John Deere 430

[JD420]

Just purchased a clean 1992 430. Was wandering if anyone has a front frame extension and drive extension to run a snow blower. Thanks Nick

 

[beenthere]

He's a beauty, is that a brother John in the background - 1st pic?

 

[JD420]

Yes I also have a 420 and a 318. Lol.

 

[Mean Green]

That 430 is really nice. Usually they have the front screen all filthy and dented. Very clean and nice! I'd love to have a 430.

 

[JD420]

Thanks. I try and take care of my stuff. I looked for quite sometime to find a nice one. Those older tractors are getting hard to find in good shape and low hours. Luckily only had to drive 30 minutes to get it. My 420 is not quite as nice but it has 2500 hours and the previous owner wasn't easy on it. The 430 has alittle over 900 hours on it. Hopefully alot of life left in it. It's one of the few I've seen with the factory paint still on the underside of the deck.

 

[TCowner]

I owned three different 430 tractors over several years beginning in 1984 when the first one came out. They were fantastic tractors. The two speed rear axle was a great feature that was also included on the 420 but gave the tractor a nice "transport" speed. 11 mph is really moving on a garden tractor. But I used to do a couple of mowing jobs for neighbors and it nice to be able to move from job to job with some momentum.

I think losing the two speed axle was a huge loss when Deere dropped the 420 and 430 and replaced with the 425, 445 and 455. Sure, the foot operating hydrostat control was nice along with the tilt steering. But it also had a shorter wheelbase and was generally a smaller tractor. The 430 though was just so "manly". A brand new 430, or a nicely restored one, will go down and the sharpest lawn and garden tractor Deere ever built.

Deere should have just made a few changes like going to foot control hydro and a few other creature comforts and kept the 420/430 design. It was Deere's engineering at its best.

 

[JD420]

I agree. They are built very tough. I to wish they would have used a foot control for ground speed. It can be alot to handle when using a plow, changing the blade angel and height while trying to steer and control ground speed/direction. The tilt wheel option on the newer models doesn't do much for me. But I like the 4x4 option,and foot controls.

I think it will be interesting to see how the newer more technologically advanced x7xx series holds up in comparison to those older 400 series tractors.

I have been a GM technician for the past 15 years, and I can say at least with the pick up trucks the mid to late 90's trucks were a much higher quality build. Heavier materials, and far less problems. The newer trucks had more power,and creature comforts but seemed cheaper built with less quality materials. I guess the old saying still holds true. They don't build things like they used to. Lol.

 

[Deere Dude]

I worked in a factory where they made 430s and they are tough machines. The lift truck mechanics used them to push to pull lift trucks around. They put 3 sets of wheel weights on them and another big chunk of steel on the rear if I remember correctly and away they would go. They seldom had problems with them.

 

[JD420]

I have use mine to pull my boat from the barn to the driveway and had no problem power wise. I wouldn't want to get on a hill with it. The boat weighs 5500 lbs. I would be worried it would push the tractor and cause it to jack knife. I have seen them with 3000 plus hours on them. Not sure if that was the original engine or trans. But that's alot of run time.

My friend works for a refrigerator trailer repair company and they use the yanmar diesel to power the refer units. He said its not uncommon for them to have 10,000 hours on them before a failure.

 

[bigtiller]

I love to watch/listen to a 430 working, pulling a 10" moldboard plow.