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SW Ohio | Been watching JD prices as I need a planter tractor. I want a 4440 but am flexible. So why am I seeing 4840s for less than 4430s? I checked Tractor Data and that's what they show too. I'm tempted to look at a couple of them but don't want the extra compaction. Are they less desirable to everyone because of the weight or size, or do they have some fault?
Thanks,
Dave |
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south east SD | I think because it has a "wide frame", I would think if you needed cheap horse power and weight it would do you fine. |
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Saronville NE | Main reason they are cheaper, 1000 pto only, and most guys wantong a 200 hp tractor want FWA, just cant get the power tp the ground. Know lots of 4840s in this are 225 hp plus, but cant get all that power to the ground. Good ol workhorse, if you find one thats been taken care of youd pry be fine. |
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Canmore Ab. Canada | It could be the 8 speed powershift has some fairly big steps in the working range. I believe it is the only transmission they ever had. Dan... |
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| Just using my own observations as a reference.....
Whenever you see a 4840 "for sale" , you had better assume the power shift trans is on it's last leg. {Mega $$$ to fix right.}
In general, these tractors were worked hard and put up wet for many years.
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Sac & Story county IA | Guys just liked 4440's better and will spend more on keeping them.
The 4840's were bought to pull the crap out of them. And they did. With about any warm body running it.
Decent piece of power but each step forward was good, 15 speed trans, front wheel drive.
I like my old 48, but how did it get to be 29 years old? |
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Eastern Iowa | As the other said:
big 1000 rpm pto only
large frame
8 speed powershift only
Fuel hog
That would be the main ones on my list why they are cheaper that other tractors. |
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Effingham, IL | The story I heard was the JD engineers said a quad range would not handle all the hp of a 4840, so they sold them with PS trans only. Now 25+ years latter the PS are not holding up as good as the quads on 4640's running the same hp. I have two 4640's and a 4440 no real difference in fuel. I think the 540/1000 pto and small frame do make for a better market for the 44XX size, but I do prefer 4640 for pulling and ride. The large frames are just a whole lot more tractor. |
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NW VA | We've got a 48 for sale if anybody wants one. Worst drawbacks for us is the 2wd and 8 speed. I agree with the others, size is clumsy and 540 pto would be nice. Also have probably spent over half the value of the machine over the last year without even major tranny or engine work. |
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Eastern North Carolina | Those old 4840's were the replacements for the 6030's.... Thus, the large frame. |
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Northern Illinois | 4840 was a great tractor, but as stated previously, only 1 pto option, and most that want 200 hp are going to get an 8 wheeler, or a FWA. The reason the 4440 is so popular is it has both ptos, 140 hp, and is a small enough tractor to do lots of jobs, but also big enough to do many jobs for a mid size operation. They are just more desirable is all, and it all comes to supply and demand. Like high quality farmland, they aren't making anymore of it, just like 4440 JDs. My uncle has a 4840 that he has owned since it was brand new with 6000 hrs on it. The tractor is perfect. It was his main tractor for years, he planted, did his tillage, pulled wagons, everything with the 4840. It is a great tractor. |
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Walnut Grove MN USA | I bought a 4840 for that exact same reason and purpose. My intention was for just a 12 row planter tractor and now I went and traded planters and the 48 will handle the bigger 16/31 row Kinze just fine . If I had bought a 4430/40 I would be grumbling about buying too small of tractor. I didn't really need the pto so no issue there. Got a powershift that had recently been gone thru and I hate the quadrange anyway. My only complaint is the shift is rougher than I expected, much rougher than my 4020, but not bad between 4 and 5 which is the gears I use when planting. Mine had cast iron wheels for inner and duals plus weights inside the drivers. Pulled the duals and weights off and put stamped steel dual wheels on and made a whole different tractor out of it, handles and responds much better. Didn't need the weight as it doesn't do much heavy work anyway. |
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East Central Arkansas | I would say the rough shifting 8 speed power shift is the worse problem. If you need a tractor to pick up a heavy 3 point load it will do it. With good tires on the duals and pulling 3 point hitch loads I would think it would do about what the front wheel assist would do in most cases. |
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Gibson City Il | 4840 hands down a great machine. As said earlyer the eight speed was the only option that would hold the power and along the lines of durabiliy i have seen far more quad ranges that had lots of trouble many more than the 8 speeds the other thing i know about the 48 and the trany is anything over 250 hp will tear it up. There is just almost nothing that you cant do with a 48 i still see them selling all over the 20 thousand range. i could be parcial because i have run one everyday for several years that have well over 6000h on it and have had very little trouble. I recantly ran a 4850 witch is a 4840 with a 15 speed and MFD and it was a rough ride but still has a good place. And lets not forget the 4840 is way better that any 6030 or 520 to ever turn a wheel. |
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Brazilton KS | Stripped down and on steel wheels, they really aren't all that much heavier. The main downsides are the lack of 540 PTO and the 8 speed PS trans. There's huge holes in the operating range where you simply cannot find a gear, they don't shift all that nicely, and when they die, you can't really afford to have one worked on in a dealer shop. They are quite reliable, but eventually everything quits and it's not like they are two years old anymore.
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Geuda Springs, Kansas | The old 8 speed powershifts, under good care where bullet proof transmissions. Dont see many of them come in unless its a C2 clutch failure which is a simple split. However The Quads always wore out the shifting cams and linkages which costs alot of money to replace also. People who didnt know how to shift them or didnt care would tear up the synchronizers and the top shafts of the tranny. |
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Denhoff,ND right in the center of the State | We have a 4640 and 4840 and neither one could do the work the old 6030 could, 4840 has a week clutch in them have replaced a couple, 4640 has been much better tractor than 4840 and the old 6030 there is just no replacement for him, out weights the 4840 by far. like the others said draw backs are 8speed powershift, big jumps between gears and only 1000 pto and is a wide frame tractor. Not very good tractor for PTO work not enough gears. |
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| Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember our old 4840 having the same frame rail width and the smaller tractors. It had the 466 same as 4440. It was a tough old soldier, a little loud and the 8 speed 'jerkomatic' could be a little harsh but it pulled us through the 80's with no significant repairs and we concluded that it is not a bad thing to have one good John Deere tractor in the lineup. |
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Brazilton KS | Yep, the frame rails are the same width. The fuel tank and radiator over hang both sides quite a bit on the 46 and 48 though.
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What's wrong with JD 4840s
