Going to look at a 4300 this week

[Tim640]

Hi folks,

Well, I can't stand it anymore and I'll be looking to move from the X500 to a 30-35hp CUT pretty soon.

I'm going to look at a 4300 with about 1500 hours this week.

I'm looking for any advice on particular things I should check out on this tractor. It's a dealer, um, deal - a trade-in by a customer. It's got the 430 FEL and a 72" MMM. I've got a Woods 5' rotary cutter already, left over from a previous tractor buy that didn't quite work out.

I've got about two acres of mowing around the house to do, and another 6 acres of brush that's gradually coming around to pasture. And a bunch of little projects to get done like setting about a half mile of fencing and building a pond. (Gonna hire the pond digging out.)

Tim

 

[RoyJackson]

Good for you!!!

IMHO, the 4300 is one of the best mid sized CUTs Deere ever offered.

Just make sure everything works. Not much electronics on those machines...mostly mechanical and linkages.
The tractor should pull strongly in A and B ranges. C range is more for transport. I'm a gear (reverser, actually) guy...the gear and range selectors are spongy (like an old VW shift lever)...nature of the beast. But you should be able to shift easily. You can shift gears on the fly, but you need to stop to shift ranges.
The intake heater (cold weather device) is actuated by turning the key to "On" (clockwise, first detent) and pushing in (there be an indicator light on the instrument cluster). Hold it for a count of 20, then crank the engine. Yanmar engines start very quickly. You might see a bit of smoke initially...should clear up in a minute or so.
The 430 loader should lift the front end of the tractor just by using the curl function...even at low idle. This is a pretty strong loader, but at 1500 hours, it might be getting a bit loose...only you can determine if you can live with it (or dicker with the dealer for a trade up to the 300cx loader!).
The MFWD lever (on the panel just below and to the left of the operator's seat) should shift into 4 wheel assist easily when in motion with no clunks or other noises. Shifting out can be more difficult..I lift the front end (with the loader...I have a 4400, BTW) and it'll shift out easily.
That's about it...as long as you're comfortable with the tractor, it's probably a good purchase.

If you do buy it, pick up a can or two of Fluid Film and spray the gear (if a gear or reverser) and range (all models) linkage where they enter the transmission case...lube everything per the manual too, of course.

Good luck and post pictures if you buy it!

 

[Verticaltrx]

IMHO, the 4300 is one of the best mid sized CUTs Deere ever offered.

Honestly, I'd say the 4x00 series were some of the worst Deere ever made, but that's just my opinion.

To the OP, the 4400 and 4300 are the same tractor with different hp. Here is a blurb I wrote in another thread about the troubles we've had:

If it is an early model 4400 they had LOTS of known issues. We had one, a '98 model, and in the 1700hrs we had it the following failed:

-front axle seals (twice)
-rear axle seal and bearing
-rear axle housing (3pt mounting tab broke off, twice)
-hydraulic cooler
-seat suspension
-mid-pto engagement arm
-battery cables
-PTO clutch

There are probably some other things I am forgetting, this was by far the worst JD product we ever owned. The tractor wasn't abused, but was used on the farm almost daily for either loader work or bush hogging. These tractors were the first compacts JD built in the US and IMO they rushed them into production without enough R&D. Most of the issues we had are well documented ones and midway through the 4000-series run they changed a lot of parts to correct them. There are a lot of parts for the 4400 that are different based on early or late S/N. Not sure when the S/N break is however. Not trying to scare you, just letting you know some things to be aware of.

 

[RoyJackson]

Honestly, I'd say the 4x00 series were some of the worst Deere ever made, but that's just my opinion.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course...but it is very much of a minority opinion...one of the few I've read on TBN in the last 10 years or so...
That doesn't mean there haven't been trashed 4x00 series tractors...there has been, just as any machine can be trashed.

 

[dfkrug]

I'm looking for any advice on particular things I should check out on this tractor.

I have some of the same concerns as VERTICAL's, but I do like the
ergonomics of the 4300. I really like the easy-start, reliable, economical
engine, too.

The 430 loader is better than the 420 loaders I have, but watch out
for sloppy pin holes in the QA brackets.

The rear plastic fenders are durable, but the hood and engine covers
are fragile, and very expensive. Very expensive.

JD could not quite figure out how to do the front axles, so there were
several interations. I hope your unit is a later model.

