JD Tractor ID Guide (For Dummies!)

Scotty370 · Mar 3, 2009

Can anyone direct my toward a quick guide? I've got a 318, and a 4200fwd/hst Compact. When I read through threads, I'd like to know how others tractors relate to mine, size-wise. This would allow me to see if the discussion would be relitive to my tractors. When I see 790, 3720, etc., etc, I've no idea what machine's being discussed. Any help? ~Scotty

Ordite · Mar 3, 2009

The website TractorData.com lists the specifications for a large number of tractors

mfreund · Mar 3, 2009

Spend more time drooling at the new tractors at the dealer!!

4runner · Mar 3, 2009

I had the same questions and was not been able to find a formal guide that answers your questions. The closest thing I found was "The Official Tractor Blue Book" 2007 that listed used tractor prices (all makes) by year. This included basic info like pto HP, weight, tranny type. By looking at things by year, you can see how the model numbering changed over time, which is very confusing for Deere.

Buying this book was a little easier than my first attempt...For this, I printed out data sheets for each tractor from tractor data.com, and organized them by generation/series in a three ring binder. (e.g., 55 series, 4x00 series, 4x10 series, etc.) I then went to machine finder, and printed out a couple of tractors in each series so I had an idea of what the used price was, and what the tractor looked like. A lot of work, and a lot of ink and paper. But it was educational.

I recommend buying the The Official Tractor Blue Book as a faster approach!

jenkinsph · Mar 3, 2009

If you haven't dealt with tractors for a long period of time the numbers can be very confusing, the old twenty series have some of the same model numbers as the newer ones such as the older 4520 a row crop tractor about 135 hp to 150 hp ( I forget) and the newer ones running from 53 hp to the newest one for 2009 at 60hp. Completely different tractors with the same model designation. Don't feel like you are alone on this.

The post above recommending the tractor blue book would be very useful to you.

Steve