Buying Advice considering a 4120

[tschwerm]

I am interested in buying a used 4120 any inputs on quality issues on the 2004 model year?

 

[wolc123]

I have a 2005 model that I bought new and now have about 300 hours on. I know that aint many hours, but I split the work up ammoung (6) tractors. The 4120 has been great with just one minor issue. About a year ago, it started getting a little intermittant on start-up. It seemed that I needed to wiggle the switch to get it to go, sometimes for up to 5 minutes or so. I even bought a new key switch ($40), thinking that might be the problem, but it didnt make any difference. The tractor never once failed to start, but sometimes the delay was an inconvenience. The trouble turned out to be a little corrosion on the post on the starter solenoid. I cleaned that up, gave it a shot of WD-40, and it has been trouble free ever since. Some folks complain that these tractors are loud, and they are at idle, but they dont get much louder when operated at pto rpm (about 3/4 throttle). I have the 400x loader with heavy duty bucket on mine and that has also been trouble free. I use this tractor, with R1 tires and powerreverser trans, primarily on a 6-ft rotary mower. It handles that with ease, even cutting thick stuff at good speed. I cant imagine why anyone would need more power in a tractor of this frame size. I also use it for a little tillage in the spring with a 2x12" plow or an 8 ft pull-type disc. These implements are grossly undersized for this tractor, but using them I can get out there and get the work done before all the wet spots are completely dried up on my mucky bottomland farm, letting me get my crops in an average of a month earlier than when all I had was 2wd power. It is great to be able to roll right thru the mud-holes and not even need to lift the plow. One time, when I did loose traction with the disc, I just pulled myself out with the 400X loader and never lost a minute getting that field ready to plant. I could never leave a loader on a 2wd tractor while doing tillage as it takes all the weight off of the traction tires. This is my first 4wd and I would never again be without one. It pushes snow with a blade better than any of my 2wd's, even bigger ones, without even the need for tire chains (those loaded R1's are great). This tractor also exhibits almost unbelievable fuel economy, using about half of what the 2wd, Ford 2000 diesel, that it replaced, did while pulling a disc and about 15% less while rotary mowing. All in all, it has been a great tractor and I would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[tschwerm]

Thank you for the reply, sounds like I will continue pursuing the 4120.

I kind of thought in this size tractor this is the smallest one using an actual JD built engine. Maybe waving the American flag a little.

I have also been looking at a T2310 New Holland. I have a completely restored 1959 Ford 601 Workmaster with a Wagner FEL that my dad bought new I am considering trading that in and the New Holland dealer is trying real hard (competitively priced a T2310).

 

[wolc123]

I also looked at NH back when I bought the JD. I found that the JD was a better buy back then because it outspec'd the NH T?40, that I considered, by pretty good margins in almost all categories (hp, loader lift weight capacity and height, hyd flow, etc), and when I priced an optional quick attach bucket for the NH (standard on JD), the tractors cost exactly the same. The JD is not the universal skidsteer quick attach, but it works the same and lets you drop the bucket real quick which I like to do when I am mowing. Leaving the loader frame on but taking the bucket off leaves the tractor almost perfectly ballasted for mowing with a big 6 foot rotary mower on back. This eliminates all the bounce you get if you leave the bucket on, and gives forward visibility nearly as good as if the whole loader was removed. As I said earlier, I cant imagine why anyone would need more power on a gear tractor of this size than this the smallest of the JD powertechs puts out. Stepping up to a 4320 or so might make some sense with the less efficient hydro trans I guess. Hydraulic lift capacity is the same for the 4120 as it is for the 4720, and I know for sure that I can move dirt a lot faster with my 4120 than my nieghbor can with his 4720. (My rear tires are loaded while his are not which makes it tough for him to put any of that excess hp into the ground). Buying American was important to me also and that American engine on the 4120 has never let me down (remember folks, Mexico is part of the American continent). I had to add that last qualifier because the Kubota or NH folks are always quick to jump on me if I talk about a domestic engine. I am not sure if the engine is manufactured in Mexico or not, but it would not bother me if it was. The tractor is painted the right color anyhow, and I know it was assembled in USA, somewhere in GA). This is only the second tractor that was ever purchased new on my family's farm. The first one was a JD M my grandad bought back in 1950 and it is still going strong out at my dad's place. It would not surprise me a bit to see this 4120 go 60+ years like that M has. In most cases I think you would do much better selling an old Ford than trading. I got more for my 2000 than I paid for it when I sold it myself, while the NH dealer only offered me about half that on trade.

 

[radman1]

I am interested in buying a used 4120 any inputs on quality issues on the 2004 model year?

I don't recall any specific issues with the new series of JD CUTs. Their early attempts (early 4300, 4400, etc) had some issues but those have been resolved. I have had JD, Kubota and Case-IH CUTs. IMHO, the quality of the JDs and Kubota's are equal, the Case-IHs a little less. I had one of the earlier DX29 models Case-IHs and had some issues. I like the HST twin pedal much better in the JDs than the others rocker pedals.

 

[tschwerm]

Thanks for the information.

I am finding there are not a lot to choose from used. I live in Wisconsin and searching the used market has me looking in several states to find something in a price range. This of course is going to make any transaction more difficult since I would rather trade my tractor instead of selling it outright.

 

[tschwerm]

In some of my readings I have seen remarks that this engine in the 4120 is very loud, however one the the local dealers said it quiets down after warming up ( he started a new one to show me some of it's features and it was loud but it was also only about 15 degrees out) any comments would be welcomed!!

 

[wolc123]

I think a lot of the "loud" issue is because, at idle speed, these engines are loud relative to many others including the Yanmar engines on the smaller JD CUT's. As I said earlier, they dont get that much louder at pto rpm where most work is actually done (but where you probably will not operate on a test drive at the dealers lot). Although I usually wear ear protection when operating this tractor (JD 4120) at high rpm, it is no where near as loud at these speeds as the Ford 2000 diesel which it replaced. Also, it is not loud enough at lower rpms to require ear protection. I actually like the sound of this engine and I think it is the turbocharger that gives it the pleasing tone, and also limits the noise level at higher rpms. I actually dont think you are going to find many engines by other manufacturers that make equal power at pto rpm with less noise, especially if they lack a turbocharger. It may quiet down a bit after it warms up but I use a block heater in the cold months so I never really get to hear a "cold" start. Way up north where I am, I would never go without a blockheater. Repeated cold-starting any diesel will severely shorten the time between rebuilds. If I plug her in for an hour or two, it starts just as quiet and smooth when it is 10 below zero than it does on an 80degree summer day.

 

[tschwerm]

Thank you for the update I am hopefully going to get a chance this week to test drive one, and should hear on a dealer that expressed interest in my trade.

 

[radman1]

In some of my readings I have seen remarks that this engine in the 4120 is very loud, however one the the local dealers said it quiets down after warming up ( he started a new one to show me some of it's features and it was loud but it was also only about 15 degrees out) any comments would be welcomed!!

I have a cab 4520 and the noise is no louder than my prior cabbed JD 3720 inside the cab. It is definitely more noticable standing by the engine of the 4520 but not that annoying several feet away. It seems to be more of knock in then sound rather than just loudness. It may just be the quality/pitch of the knock that makes it more apparent. It would be interesting to know if the true decibels are different than other CUTs of similar size. The engine noise may be more apparent when cold, but when the engine is warmed, I don't think there is a dramatic difference in the noise. My prior 1994 JD 5300 open station had the same engine sound. Like others have said, at higher rpms, the engine doesn't seem that much louder.