Problems with fiberglass?

Boondox · Jan 28, 2001

I'm looking to upgrade from my Kubota B1750HSD to something heavier and in the ballpark of 3000#. My finalists include the Kubota L3010 and 3410, as well as the JD 4300. I liked the Deere, but that fiberglass was a real concern! I had visions of a relatively minor blow from a branch etc destroying the hood. Rather than ruling out an entire line on the basis of what may or may not be a real life problem, I thought I'd ask the experts -- owners.

Please rate the durability of the fiberglass parts on your Deere. Thanks in advance

Pete

Anonymous Poster · Jan 28, 2001

First, It will never ever RUST! It doesn't dent or even have signs of dings. Hit it with a hammer and it springs back to "normal". Still looks "new" when it's older. Hey,what do you expect for the new millennium? You drink "Tang" don't you? This is space age technology!

I don't think it's true fiberglass however... some kind of plastic composite. It's actually impressive and probably the wave of the future... not just tractors, but auto's etc. Similar to Saturn (I think?)

You be the judge... if you wacked a metal hood and you wacked flexible plastic, what would be the results?

Harv · Jan 28, 2001

The biggest problem I see with fiberglass (or whatever) hoods and fenders is that Chalkley Cups won't stick to them. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Having said that, I'm making a Chalkley Sippy Cup for my 3-year old and his tractor, which is pretty much all plastic. I glued a powerful magnet on the underside of the fender and a large flat washer to the bottom of his cup. We'll be testing it out next weekend.

Oops! I think I interrupted a serious discussion. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Sorry 'bout that. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Muhammad · Jan 28, 2001

You forget, Harv, that while the Chalkley cup won't stick to the fender, there is a cupholder... a 4000-series owner needs to make an adapter, I think, to solve the problem. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jan 28, 2001

Hey...Harv & Muhammad this is serious business... you broke my train of thought... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Glad it was only plastic and not metal...

radman · Jan 28, 2001

I have a 1995 JD5300 with the composite/plastic-type hood and fenders. In general, I am overall satisfied with them. The only problem I have had is the paint will occassionally chip off in small to moderate sized pieces. I don't know if this is secondary to a default with the painting process or a result of something hitting those areas. I don't remember anything striking those areas. This may no longer be a problem on the newer tractors. I have not had any crackes and they are dent resistent.

jyoutz · Jan 28, 2001

I think the paint problems have to do with the paint and not the material. If you will think about it, many of the cars made during the mid 80's to mid 1990's had problems with flaking paint. A friend in the body shop business told me that that was the era when everyone was experimenting with the 2-step paint process (base coat, clear coat). The paint chemistry didn't work. Of course the 2-step process is universally used now, but the chemists have had time to perfect the process.

jfakerj · Jan 28, 2001

Pete

I have a 1999 4300 I just bought. While puting a coat of wax on the tractor (probably it's first) I notice a crack in the hood going foward from the fuel fill opening. I don't know if I did it by slamming the hood or if it was already there as the tractor was very dirty when I bought it. In any case I'm very unhappy that my hood is cracked. Like I said, I can't say for sure how it got cracked so I don't know how much force it took to crack it. The hood is a lot lighter material than the fenders. I think you could hit the fenders with a hammer and not crack them. I don't think that would be the case with the hood.
I do like the tractor though. I really like the pedals for the hst in comparison to the kubota and also I can see the fel bucket better than on the kubota L3010. I'm not saying anything bad about the kubota L3010, it's a great tractor, just what I like better about the jd4300.

Jerry

cowboydoc · Jan 29, 2001

Jerry,
If it's still under warranty they will replace that. Anyway my dealer did.

bpence · Jan 29, 2001

I can't speak to the newest tractors in the JD line-up, but I have a late 1980's JD 316 with a fiberglass hood. That little tractor has been used and abused for all types of things (although always well maintained) and the hood has held up better than a metal one would have. It's had things dropped on it, ran into some things, and been slammed shut a few times in frustration. It has some chips, stratches, nicks, etc. in it, but seemed to hold up OK. It was a bit of a concern when purchased new, but has held up well.

Bob Pence