ?? Even if the price is right, you won't be happy if you experience regret later, wishing you had the more modern unit.

2) What is the potential resale of a 4510 with a gear trans? My impression is that most folks shopping for a 4000 series will be looking for a hydro unit. If I was comparing, I'd shoot for a 4610 or 4710 hydro with the larger loader, but the price does creep up....

3) Buy what you like at the price you like.

Also, there seems to be more accessories, like soft cabs and such, for the 4XXX series, if you're interested in that.

Just my 2 cents from shopping last year.....

Enjoy,

John

yellowsocks93 · May 4, 2004

I too like my 990 very much and it is very similar to our 970. I had the modern unit traded down according to most other dealers I talk to except mine but I love it. You can still get many of the accessories that were out for the 70 series such as soft sided cabs through Deere I bet. You can get most anything from them if you have your dealer order it. I think if you want all the bells and whistles then get the 4000 series such as fully independent PTOs, flat operators platform, a little better hydraulics but all in all if you can stand a non syncronized transmission then the 990 is a great choice. The 4510 would be a nifty power reverser with syncronized shifts in all gears. I would drive both and see what you like the best assuming the dealer has both in stock. Sometimes 990s can be hard to come by at dealers. They are not a real good seller these days. The 790 is a great seller though.

jrdellaratta · May 5, 2004

I am consistently surprised by how well my 990 performs. I was an Orange guy all the way before, but couldn't pass up a great deal on a used 990, with several attachments, and w/ only 40 hours on her. I've never looked back.

No experience with anything in the JD 4xxx zone, however.

zuiko · May 5, 2004

The 990 is great but for $3k difference I would seriously consider the 4510. The ePowerReverser would be handy to have and the 4510 would have higher resale value.

There is over a $6k difference between list prices on those two machines so your dealer is discounting the 4510 much more heavily than the 990. That does not account for the FEL. The difference would be even greater with that assuming the 4510 has the 460 loader rather than the 430 loader on the 990.

Monroe40 · May 5, 2004

Hi Dave,

I've been pleased with my 990. I have 39 hours on it since Sept 2003. I, too, was looking at the 990 vs. 4510, both with FEL and 4WD. I liked the better specs on the 4510 -- hydraulically and loader capacity. The 4510 also has the possibility of adding more options. Increasing the price more. However, I had just managed to swallow the $3000ish difference from the 790 to the 990 and just couldn't bring myself to spend the extra money for the 4510. Perhaps if I had started at the 990 price I could have talked myself into the 4510.....

So now that the water is under the bridge, I have no regrets. I am a weekend tractor user and so a geared tractor is ok. I'm not on a paid job with the thing so high efficiency loader work isn't that important. I probably have 150 or more bucket loads of dirt into the hole made from when dirt was scooped out for the pole barn fill. (And it's only 1/2 full.) Box scraper work on the driveway -- up and down 1/4 mile driveway. Gears are fine. Brush hoggin' I'm going slow. Clutch and stop. Clutch all the way in to disengage the PTO.

I'm sure I would be happy with a 4510, but for my purposes the 990 has been a very good choice.

Dave

johnbilt · May 5, 2004

Hi

I was checking over the spec sheet on the JD website for the 4510. Nice machine. And it is fitted with the 460 loader.

The 990 is a great value, basic workhorse tractor. I would join in the consensus here and say that the 990 has worked excellent for me.

John

timb · May 5, 2004

Anyone know why the 990 can only use the 430 loader and not the 460? I know the 990 is shorter and lighter but if you dig far enough into the specs (see Stoneham's site) it looks like the 990 axles are actually rated for higher load than the 4510-4710. So it doesn't seem like the 990 lacks for stout. The two things that keep pushing me to the big 4000's over the 990 is the loader capacity and the slightly more flexible reverser tranny but I haven't heard anyone not love their 990.

Tim

zuiko · May 5, 2004

I imagine it is positioning. They are pretty keen to limit the 90 series because they don't want it cutting into the 4x10 series sales. Same reason its GST only, no Mid-PTO available.

They say a MX6 rotary cutter is too much for the 990 but I have no problems at all with it. I am glad I went that route since it covers the width of the tractor. The MX5 does not.

What is the weight and size difference between the 4510 and 990?

timb · May 5, 2004

990 - 68.4" wheelbase, 123" overall, 2954/3175 lbs. in 2WD/MFWD.

4510 - 71.5" wheelbase, 128" overall, 3150/3450 lbs 2WD/MFWD.

