JD4700 a comin'

[gvw]

JD4700 a comin\'

The decision is in - after counting and re-counting (all by hand of course) all of the equipment bids, comparing horsepower per dollar, analyzing re-sale values, considering parts avalibilty, evaluating fit and finish, driving/operating each unit, analyzing operator controls, interviewing exst'g owners/operators, reading comments on this and other web pages and rating the dealers - the winner is a greenie JD4700 HST with 460 loader /oversize bucket, JD48 backhoe and Curtis cab. All things being considered for this size tractor - and I do not pretend to be knowledgable about the other size units - the Greenie scored considerably higher than the competion's Orange or Blue units. Final decision was made even easier when I interviewed several of the local tractor mechanics and asked their recomendations. Nuff said --Green it is -should have the unit in about 6 weeks.

 

[Thomas]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Congratulation gvw on your new John Deere. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Six weeks before your new J.D. arrives. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
That would put it about Chirstmas day or so,can Santa fit a JD4700 with all the extra in his bag. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
What about sleep until your JD4700 arrives,better get some sleeping pills and lay off the coffee. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Well I guess Kubota can't win them all /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gifbut second place isn't bad,for next time we still have a chance. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Take care out there in the mountains.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Congrats!

I think you are correct that the 4700 has everyone beat in its class. I looked at some of the low end Kubota M series which have better HP ratings but they are SMALL tractors even compared with the 4700.

SIX WEEKS! I would have gone bonkers if I had to wait six weeks to get my 4700!



I'm not sure how you are going to be able to handle waiting for that XMas present! But it sure is a heck of a gift! Is it going to come gift wrapped! With a ribbon and bow?

If you can, try to get ahold of the manuals ASAP so you can start reading them. I found that to be a big help especially on the backhoe controls. I read the section on operating the JD 48 over and over. I sat in the living room with my hands in the air visualizing what the manual said regarding the various control postions. It really helped quite a bit. The wife thought I had finally lost it!

Tools. I hope you already have a set. I have been buying 1/2 wrenches and sockets for the tractor. That was an unanticipated purchase. Sears really maximizes there profits on on large size tools. 8-(

It seems that on the tractor everything is in metric. The implements use standard. And its all large size bolts so you need the expensive socket/wrench that is not normally in a set.

Oil filters. I have been meaning to ask about this on the Lube section. I just changed my filter and oil. The filter on my tractor was SMALLER than the new filter. Makes since from JD's perspective since you dont need a filter to last 350 hours, only one that lasts 50 hours. So make sure you have a wrench that fits the smaller filter or you have to use the screw driver method. Which is what I had to do. 8-( I remember reading that other people had ran into this but it was still kinda a shock. I thought I had the wrong replacement filter.

Six weeks. WOW.

I was a working on my tractor yesterday and as soon as I get through my mail I'm off again. I think you will be VERY happy with the tractor. I am. It really impresses me at the work it does.

I've been clearing my house lot, septic field, smoothing my road, digging stumps, etc. and the 4700 gets the job done to suit me. The 48 has failed to dig out a 24 inch diameter pine with a root ball about 5 feet in diameter but I'm not sure it was really designed to go after that beast!

My neighbors/friends started clearing their house site this week. The contractor has a JD bulldozer and backhoe! At least they have the right equipment!. My impression from seeing what they have done it two days is that they get the work done faster with the big equipment but it does not seem as fast as I thought it would be.

Hope this helps...
Dan McCarty

 

[gvw]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Dan - Happy Turkey Day to you and yours- The 6 week wait is due to JD changing over the production line from one building to another in combiantion with the Holiday. There is one on the lot that was made in May but I would rather wait and get a fresh one. I am concerned about buying one that is first off of a new production line. However guess I have to dive in sometime and go for it. Part of my problem is that I just sold my current tractor (IH340 -utility) and am hopeing like H___ that it doesn't come a major snow in the nxt 6 weeks or I'm in major league do-do.
Tools are the least of my concern cuz I have two of each already.
As to the oil filter - suggest finding a motorcycle filter wrench for the smaller size oil filters. I have one that fits most any filter. The filter wrench is a little different in that it uses a nylon strap affixed to a 6" long square 3/8"id steel tube that is worked with a 3/8" ratchet. Works like a charm for every filter I have found.
Have you heard of a armour plating/protection kit that protects the underside of the tactor and especially the hydraulic lines that hang down????? I have heard that such a kit exsists but my JD dealer had not heard about it. As I will be doing majour league willow wacking - I'm concerned about the "belly' of the tractor and anything hanging such as the hydraulics.
Gobble - Gobble

 

[dmccarty]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Hey GobbleGobble,

I have been away working on the property and dealing with Family Events for Turkey Day. The rain is keeping me from working the property today. Not getting as much done as I would like this "vacation" but the work ain't gonna disappear.

