John Deere plastic hoods

[KennyG]

Some people will never want a "plastic" part, just like some will never want an aluminum bodied truck. That's fine. As for me, after about 6 years, my plastic parts are fine, but I've got some scratches and dents on the metal parts. I don't know if tractor volumes are high enough to create an aftermarket body part business, but you can get body parts for some relatively low production 50 and 75 year old cars. Forget about molds. In a few years a single shop will probably be able to laser scan and 3D print any plastic body part they can find a master for.

 

[EMcPhee]

Darren,

Was there an issue with "shrinkage" causing the sides to pull in on the hood-- another words was the fit fin after you patched it?

Eric

 

[sd455dan]

Some people will never want a "plastic" part, just like some will never want an aluminum bodied truck. That's fine. As for me, after about 6 years, my plastic parts are fine, but I've got some scratches and dents on the metal parts. I don't know if tractor volumes are high enough to create an aftermarket body part business, but you can get body parts for some relatively low production 50 and 75 year old cars. Forget about molds. In a few years a single shop will probably be able to laser scan and 3D print any plastic body part they can find a master for.

Agree at $299 it would not be worth creating the mold to make it out of fiberglass

 

[mkr7734]

Thin Metal dents and all the tractors use thin metal if they use metal. Plastic will bounce off something that would dent metal. If it is big enough to break the plastic it would put a huge dent in the metal hood. Fiberglass would shatter........ Bottom line don't drop stuff on your hood? That said I have had stuff hit the hood of my 3000 series JD and all I have is one scratch.
My lawn mower is a Husqvarna YTH1848XP with a metal hood, but how could you damage that short of running into a tree?? Guess that is why they put a bumper on it. :laughing:

 

[s219]

Thin Metal dents and all the tractors use thin metal if they use metal. Plastic will bounce off something that would dent metal. If it is big enough to break the plastic it would put a huge dent in the metal hood. Fiberglass would shatter........ Bottom line don't drop stuff on your hood? That said I have had stuff hit the hood of my 3000 series JD and all I have is one scratch.
My lawn mower is a Husqvarna YTH1848XP with a metal hood, but how could you damage that short of running into a tree?? Guess that is why they put a bumper on it. :laughing:

I own a plastic Deere and have had two metal Kubotas, so I have direct experience with both. I much prefer the metal hood on Kubotas, which is fairly thick metal by the way -- if I had to guess I'd say 22-24 gauge. I had two firewood rounds fall out of a raised bucket and hit the hood on my Kubota, and the dents were minor. When my Deere hood cracked, it happened due to far far less damage. I'll take metal hoods any day.

 

[dfkrug]

New hood for 4300 is $299 on Amazon.. that is not high priced in my book.

I went to Amazon when you posted this. I found one there for $320, shipped. It is sold by Bombergers, a big
JD dealer back East. I bought one of the 2 hoods I needed from them several years ago. It was over $400 back
then.

I guess that increased demand has caused the price to drop?

Messicks sold me the other one, BTW.

 

[Kubota 2350]

The plastic hood and side panels on my 4310 were still in great shape when I sold it, it had a lot of use.
Had a few scratches, but no rust or dents.

 

[mkr7734]

I own a plastic Deere and have had two metal Kubotas, so I have direct experience with both. I much prefer the metal hood on Kubotas, which is fairly thick metal by the way -- if I had to guess I'd say 22-24 gauge. I had two firewood rounds fall out of a raised bucket and hit the hood on my Kubota, and the dents were minor. When my Deere hood cracked, it happened due to far far less damage. I'll take metal hoods any day.

Well I would not want to say that s219 is wrong but he may have his eyes closed to the future and what has been developed for today.. My experiences with plastic is not just from my tractor, 9 years in the engineering group at Caterpillar development showed me I just may have a better understanding than some with so called direct experience with both. It just depends on when it was made and what it was made with. I like my plastic fenders and hood, if you want to call it plastic. Plastics have evolved a lot. Some people and their ideas don't. To each his or her's own. You make the choice but I would bet in the not to far future your next tractor will have a form of plastic like all of the Top Manufactures use today.

There is always someone that thinks they have it all figured out........I am just saying, just maybe back up and look into something new before you trash it. I for one am glad my truck has power steering. heat, AC. tinted windows, cruse control, and shift on the fly. Or am I like some how out of it?????

 

[RoyJackson]

Only $299

About the same price on eBay. This is a bare hood...no decals, hinges or fuel filler door and they'll fit any of the older 4xxx or 4x10 mid-sized. Not sure about the larger frame models such as the 4500, 4600 and 4700.
I have read on TBN that installing the fuel filler door is a bit of a hassle and you can buy the hoods with the filler doors installed.

I've haven't seen any hoods for the 4x20 series machines. I would like to replace mine one of these days.

I've had two Deeres with plastic hoods...my current 4520 and previous tractor, a 4400. The 4400 hood did develop a crack originating at the corner of the fuel filler well. I had to stop drill that a couple times. The 4520's hood has no cracks, but it's a bit faded.
I do wish Deere built the hoods as robust as the plastic fenders...those fenders are pretty tough!.

 

[jenkinsph]

I would like to replace mine one of these days. The 4520's hood has no cracks, but it's a bit faded.

Roy, why not repaint your existing hood? An easy project imo.