Thinking of 4020 for work and tractor shows

[JESSE1]

I've had John Deere tractors for the past 40 years but never had a 20 series. Always heard that a 4020 was one of the best JD built. I'm considering trying to find a good one for some work but mainly for taking to tractor shows. Any opinions on what to look out for or years to avoid?

 

[Tx Jim]

I would pick a '69-'72 4020 due to location of 3pt/scv control levers & factory installed 12 volt electrical system. The features I mentioned cause late model 4020's to command more $$$$ than earlier models. I've seen abused 4020's but I've never seen a bad 4020. Several yrs ago I sold my neighbor a very nice '69 4020 with Powershift trans & a FEL. It gets utilized on his dairy very regularly. I'm fond of 4020's due to selling them when they were brand new. But I'll chose my 4255 with SGB(cold AC) & quad range to use any day over a 4020. A gentleman in Iowa that I've sold some tractors to has a nice late model 4020 for sale if you're interested.

 

[K5lwq]

The 4020 was always my favorite. I have thought about buying one several times in the last few years but I just do not have a way to justify a big tractor.

 

[beenthere]

A dairy farmer in NY has a video of their re-build of a 4020 that was finished up by their oldest son. A family farm bought new in '69. They are working it. Big farm, lots of John Deere's and almost daily video's of their farming, fixing, fabricating endeavors.

I find it quite interesting as not much "hype" or drama, but others may not. Oldest son does a lot of farm work, two of three daughters do a lot of truck and tractor driving, and the youngest son (11) does his share of field work on his own.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I would pick a '69-'72 4020 due to location of 3pt/scv control levers & factory installed 12 volt electrical system. The features I mentioned cause late model 4020's to command more $$$$ than earlier models. I've seen abused 4020's but I've never seen a bad 4020. Several yrs ago I sold my neighbor a very nice '69 4020 with Powershift trans & a FEL. It gets utilized on his dairy very regularly. I'm fond of 4020's due to selling them when they were brand new. But I'll chose my 4255 with SGB(cold AC) & quad range to use any day over a 4020. A gentleman in Iowa that I've sold some tractors to has a nice late model 4020 for sale if you're interested.

Agree with the 69 to 72 model years, Used a 4020 for years and it had over 12,000 hours on it before it was sold and reconditioned by a friend. He put another 4,000 hours on it and sold it. Have good memories of the 4020, it was durable and easy to operate. The power shift performed flawlessly.

 

[pmsmechanic]

A later model 4020 if your stuck on that series of JD. Power shift would also be my preference. You can set how tight the shifts are with an adjustment on the side of the transmission. We would set it tight for plowing and looser for baling.

 

[JESSE1]

I wanted to get something different to show. Lots of two cylinder Deeres, never see any later models like the 4020. Also like the fact that most of the parts should still be available. Hard to believe that these tractors are getting close to 60 years old.

 

[Erik M]

No chips or complicated electrical systems in those older machines, if you can get it turning over it will start and run all day.

 

[LouNY]

They are a nice tractor if a person likes the green ones,
we have one on the farm along with two 4430's.
They are quite a step up in comfort especially with a cab and AC.
They will if the trend continues as it has bring the same money now and in 20 more years.

 

[JESSE1]

My primary tractor is a '96 6400 with cab and loader that I bought new. If I bought a 4020 it would mainly be taken to tractor shows and used as a back-up tractor.

 

[JESSE1]

Found out today that a friend of mine has a '67 with good sheet metal he might sell. He said the tractor runs good but when you start it you have to shake the steering wheel for the engine to crank, maybe to relieve the pressure on the pump? I'll be looking at it soon.

 

[RickB]

Found out today that a friend of mine has a '67 with good sheet metal he might sell. He said the tractor runs good but when you start it you have to shake the steering wheel for the engine to crank, maybe to relieve the pressure on the pump? I'll be looking at it soon.

Needs a destroke kit. No big deal.

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

My brother-in-law has 2 of them. I think one is a ‘68 or ‘69, the other is a ‘71 or ‘72. One has powershift and one doesn’t. He also has a 4320 which is like a 4020 on steroid’s. They’re a beast of a tractor, probably one of the nicest looking Deeres ever built. If you have the space and the means to own one, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. They still command top dollar 50 years later.
happy new year

 

[rScotty]

I see on "Tractor Data" that the 4020 was available with 4wd, but don't know if I've ever seen one. What sort of a front wheel drive system did it have? Were many made
rScotty

 

[RickB]

I see on "Tractor Data" that the 4020 was available with 4wd, but don't know if I've ever seen one. What sort of a front wheel drive system did it have? Were many made
rScotty

Hydraulic wheel motors with planetary reductions. That was the factory option Deere offered on the 20 and 30 series Waterloo built tractors.

 

[LHF2019]

And 40 series

 

[Tx Jim]

Rowcrop 40 series had HFWD also. IIRC 4040S,4240s, 50 & 55 series rowcrop models had MFWD

 

[rScotty]

I like the idea of the HFWD. Simple, no F/Rear ratio problems. and ought to be easy to mount. That "easy to mount" used to be a JD specialty. In fact, I've got a story about how easy it used to be to swap JD options...

Many years ago our JD530 tricycle almost did a spinning backflip when we were plowing and hooked a rock.
That was a crisis for our family so we ran to a tractor junk yard and bought an old "used but good" complete wide front off an older 2 cylinder - probably an old JD A.

The next day my wife & I removed the tricycle wheel and bolted up the wide adjustable front. It was real simple straight bolt up exchange, didn't require any extra parts, and was done in a couple of hours. All the bolts and holes were already right there in the castings. There was some nice interchangeable engineering in those days.

We still have that tractor and that power front end is still working fine. For that matter, the old tricycle front is around somewhere in the weeds. Never throw a tractor part away.....
rScotty

 

[LouNY]

Hydraulic Front Wheel Assist , HFWA was not an uncommon option.
It was not a very well thought of option as it provided a very limited front drive assist,
with a lot of problems. All of the US manufactures offered it on some models.
Oliver was one of the major adopters for a few years.

 

[RickB]

Rowcrop 40 series had HFWD also. IIRC 4040S,4240s, 50 & 55 series rowcrop models had MFWD

Correct.