What's a good JD model 30-35hp, 4wd?

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I would stay away from the new "E" models, they look attractive for the price but all the "E" series I put my eye on, I didn't like. I have heard complaints from larger "E" tractors, just the other day a farmer I bought hay from was complaining about his 5055E, he said the 9 speed gear box was useless, he's always needing just above or just below gears all the time and wished he ordered the 12 speed.

I have a 4320 HST and like it a lot, my only complaint is the compact cab is a little too compact. Ergonomics are perfect though.

 

[texasranger556]

I was on the fence between a 955 and a 4300 when I bought my 4300. I had a lot of time on x55's but had never seen a 4x00 series before.

I don't know that I've heard of the HST transmission problems you're speaking of aside from the range lever selector shaft being easy to brake if you force a range changed with butted gears.

I also haven't heard of any front axle issues, are you talking about the ackerman angle tearing up grass? I personally think that's got a lot to do with how sharp you can turn it so people turn it all the way. It definitely seems to be able to turn sharper than anything else I've driven.

I really only have two major complaints about mine
My biggest complaint when comparing to a 955 are the fragile plastic hood and operator station covers. (the fender plastic is nearly bullet proof, no idea why they couldn't have used that on everything.)

We had a couple come through the dealer I worked at that needed the HST rebuilt. We weren't a Deere dealer so they tended to be higher hour machines out of warranty, and it was probably lack of maintenance that did it. Other dealers didn't like rebuilding​ them so for a bargain price of $6 grand you'd get a new transmission.

My 4400 transmission chattered pretty bad when I got it which is probably why the price was low. Resurfaced the valve plates thinking that was the problem but turned out to be the charge pressure relief valve. Works great now, just labor getting it going.

I'll agree with you on the hood being flimsy. Most have the fuel door ripped off too, including mine.

Supposedly Deere offered a replacement front axle for people that complained enough about tearing up the grass at full lock It replaced the dual ended cylinder with a drag link. Both of mine are the first year model with the dual ended power steering cylinder. It does tear up the grass more than normal but not bad if you don't crank it all the way.

Agree on your other points as well. The QA is convenient and simple. No way I'd trade either of mine for a 55 series even with extra cash.

 

[Rara Avis]

I would stay away from the new "E" models, they look attractive for the price but all the "E" series I put my eye on, I didn't like. I have heard complaints from larger "E" tractors, just the other day a farmer I bought hay from was complaining about his 5055E, he said the 9 speed gear box was useless, he's always needing just above or just below gears all the time and wished he ordered the 12 speed.

I have a 4320 HST and like it a lot, my only complaint is the compact cab is a little too compact. Ergonomics are perfect though.

That's interesting...since I custom square bale small acreage with a 9 speed 5055E and have never had that issue...

 

[larboc]

We had a couple come through the dealer I worked at that needed the HST rebuilt. We weren't a Deere dealer so they tended to be higher hour machines out of warranty, and it was probably lack of maintenance that did it. Other dealers didn't like rebuilding​ them so for a bargain price of $6 grand you'd get a new transmission.

My 4400 transmission chattered pretty bad when I got it which is probably why the price was low. Resurfaced the valve plates thinking that was the problem but turned out to be the charge pressure relief valve. Works great now, just labor getting it going.

I'll agree with you on the hood being flimsy. Most have the fuel door ripped off too, including mine.

Supposedly Deere offered a replacement front axle for people that complained enough about tearing up the grass at full lock It replaced the dual ended cylinder with a drag link. Both of mine are the first year model with the dual ended power steering cylinder. It does tear up the grass more than normal but not bad if you don't crank it all the way.

Agree on your other points as well. The QA is convenient and simple. No way I'd trade either of mine for a 55 series even with extra cash.

I think the later 4x00's came with the single ended ram from the factory, not sure if this resolved the scrubbing problem or not. My 4300 has the double ended ram and was a commercially abused unit that spent a lot of time on pavement with a blower or sweeper on it so the front tires were beyond bald when I got it. Original tires with 1600hrs on the tractor, rear tread is like new.

Another small but nice thing I forgot about till I used it last night is the turn signals. I wired in a 7-pin trailer plug to the back to the turn signals, running lights, and a couple aux switches so when I move trailers around I can also test the lights. It's a minor thing but has come in quite handy.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

That's interesting...since I custom square bale small acreage with a 9 speed 5055E and have never had that issue...

The guy I talked to seemed to only have round bales, I didn't see any squares. That was literally a few weeks ago lol, he had a Titan hay spear I was asking about since I'm in the market for one.

He still uses the tractor and didn't have plans to trade it off, just a few things he said about it.

 

[Rara Avis]

The guy I talked to seemed to only have round bales, I didn't see any squares. That was literally a few weeks ago lol, he had a Titan hay spear I was asking about since I'm in the market for one.

He still uses the tractor and didn't have plans to trade it off, just a few things he said about it.

Well, if he was round baling 4x5 bales to be silage...a 5055e is on the small end of the round baling tractors...

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Well, if he was round baling 4x5 bales to be silage...a 5055e is on the small end of the round baling tractors...

He only did 8 bales in plastic wrapped sillage, rest were net wrapped but yeah it's the smaller end of a round bailer period

 

[rockyridgefarm]

We love our 4310. It has done all that we could ask of it.

Selling it now, because we want something a bit bigger and needs have changed.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

We love our 4310. It has done all that we could ask of it.

Selling it now, because we want something a bit bigger and needs have changed.

 

[larboc]

I would stay away from the new "E" models, they look attractive for the price but all the "E" series I put my eye on, I didn't like. I have heard complaints from larger "E" tractors, just the other day a farmer I bought hay from was complaining about his 5055E, he said the 9 speed gear box was useless, he's always needing just above or just below gears all the time and wished he ordered the 12 speed.

I have a 4320 HST and like it a lot, my only complaint is the compact cab is a little too compact. Ergonomics are perfect though.

I thought the "E" had semi-permanently mounted loaders too or am I getting confused?