John Deere 4520

[Kodiak45]

I'm about to go look at a John Deere 4520 and the guy is asking $5500. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as to anything specific to look for and what issues would be a deal breaker. It obviously needs some tlc at that price and it's been sitting for 5 years. He said it would start with ether cause it needs an injector line or something.... Are some leaks ok and others not? Please give me some ways to test certain functions. I was going to test the clutch by holding the brake while letting the clutch out. I don't wanna get in over my head with this one cause I'll need a hauler to move it anywhere. I've seen some good looking one's for just shy of 10k, but that could just be fresh paint.. I've got 2 hours until I go see it... please help

 

[bucktaker]

a compact 4520 ?

 

[Kodiak45]

No, the big 4520. 70's model

 

[Kodiak45]

Sorry. I forgot there was a newer model 4520. I believe this one is turbo charged. How much black smoke is tolerable and I assume blue smoke should be none..?

 

[Kodiak45]

It's got a 1000pto, and he said he had an adapter to convert to 540. Is this a big pita and will change the shaft length on my pto implements?

 

[jenkinsph]

Most of the 4020's had two shaft stubs that you plugged in the housing to change from 540 to 1000 rpm. There should be a socket to plug the unused shaft in above the pto cross ways. He might be referring to this.

 

[Kodiak45]

I went and looked at the 4520 and I would have to take a battery to start it and the seller is basically saying "as is" condition cause he doesn't want to fool with it. He guaranteed that it runs and said he would refund me if I changed my mind after I got it home. My plan would be to restore the paint and have anything fixed that needed it. The paint was dull, but not rusty. Any thoughts?

 

[RoyJackson]

I went and looked at the 4520 and I would have to take a battery to start it and the seller is basically saying "as is" condition cause he doesn't want to fool with it. He guaranteed that it runs and said he would refund me if I changed my mind after I got it home. My plan would be to restore the paint and have anything fixed that needed it. The paint was dull, but not rusty. Any thoughts?

Don't depend on any offer to refund your money.

Take a battery and see if it runs...you might be able to jump it by connecting jumper cables from your vehicle to the tractor battery (or, if no battery, hook up directly to the tractor's battery cables. Make sure the transmission is in neutral!!!!!!!

Personally, I think it's the seller's responsibility to get it started. If he can't, or won't, start the machine, I'd look elsewhere for a tractor.

 

[Kodiak45]

It definitely isn't an optimal buying situation, but it would be a good deal at the right price assuming everything is working and if I were to decide to purchase, I would surely have some sort of written agreement on a right to rescission if the turbo ended up being bad or the hydraulics were shot. He said a guy who looked at it got it firing on ether, but it wouldn't stay running cause of an injector or more. If it were up and running then the price would surely go up by three thousand or so. I'm assuming it will take a grand to get it back running and performing regular maintenance.

 

[jenkinsph]

I really think you should pass on this tractor for a few reasons, low build numbers will make parts hard to come by, known serious injection system problems and it isn't running to test everything else.

If you are looking for cheap horsepower in 2wd consider Case 1370 and the like, higher production numbers and good overall tractors. I am looking at the 2294 thru 3594 case and caseih tractors, not as costly to buy as the Deere's. I am going with mfwd but I have seen some 2wd tractors that look good for not much money.

 

[Kodiak45]

What about a jd 4320? I'm going to look at one today and just curious if anyone knows any issues with this model?

 

[Kodiak45]

I think I would like to stick with jd, simply for the restoration aspect. Not that they are any better than others, but I've always wanted a big green tractor..

 

[jenkinsph]

A 4320 was sold in higher numbers and shares most of the 4020 parts making it an easier restoration project. I would not rule out a 5020 either if you want a fel on the tractor as it has a much heavier built front end. My 4020 was also a good tractor but the front end was a little weak compared to the new models. Fels were not nearly as popular then as they are now.