Buying Advice John Deere 2040 - YES or NO - ALL comments appreciated!

[speedracer2020]

Hello all. New to the forum as am now new to the world of tractors, pastures and "bush hogging." Wife and I purchased a house in Nov that came with several pastures totaling around 10 acres. Had someone lined up to cut, bale and haul the hay away with NO charge to me. Didn't pan out. Found a kid in the neighborhood and he had a tractor so we paid him to cut the pastures. He just left to move in with his dad in another state. SOooo, I am now in the need to purchase a tractor. I tried to narrow it down to: a diesel engine, 40-50 HP, PTO - 35+ HP and a rotary cutter (bush hog) with a 6' diameter. I also did NOT want anything new with all the computers, software, circuit boards and on and on. Was also trying to keep the costs of the tractor in the $5k-$7k price range. Figured this would be the right setup to do this one simple task - cut the pasture grass. I have been looking all around the area and visiting the local tractor/farm places trying to find such an animal. I just did find a 1977 John Deere 2040 tractor. It has new tires all around, maintenance records, intact canopy, hydraulic 3 point lift, rear wheel weights and a front weight and only 1383 hours. It started right up and no black smoke while I was driving it around the parking lot. Pulled the little dip stick out of the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the oil was clean. The steering wheel shimmies as do the front wheels. Looking under the tractor to the pivot point you can see slop which is causing this. The dealer/seller has agreed to put in new parts to stop this. He has also agreed to 'throw in' a Frontier RC2072 Lift-type Rotary cutter. AM I going in the right direction with my search/purchasing criteria? WILL this tractor do the job (the salesmen all say it will - SURPRISE - SURPRISE). Is this model a dependable one? Older tractors in this great of shape are a pain to find and those that are selling realize they can and WILL get more $$ for them. IF this isn't a good tractor I would rather know now than AFTER I give him my money. Sorry for the lengthy post but wanted to give you all the details. ANY AND ALL comments will be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU...

 

[jaxs]

I have been around tractors used to farm and ranch since I was born and a 2040 is secound to none in that horse power from late 70s. Only thing I don't like the sound of is"slop in steering" of tractor repersented to have only 1400 hours on it. A 2040 with only 1400 hours is just getting broke in and worth high dollars. I wouldn't reject it simply because of worn steering but it sure could indicate a dishonest "tractor jockey" taking advantage of an inexperienced buyer. In your situation I reccomend paying a tractor mechanic or someone with lots of experience to inspect any tractor before money change's hands.

 

[fried1765]

I have been around tractors used to farm and ranch since I was born and a 2040 is secound to none in that horse power from late 70s. Only thing I don't like the sound of is"slop in steering" of tractor repersented to have only 1400 hours on it. A 2040 with only 1400 hours is just getting broke in and worth high dollars. I wouldn't reject it simply because of worn steering but it sure could indicate a dishonest "tractor jockey" taking advantage of an inexperienced buyer. In your situation I reccomend paying a tractor mechanic or someone with lots of experience to inspect any tractor before money change's hands.

EXCELLENT ADVICE!

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Here's some information on the 2040 (you don't mention what year it is): TractorData.com John Deere 2 tractor information

Enjoy the site.

 

[Bocephous]

Is this the tractor?

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[fried1765]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Here's some information on the 2040 (you don't mention what year it is): TractorData.com John Deere 24 tractor information

Enjoy the site.

"you don't mention what year it is" ?????

OP statement: "I just did find a 1977 John Deere 2040 tractor"

 

[jaxs]

"you don't mention what year it is" ?????

OP statement: "I just did find a 1977 John Deere 2040 tractor"

IMO,year model is of little importance when it come's to tractors. Condition is everything and unlike 4000 Fords where 4 cyld and 3 cyld years are totally different tractors, other than .2 liter difference of 3.7 and 3.9,a 2040 is the same for all years of production. Did I mention that Deeres from that era are ground pounding beasts that can outlast and work circles around most new tractors of any color. I well remember when the "New Generation" Deere came out in early 60s,dealers couldn't fill orders for 4020s as fast as people were buying them after seeing what their neighbors 4010 could do. Farmers quickly moved to 100+ hp tractors but to this day,many of those 4010s and 4020s remain beneath sheds alongside 400 horsepower behemoths belonging to grandsons of origional owners.

 

[radios1]

John Deere products have the highest resale value, and is easiest to get parts for!..

 

[speedracer2020]

THANK YOU ALL for your informative and candid comments. I look forward to future visits to this forum as I am sure my questions will increase as time goes on.

 

[Wagtail]

"you don't mention what year it is" ?????

OP statement: "I just did find a 1977 John Deere 2040 tractor"

OK, I missed that amongst his solid block of text.