Does JD fiberglass/plastic hold up??

greyhound788 · Dec 9, 2005

After selling my 1952 JD AR, I am suffering severe tractor withdrawal. Imagine my shock to go to JD dealer see all the "plastic" fenders instead of the nice "tin" of the old ones.
Are there any JDs with real metal, other than the 790/990??
I'd like to stay "Green", but am concerned that I would crack/damage the "plastic on a new Deere the first day out in the NH woods....
HELP??
many thanks and best regards,
Fred

beenthere · Dec 9, 2005

My 4300 is tougher than the Deere 420 Utility that I had. Have checked it out and no dents in the 4300. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Any pics of your model AR? I really liked driving that tractor. Felt like one was sitting on 'power'. Plowing all day with that tractor was great fun. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

BloomingtonMike · Dec 9, 2005

I guess I would ask if bending fenders is a common occurance even in your woods?? I hope not. I would also think that with the occasional bump the plastic would be much more forgiving than the sheet metal options. Some people have said that they have had issues with wood/or boulders coming loose from a bucket and punctering the plastic. Battle scars are common but the puncture doe not dent. I would say that the design of these plastic parts is to cover another part and it does eceptionally well at that - even with the occasional rub. Also another benefit - no rust in year 25 on those parts. My 73 Simplicity 4041 shows some signs of surface rust from the years of covering the Onan and that is with general lawn use and snow work.

This is an evolution in covering - much like automobiles have had in the last 20 years.

Deere_parts · Dec 9, 2005

Hello, My first post here after "Lurking" for many months and this is something I can really relate to after many years of autobody experience, 2 years of stock car racing, 8 years as a trucker and 16 years in the military.

Fiberglass is very strong and resilent. My 1989 JD 430 has 1900+ hours on it with no cracks or missing pieces and it does have its fair share of battle scars, a banged up grill and dented front steel bumper. and the hood I just sold off of a 1986 316 model I parted out was in great shape.

From my stock car racing days we always ran fiberglass bodies on the super stock car because they were easy to repair and always looked straight unlike the cars running aluminum bodies which was important to us as we were sponsored by a body shop.

From my trucking days....Well almost all conventional style trucks have used fiberglass hoods for many years and Mack had an all fiberglass cab cabover which saved a friend of mines life. When he wrecked bad at 60 MPH and 80,000 lbs in missouri the only thing left of his truck and trailer was the cab which broke off the frame, rolled through a field and stayed intact. He walked away with nothing but some bumbs and bruises and I was on the cleanup crew sent to recover it.

As far as my military days. Humvee hoods are fiberglass and we put them through all kinds of rough treatment in the woods here at Fort Bragg, NC as well as thrashed them during the Gulf War, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. I sideswiped a bus hard in Fallugia, Iraq a couple of years ago and figured I trashed the fenders but when we got to Bagdad the only evidence was some orange paint on the fender and a wet spot on the right front seat from the Chief Warrent Officer that wet himself because of my agressive driving leading a convoy.....All he coud say when he got out was "maaaaaannnnnn that boy can drive" over and over.

Wish you luck on whatever decision you make but fiberglass doesn't worry me a bit.

beenthere · Dec 10, 2005

I don't think the new 'plastic' parts are fiberglass. I could be wrong, but it seems quite different and is a plastic without the telltale fibers. Some members know what the new plastic is called, but I don't. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

VA_Joe · Dec 10, 2005

It is plastic and if hit when cold - it will crack. I cracked a JD hood by dropping a pack of R-19 from the loft (about five feet from loft to tractor hood - and no - not on purpose). Other than that - the plastic does hold up and clean up well (a metal hood would have dented and any paint chips would have rusted). It's all a trade-off.

daTeacha · Dec 10, 2005

I believe the material is a polymer. The color goes all the way through, eliminating the scratches being ugly. Most of the polymers used in these applications are tougher -- meaning more resilient -- than metal, which as noted tends to dent. Once you exceed the elastic limit, the stuff will crack, but it takes a pretty good impact and/or very cold temperatures. All the Saturn vehicles have body panels made of the stuff.

When buying my Stihl chainsaw, I mentioned to the dealer that I was a little gunshy about the plastic housing. He laughed a lot. I told him my old McCulloch had been run over by both wheels on one side of my tractor, no damage. He said if I did the same with the Stihl and it cracked he would personally replace the parts or the entire saw. This is a guy I've dealt with for about 25 years, a totally honest old Amishman. I bought the new saw, have dropped it, got it wedged in places, etc. and it still cleans up real nice.

I wouldn't worry about the material. It'll look better longer than steel in typical use, is lighter, costs less, and is more easily formed into complex shapes.

tpost · Dec 11, 2005

Does the Amish guy have electric lights outlets etc..in his shop ???

daTeacha · Dec 11, 2005

Yeah, he actually does, but only for his Stihl display. They run from a generator, which he also sells a lot of. The rest of the store and shop have gas lights and skylights.

This particular order of Amish also has SMV signs on their buggies, reflective red/white tape, and so on. Some other orders have brake lights, headlights, and roof mounted strobes, all running from batteries charged by solar panels.

Some of them are allowed to use diesel engines to power equipment in their shops. Some have computers, but the business owns it, not they people.

The group that lives in my immediate area is the most conservative of the entire Amish population. No SMVs, no chainsaws, etc. Overall, it's an interesting group of people to interact with. I enjoy living among them.

Deere_parts · Dec 11, 2005

Getting a bit off topic but from what I understand of the Amish, or at least some orders or the Amish, is that they are allowed to use electricity and power tools etc at work and some can have it as long as they are generating the power themselves in one way or another.

And boy I could go for some of that good old fashioned Ohio or Pennsylvania Dutch cooking that I haven't had since I closed down my trucking company 6 years ago, OH MAN that's some good cooking /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.