Branson 4020R

Hombre · Feb 21, 2017

Bought a new Branson 4020R last summer. Was out and about over in Bend, Oregon and stopped by a Branson dealer just to take a look. Well, after a bit a jaw boneing (nice fella) about tractors in general and Branson in particular, a good going over of the features with a "test drive" included we got down to "dealin". Good price on the Branson, a good price for my trade-in, we shook hands on it. I had previously looked at several other model tractors, NH, Mahindra, was very interested in the MF tractor, Yanmar, and Kubota. None of the dealers of these brands were even interested in a trade-in and really low-balled me less than half value. Following week I hauled my old tractor over and hauled my new one back home. Have a little over 60hrs on it now and it's been a pleasure to operate. An air seat on a tractor, who'ed a thunk...:cool2: Before I picked it up I had them move the tires out to the widest setting for stability, measures 78 inches across the R4's. I may want to pick up a wider bucket for it. :confused3: The ONLY thing about the tractor that I would like different (and it's not really a big deal) is the ability to use the shuttle shift without the clutch. That would make this machine just about perfect IMO. Plenty of power, easy to operate. This thing also has the sharpest turning radius I've ever seen...it's crazy, it'll turn on the rear wheel. I'll be watching this forum carefully as there is a lot of really good ideas and information on Branson tractors here.

Industrial Toys · Feb 21, 2017

I was thinking, just this last weekend that the Left hand reverser on my JD might just be better then sex! I don't have to, but almost always use it with the clutch. I think it's easier on the drivetrain.

Branson Bob · Feb 22, 2017

Hombre said:
Bought a new Branson 4020R last summer. Was out and about over in Bend, Oregon and stopped by a Branson dealer just to take a look. Well, after a bit a jaw boneing (nice fella) about tractors in general and Branson in particular, a good going over of the features with a "test drive" included we got down to "dealin". Good price on the Branson, a good price for my trade-in, we shook hands on it. I had previously looked at several other model tractors, NH, Mahindra, was very interested in the MF tractor, Yanmar, and Kubota. None of the dealers of these brands were even interested in a trade-in and really low-balled me less than half value. Following week I hauled my old tractor over and hauled my new one back home. Have a little over 60hrs on it now and it's been a pleasure to operate. An air seat on a tractor, who'ed a thunk...:cool2: Before I picked it up I had them move the tires out to the widest setting for stability, measures 78 inches across the R4's. I may want to pick up a wider bucket for it. :confused3: The ONLY thing about the tractor that I would like different (and it's not really a big deal) is the ability to use the shuttle shift without the clutch. That would make this machine just about perfect IMO. Plenty of power, easy to operate. This thing also has the sharpest turning radius I've ever seen...it's crazy, it'll turn on the rear wheel. I'll be watching this forum carefully as there is a lot of really good ideas and information on Branson tractors here.

Welcome aboard Hombre!

khsmiths · Mar 25, 2017

Iv found that I only need to push in the clutch when upshifting. When down shifting just put a little pressure on the stick and it will slid right into gear once the tractor has slow
down to the speed of that gear. Like shifting an old bump truck.

Hombre · Mar 26, 2017

khsmiths said:
Iv found that I only need to push in the clutch when upshifting. When down shifting just put a little pressure on the stick and it will slid right into gear once the tractor has slow
down to the speed of that gear. Like shifting an old bump truck.

I've driven my share of old Dump trucks, 5 and 4, 10sp Maxadyne, 13'sp etc;

using the clutch on the tractor for the trans isn't an issue as I run mostly in 2nd on the range selector and 3rd in the transmission. It's using the clutch to shift the shuttle to change direction is what I was referring to. Not a big deal really, but being able to shift the shuttle without the clutch could be a benefit if a guy was doing a lot of bucket work and would just make things "easier" in general.

LouNY · Mar 28, 2017

If you really want, you can have a power shuttle, the 8050 and 7845 have a power shuttle, on the 8050 the forward and reverse wet multi-disk clutches are the only clutches, you can just move the shuttle shift to forward and it will modulate itself and engage fairly smoothly, to reverse you simply pull the shuttle to neutral stop and pull to reverse, power shuttles are fairly common on the larger tractors used for loader work.
Lou

Hombre · Mar 29, 2017

LouNY said:
If you really want, you can have a power shuttle, the 8050 and 7845 have a power shuttle, on the 8050 the forward and reverse wet multi-disk clutches are the only clutches, you can just move the shuttle shift to forward and it will modulate itself and engage fairly smoothly, to reverse you simply pull the shuttle to neutral stop and pull to reverse, power shuttles are fairly common on the larger tractors used for loader work.
Lou

Or, I could have just bought the MF 40 horse or the 47hp Yanmar I was looking at, both have power shuttles....

