Go Bottom1999 John Deere 4300-cracking plastic
 | Brad Smith
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12 Clifton,Maine 
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2002-02-06 35352
I am having a problem in that the side panels-front grill area-and area around my firewall- the plastic is cracking and breaking-especially around the tabs that attach to the U brackets on the frame-I only have 575 hrs but am using the machine in the cold weather and think vibration is causing the problem. Could it be that that big John has a problem here? If so what can an owner do?
Thanks
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 | DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada 
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2002-02-07 35369
I was very impressed with JD's customer service a couple of weeks ago. I found a rust spot on the hood of my 4100 (yes they are metal, unlike the 4200) and I got a new hood shipped second day air under warranty. Take your case to the dealer and see what Deere will do for you. ....
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| carter
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7 Chico
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2002-02-07 35386
I had the same problem on my 4300 and the dealer replaced 2 of the panels (left side and grill). When the tab on the grill panel broke for the second time I fixed it myself and it hasn't broken since. I bought a fiberglass repair kit that has the resin and cloth and used 1 layer to glue and reinforce the tab then put a thin piece of sheetmetal and another layer of glass over that. You can't see it and it seems to have held up well even in cold weather. Hope this helps. ....
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| Brad Smith
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12 Clifton,Maine
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2002-02-07 35387
Thanks for the continuing input ref. the cracking plastic on my JD 4300-Just noticed today that where the split plastic surrounding the Speedo and gas tank is has also cracked in the middle under the hood and under each bolt that connects it to the left and right side.
I'm seriously considering trading for a Kubota L3000-Does anyone know how the Kubota compares to the JD 4300. HP and gear ratios seem close but three point lift power seems much less on the Kubota-Used to own aN L235 Kubota and loved it-plus the orange guys are still made of metal!! ....
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 | Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2002-02-07 35390
I would take the tractor to the dealer and see if you can get any satifaction. The material on the side panels I think are ABS. The ABS should be resistant down to temperatures you are working in unless you live -30+. The problem would be with the design, molder or resin supplier, most likely GE.
Molded parts like this are made on lowest cost. There may be a problem with the mold design, the molding process or the resin. A plastic expert can look at the parts and tell where the problem lies. JD needs to correct the problem. Get them to replace them, if they fail again have them replaced again. Maybe eventually they will realize there is a problem. ....
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| MarkS
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2002-02-08 35405
maybe a cold flow area in the mold. ....
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| Gilly
Join Date: Posts: 1
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2002-02-08 35407
For some reason, I thought that there was a service bulletin about the early 4000 series tractors having a bad set of plastic. Our first 4500 had a hood that split. Talk to your dealer before abandoning ship. They are great tractors. I have spent many an hour on them, and I have never had a problem.
Gilly ....
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| Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL
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2002-02-08 35409
Cold flow in the mold is one possiblilty, as is knot lines, mold temperature, resin etc.
Try the dealer first. Then we can move to the other forms of persuasion.
I am a Ph.D. in plastics engineering so we do not need to look very far to find the expert. I just need to look at the parts.
As I said, I think they are ABS as there are ABS parts on my 955 but I would need to look at them. I'm sorry I did not look that close. Besides I have a great memory it just is not that long.
Peters ....
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| Brad Smith
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 12 Clifton,Maine
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2002-02-13 35577
I want to thank you all for the info concerning cracking plastic on my JD 4300-After confering with my dealer, the feeling is that the plastic shouldn't have cracked and the dealer-Greenway Equipment in Bangor Maine is doing it's best to obtain complete replacement of the damaged parts.
I was so impressed with the attention, concern and prompt action that I traded with them, at a very fair price, for a new JD 990 with a 430 heavy duty loader and R4 tires- after that ya gotta stay with the Green and I must admit that Greenway Equipment is a great dealership! Thanks again! ....
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