Check the rear axle housings closely....the "ears" where the 3-pt hitch
connects.

What does the dealer want for his unit?

I sold my project 4300 this past summer for $15.8K with FEL and hoe.

I am keeping my other running 4300 for a while.

 

[Cidertom]

I had a 4300 that I put over 1K hours on. Good tractor, just not enough HP for current use.

Issues with 4300: Drop- recover on 3pt. The valve used on this series was subject to a leakdown to the point that the valve would recover - with a jerk. The fix was a high pressure filter installed behind the seat. Make certain the fix was done.

Key switch gets hot: Key switch can get very very hot. Never had a failure, but worried about it.

Front axle seal: I had to replace one of the big seals.

Battery tray: Original battery had overflow that caused heavy rusting. Didn't get to radiator but it was close. Some have reported this issue with damage, take a good look

CT

 

[Verticaltrx]

You're entitled to your opinion, of course...but it is very much of a minority opinion...one of the few I've read on TBN in the last 10 years or so...
That doesn't mean there haven't been trashed 4x00 series tractors...there has been, just as any machine can be trashed.

My opinion may be in the minority, but many of the problems we had were not. It was a very functional, easy to use and hard working tractor, when it was working...

I have some of the same concerns as VERTICAL's, but I do like the
ergonomics of the 4300. I really like the easy-start, reliable, economical
engine, too.

The 430 loader is better than the 420 loaders I have, but watch out
for sloppy pin holes in the QA brackets.

The rear plastic fenders are durable, but the hood and engine covers
are fragile, and very expensive. Very expensive.

I'll agree they had a good engine, never a bit of trouble with it. We also had the same issues with the hood, cowl and grill area cracking, had to replace all that before we traded it in, I think it was over $1000 for all the pieces.

One other thing to look out for on the loader is where the loader masts connect to the square tube mount. They can develop major wear here and make the whole loader feel 'rickety' with lots of side to side sway.

 

[RoyJackson]

The rear plastic fenders are durable, but the hood and engine covers
are fragile, and very expensive. Very expensive.

JD could not quite figure out how to do the front axles, so there were
several interations. I hope your unit is a later model.

Check the rear axle housings closely....the "ears" where the 3-pt hitch
connects.

I'm glad you responded, DF...after rebuilding 2 (or is it 3?) 4300's, you're one of the most knowledgable TBNers...
I knew about that early axle problem (scuffing, not a durability problem IIRC) and that was resolved in '99 or 2000...weren't any others to the best of my knowledge... That was one of the things I checked for when I bought my 4400.

I'm seen both the hoods and side panel on eBay fairly often...the hood (less any hinges or mounting hardware) go for just under $300. Don't recall the side panel prices.

Since I mentioned trashed 4x00 tractors...there was a TBNer (can't recall his screen name) who bought a 4300 from a company in western NYS. The mixed tires (turfs on the rear, industrials up front) should have been the giveaway...had problems ever since. I recall this since I as going to look at that same tractor (I was doing some work travel to the area).
So, for Tim...if it looks like a piece of crap, it probably is...

However, I still think the 4x00 series machines are great! Just wish I'd bought a low hour model in 2004 when I had the chance (bought a 790 instead).

 

[Tim640]

Thanks for all the great feedback. That gives me some things to look for.

The 4300 is a '99 model. VERTICAL, if you have any more thoughts on the serial number break, I'd welcome the input. Not sure if this one is new enough to have the right updates.

I know that quite a few folks haven't been happy with the plastic bits. Not to minimize that, but I'm much more concerned about the mechanicals -- axles/tranny/PTO, etc. So I'm looking for all the advice I can get about how to detect any issues or potential issues in advance.

I'm also eyeing the 4310s, the 4400s, and the 4410s. Trying to find a 4400 or 4410 with a mid PTO is tough, but it's what I'd prefer if I can find one for the right price. The extra HP in the same size chassis would be nice to have.

 

[Tim640]

I
Issues with 4300: Drop- recover on 3pt. The valve used on this series was subject to a leakdown to the point that the valve would recover - with a jerk. The fix was a high pressure filter installed behind the seat. Make certain the fix was done.

CT

Tom - Is this an additional part, or a change to a filter that's already there? In other words, if I don't have access to the original owner or service records, how would I detect if this has been done?

Although the fix doesn't sound too $$ if it wasn't done?