Need help deciding.. JD 1050 or JD 4300?

sweetjeep · Jun 22, 2006

Hi folks..

This is my first post.. please be gentle!

Short story, I have been shopping for a CUT for quite a while. Pickings are THIN.

I am currently trying to decide between a JD 1050 and a JD 4300.

My useage: Mow the lawn (2 acre), retrieve and process firewood, maybe 5cd a year, lift heavy objects (rocks, trees, motor blocks etc), landscaping work (digging out a couple hills, flattening the yard, spreading dirt), occasionally run a bush hog you know, general house hold chores.

The choices I have to me at the moment are the 1050 and a 4300.

I'm not sure the year of the 1050 and honestly I haven't SEEN it yet, but I am assuming the seller is telling truth for now and it's an good shape. Hydro drive, FEL with bucket and forks, Ag tires (not my preference, I'll probably buy a set of R4s right away), power steering, 4wd, 1100 hrs and "live power". From the pictures, it's in decent shape. Asking price: $10,600

The 4300: 2002, R4 tires, FEL, dual pedal hydro, 1300 hrs. 4wd, good shape EXCEPT the loader has a bounce to it. I pick up a load and raise it, when I stop the raise the loader droops about 2-3 inches and then sets in place. SEEMS like air in the line (as the dealer claims), but I don't know, how/why would this be. Drives great feels like a 2002 tractor should. Price: $13,500.

Any opinions on what I should do?! Any thoughts on what the bounce could be on the 4300?

Thanks a lot folks!!!
Morgan

Dutch445 · Jun 23, 2006

I would say go with the 4300. It's a lot newer, the 1050's are getting
pretty old now. And that "live power" still means a clutch, with a manual
transmission, and a lot more things happening to stop, change gears, and backup than with the easy hydro. If I am not mistaken, that clutch does drive the pto.. so when you stop to turn, I believe the mower would stop also.. somebody that knows more about the older tractors can verify this.
And, the 4300 has the tires you want... seems like a better choice to me.

sweetjeep · Jun 23, 2006

Thanks Dutch,

Just as an added kick in the crotch.. the dealer (with the 4300) has a 4310, 600 hrs, belly mower, weight box, FEL, bucket/forks but ag tires coming in. For a mere $1000 more than the 4300. I am torn. It's the very tip of what I was willing to spend.. but I think it's a done deal and will likely be coming home with me on Tuesday. $14,500.

I like the longevity of the gear transmisson on the 1050, but I like the stupid simplicity of the hydro.

Dutch445 · Jun 23, 2006

Even that sounds like a great tractor for the price....
and you are up into E-hydro range now...
Can't beat it.. and the reliability has been great with them,,
if you read thru the posts here,, most owners think it's an
awesome tractor.

You may need to order up the bundles of the tires and wheels you want
though, but I still think the tractor is a good deal at 14,500.

( I just sold a used 4210, 300 hrs,, loader only , for $15,500. these
things are HOT!)

qstott · Jun 24, 2006

I bought a 1050 about 6 months ago. I think they were all grear drive. It is 2wd with manual steerng. Only having 2wd is no problem for me, but I really wish I had power steering. That would be a nice option. I bought it cheap! Only $1500, and it was in good shape with 3100 hrs. No attachments, no FEL. The first stage of the clutch allows you to shift. The second stage allows you to engage the PTO. You must come to a stop to engage the PTO, but you don't have to stop the PTO to chang gears. I have turg tires on mine, and the width is 80" from the outside wheel tread. I sometimes wish it was more narrow. I bought a used 72" belly mower for it and did not get all the attachments to mount it, and discovered that some of the pieces to attach it are very hard to come by. It may be just a well, A belly mower on a 1050 seems to be very clumbersome. I would think it would be too big for mowing a 2 acre yard. I sold the belly mower and bought a RFM that works much better for what I do with it. It does everything I need it too, ( mowing, box blading, discing, plowing, spraying, etc.), but I have no great need for a FEL. Would I trade it for a 4300? Yes, in an instant, especially for $3000. difference. Hydro and power steering would be nice! I put 320 lbs of weight on the front just to be able to pick up my RFM. The RFM does weigh 825 lbs. The frnt end still gets a little light when the mower is raised. Picking up engine blocks might be a little tricky unless you chain them up close to the 3point hitch. All in all, I a very pleased with the 1050, but hope to get a newer tractor some day.

sweetjeep · Jun 26, 2006

Thanks guys..

My decision was pretty much made for me. The 1050 got sold before I could get up to see it.

Which left me with the 4300 or the 4310 with all the goodies for $1k differnece in price. Not a tough decision. So I am currently harassing the sales guy to get the thing to the shop ASAP so I can try it. Like I said, odds are I can't figure any reason I wouldn't buy it. 600 hours.. what could possibly be wrong with it?

I am getting a little worried about the heft of the tractor to use it for regular mowings and ground compaction. It's not even a little unlikely that I will sell the belly mower and either use the money toward a tow/3pt finish mower or just put the money toward a backhoe, which I both want and need much more than the mowers. The mowers simply cut my lawn, the backhoe can be a money maker around here. Even on a little guy like a 4310.