JD 1977 #2040 vs JD 2006 #5303?

[speedracer2020]

Hello all. As the title line says, I have a 1977 2040 (appx 350 hours) and recently spoke with a gentleman that is going to be selling his 2006 5303. Both machines do NOT have a front loader. Given the age of my tractor (although I have maintained it while I have owned it I believe the original clutch is still installed which could become a costly repair down the road) I am wondering if it might be a good move to buy his tractor (as newer) and sell mine. Mine was made in Germany and his was made in India. His has appx 250 hours on it and he is the second owner. Has service done annually. With a bush cutter he is asking $13k. I have NOT seen the tractor yet, but I am trying to get some info to make an informed decision. From what I can find the 5303 is a diesel and has a turbocharger. IF anyone knows if they came in a NON turbo model please let me know. I believe it is a 2wd. I will ask if it is a 4wd. My concern is, IF a turbo, these typically put a greater strain on the engine than normally aspirated models. Will this engine wear out quicker than my current NON turbo model?? It comes with a 9 speed transmission while mine is an 8 HI/LO. Does this cause more wear/tear on the clutch? I could not tell if it has DEF so if anyone knows. Additionally, does this year/model come with any computer modules so prevalent on today's equipment? Is the quality/dependability/simplicity of my 1977 better than newer machines - "they don't build them like that anymore." I only have a day or so and then he is going to advertise it so I have to get off the pot on this. PLEASE let me know your thoughts/concerns/horror stories on this model and if this is a fair price for the tractor and cutter (5'). Would you do it?? THANKS to all for your kind input..

 

[wolc123]

I would stick with the 2040 if I was in your shoes, mainly because I am not into foreign manufactured machines unless I have no other options. The hours on both seems ridiculously low.

I remember looking at a 5303 back in 2005 when ended up going with an American made JD 4120 instead. I was not impressed with it.

 

[Doughknob]

As for the durability of the engines, no one can say for sure without knowing engineering specs of the designs of each. BUT, in general the turbocharged engine will be more durable than the NA engine.

The turbo engine must be designed to take the higher pressures, thus, is more robust. IF it is operated most of the time at less than max power, the turbo is likely not even kicking in. Sooooo, you have a more robust design being used at less pressures than designed for. Thus, it will last longer!

Same idea as diesels lasting longer than gas engines.....

 

[bigtiller]

I would stick with the 2040 if I was in your shoes, mainly because I am not into foreign manufactured machines unless I have no other options. The hours on both seems ridiculously low.

I remember looking at a 5303 back in 2005 when ended up going with an American made JD 4120 instead. I was not impressed with it.

I'm pretty sure Germany was a foreign country in 1977. The OP's fifth sentence stated;

Mine was made in Germany and his was made in India

 

[Erik M]

I have a JD 1840 German made from 1980 and I would not trade it for a slightly newer machine. Your machine has hardly been used and has tons of life left in it if properly maintained. The older machines are straight Diesel engines with no pollution control or microchips to worry about. Your machine would be in great demand for that reason especially with very low hours on it. I wouldn’t be in an hurry to replace it with a newer machine.

 

[mo1]

Hello all. As the title line says, I have a 1977 2040 (appx 350 hours) and recently spoke with a gentleman that is going to be selling his 2006 5303. Both machines do NOT have a front loader. Given the age of my tractor (although I have maintained it while I have owned it I believe the original clutch is still installed which could become a costly repair down the road) I am wondering if it might be a good move to buy his tractor (as newer) and sell mine. Mine was made in Germany and his was made in India. His has appx 250 hours on it and he is the second owner. Has service done annually. With a bush cutter he is asking $13k. I have NOT seen the tractor yet, but I am trying to get some info to make an informed decision. From what I can find the 5303 is a diesel and has a turbocharger. IF anyone knows if they came in a NON turbo model please let me know. I believe it is a 2wd. I will ask if it is a 4wd. My concern is, IF a turbo, these typically put a greater strain on the engine than normally aspirated models. Will this engine wear out quicker than my current NON turbo model?? It comes with a 9 speed transmission while mine is an 8 HI/LO. Does this cause more wear/tear on the clutch? I could not tell if it has DEF so if anyone knows. Additionally, does this year/model come with any computer modules so prevalent on today's equipment? Is the quality/dependability/simplicity of my 1977 better than newer machines - "they don't build them like that anymore." I only have a day or so and then he is going to advertise it so I have to get off the pot on this. PLEASE let me know your thoughts/concerns/horror stories on this model and if this is a fair price for the tractor and cutter (5'). Would you do it?? THANKS to all for your kind input..

The 5303 was the successor to the 5310 and predecessor to the 5065E. It was a basic model with essentially the same mechanically injected 179 cid/2.9 L three cylinder engine as the 2040 but has a turbocharger and makes 65 HP instead of 50 HP as the 2040 does. This engine makes a maximum of 55-56 HP naturally aspirated so a turbocharger was needed to make more power than that. The earlier-production 50 HP 5103 and 56 HP 5203s were naturally aspirated like the 2040 and 2240 were, later production 5103s, 5203s, and all of the successor 5E models are/were turbocharged. The 5303 is a pre-tier IV tractor with no computer modules and has no DPF or DEF.

The 5303 has the 9x3 collar shift (unsynchronized) transmission if it's a 2WD version and can be had with one hydraulic remote if a loader is present, two if the loader is not present. Note that new Deere loaders are made that can still fit this tractor, but anything Deere made that could fit a 2040 was discontinued more than two decades ago. A 512 loader would both fit and be a good fit for a 2WD 5303, although the much larger 520M can be mounted to the tractor as well.

Deere has been making largely the same tractor as the 5303 starting in 1993 with the 5400, and they continue to make it today with the 5065E. That line has a very long production and is generally well thought of, other than some units between 2009 and the early 2010s having some issues with the 3 point hydraulics and brakes. A 5303 is about as complicated as the 2040 and actually a bit more robust than most of the 2040s as the straight 2WD front axle in the 5 series units is much stouter than the swept axle used in most of the 2040s. The 5303 also has an independent PTO while the 2040 should have a live PTO with a 2-stage clutch.

$13k is a pretty decent price for such a low-houred 5303 with a rotary cutter if it's in decent condition. One with a loader and about 2000 hours recent sold near me for $18k.

 

[Zebrafive]

I would keep the 2040. I See no reason to change. I wish my 2030 had only 350 hours. It has north of 4500 hours. Unless it was abused, your clutch has lot of life left.
The main reason I would switch from my 2030 is to get away from the collar shift trans. Another poster says the 5303 also is collar shift. Having to stop for every gear and direction change is a PITA.
Mine was made in the USA, but I would take a German built one.

 

[rScotty]

I hope you are joking about getting rid of the 2040. It's a classic and yours sounds near new.
I see no reason to change, and lots of reasons not to.

 

[Tx Jim]

X3 on keeping 2040 instead of purchasing 5303. I'd choose the 2040's dual stage clutch mechanism over the 5303 pto clutch contraption that reminds me of the Famous JD 2010 pto control mechanism. Early model 5000 series JD tractors aren't know for long life traction clutches but 5303 may have longer life traction clutches. Also 2040 won't have the cold start sensor that has a very long history of failure that the 5303 will have.