Opinions and advice for a John Deere 4200

[Jeep Guy]

Hello Again Everyone

Have determined that I really need to have a loader as part of my arsenal for property maintenance, now that spring has arrived and now have been in the home for a number of months have a better idea of what I want to accomplish over time.

I have run across a John Deere 4200 for sale by owner,

"John Deere 4200 compact diesel 4x4 hydro with 420 loader and new rear blade and roll bar. 1250 hrs. 30 H.P." asking price is 12.5K

I have a 1968 diesel MF135 that I got last year with a snow blower but from all that I have read even if I can find a loader that I could put on it that is in good shape, I am a little reluctant to do so. Concerend that the tire spindles on the 135 are not really meant for the weight involved with a FEL. Added to that if I invest the money and cost to install an FEL on it (would want it setup right), may just end up having the old girl cost as much as this 4200. I do love the 135 but just not up to everything that I need to do it and don't want to pay services to come along each time I want to do something, think that translates to even more cash.

Have attached a photo of the snow blower that I have with the MF 135 which I do want to keep, have 300-400 feet of driveway to clear out and this thing is fantastic. Another thread someone thought that the JD 4200 would be able to run this, would everyone agree or no?? I don't really know the weight of it but its a pretty standard style of 6 or 7 foot snowblower. As you can guess, not thinking of keeping two tractors.

My other thought keeping things in one and not having multiple vehicles, I had thought in time that if the 4200 would be up to the task, selling off an LA145 that I have and getting the mower attachment for this since it has a mid-mount PTO. If it would run the snow blower, it has a loader and ability to cut grass, would have everything in one package or am I crazy to think this??

Love to hear your thoughts and advice, maybe someone out there has done the same thing...just a note, they don't have the same deals here for new JD's here in Canada as the US and also not really looking to finance a vehicle.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and if you have some advice that would be great.

Cheers
Steve

 

[RoyJackson]

The only thing I've ever herd or read bad about the 4200 is that it lacks power for the size of the tractor.
There are a few TBNers, Egon (fellow Canadian) and arribal (guy is local to me) who own them. I cannot speak for Egon, but arribal did mention his tractor was a bit weak (he was comparing it to my 4400 Deere which has a reverser transmission).
I'd send a private message to Egon, if I were you...

I really don't think the 4200 will handle that big snowblower...6' would be pushing the 22 or 23 PTO HP of the 4200...7' probably wouldn't work at all.

This only other thing I'll add is, if you're really interested in the 4200...don't hesitate too long. Good used tractors sell very quickly.

 

[Jeep Guy]

Thanks Roy

That would indeed be the deciding factor not to be able to use the snowblower with it. I was surprised when one opinion in another post that I wrote thought that it would work at least as well as the 135. I tried to find something online about it, not really much, then I did see this video of a JD 4100 that looked encouraging, (since its difficult to judge proportions etc on video) YouTube - John Deere 4100 removing snow

Some other things that I saw about the 4200 also surprised me as it looks like a larger vehicle than I had in my mind.

It's probably just about the perfect physical size for my needs really, at least for combination of gardening, loader work for land fill, gravel etc and getting through the bit of bush that I have around the property, not to mention mowing all without really digging up the lawn. I suppose that there is the option of the front snowblower you can buy from JD but more money and probably not as capable as what I have.

To keep this below 12k looks like I will need to look backwards than forwards in manufacturing years unless a beefier unit comes around.

Thanks for the input and the help

Steve

 

[RoyJackson]

The front snow blower used for the 4200 is 59" wide...almost a foot narrower then the 6' unit.
The 4200 weighs in about 2900 lbs for the base tractor.
I doubt you find a smaller tractor that could handle that blower.

BTW, the 4100 is a considerably smaller tractor. That's probably a 60" blower on his 3PH.

Thanks Roy

That would indeed be the deciding factor not to be able to use the snowblower with it. I was surprised when one opinion in another post that I wrote thought that it would work at least as well as the 135. I tried to find something online about it, not really much, then I did see this video of a JD 4100 that looked encouraging, (since its difficult to judge proportions etc on video) YouTube - John Deere 4100 removing snow

Some other things that I saw about the 4200 also surprised me as it looks like a larger vehicle than I had in my mind.

It's probably just about the perfect physical size for my needs really, at least for combination of gardening, loader work for land fill, gravel etc and getting through the bit of bush that I have around the property, not to mention mowing all without really digging up the lawn. I suppose that there is the option of the front snowblower you can buy from JD but more money and probably not as capable as what I have.

To keep this below 12k looks like I will need to look backwards than forwards in manufacturing years unless a beefier unit comes around.

Thanks for the input and the help

Steve

 

[Egon]

Egon has a JD 4200 and likes it very much. It was a step up from a Kubota B7100. [the Kubota was an absolute MULE and preformed well beyond it's design]

The 4200 seems like a physically large tractor but only has 26 HP engine. For me it works well for moving dirt and snow. The #7 backhoe works just fine and could almost be rated as a small real backhoe.

Due to circumstances beyond my control I've used the tractor very little so my opinions should be factored in as very little.

Don't think it would have suitable PTO HP. for the snowblower shown.

My only complaint is a well though out ignition key location that seems to hit one's knee and break off. Kudo's to the designer. Otherwise there are no complaints.:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Jeep Guy

This thread on similar size (3520) and comments might help some re. front blower.

3520 and the 59" blower - TractorByNet.com

 

[simonds]

I have had my 4200 for about 12 years now. I have the front loader, backhoe, brushhog, post hole auger, stone rake, 3 pt. wood splitter, round hay bale spike. It has preformed well past my expectations. I will say that I have misused it by overworking it with the hoe and loader. I have 1200 or so hrs. on it and have only done routine maintance. I really like it.
Egon, Yes I had the same problem with the key getting broken off. After about the fourth time, I had a new one made and ground down the head of it so it is just large enough to get a hold of to turn it and haven't had the problem since.

 

[Egon]

After having a key break and get stuck in the switch I grind a groove on mine so they will break with enough left sticking out to get a pliers on.

 

[RoyJackson]

Jeep Guy

This thread on similar size (3520) and comments might help some re. front blower.

3520 and the 59" blower - TractorByNet.com

Good thread with one caveat: the 3520 has quite a bit more power then a 4200 (which would be more of an equivalent to the discontinued Deere 3120).

Thanks for the link, Beenthere!

 

[ff1221]

Thanks Roy

That would indeed be the deciding factor not to be able to use the snowblower with it. I was surprised when one opinion in another post that I wrote thought that it would work at least as well as the 135. I tried to find something online about it, not really much, then I did see this video of a JD 4100 that looked encouraging, (since its difficult to judge proportions etc on video) YouTube - John Deere 4100 removing snow

Some other things that I saw about the 4200 also surprised me as it looks like a larger vehicle than I had in my mind.

It's probably just about the perfect physical size for my needs really, at least for combination of gardening, loader work for land fill, gravel etc and getting through the bit of bush that I have around the property, not to mention mowing all without really digging up the lawn. I suppose that there is the option of the front snowblower you can buy from JD but more money and probably not as capable as what I have.

To keep this below 12k looks like I will need to look backwards than forwards in manufacturing years unless a beefier unit comes around.

Thanks for the input and the help

Steve

Sorry, my bad, that was me I thought the 135 was rated lower in horsepower, so I though the 4200 may be fairly equivalent, and would likely handle the blower the same. One thing about snowblowers, they take a lot of horsepower regardless of size, to efficiently relocate snow. Here are my tractors and blowers.