John Deere 4400 reliability.Is green a myth ?

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> "how many people have 4WD and actually use the 4WD, let alone the low range?" </font>

If you're talking tractors, I use 4WD AND the locking differential in low range quite a bit. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

If you're talking soccer Moms in their Escalades, I agree completely. I always say that most people with SUV's don't even drive them on wet grass. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I don't know whether I should be proud or ashamed and embarrassed that I've buried my Tahoe in mud so deep I had to force the door open to get out. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

At least I found out one thing; I know what it can and what it can't do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[eee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> I have a question and a comment for you </font> )</font>

Ask all you want, I love to talk.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> First, since I just replace both sides of my rear axle housing last weekend, I wonder if you could tell me what happened to cause you to replace yours?
</font> )</font>

I was skidding timber with my Farmi timber Winch
and was going through a mud hole on a culvert and snagged the winch on the culvert and broke the housing while attempting to free the tractor.
The new housing is built better than the original housing,every since I got my tractor new I have used it pretty darn hard,I have several hours over a 2 year period pulling the back blade to cut roads and do some landscaping work.
The last year and a 1/2 I have been dragging some big logs over some steep rough terrain. IE: 16" to 20" through logs 12 to 20 feet long.
Basically I make the tractor earn its keep and then some. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
But I am willing to spend the money to keep it maintained in good working order as needed.

 

[JerryT]

I've had a 4400 for 4 years and have about 800 hours on it. My repair history follows:
1. HST saftey switch.
2. Front axle seals twice, once under warranty and once I did myself.
3. Fuel shut off valve.
I blame the front axle seal failures on my never ending ability to get my tractor stuck, to the axles, in the sandy soil of SE Texas.
I did replace the battery (dead) after 2-1/2 years.
This strikes me as an excellent record considering how we use these things. My total repair cost (excluding the battery) is around $150 and except for the HST Switch the work was not difficult.

 

[eee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> I blame the front axle seal failures on my never ending ability to get my tractor stuck, to the axles, in the sandy soil of SE Texas. </font> )</font>

My left front axle seal leaks a small amount,I have had my tractor stuck( several times)....and thats an understatement.
I had to replace my battery at 2 years,do you have the old style front axle on your tractor ?

 

[JerryT]

No, my 4400 came with the new axle. I really believe that the front axle seal problem is caused by sticking the front in muck up to the axle and then spinning the wheels trying to get out. Particularly a problem if you have real sandy soil like we have in the country around Houston. This is really a simple and cheap repair if you have access to a shop press. Need the seal and liquid gasket from JD and about one hours worth of work.

 

[eee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> I really believe that the front axle seal problem is caused by sticking the front in muck up to the axle and then spinning the wheels trying to get out. </font> )</font>

I agree about the sand/grit...
I have the old axle and I have no problems with the axle,I think it is a better built ( solid) axle than the newer ones.

 

[texastomtom]

i was using my 4wd low range to pull out my 2wd tractor

go a 4wd tractor now - havn't needed to pull it out yet

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[eee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> go a 4wd tractor now - havn't needed to pull it out yet </font> )</font>

I have had the JD 4400 4wd buried different times,there is times I have not been able to push myself out with my loader. I have had to use 9000 lb Warn winch,block and tackle. I had to use/hire a backhoe one time(to keep me from going over the hill).

 

[Mike_S]

Roughcut--regarding the 4400 reliability--it depends... My first 4400 (with 440 FEL and MMM) was a very early model and was an ABSOLUTE with the following issues within the first 100 hours:
--bad front end--needed replacement
--axle range shifter linkage needed replacement
--battery leaked acid
--HST tranny went out*
--brakes replaced (kept locking up or grabbing and robbing power)*
--hydraulic pump failed*
(*due to poor quality control--large quantity of aluminum millings found in transmission fluid)
--too many little things constantly went wrong to list (would not go into high range, tranny sight glass broke, dash glass fogged up, leaking transmission fluid, and LOTS of other issues.)

This tractor spent almost as much time at the dealer as at my house. JD had NOT done their field testing and there were quite a few PIP's and "Fix as Fails" on these early models.

NOT trusting this early model after all of the repairs, which the excellent dealer gladly made to the tractor, I bit the bullet and purchased another new 4400 but from a different dealer. Had the original 4400 been a vehicle in my state, the lemon law would have forced JD to provide a new vehicle, but JD would have nothing to do with replacing that one--would not even talk to me about a free replacement or helping me with a decent deal on a replacment, but would gladly just keep repairing it on a regular basis. I liked the design, potential capability and size of the tractor, so wasted $5K and traded it off on the second 4400 which has been trouble free (except for the leaking battery) for four years. This 4400 has been awesome and I am blessed with another excellent dealer. I have NO allegiance to JD or the color green--especially after losing $5K on the first tractor plus all of the frustrations that came with that tractor. My experience with Kubotas has been exemplary--the last one I had went ten years and the total repair bill was a ten dollar tachometer cable!!!! (then I traded it off on a 955). Thus, if I ever need another tractor during my retirement, I would look at all brands and dealers in my area.

 

[eee]

Thanks Mike.