A Nice JD

MikePA · Mar 9, 2002

Our neighbor disced and plowed our 3 acre field today. My wife and I were busy using our 2 tractors (TC25D and a Wheel Horse 16 hp garden tractor) to spread our horse manure when he drove into the field on one of his tractors pulling a huge set of discs. His tractor was an an older JD, 2WD, wide front end, headlights on the rear fenders. I couldn't read the model on the side of the hood, but it wasn't a real old JD. The set of disc he had (to disc down the corn remains) was huge. It was a tow behind, but it was also hydraulic for lifting the discs up, so the two wheels (car tires) hit the gorund for transporting. Man, did those disc make mince meat out of the corn stalks.

Later in the day, he returned with the same tractor but this time he had a 4 bottom plow attached. It was great watching him plow our field. Nice, dark brown earth being turned over. It was a treat watching and listening to the JD bear down when he lowered the plows into the ground. When his wife asked him where he was going when he left the house (they live about a mile from us), he replied. "I'm going to have some fun!". Ah seat time, no matter the size of the tractor, it all equals fun. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

markcg2000 · Mar 9, 2002

<font color=blue>...dark brown earth... </font color=blue>
Yeah, I know what you mean. I love to watch the farmer do our field.

Steve_in_Ont · Mar 9, 2002

Shot in the dark - But given the description and the 4 bottom plow... JD 4020. They made something like 300,000 of these from '64 - '72.

One of the best ever made...

MikePA · Mar 9, 2002

I looked the 4020 up and I think you're right, that's the tractor he was using. The exhaust and the air cleaner breather both came up through the hood. Wow, 91 hp at the PTO.

Thomas · Mar 10, 2002

When it comes to good equipment and a great operator one got to stop and watch..and day dream just a little. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

cowboydoc · Mar 10, 2002

Definitely the best tractor ever made. We had several growing up and they were just bulletproof. I just recently bought another one and they are great. Yesterday I had my truck and trailer buried in the mud out at the barn, about 15k. I brought out the 4020 hooked up and it pulled out the truck and trailer without even spinning the wheels. Pretty impressive machines.

pfoxy · Mar 11, 2002

Re: Seat Time. Most farmers get all the seat time they can stand, and then some. I suspect the "Fun" in his statement referred to plowing. With minimum till/no-till, not many folks plow any more. Back in the 60's, when I worked on my Dad's farm, plowing was one thing everyone looked forward too, for a couple of reasons.

First, it was a sure sign of Spring after a long winter, and second, the simple pleasure of listening to a tractor lean into the job and do what it was built to do, the smell of freshly turned earth, the birds swarming after the worms, and the sense of accomplishment watching your progress across the field just added up to a very satisfying experience.

Haven't turned a furrow in more than 30 years, and I'd give a good chunk of change to spend a day doing just that!