John Deere 4000 series promotional video
- Thread starter Hillbilly
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Serial numbers do not have anything to do in defining the old axle style,it is one of two things, either you have the old axle style which was considered a "turf destroyer" by many, or either you have the "new style axle" which is a redesigned axle,so if anyone is looking at a John Deere tractor,forget the serial numbers,all you need to do is to be able to visually differentiate between the 2 styles of the axles. No need to call JD headquarters,they are pretty mum on the axle design,unless you happen to have one and are not happy with it. Of all the articles etc I have read about the axle problems not once did I see anything referring to "serial numbers" to identify the axle problem. Go to yahoo stock page and type in "de" for the stock quote and look at message 3016 and read what was said about the axle.
cowboydoc
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Well Hillbilly that is straight from JD mfg. right here at JD headquarters. They are not mum on it and have identified and corrected the problem. If you call HQ they will let you know about it. Funny I have an early 2000 model year and not one bit of turf scuffing at all. Mine is an old axle design. If you'd like I can make a video of this tractor at work and of the axle so you can see that it is indeed the old style axle and that there is absolutely no scuffing of the turf at all.
My tractor was manufactured in 11/2000 and it will plow the front yard in 2 or 4 wheel drive,but it is not an issue for me,because I do not use it to mow golf courses etc.The only thing that bothers me is if it will hurt the resale value.
cowboydoc
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I understand where you are coming from Hillbilly and this is where urban legend starts to take over. It wasn't all JD's that were affected but because a few were affected then the problem is applied to all of them. Then you have people looking around and saying oh well that is the old style then it's not worth anything. If yours is a 2000 model you can take it in and go over it with your dealer to get it changed. They will look at the serial # and do a test drive to see if it does it. Honestly they all do not do it. The old design, from the engineers standpoint, is actually a beefier and more solid design according to them.
Thank you Cowboy Doc,you are a gentleman and scholar,I have learned more about this "axle design" by talking with you,I have to agree the old it does look a lot more heavier built than the new style.I have been contemplating on whether to trade up or not. I am a little concerned about the hydro for long term,although I do not abuse it,and I would prefer the R-1 tires for there traction capability,other than that I would be gaining a few more hp and a little larger and heavier unit,I have bought a lot of extras for this 4400,forward and reverse lighting,adjustable linkage for the 3 pt,extra front weight and weight extension,brush guard,fiberglass canopy from firebird.com I even had a "luggage rack customized for the canopy that looks great and is ideal for carrying accessories.All of this stuff could be removed and put on the next tractor except for the rear wheel weights,I do not know how much the dealer would allow for rear wheel weights being it would be a larger rim and different style of rim as well.
The dealer completely rebuilt the hydro for me a 175 hours,I changed the oil and filter this weekend at 221 hours,( I was just being cautious) there was a little metal in around the reusable filter but nothing excessive at least not in my opinion,looking at the oil in a quart jar I could not see any impurities. Anyway you probably have heard more than you care to.
Thanks
The dealer completely rebuilt the hydro for me a 175 hours,I changed the oil and filter this weekend at 221 hours,( I was just being cautious) there was a little metal in around the reusable filter but nothing excessive at least not in my opinion,looking at the oil in a quart jar I could not see any impurities. Anyway you probably have heard more than you care to.
Thanks
cowboydoc
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Hillbilly,
No problem. I try and get info. from the horse's so to speak before I talk about it. Sounds like you have one great little tractor there! I'd like some of those mods myself. Good luck with whatever your decision may be on a new one. If it's anywhere like here they don't give you anything for trade-ins unless they're really making it up on the front end.
No problem. I try and get info. from the horse's so to speak before I talk about it. Sounds like you have one great little tractor there! I'd like some of those mods myself. Good luck with whatever your decision may be on a new one. If it's anywhere like here they don't give you anything for trade-ins unless they're really making it up on the front end.
JOR_EL
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CowboyDoc,
Something puzzles me about this statement:
<font color=blue>The old design, from the engineers standpoint, is actually a beefier and more solid design according to them.</font color=blue>
If "them" refers to "the engineers", what is their rationale for changing to a NEW design which is LESS "beefy" and LESS "solid". /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
(Something wrong with this picture, seems to me! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Presumably, these "engineers" intended to design an "improved" unit, no?
For some "reason", no?
Larry
Something puzzles me about this statement:
<font color=blue>The old design, from the engineers standpoint, is actually a beefier and more solid design according to them.</font color=blue>
If "them" refers to "the engineers", what is their rationale for changing to a NEW design which is LESS "beefy" and LESS "solid". /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif
(Something wrong with this picture, seems to me! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Presumably, these "engineers" intended to design an "improved" unit, no?
For some "reason", no?
Larry
cowboydoc
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Jor El,
Glad you asked that! The design was changed to accomdate the groomsman. What I mean by that is the guys that buy these tractors to use for mowing and turf work. Basically the old design was a bulletproof front end that put the power to both wheels with a very strong limited slip. Much like the old posi-tracks but with some slip. The problem was on some of the clutch slip mechanisms the parts used on some of them were too strong and wouldn't engage the slip mechanism on level turf. So the tires dug in thinking they needed more traction and thus tore up the turf. On the new design they compromised between toughness and turf applicability, thus you have a weaker system and now is more like the limited slip that you see on pickups, pretty worthless. It gives you some dual wheel traction but not much and not nearly what the old axle gave you. In order to make this compromise you had to sacrifice some of the bulletproof quality of the old axle design.
Glad you asked that! The design was changed to accomdate the groomsman. What I mean by that is the guys that buy these tractors to use for mowing and turf work. Basically the old design was a bulletproof front end that put the power to both wheels with a very strong limited slip. Much like the old posi-tracks but with some slip. The problem was on some of the clutch slip mechanisms the parts used on some of them were too strong and wouldn't engage the slip mechanism on level turf. So the tires dug in thinking they needed more traction and thus tore up the turf. On the new design they compromised between toughness and turf applicability, thus you have a weaker system and now is more like the limited slip that you see on pickups, pretty worthless. It gives you some dual wheel traction but not much and not nearly what the old axle gave you. In order to make this compromise you had to sacrifice some of the bulletproof quality of the old axle design.
JOR_EL
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CowboyDoc,
<font color=blue>On the new design they compromised between toughness and turf applicability, thus you have a weaker system and now is more like the limited slip that you see on pickups, pretty worthless. It gives you some dual wheel traction but not much and not nearly what the old axle gave you.</font color=blue>
Interesting!
But "pretty worthless" is a strong judgement. ("not nearly ....etc." is too.)
What with all our recent concern with "objectivity" do you mind if I ask "Who says so?" Any way to do (or has someone already?) comparison tests to demo. this as fact, or is this a "rural-legend" in the formative stages? /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif
Are you saying that the "new"MFWD is effectively just a 3-wheel drive system,( or what)?
Larry
<font color=blue>On the new design they compromised between toughness and turf applicability, thus you have a weaker system and now is more like the limited slip that you see on pickups, pretty worthless. It gives you some dual wheel traction but not much and not nearly what the old axle gave you.</font color=blue>
Interesting!
But "pretty worthless" is a strong judgement. ("not nearly ....etc." is too.)
What with all our recent concern with "objectivity" do you mind if I ask "Who says so?" Any way to do (or has someone already?) comparison tests to demo. this as fact, or is this a "rural-legend" in the formative stages? /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif
Are you saying that the "new"MFWD is effectively just a 3-wheel drive system,( or what)?
Larry
