JD 870 vs 4110 vs 4200

[NHGranite]

Hi,
1st time post. One of each for sale near me; looking for best buy - or better suggestions. Also open to input on reasonable cash price for each. Looking for bullet-proof tractor that I can get years of life from. My JD 300 is 32yrs & going strong...

870 - 1994, 558hrs, 4x4, 440 loader, 8A hoe, turfs. Kept inside, serviced, exc. cond. No mid PTO. Asking $13,500. Would need set of chains or R1s.

4110 - 2004, 232hrs, 4x4 hydro, 200CX loader, 447 hoe, R4s. Kept outside & faded, serviced. Asking $15,000

4200 - yr unk; hrs unk, 4x4 hydro, R4s, 420 loader. Looks inside kept. Asking $10,975

Use primarily as woods tractor - moving rock, building walls, skidding trees for firewood, removing stumps, some cut & fill. Have some wet areas & uneven terrain. Had Ford 1210 w/loader & found it much too light. Hydro is nice but not a deal breaker.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[AKfish]

Welcome to TBN, NHGranite.

Looking at the capabilities of each machine and the individual attachments - the choice is not that difficult - IMO.

The 440 FEL on the 870 is alot more loader than either the 200CX or the 420. It's rated at around 1,500lbs capacity and the other 2 loaders are around 1,000lbs.

The 8A hoe is rated @ 8 1/2' digging depth and the 447 is 7 1/2'.

And I believe the 870 has more PTO horse power than either the 4110 or the 4200.

With less than 600hrs, (on it's 4th oil change..) the 870 should likely provide another 2,000hrs of trouble-free service.

However, the other machines might fit you better and be more comfortable to operate, etc. Does the 870 have power steering and the synchromesh transmission? If not, the other tractors might be a bit easier to operate when using the FEL, etc.

But on paper, the 870 comes out ahead for the kinds of work you've outlined - IMO.

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[NHGranite]

Interesting - I went to my local JD dealer to pose the same question. I've had good results with them over the years, which is why I'm not looking at good tractors by other mfrs. I'm as interested in having a bullet proof tractor as I am in having the right 'stats'. Their feedback was, in this order - 4110, 870, 4200. Primary concern with the 870 was age and how the clutch had been used. Secondary was the age of the tractor. If it's needed, they said a clutch will run $800-1200 if I do it; $2-3k if they do. Otherwise, they agreed with the insight offered by AKfish. They spoke of the 4200 as a good unit if all the PIPS have been done. Polite way of saying its probably not been their best offering. The 4110, however, they described as one of the units they see least frequently for any sort of repair, PIPS, etc. In their opinion, the decision wasn't even close - in favor of the 4110.

NHGranite

 

[Whitey]

If weight is a factor for you then the 870 is the way to go. You would have to get used to a clutch. I have a 770 (little brother) with a FEL & BH......I bought it primarily for BH work so the clutch does not bother me much. Now I am going to make a comment that I hope does not start something......I have never seen a 4110 with a backhoe? That does not mean they don't make one for that but the 447 is a newer model and the 4110 is an older tractor......you might look at that one a little more closely.

 

[NHGranite]

the 447 is a newer model and the 4110 is an older tractor......you might look at that one a little more closely.

You got me thinking...I went back to the sellers original post on it and found he has a 410 loader and 46 hoe. Good feedback I'll factor in when I go look at it. Thanks.

 

[rdln]

I would vote for the 870 also, the only age related item that required service on my 1993 970 was dry rotted hoses on the injection rail.

1400 hrs and I see no problem with clutch and it was not pampered.

You should have the r-1s but beware that means new wheels/rims too.

 

[Dutch445]

The 4110 with it's 46 hoe is a very nice little unit, but
it will be somewhat limited in it's uses due to it's size.
the 870 will be the largest, with the 4200 in the middle,
closer in size to the 870. If you want to do some PTO
work, the independant PTOs on the 4200 and 4110 will make
it nice, while the 870 has it's 2-stage clutch.
The R-4 on the 4110 and 4200 won't be super in the woods either, but
are nice for working around the yard and for most field work.
Chains can always be added to those tires also if needed.

It sounds like the larger 870 and it's 8A hoe will be better suited
for the stumps etc, but that 46 hoe is surprisingly powerful on the
4110.

The hours on both the 870 and 4110 aren't excessive, and all the tractors
should last for years if you get the right one for the work you want to do.

 

[AKfish]

You got me thinking...I went back to the sellers original post on it and found he has a 410 loader and 46 hoe. Good feedback I'll factor in when I go look at it. Thanks.

Hmm... the 410 loader is rated at around 750lbs and the 46 hoe is 6 1/2' digging depth. That makes working in the woods an even bigger challange for you - and your tractor.

And the $1,500 difference in the "up-front" purchase cost between the 4110 and the 870 would nearly pay for a new clutch -- if it was even necessary...

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[arrow]

I think the 50 and 70 and now the 90 series Yanmar JD offerings, are one of the best cuts to come out of John Deere. Yanmar makes one of the finest small diesel engines in the industry. Even if it needed a clutch, I'd go with the 870.