John Deere 4300 complete rebuild

[KubotainNH]

Great project and just passing 400 posts.

 

[dfkrug]

My instrument panel didn't work when I got the 4200... the temp gauge shoots off the chart almost immediately and the fuel gauge shakes like a duck crapping razor blades. I replaced a bunch of stuff thinking there is no way its the panel. Of course, its the panel. I got a replacement wired up in the workshop running hours right now. Only two more weeks until it reaches 1060 hours! But if you need a coolant sensor, send me a PM as I got one...

BTW, there was some question about it earlier in the thread... the hour meter lights up when you turn on the tractor, but it doesn't count hours until you start the engine.

That fuel guage sounds pretty shaky!

Good idea about wiring your panel up on the bench to get the hours up
from 0 to 1060. I recall that JD wanted something like $250 for a new panel
and that was a bit much for just an hour meter. I did get the lens kit, and
that was a good buy. The fuel and temp guages do work, based on
my bench tests. Thankfully my tach is fine. I will be checking soon on the
temp sender and will contact you if it is bad. The connectors in the back
of the panel do get a bit resistive, due to dirt.

 

[dcyrilc]

That fuel guage sounds pretty shaky!

Good idea about wiring your panel up on the bench to get the hours up
from 0 to 1060. I recall that JD wanted something like $250 for a new panel
and that was a bit much for just an hour meter. I did get the lens kit, and
that was a good buy. The fuel and temp guages do work, based on
my bench tests. Thankfully my tach is fine. I will be checking soon on the
temp sender and will contact you if it is bad. The connectors in the back
of the panel do get a bit resistive, due to dirt.

Dave,
If you think $250 is bad for that panel... look up JDs price for the tach/hour meter housing for my late model 2240. I can top that 4 fold! The only thing you can't buy independently is the tach... and, of course, that's whats out in mine. Part # AL31829 Instrument cluster $1,190.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now, I'ld go for $250 any day.

 

[mjncad]

Cyril:

Can you get an aftermarket tach from someone like AutoMeter?

 

[dcyrilc]

Cyril:

Can you get an aftermarket tach from someone like AutoMeter?

Probably, but I would prefer to stay with the factory design for the machine as much as possible. Or at least things which look as if they were factory. If I can find an after market tach which would retrofit into the instrument cluster, I would be good with that, but to have a dead tech in the cluster and one attached off to the side looks tacky to me. One of my faults is that if I am going to add something, it needs to look like it belongs there.

 

[dfkrug]

If you think $250 is bad for that panel... look up JDs price for the tach/hour meter housing for my late model 2240. I can top that 4 fold! The only thing you can't buy independently is the tach... and, of course, that's whats out in mine. Part # AL31829 Instrument cluster $1,190.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now, I'ld go for $250 any day.

Yeah, that's a lot. Keep watching Ebay for a used one. I have found
several instrument clusters for 4x00s there, but I decided not to buy. If
my tach was out, I would have bought used for sure.

Also note that if your part price is from JDParts, it could be as much as
30-40% high. Get a firm quotation from a competitive dealer.

In general, I think most of the parts I bought for this project were
reasonable, or nearly so. I don't like that there is no modularity to the
instrument cluster. If tach, temp, fuel, or hour meter is out, then the
only factory fix is a whole new panel. The hour meter/tach meter in my
old 955s failed often, but were less than $60 new, if I recall.

 

[3RRL]

Awesome job Dave!
Man, that thing looks brand new ... better than that even.

 

[dfkrug]

Man, that thing looks brand new ... better than that even.

That's what they call "soft focus". Anyway, thanks.

Some would say I went overboard on this, but at least I did not repaint
the fenders, ROPS, or engine.

The loader paint looks kinda dull, but I won't repaint that either.

Someone asked.....here is the green paint I used in the few areas I needed
it....it matched pretty well, and even dries in cold weather. I also bought a
quart of AgriSupply JD green enamel for rear fender touchup with a small
brush.

 

[mjncad]

Probably, but I would prefer to stay with the factory design for the machine as much as possible. Or at least things which look as if they were factory. If I can find an after market tach which would retrofit into the instrument cluster, I would be good with that, but to have a dead tech in the cluster and one attached off to the side looks tacky to me. One of my faults is that if I am going to add something, it needs to look like it belongs there.

I'm the same way Cyril.

 

[Dougd]

Dave,
If you think $250 is bad for that panel... look up JDs price for the tach/hour meter housing for my late model 2240. I can top that 4 fold! The only thing you can't buy independently is the tach... and, of course, that's whats out in mine. Part # AL31829 Instrument cluster $1,190.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now, I'ld go for $250 any day.

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