But - interestingly, axle ratings:

990 - F/R in lbs. - 5513/5292.
4510 - F/R in lbs - 4960/5292.

So (unless that's one of the infamous JD document misprints) while the big 4000's might have just a tick more moment arm and mass for stability sure seems like the 990 could have handled the front axle stress of the 460 FEL.

On the up side if the 430 is enough loader for your needs, doesn't seem like you could hurt the 990 with it.

Tim

yellowsocks93 · May 5, 2004

I wonder what would happen if you did try to hook up the 460 loader to the 990. The mounting brackets and most everything else should be identical to one another. If we had one at work I would try it and find out.

BWa · May 6, 2004

I will have to say that like the others here I love my li'l 990 , she has done all that I have asked of her and then some ... Small farm operation , clearing over growth or brush and trees to recover the stone walls around the fields etc etc ..
As for the 430 FEL and if a 460 FEL would work my guess would be the GPM of the HYDRo pump that is the limiting factor , not that I know much and only going by the JD Specs ...
Bill G.

zuiko · May 6, 2004

There is also an orfice that appears to restrict flow to the 430 loader that is only used on the 990. Not sure what the point of that is exactly. It is mentioned in the 430 manual.

johnbilt · May 6, 2004

Hi

I have checked some photos and found that the 460 loader has the hydraulic plumbing on the right hand side. Would this be the only reason they opted for the 430 loader for the 990 ??

The frame geometry and quick mount appears to be the same. Also, another link mentions that the new 990 has the exhaust routed to the front and that the hydraulics are moved to the right hand side. This supposedly solves the tire interference problem on the left. I wonder if this also opens an option for mounting another loader. Hard to say.

My 430 will lift a complete load of heaping gravel and rock. I have only stalled it under a log or stump. The 460 may not make a lot of difference in these situations anyway....

Has anyone seen a new updated 990 ?

John

yellowsocks93 · May 6, 2004

I have not seen the updated 990. Way to go JD! Screw up a perfectly good model! Well, at least I got mine before the changes.

The orfice is meant to slow down the hydraulics to provide smoother movement. When I got my 990 I had to rig it from the 4300 setup to 990 setup and I had to put the orfice back in the GREEN hydraulic hose that goes to the tractor. It fits directly inside the coupler and if you wish to see it just take 2 wrenches and loosen the end. It is about the side of a nickel with a small hole in it for the fluid to pass through.

I have been very happy with my 430 loader and would not see any use for a larger loader as I do very, very light loader work about 3 times a year moving snow from my driveway and maybe light dirt work. Since I have had my loader for 2 years have only used it to move dirt once and used the loader about 10 times total.

DPic105 · May 7, 2004

I think that it was me that sent the post that you refer to. I was at my dealer yesterdey, becasue I bought a new 990. (I own a 790 now) There are differences in the 990 that I sat on last fall compared to the one that I just bought. I'll try to send photos when the tractor is delivered on Monday. The exhaust is now near the left front tire as you sit on the machine. The lodaer hoses are on the right as you sit on the tractor. I also noticed that the bucket brackets are now cast instead of wlded steel like last years. Also the new style exhaust is on everything from the 790 through the 4710!!

johnbilt · May 7, 2004

Hi

Thanks very much for the info !! I think we would all enjoy a photo for a quick look at the new changes. I was at the JD dealer a few weeks ago, but I didn't notice any new models yet.

I was looking over my 430 loader last night. The supply lines can be easily swapped to either side of the loader for different applications.

John

Golfgar4 · May 7, 2004

I was coming back from a meeting today and had to drive past the local JD dealer. The comment about dealers never seemng to have any 990's sitting out ran through my mind, so I swung in to take a quick look. Would defintely like to see the new model.

Sure enough, there weren't any to be seen. In fact, there wasn't even a 790 sitting around. Did see a really beat up 4310 with a cab sitting there though. Wish I would have had time to stop and take a look! Maybe I'll try to sneak out there this weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

yellowsocks93 · May 9, 2004

What I don't understand is why JD would change the light and hazard light switch to some cheap plastic when I felt the old switch was good, quality feeling. The 90 series had been pretty much unchanged since 1989 when the 70 series made it's appearence. I did order the other handle for my 990, the foam pads from the original 70 series for under the hood, a decal on one of the side shields like our 970 has, and one big decal that says JOHN DEERE for the back of the roll bar. It's from a 8860 articulated tractor. Looks great!