Pricing needed on a 4020 John Deere

[Blackjackfarm]

Helping Mom sell Dads old tractor, its a John Deere 4020 propane, auto shifter, 8 forward and 4 reverse, still runs but its been rode hard and put away wet, paint is faded, tires are bad, etc. Serial number SNT212P103441R. I think its about a 1964 model.

Any idea on a fair price? Or how to come up with one? Looked on TractorHouse but couldn't find a propane 4020.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[buickanddeere]

Thank goodness for a description and serial number. Many folk come on here and want to know how much Grampa's old green tractor enough to purchase a 4 wheeler.
Mid 1965 production year.
PS is a big plus. Most of these in the past would have an old combine engine hacked into the chassis. However with the price of LP vs diesel a person would be daft to do such a swap now.
If it had been a side console LP with PS there would be some serious interest.
Tractor's location? This does make a difference.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Hard to say.

A 4020 is a tractor that someone has to really want. It's way too big for most small farm/hobby situations.
About 8 years ago, I sold a 4020 (1969 model) diesel in good mechanical condition, for $3500. That's what I had paid for it about 10 years earlier.
Around here, the propane would detract from the market price and I'm guessing $2000 or more for new tires.
I would think the ideal situation would be to find a collector or tractor salvage yard that wanted it for parts.

You might post your question in the John Deere Vintage Tractors section.

Found a LPG 4020 on tractorhouse: JD 4020

 

[YesDeere]

Just curious. What was the advantage/reasoning behind the propane option?

 

[Bigfoot62]

Just curious. What was the advantage/reasoning behind the propane option?

Back in the '60's, when that tractor was built, propane was dirt cheap. Lots of the big farmers would have a bulk propane tank at their farm. Just a few years before that, most of the tractors, including the big ones, were gasoline powered. Propane was more economical than gasoline.

BTW, the Ford 2600 that I still have was the first diesel tractor on our farm.

 

[raheimdal]

Using LPG also kept people from stealing fuel. Pretty hard to siphon some into a can and walk off with it.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Using LPG also kept people from stealing fuel. Pretty hard to siphon some into a can and walk off with it.

Hadn't even thought of that!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

We used butane tractors on the farm back in the 60's because it was cheap. I remember it being 10 cents a gallon back when gas was 29 cents or higher. You lose a little power with butane, but those old tractors back then had plenty of power anyway.

We had two old U-Minnies that ran on butane, a Farmall 450 (I think that was the model #) that we used for row crops, and an old Allis Chalmers (which I despised). All of them ran on butane. We had a 300 gallon butane tank on a trailer chassis that we hauled around to the fields where we were plowing.

 

[YesDeere]

Back in the '60's, when that tractor was built, propane was dirt cheap. Lots of the big farmers would have a bulk propane tank at their farm. Just a few years before that, most of the tractors, including the big ones, were gasoline powered. Propane was more economical than gasoline.

BTW, the Ford 2600 that I still have was the first diesel tractor on our farm.

Thanks Bigfoot!

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Tractor's location? This does make a difference.

Central Minnesota.

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Hard to say.

A 4020 is a tractor that someone has to really want. It's way too big for most small farm/hobby situations.
About 8 years ago, I sold a 4020 (1969 model) diesel in good mechanical condition, for $3500. That's what I had paid for it about 10 years earlier.
Around here, the propane would detract from the market price and I'm guessing $2000 or more for new tires.
I would think the ideal situation would be to find a collector or tractor salvage yard that wanted it for parts.

You might post your question in the John Deere Vintage Tractors section.

Found a LPG 4020 on tractorhouse: JD 4020

Looked at the link on Tractorhouse, thats it exactly except for the shift lever!!! Its even got the beat out paint and passenger tires on the front end!!

I do think you are right that a collector would be the best but with the power shift and easy access open station, it would be a nice tractor around a hobby farm, putting in food plots, etc.

Another subject, I see you have a 5085M, how do you like it? I have a 5095M with cab and loader, I love it!!! Comfortable, plenty of power, yet small enough that I can mow with it and manuver it easily - a nice tractor!!

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Back in the '60's, when that tractor was built, propane was dirt cheap. Lots of the big farmers would have a bulk propane tank at their farm. Just a few years before that, most of the tractors, including the big ones, were gasoline powered. Propane was more economical than gasoline.

I remember filling it, a hose and nozzle was added to the bulk propane tank that was hooked up to the grain bin, when you were filling it, you had to open a relief valve on the top, when it started coming out white it was full.

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Thank goodness for a description and serial number.

Dumb question but how does the serial number help??

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . Another subject, I see you have a 5085M, how do you like it? I have a 5095M with cab and loader, I love it!!! Comfortable, plenty of power, yet small enough that I can mow with it and manuver it easily - a nice tractor!!

Really enjoy it. I've put over 450 hours on it in the last 3 years now, and it's made it's first trip back to the dealer. It recently developed problems with the hydraulic pump. See the thread here: Question about hydraulics on a 5m
Other than that, the service man came out and did a "recall" on the Park lever, replaced the auxiliary power plug, (because of low voltage when operating my hay baler) and changed out a leaking lift cylinder on the 3 point hitch.
I like the tractor and it's the most convenient, comfortable machine I've ever had. Now, if we can get the hydraulic problem cleared up, and JD covers the cost, I'll be pickled tink!