Texasmark · Mar 29, 2017

Once you start using it it's second nature....like moving the shuttle arm from F to R; you have do that anyway. I'll take the tractor you selected over other options just for the sake of the no clutch feature and on that note, what does it cost to not have to disengage the power train when making power train direction changes?

On turning on a dime, that's why the brake pedals are separate....if you disconnect the pedal link. Turn loose of the steering wheel and mash the desired brake as hard as it takes to turn in the diameter you choose. Spinning within the tread width is easily accomplished especially if you have a 3 pt implement and it is airborne when you make the turn, like when doing row crop work.

Hombre · Mar 29, 2017

Texasmark said:
Once you start using it it's second nature....like moving the shuttle arm from F to R; you have do that anyway. I'll take the tractor you selected over other options just for the sake of the no clutch feature and on that note, what does it cost to not have to disengage the power train when making power train direction changes?

On turning on a dime, that's why the brake pedals are separate....if you disconnect the pedal link. Turn loose of the steering wheel and mash the desired brake as hard as it takes to turn in the diameter you choose. Spinning within the tread width is easily accomplished especially if you have a 3 pt implement and it is airborne when you make the turn, like when doing row crop work.

Thanks for the response. I agree, that's why I bought the tractor I bought. I don't mind using the clutch with the shuttle, it's waaaay better than my old gear tractor. My statement was just to say that a power shuttle would have made the Branson "perfect", instead of "almost perfect". Plus the Branson dealer I bought the tractor from was great to work with, gave me a good trade in value on my old tractor that no other brand dealer wanted to even mess with. The 4020R was 19 grand plus I got the canopy for another 150. Stopped by a Mahindra dealer yesterday to see if they knew of anybody who made an extension for the top link bracket (no one does so I made one) looked at a 38 horse Mahindra. Nice machine. 24 thou. 550.00 for a canopy.

I know how the brakes work, been running tractors since I was around 12 years old for my Dad. I'm now 70, just starting to get pretty good at it. But thanks for the action, very good information and it may benefit others who may read this thread.

Texasmark · Apr 2, 2017

Hombre said:
Thanks for the response. I agree, that's why I bought the tractor I bought. I don't mind using the clutch with the shuttle, it's waaaay better than my old gear tractor. My statement was just to say that a power shuttle would have made the Branson "perfect", instead of "almost perfect". Plus the Branson dealer I bought the tractor from was great to work with, gave me a good trade in value on my old tractor that no other brand dealer wanted to even mess with. The 4020R was 19 grand plus I got the canopy for another 150. Stopped by a Mahindra dealer yesterday to see if they knew of anybody who made an extension for the top link bracket (no one does so I made one) looked at a 38 horse Mahindra. Nice machine. 24 thou. 550.00 for a canopy.

I know how the brakes work, been running tractors since I was around 12 years old for my Dad. I'm now 70, just starting to get pretty good at it. But thanks for the action, very good information and it may benefit others who may read this thread.

I made a 3rd member for a long application by taking a regular one and cutting it in half and using 2 pieces of inch and a half angle iron welding it up for the desired length. Works great.

On dealer support, My 6530C 4wd, Cummins B 3.3 NA 4 cyl naturally aspired, 24F-R tranny, 3 speed ind. PTO, air ride seat, on and on with goodies, with Skid Steer spec QD FEL implement bracket, hay spike, 6' HD bucket, and 6' med duty mower was $37.2k. I bought it the last day of September in 2007 and Branson had a $1k discount which I picked up. Plus the dealer took a MF 35, JD 4010 with loader recently overhauled, and a Ford 3000 in trade which no other dealer would take a trade. Smoking deal and got a better tractor than I would have from any of them as I shopped all the popular colors in the spring of '07 and they just didn't have their act together at 65 hp. Besides the Branson red is just pretty.....grin.