I have one of the strap oil filter wrenches. But Alas, I had left it had home when I had to change the filter. I almost always have the tool I need. Its just 30 minutes away at home. Today would be a good day to finish installing my work lights IF I had a shelter to part the tractor under.... 8-(

Armour. My dealer told me about the new kit(s) that are to be available Real Soon Now. He did not have pricing at this time. He was down in Florida at the end of October for a JD conference which is where I THINK he found out about the kit.

I briefly saw the sales page on the kit(s). It lookes like it will cover the front of the FEL including hydraulic lines. There was a addition or completely new front radiator guard that had a wire mesh to keep things from pushing into the front of the tractor. They had a steel hood guard that fit over the top of the tractor hood. It looked very substantial. There was also armouring for the bottom of the tractor and the hydraulic lines.

He did not have prices for me a week or two ago when we were talking. As soon as he gets the prices he was going to let me know.

His origional understanding was that you could purchase parts and pieces as you needed them or could afford them. He is not sure that is going to be true.

Before he announce the kit I was thinking of getting various diameters of PVC pipe and hose clamps to protect at least the FEL hydraulic lines. My 4n1 bucket exposes its hydraulic lines in the corners of the bucket. I "armoured" the lines with a bunch of duct tape. The tape gets worn instead of the hydraulic lines. I'm finding that duct tape is a usefull tool for around the tractor.

I'm kinda ashamed to admit to the last sentence!

I still want armour for the buttom of the tractor.

One vulnerable point on the 4700 is the exhaust pipe. I had a piece of wood hit the pipe which then moved. When the pipe moved it pushed the plastic shroud around the radiator into the plastic fan. Scared the H..l out of me. No damage except to my underwear!! I did not have enough time with the sale literature to see if the kit would protect this area.

Hope this helps....
Dan

 

[gvw]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Dan - Hope you had a great Turkey -Day. Please let me know and I will do the same for you - re the info on the "plating kit. As of this moment in time - local dealer does not have any info on the item. I do want to obtain this protection in that prior history has proven that if it can be broken I will do it. Happy Tractoring!

 

[dmccarty]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

I just had a email talk with my dealer. He still has now word on priceing or availability of the armouring kit.

As soon as I hear something, TractorByNet will hear something.

Later...
Dan McCarty

 

[dmccarty]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Hot of the email presses from my dealer concerning the armoring kit. Actually there are kits but as he said this is the only one I likely need. I could not find a mention of the kit on the JD web site. I'll have to get more information before I decide what to do. I asked a few more questions, and if the answers are interesting, I'll post 'em.

"Hood and grille guard, hydraulic line and bucket cylinder covers, kevlar covers on flexible hydraulic covers and a front chain tie down. The cost of this kit is $ 615.00 and the part number is BW00449."

Hope this helps...
Dan

 

[gvw]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

Dan - did you ever find out more about the "protection package"? Local dealer can't seem to come up with any info. If you have any additonal info would appreciate your sharing it with me.
TKS
Garry

 

[dmccarty]

Re: JD4700 a comin\'

My last post was my most up to date information. The dealer
said that Deere was eluding to a kit, or parts there of, that would include skid plates. But he has seen nothing at this time.

The best information he had was on the pricing and part number I put in this area a couple of posts back. Did the your dealer use the part number my dealer supplied? Maybe the information about the armor package has not gotten out to all dealers. I THINK my dealer found out about this at JD conference in Naples, Fl, at the end of October.

I'm sure my dealer would sell you the package! Course if you not in central North Carolina I'm not sure that would be helpfull. Let me know if you dealer is still having problems with the part number and if so I'll ask my dealer where he is getting the information.

Hope this helps...
Dan