Did the 4020 ever come in 4wd?

[whistlepig]

What atributes of the 4020 have caused the American farmer's love affair with it. It seems to be "the" classic farm tractor. Also, what model is the closest thing to it that has 4wd.

My neighbor shows John Deere tractors and farms with them as well. He has 12 of them. Five are working tractors and the rest for show. He has a 4020 and he says it is the best tractor that has ever been made. He said it is the most dependable and is the easiest tractor to maintain that he has ever owned. He is 70 years old and has forgotten more about tractors than I will ever know.

 

[art]

There was a company in Elwood Illinois that put a few gear drives under but the conversion was very indepth. It was a simuliar unit to the ones built for the IH tractors like the 806-1066 tractors.

Deere did hang on to it right through the thirty series as well as the forty series before letting go of the hydraulic drive.

Oliver had used it in their line-up originally too but then went with the gear drive as it never gave up like the hydraulic drives did.

A 4050 would be a nice choice over the 4020!

 

[Toolguy]

What atributes of the 4020 have caused the American farmer's love affair with it. It seems to be "the" classic farm tractor. Also, what model is the closest thing to it that has 4wd.

The "New Generation" tractors that started with the "10" series about 1961 were designed to be "Ergonomic". The first time I heard that word was at a local "John Deere Day" when I was about 10 years old. I remember the film they were showing about how the tractors were designed to be operator friendly and comfortable to use. That is what I remember about driving them. The controls are laid out nicely and the seat, steering wheel and the clutch and the brakes just seemed to be in the right places. The power steering was fantastic for the day and still as good as any. The hydraulics were very smooth. They have a lot of power for their size and are easy to drive. They were a step ahead of the competition in many ways. And of course, they were reliable and easy to work on.

 

[jenkinsph]

The 4020 was designed to be a good 2 wheel drive tractor and was a great success. I never recall using ours and saying "I wish it had 4 wheel drive".
Like most of the guys here I have 4x4 trucks and CUT with 4x4 and I have to say that in the normal course of use its not that important. There are a few times a year when it comes in handy on my tractor but not in field conditions. The newer lighter tractors are designed around 4x4 drive though, they need all the help they can get. Especially with a loaded fel on the front end. Four wheel drive has also improved dramatically in the last 20 years or so too, you can get a newer tractor with it and be reasonably confident that you will have few problems with it.

I think it all boils down to the money,
a good 4020 2 wd OS fixed up $15,000
a good 4050 mfwd fixed up $35,000
or a new 6000 series with full warranty and tax benefits (see accountant).

thats why I would consider keeping the Massey Ferguson, buy a track skid steer and a good used 2 wd field tractor. (about $35,000 combined)


Good luck with whatever you decide,

Steve

 

[deereguy]

The 10/20 series was considered large for its time and somewhat comfy compared to previous models in those eras. They had the horsepower to pull multiple implements that began the era that started minumim tillage- ie two implements/one pass (cultipacker/drill, etc). In those times 200- 300 acres was considered a large farm, so 85-90 HP was a large tractor. An area farmer bought a JD 3020 new with a 4 bottom plow in the late 60's- early 70's for the family dairy farm, still has it today with over 15,000 hours on it, rebuilt by Deere 3x, still runs great and seems to hold its value. How many of today's tractors will still be around in 40 years and hold their value? Every time I sit on a Farmall "M", I think of how previous owners would farm all day plowing or whatever and how uncomfortable it seems to sit like that all day.

If you had a Deere 4020- 4WD hold on to it, it will do better than your 401K.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Deere sorta swung the club and hit the sweet spot so to speak, in terms of the 4020. Everything worked in their favor. The 4010 was a sizable leap in technology for 1961. But it wasn't exactly light years ahead of some of the competition. And the 4010 had a few minor issues. But....At the same time, Deere's main competitor, International Harvestor was having issues of their own. They bet the ranch on the 460/560 line. It turned out to be a mistake. They essentially put a bigger engine in front of old technology tranny and rear end. That led to rear end failures to the point where quite a few IH dealers were forced to erect tents outside their shops to accomodate the volume of 560's being brought back for repairs. IH HAD the sales lead up until the end of the 1950's. Enter the 4010. Then IH had their PR disaster. In short order, Deere did a few upgrades on the 4010 and we have a classic.

Coincidentally, the US farm economy was going strong. Farmers were expanding. They needed newer and bigger tractors. They fell in love with the 4020 PowerShift. Sales exceeded all expectations. At the same time as the 4020 was king, IH sold their classic, the 806 (and later 856) A really good tractor in it's own right, IH was already relegated to #2 and just never caught back up with Deere.

The 4020 was a very competent "plow tractor". But what really made it shine was it's ability to do it all well. They make a good chore tractor too. Very manueverable for such a large chassis tractor. From pulling a plow to pulling a hay rake, nothing was out of the 4020's realm.

Then, just for good measure, consider Deere Inc standing behind the 4020. Parts network, service network, and re-sale value unequalled.

If you look through history, whatever the "most popular" tractor was in any given time, it was turned out in ever DECREASING numbers as the years rolled on by. No tractor ever sold in the numbers of the original Fordson. Then the Farmall "regular". Then the Ford N, Farmall H & M's, and when the timing was right, the 4020 was king of the mountain. Never again will a "most popular" sell in numbers like they did back then. Not nearly as many farmers buying them, and toss in the specialty "niche market" tractors of today watering down sales numbers on individual models.

The 4020 was the right tractor at the right time.

 

[pharmvet]

I found a local 4320 that looks pretty clean for around $12,000. Is there anything about the 4320 that would make it "less desirable" than the 4020? thanks

 

[mfreund]

The 4320 is a larger hp tractor in the same chassis. BUY IT!!

 

[jenkinsph]

The 4320 is every bit as good as the 4020, just a little larger. If the mechanicals check out I would buy it. If you have good tires it will pull a freight train.




Steve

 

[pharmvet]

I drove down and looked at the tractor this afternoon (4320) Love at first site. It has a canopy top and 3 wts on each rear tire (rice and cane tires) Only rust to speak of is where the fenders mount to the fender bracket and its only tiny spots. Good origional paint. Owner says tractor has always smoked a bit more than he thought it should (about 5 yrs) He used it to pull a manure wagon on a dairy. He said the dealer told him it was probably the injector pump (does this sound possible / probable???) I noticed that the 1000 rpm pto shaft was in the working location. Tractor has 3 remotes. Owner said he drove to Appleton WI to get the tractor back 5 or so years. What do you think. After talking with him he priced the tractor at $11,500.