John deere 4600 fixer upper

[tbrooks26]

Hi everyone. I'm new to tractors/diesel engines, and don't know much, other than I could sure use one. Never even drove one, but I've used quite a few skidsteers and trackhoes over the years (rentals). I've also done most of my own work on cars and small engines. So my friends have this JD that has been sitting in their yard for about 5 years. Its a long story, but they own it (and don't have much use for it) and a landscaper friend of theirs used it most of the time. Deal was the landscaper could use it as long as he kept up the proper maintenance, but we don't think he did. Any way they have offered me the same deal. Bad part is a lot of things need fixed. When last used the owner said he was trying to dig a stump and a bolt popped and the bh shifted. There is a steel plate that runs vertically between the tires and the transmission. On one side up in front of the axle, the bolt holding the plate has snapped, on the other the bolt is at least loose and bent, but maybe broken as well. I think I should probably replace all the bolts on these mounting plates, since they have probably all been over-stressed. Looks like when it broke it took out the shifter as well, not sure how easy thats gonna be to fix. Especially since I can't move it til thats fixed.

He told me after it broke, he shut it down, but when he came back the next day, he couldn't get it to run. So first order of business is to get a battery and some fresh diesel. Check all the fluids, give at a good once over, and see what she'll do. He's gonna check and see if he can find at least an operators manual, and I'm hoping a service manual too, but I doubt that. Can anybody tell me what I need for a battery? I know its supposed to 650cca, but it's got a marine battery in it now. Any ideas on what I will have to do to get the shifter fixed? The only schematics I can find are on 777parts, and I have to subscribe to access them. Seems like the landscaper guy didn't do a very good job, locking clips missing, busted zerts, and lots of other little things. I sure would appreciate any input or advice. Here's a pic

 

[tbrooks26]

After some googling I found that it is the range shift lever that snapped off. So I think I will be able to at least drive it up on a trailer

 

[GManBart]

After some googling I found that it is the range shift lever that snapped off. So I think I will be able to at least drive it up on a trailer

I'm not sure about on a 4600, but some brands require that the range shift lever is in neutral to get it to start....just something to be aware of.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Just personal opinion here, but what you're describing sounds like an awful lot of work and expense on someone else's machine just to be able to "use it". Before spending any time or money getting it running, I would take a good look at what repairing the shifter entails. Check with someone who KNOWS the process, not just opinions you find here. I suspect it could require removing the entire backhoe, brackets and all, then splitting the tractor at one point, maybe even two. Is this something you're willing to go through/pay for just for the use of the machine?

 

[tbrooks26]

I'm not sure about on a 4600, but some brands require that the range shift lever is in neutral to get it to start....just something to be aware of.

That would explain why he couldn't get it to start again. I'll have to ask him, it has been quite a few years so maybe he forgot that.

 

[tbrooks26]

Just personal opinion here, but what you're describing sounds like an awful lot of work and expense on someone else's machine just to be able to "use it". Before spending any time or money getting it running, I would take a good look at what repairing the shifter entails. Check with someone who KNOWS the process, not just opinions you find here. I suspect it could require removing the entire backhoe, brackets and all, then splitting the tractor at one point, maybe even two. Is this something you're willing to go through/pay for just for the use of the machine?

Thats what I'm worried about, is what that shifter entails. My friend is a pretty crafty mechanic, so he might be able to figure out how to weld something onto where it is snapped off. Maybe even drill and tap both sides and use some all thread to put them together.

I just bought my first pieces of property. Right now, the house needs a new septic, probably 2 days worth of grading work, the foundation walls dug out and sealed properly, and some footers dug for the addition I'm planning. This alone will cost me about $1000 or more in equipment rental. Then for another section of property, I plan on putting a sign asking for fill dirt, and I figure I need roughly about 1000 yards of fill, for a good start. I will need to have a piece of equipment full time in order to deal with pushing whatever is dropped off. He's told me that I would be more than welcome to store it at my property (1/8 mile from his house). His only plans for it are to pull a few stumps, and scrape his drive if it snows.

I've been looking at backhoes, skidsteers, etc. for about a year now, hoping to find a good deal. The only time I really see anything under $7-8k is something that is really old or needs major work. Either way in the long run I believe it will save me a lot of $. I am the type of person who likes to do things right, and not cheap out, although I don't have a ton of money. As I told him I am hoping I can keep it under $1k to get it running, but if it cost $1k more I would be ok with that.

 

[kennyd]

This thread will give you an idea of whats involved to fix the shifter: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...astrophic-failure-shift-shaft.html?highlight=


My :2cents:, don't get involved with this machine unless you can BUY it CHEAP. It looks to have been abused and neglected.

