Just throwing this out there.....wonder if they will ever use Powertech engines in the under 40hp tractors. Now since Yanmar is making Cub Cadet CUT's.
...but I just ordered, and am still waiting on the factory to build mine. If waiting a extra month would have meant I'd end up with a significantly better tractor, at the beginning of a new 8 year cycle, then i'll be disapointed...
You will not see PowerTech engines in the 3 Series and below until some outside company needs those size engines. There is nowhere near enough volume on the under 40hp side for it to be feasible for Deere to R&D and build those engines in house. Remember the big 4 Series (4510, 4610, 4710) (and your 110TLB, Martian) still ran the Yanmar engines. It was only because Deere needed those engine sizes for other outside customers that we were able to get them for our usage. In fact, a birdie told be that there is a particular product line that is going from Deere PowerTech engines to Yanmar engines for 2013 Model Year...
You will not see PowerTech engines in the 3 Series and below until some outside company needs those size engines. There is nowhere near enough volume on the under 40hp side for it to be feasible for Deere to R&D and build those engines in house. Remember the big 4 Series (4510, 4610, 4710) (and your 110TLB, Martian) still ran the Yanmar engines. It was only because Deere needed those engine sizes for other outside customers that we were able to get them for our usage. In fact, a birdie told be that there is a particular product line that is going from Deere PowerTech engines to Yanmar engines for 2013 Model Year...
I thought the range shift was one of the 2011 improvements? In the video '3X20/4X20 CUTS' at this link they mention it: John Deere Green Carpet
IMHO you are much better getting your new tractor now, before the new Tier restrictions, costs, etc.
I thought I heard that some of the JD skid steers, that used the PowerTech 4024T engines, are moving back to the Yanmar engines. If that is true, I does that mean the 4000 series is heading that way also, maybe due to emissions and cost? If so, that is too bad; the PowerTech 4024T is a nice engine...