448 on a 4310?

[45V]

Long time lurker, first time poster! As a first time tractor owner this place has been a great resource. I was close to buying an overpriced lawn tractor on steroids before I found TBN. You guys saved me from a dangerous case of toosmallus tractorus! As a result of what I learned here I settled on, and just took delivery of, a new 4310. It was supposed to be configured with a 300x and 48bh. The dealer later called to say he didn't have any 48's available, so he said he would do a 448 instead; who was I to complain! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. He called the following day and said the 448 would not fit the 4310 (4410 and up), but JD "may" have a mounting kit available for the 4310 sometime in 2005, so I was back to the 48.

So....does anyone have specs on the 448? Has anyone else heard that the 448 might be fitted for the 4310 sometime soon? Is it worth waiting for? All I can find is that it digs 3" deeper than the 48. The excavator style boom looks like it could dig a bit closer without moving the machine, not a big deal to me (but it sure looks cool).

In the meantime I just wish it would snow so I could do something with it!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to becomming a poster.
I'll admit to not being familiar with the 448, but the 4410 is the same frame size as the 4310, so I would think would have the same bh limitations.
Also, I doubt any retrofits will be coming down the pike, because the 4210, 4310, and 4410's are about to be replaced, if rumor has it right.
Glad you are on the right track (at least feel you are) with the 4310, but sorry the bh isn't working out for you.

You said ""so I was back to the 48."" If you get a mounting kit, does that mount the 448? or is it to mount the 48? I didn't quite understand why you were "back to the 48", unless that is only if the mounting kit doesn't apppear.

I'd lean pretty hard on the dealer to get this one figured out for you, in your favor and with a unit that works in combination with a bh, one way or another. Maybe a good deal on the new models if they indeed appear next spring or sooner. Your dealer may not be saying but he 'knows' something about what is coming. Keep an open communication there, and you will (should) learn what is coming up.

 

[beenthere]

45V
If me, I would upgrade that loader to the 300CX, which has more capacity and is heavier duty. It looks like it is the loader ready to go onto the new line of replacement tractors that are coming.
The 300CX loader can be fitted with the grapple bucket, the skidsteer attachment, and the 4-n-1 bucket, whereas the 300X cannot. With a bh on, the heavier FEL would be necessary, IMO. Also, the resale value of 4300 and 4400 tractors with the smaller FEL is noticably less.
This site has some good FEL information comparing the different sizes and options. 300X and 300CX

 

[45V]

As I understand it the mounting kit for a 448 bh is different for the 4310 and 4410 even though the frame size is similar. The mounting kit for the 48 is different from the 448. The dealer has no problem delivering the 48, he has the mounting kit in stock and he just has to drive to Maine to get the bh. He has the 448 bh in stock, but there is no mounting kit for the 4310/448 yet. He is more than willing to set me up with the 448 (at no additional cost) if I am willing to wait. I guess my question is, is it worth the wait?

No complaints with the dealer, he's been great to work with. He's giving me the opportunity to get the most current equipment possible, at no additional cost, if I can wait a bit. I agree that it doesn't seem logical that JD would rush to fab new bh hardware for a discontinued tractor , but stranger things have happened.

 

[beenthere]

I understand better now. That 448 looks pretty impressive, to say the least.
I looked up the 448, at this site and see it doesn't mention fitting the 4310 or the 4410. It does however fit the 4510 and up, plus the '20' series new tractors that replaced the 4510 and up series.
448 info

 

[45V]

It's probably too late to switch to the 300CX since I have the tractor sitting in the garage with the 300X. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif From what I was told the old and new model FEL's don't compare well, but the 300x sort of replaces the 430, with more lift and breakout capacity, but less height. I wasn't aware the CX would fit on the 4310, I'll ask the dealer what's involved in switching. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[beenthere]

I don't mean to rain on your parade.
I would just suspect that the 300X replaces the 420, but I couldn't find 420 specs to compare.
I do know that my 430 FEL manual specs, that I just looked up, compares almost exactly to the 300CX specifications, within a percent in most cases, which I suspect is just rounding off new numbers.

Good luck. I just want to see you get what you need and the best that Deere has to offer, not what is convenient for the dealer (which I understand as well).

 

[rockyridgefarm]

My bet is the 448 won't fit the midchassis. The adapters are there for the 4510-4710, which are discontinued. If the 447 is a little improvement over the 47 (like the 448 over the 48) the engineers probably felt ot was just right. The 448 might be too much for them. Or, it could just be a marketing move.... You want the 448, step up...

 

[cef2lion]

In JD parts the kit to mount a 448 on a 4310 is BM19564. My guess is the dealer can not get the kit as yet. I would ask the Dealer to call JD and find out when the kit would be available. If you don't need the BH till say spring I would wait and get the newer BH. I like the looks of the 448. I have the 48 on my 4410 with no complaints.

Craig

 

[rockyridgefarm]

OOPS research first, answer second... Wonder why they didn't show compatibilty in the chart?