 

[joecdeere]

I have a PDF of the Deere Technical manual you are welcome to. Shoot me your email if wanted

Joe

 

[tbrooks26]

This thread will give you an idea of whats involved to fix the shifter: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...astrophic-failure-shift-shaft.html?highlight=


My :2cents:, don't get involved with this machine unless you can BUY it CHEAP. It looks to have been abused and neglected.

Thanks for that, I read most of it. Hopefully mine will be that easy lol. I was hoping there is an access to get to the shift shaft, as mine is a different model, I won't know for sure until I check it out more.

It believe it was definitely repaired as needed with whatever Ace hardware had. Good thing is, all I have to do is fix it, definitely not buying it. Although I have known these people for 10 or so years so I want to do it right and hopefully get both of us many more useable years from this tractor.

 

[tbrooks26]

I have a PDF of the Deere Technical manual you are welcome to. Shoot me your email if wanted

Joe

Thanks Joe, that is invaluable. Looks like there is a very large access panel near the range shifter, hopefully I can get to it from there

 

[JD5210]

Here is a link to the operators manual if you do not have it. The second link is how I found the manual. Also go to JDparts.com, to get a link to the parts catalog and you can sign-up and find out part cost.

If possible see if you can at least get the owner to pay for parts. Those green parts are not cheap.

On the plus side there are a number of people on this site that are willing to help you!

Introduction

John Deere Ag - New Equipment: Technical Publications - Equipment Search

 

[KubotainNH]

If possible see if you can at least get the owner to pay for parts. Those green parts are not cheap.

Good idea, he did break it. Willing to do the labor is one thing, parts is another unless of course you eventually break something then you should pay for the parts.

 

[tbrooks26]

It broke while he was using it, but we believe it was because the other guy used some ace hardware bolts. He got it from the oher guy to pull 3 medium size stumps, it broke on the second. As I said I've known them for about 10 years. They have offered to help pay, but they don't have a lot of money. The way I see it is, even if I had to put 2k into it, I would easily pay that in rental over the next few years, plus I will have it all the time, with no limit on hours. And I get to help a friend and keep a decent piece of equipment from going to waste. Seems to me its a win win.

 

[tbrooks26]

Thanks JD5210. I had been to the JD site a few times, but for some reason, it kept sending me in circles. I'll be checking into the parts too.

 

[City Farmer]

Your one heck of a nice guy. Lots of work and $$$ for someone else's machine. I'd offer to buy it with giving them the option of using it anytime they wanted. Who's to say it won't be sold or broken again by someone else after your done fixing it.

 

[RPW]

If you are doing the work you should be afforded the opportunity to buy the machine at a low price. It appears that the owner got the tractor when they bought their property. Also appears that they may be taking advantage of your offerings. Friendship can only go so far.

 

[McREBEL]

Who's to say it won't be sold or broken again by someone else after your done fixing it.

This would be my concern. You might get years of use out of it but I wouldn't bank on that long term use in figuring out whether or not it is wise financially.

This is a good recipe to put a strain on a friendship too.

 

[tbrooks26]

I understand what you guys are saying. And I'm a nice person But there are not many people I trust or like well enough to do something like this for. I'm somewhat of a hermit, I keep to myself, and only have a handful of people that I call friends, and trust. I'm not real close to these people, but I've known them awhile, and they are good people, and I trust them to their word. His grandfather bought the tractor new back in the 90's. Not sure exactly what year it is yet. Them and the landscaping guy were the only ones who used it before. He's told me once I get it fixed, I am welcome to keep it at my property. He does still have a couple stumps to pull at his property, but other than that and occasionally scraping his driveway, they have no use for it. Honestly I would love to buy it outright, actually I would love to buy a full size backhoe, or a skidsteer and trackhoe, but I don't have the money for any of that. I just bought a property and I need all the money I can get for it. It needs a new well, new septic, proper grading and drainage, and then I'm gutting the existing 900 sq.ft. duplex, adding 400 sq.ft., completely doing the inside, and installing a new heating system. Even if I put a couple grand into this, and only get to use it for 1 year, it will save me over renting equipment. It is complicated, and I appreciate your concerns, but its a risk I'm willing to take. I will find out more about how willing, once I can get the cover off and see what I have to do to replace that shaft, and figure out everything else I need. I'm thinking right now that I will be able to keep this under a grand. If so just getting my septic, grading and footers done, which I am ready to do now, would be worth that cost

 

[tbrooks26]

I went down and looked at it today, and did a little disassembly. All 6 of the mounting bolts labeled 4 in this scheme are broken

And it's not an access panel that I was seeing in the schemes, it was where the rockshaft assembly mounts. It doesn't look to bad to remove, but it will be a pain with the backhoe in the way. Luckily its not resting on the rockshaft arms anymore.

 

[City Farmer]

Do you or your friend have a log splitter? A couple of fittings and some hose would go a long way to get that BH off.