JD2020 Hi/Lo shot

Rob2020 · Oct 20, 2017

First post, so Hi all. I have a 1969 diesel 2020 that the Hi/Lo is shot, in fact it grande'd which ruined the clutch housing. When looking for parts it seems that JD has stopped making them and the re-manufactured ones are going for over $3k making that a tough option. So I had a thought, is it a good one?

Since the Hi/Lo is a fairly common issue and since JD also made the 2020 without it, I was thinking I could find a doner tractor with a bad motor and simply split both at the clutch housing and re-connect. However, finding a 2020 in this condition has not been fruitful.

According to the parts manual, the same clutch housing was used 17 different tractors in addition to the 2020; 300, 301, 301A, 302, 400, 401, 401B, 820, 830, 1020, 1520, 1530, 2030, 2040, 2240, 2440 and 2640.

So does anyone know what issues I might have by using one of the 17 other tractors? Maybe one of them will make the swap easier? Maybe there are other tractors that will simply bolt together? Other options?

Thanks so much.
Rob

beenthere · Oct 20, 2017

:welcome: to TBN

Hope you get some answers to your question.. sorry that I'm no help. Stopped production of the 2020 in 1971..

Tx Jim · Oct 20, 2017

My WAG is flywheel housing on 2020 engine will fit a whole lot more clutch housings than 17 models. My research revealed 31 models that the clutch housing would bolt to 2020 flywheel housing. I've never seen a JD utility tractor hyd hi-lo explode. & I think 155-165 psi hyd pressure will not explode much. Did someone tow this 2020 with trans in a gear?
HTH's,Jim

Rob2020 · Oct 20, 2017

The tractor hasn't been towed in the 10+ years I've owned it, was using the FEL that day to assist changing out a corner post when the motor bogged down and died. Motor would run fine if the 2 stage clutch was all the way in but would bog down again with the slightest release.

I have already split the tractor so the damage is apparent and in talking with the local shop and the salvage dealers they tell me its not uncommon.

The part # you looked up is different than the ones I found, I will go back and double check. thanks for the clue.
Rob

Tx Jim · Oct 20, 2017

There's a serial number break but IRRC the earlier part numbers substitute to the later part number.

Zebrafive · Oct 21, 2017

16 years ago the Hi/Lo unit in my 2030 "took out" the clutch housing. What was ruined was the bearing area. The JD dealer said $6000 to fix. I found a high hour 2030 with Hi/Lo and swapped the parts to mine. After about 10 years of searching I found just the clutch housing from another JD that was being parted. I still have to swap this clutch housing in to the 2030 "parts" tractor and try and recoop some of my money.

I think I would have been money ahead to part the 2030 and found something else, rather than fix it.

Birdhunter1 · Oct 21, 2017

Have you talked to these guys? Cook Tractor Inc.

They are fairly local to you (us) and they have alot of different machines in salvage.

Rob2020 · Oct 21, 2017

Thanks for all the input, the part# (R634334) mentioned above to search for compatible tractors is the flywheel housing, I was using the clutch housing and from the looks of we were using the same parts search engine.

The $6k repair quoted above for the repair 10 years ago still holds fairly true today, thus not really a viable option. This is why I was trying to find a doner tractor for the entire rear half.

It has been a couple of months since I called around to the salvage yards and at that time they didn't have anything, so I need to do that again. But was hoping someone on here could point me to better option, which may indeed be to simply part this 2020 out and start fresh. Thanks again and keep the ideas flowing.

jd110 · Oct 21, 2017

If I were looking for a donor tractor, I would search for tractors that used the same Hi Lo assembly. Some of the models that share the same clutch housing have different clutch splines and pilot bearing sizes. AR82016 is the HiLo assembly. 1020, 1520, 1530, 2020, 2030, 2240, as well as some models made for countries other than USA all use the same HiLo and should be direct bolt on fit.