Go BottomFirst weekend on my new 4300
 | Peter Hoyt
Join Date: Posts: 1 
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2001-04-30 27397
Hello. I've just completed my first weekend on my new JD 4300. I picked up my new best friend on Friday after work. It has the 430 FEL, the 48 Backhoe, R4s with sealant to seal holes up to 1/2 inch in case I need it. I also ordered the HST transmisstion. Ok, so that's the configuration. Here is my feedback in case you might be considering the same machine.I couldn't imagine this maching without the HST transmission. I did a fair amount of loader work this weekend along with a few hours of backhoe 'work'. Ok it was mostly playing... Feel the HST was worth the extra cost.I have been checking all the wheel bolts and found 3 on the front left wheel a bit loose. I've been checking again after every few hours. I read in the archives about the reports of the wheel bolts falling out and I've been very careful about it. My dealer had heard of the problem but just suggested I keep a close eye on them.I think they should have provided some built in way to keep the backhoe seat from contacting the back of the driver's seat. For now a simple bungee cord is doing the trick. Same thing applies to the driver's seat when I'm operating the backhoe. If I leave it up, it will fall and bang into the back of the backhoe seat the first time I jerk the tractor.The backhoe and loader seem very well matched to the tractor.The tractor doesn't like a hill. I was 'invited' twice to a neighbors place to show off what I could do and both trips required us to climb a slope in the road. In high range I had to let up on the forward pedal to increase engine speed. This isn't a complaint, I know that it takes a lot to move the equipment around and I've only have 32 hp under the hood.After 9 hours of time over this weekend, I haven't noticed a single drop of anything out of place. It all looks very tight.I don't see much use for that bucket position indicator on the FEL. If I paid any extra for it, I was wasting my money. I just watch the top of the bucket.I disabled the tractor by removing the ignition fuse. I've also covered it for now and hedged my bet by purchasing insurance on it. So hopefully, it will be there when I get back to my hideout in the woods this coming weekend.Hope this little bit of feedback helps some else make up their mind. I'm very happy with the purchase. If that changes, I'll post another note. Thanks!
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| Mark E. Lamprey
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-01 27614
Peter, I hear what you are saying about the two seats. My Brother in Law just bought a JD 790 T/L/B and I noticed that with his you can only have one seat down at a time. Seems like it could be a pain in the butt. Put one up, put one down. It will probably become second nature after a while and you won't even notice it. My JD 950 T/L/B allows me to have both seats down at the same time although they will rub together occasionally. In general I find it to be a small price to pay as long as I don't have to run the shovel any more than necessary. Sounds like your having a good time with your new friend, I bet you can't wait to get back to it. Happy Tractoring and Stay Safe. Mark ....
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| JeffM
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-03 27703
Peter, congratulations on your new toy, er, tool. Believe it or not, I've let that backhoe seat annoy me on my 48 without ever thinking of using a bungee cord. Thanks for such an obvious solution. As far as your tractor climbing hills on the road, make sure that your parking brake is not dragging at all. The easiest way to do this is to see if your tractor will roll in neutral on a smooth surface with a slight incline. I thought my 4400HST was a dog on the road, especially on hills, until I noticed that it got worse over the course of 5 minutes or so. That's when I figured that the parking brake must be dragging a little, and gets worse as it heats up. Dealer confirmed that it was enough out of adjustment to cause a problem. All the difference in the world now. Granted, the HST still will slow down going up a hill with both the backhoe and the loader mounted (and sometimes a big rock in the loader), but at least it is reasonable now. ....
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| Peter Hoyt
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-03 27717
Jeff, that parking brake idea is a good one. I'll have to see if I can check into that. I do know that several times I moved the tractor from one position to another with the parking brake left on. Don't think I did it up the hill along the road however. Sure wish there was a better warning than the red light on the dash.... maybe something should jump out of the hood and smack me when I do it or maybe an audible alarm... buzzer or something... just a thought.
I seem to have a fairly loud buzzing or high pitched hum from the HST when it is cold. I don't remember hearing it when it is warm. Does that sound familiar to you? or anyone else with a new HST equipped tractor? I'll listen for it this weekend. Its just one of those noises that doesn't sound completely normal but it goes away... Thanks, Pete ....
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| Mike S.
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-04 27738
The hum to which you refer may be some sort of valve in the power steering. When the front end on my first 4400 was replaced, I noticed the high pitched hum (or whine) and checked with two dealers and found that it was in the power steering--perhaps a valve near the steering wheel (sorry--I forgot the technical lingo). My new 4400 that just arrived also does this as does the other tractors in the series that I tried out on the dealer's lot. I think we are talking about the same whine--it varies with the RPMs and dissappears when the tractor has warmed up. If in doubt, go to your dealer and start several of the 4300's sor 4400's and try different RPMs and see if they don't do the same thing. Good luck on your new "tool." Mike S. ....
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| ayacht
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-07 27841
I have a similar problem or symptom on my HST not just in C gear but also in B gear. A gear seems to be fine. I will check the parking brake thing and post back. Ever since it went to the dealer for the new axle the performance seems to be worse. I wonder if the new axle is taking power from the other components? ....
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| Peter Hoyt
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-07 27843
Here is some more feedback... that high pitched whine does go away on my new 4300 after it is warmed up so I'm not going to be too concerned about it.
My parking brake doesn't seem very strong. I was backing into a backhoe task yesterday on a slight incline and it wouldn't hold. I put down the FEL and that stopped me from rolling. Can someone tell me if their brake is tighter?
Otherwise, the second weekend of work went along just great! I'm clearing brush by digging down a few inches with the backhoe and then scooping/pushing it into one big pile with the FEL. Still very happy with my new "tool"! Just wish I could keep the cover on it during the week... ....
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| JeffM
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-08 27877
Peter, the parking brake on my 4400 holds pretty good pointing forward down a slope - about the same as my 5000 lb truck. I wouldn't trust it alone on a steeper incline, though. I don't know how well it holds pointing backwards or if it even makes a difference. Mine was adjusted some too. ....
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| Peter Hoyt
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2001-05-10 28018
Now that I'm starting to put hours on my 4300, I need to start thinking about maintenance. Anyone have any good suggestions where I can purchase the normal things like replacement air filter, oil filter, hydraulic fliud etc.? Other that at the dealer? Just trying to reduce costs without compromising quality. Also, is anyone using synthetic oil? I've been using synthetic in my truck and car for years now and think it really helps. But I've never owned a diesel before so I'm looking for some advice. Thanks! ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2001-05-11 28028
A little research usually can come up with a cross-reference to NAPA filters for the engine and hydraulic filters. However, they aren't necessarily factory equivalents, and there may be some risk in their use. For oils, I use an AGCO multi-season hydraulic (similar to NH F200) in my Ford. I may switch to Shell engine oil this summer, but I stick with a NH 0W-30 for winter. I stay with NH filters because I don't put enough hours on the tractor for filters to be a significant cost, and I'd just as soon avoid the factory equivalent issue. I just order the parts and a courier delivers them. Oils are another matter. They can't be couriered, so I've identified substitutes that are more locally available. ....
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