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Excellent board. The only one that I read every day. While a section on pick-ups would be nice, I think it may be straying from the type of coverage that makes this board so useful and there are other boards that cover that topic. So I am with the people who would like to see more on land / woodlot management, "hobby farming" and that type of topic. These not as well covered other places and are the type where you learn the most from other peoples experience.

CTB Anniversary
Tractor Projects
Replies 29 Post by DougH

I am in the process of doing a similar task [now discontinued until spring]. I started with a box scraper [King Kutter from the farm store - heavy duty and inexpensive] and then used a tiller. I also used the loader, dragging backwards with the bucket edge down, to do some shaping. Once you have the area basically prepped, the tiller works great. After three passes, the top 6" is a nice fine consistancy. Unless you are going to do a lot of tiller work, I would suggest renting. You should be able to do the two acres in a day and the tiller is managable to haul home in a truck or trailer.

Dirt hogs or power rakes
Tractor Projects
Replies 6 Post by DougH

I have a 4300 with the 72

"> Mid-mount Mower vs Lawn Tractor
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 8 Post by DougH

I do not have experience with the 455, but my brothers-in-law and I have MTD 18.5hp garden tractors that are similar in weight and power, but certainly not quality.<br>My B-I-L plows a drive about that long with no problems. It does take a long time which seems even longer in the cold of a Wisconsin Winter. If the snow gets too deap before he gets to it, he has someone with a tractor come and plow it.<br>I have mowed about 15 acres with my finish mower. It takes a long long time. As mentioned, it does not work very well if the weeds are very high. It bogs down, clogs and just folds over the weeds instead of cutting. Part of the porblem is there is a shroud all the way around a finish mower while a rotary cutter is open, at least in the intake side. The rotary mower also has a larger area under it to allow the weeds to move up into the blades. Even the finish mower on my 4300 does not handle it that well and I usually wind up using a rotary mower. If you do get them cut once and keep after them, you may stand a chance. <br>For dirt moving, it is just too light in my opinion. <br>You might consider a low end JD or Kubota utility tractor or something like a Ford 8N. You could probably get the 8N, rotary cutter, box scraper and a loader for half of what you pay for a [new] 455.<br>Doug

John Deere 455 garden tractor
John Deere Tractors
Replies 23 Post by DougH

I have a 4300 with the same problem. Scared me a bit as I had been driving on the road, going up and down hills in the fields and so on, when I happened to notice the bolts were not even finger tight. I thought that the dealer had messed up when I last had it in, but a couple of weeks later they were loose again. Now I check them each time I use the machine. As mentioned in one of the other posts, it is always the left rear.<br>Not much help, but you are not alone.<br>Doug

JD4400 Problem
John Deere Tractors
Replies 10 Post by DougH

The tractor is a 4300 and has about 50 hours on it as of this last weekend. No maintenance has been performed as yet although it is time for an oil change. The hydraulic fluid was low about 3 quarts [I noticed last week] and I refilled it prior to noticing the problem. I also had [have?] a leaky connection on the loader hydraulics that I tightened a bit - not sure if it sealed up or not as yet. The coupling connecting the hose to the hard tube was loose. Could I have gotten some air in the system that migrated to the rear hydraulics?<br>I appreciate any help.

Three Point Problem
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 6 Post by DougH

I have ordered a bucket level indicator for my 420 loader [on a 4300]. The one that came said it was for a 70 loader. The rod is too short to be visible out the top end of the tube. The dealer re-ordered a second time and JD sent the same one. I suppose that I could saw off a part of the tube, but think it whould come the correct length.<br>Has anyone purchased a bucket level indicator for the 420 loader the was the correct size?<br>Thanks,<br>Doug<br>

420 level indicator
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 7 Post by DougH

I have a 4300 and my main leak is from the rear PTO. It is always wet there and on the floor of the shed, so it is even leaking when standing still. This weekend one of the connections on loader [front left connecting the hose to the metal tube] sprang a monster leak and was spewing fluid all over the place. It must have never been tightened properly as I only have about 5 hours on the loader. I have talked to the dealer and they will fix it [including pick-up and delivery.]<br>In addition the filler cap was cross threaded. A new one was only 65 cents, but the gasket was $8.00!!

4300 Transmission Leak
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 5 Post by DougH

Need the advice of an experienced lawn tractor user
John Deere Tractors
Replies 12 Post by DougH

I got the 420 loader with my 4300 along with a backhoe, tiller, mower and box scraper. I figured I had better go for everything while my wife was willing. I was not sure about all the uses that I would put the loader to when I was buying it. But have found plenty of uses since. I had a pole shed built and had to level the land on a hillside - in some places I had to take it down three feet - no problem. We are building a house on the property and will be building retaining walls, moving large rocks, hauling gravel and so on. I have found it very easy to use, especially for a novice like myself. And easy to put on and take off. 5 minutes each way the first time.

Price check on JD 420 or JD430 Loader
John Deere Tractors
Replies 5 Post by DougH

All the time. It is automatic for me to put it on in the car and when I get on the tractor, I put it on with out thinking. I even reach for the belt when I get on the garden tractor or the Gator. We have very hilly land and I am fairly new to the tractor.

seatbelt survey
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 29 Post by DougH

Ted,<br>I do not have an answer for you, but I have a similar problem. I have a new 4300 and it takes a fair amount of force to work the hydro pedals. My cruise works, but there are times when it is not practical. After cutting a couple of acres in between the trees, I have the knee cap version of carpal tunnel syndrom. Perhaps someone has some suggestions. Adjusting the seat to get a better angle may help the fatigue a bit.<br>

Hyrdostatic drive pedal is heavy - requires heavy foot pressure to mai
Mitsubishi
Replies 8 Post by DougH

I learned all about PTO control this very weekend. Went out to cut some fields for the first time with the 4300 [last time was with an 8N]. I pushed the PTO engage lever forward until I felt a resistance that seemed like it was engaged. I also heard the blades crank up. I set off down the field and every time I got into some heavy growth, it would stop cutting. I figured out that the PTO was not fully engaged and required a push past the first resistance. After that it worked fine.<br>If you push it all the way straight out, you do get a big clunk form the cutter even at low RPM. <br>You might want to consider stepping up to the 4300 for the extra HP.<br>

Elec PTO Clutches
John Deere Tractors
Replies 7 Post by DougH

It depends, in part, on what you are cutting. I have a 6' belly mower and it has a hard time with the industrial strength thistle and cow parsnips that we have in southern Wisconsin. I wind up with a lot of still standing or where the thistle is really thick, they just get mashed down. It works fairly well for most grasses, but there are some strains of really tough grass that it has a hard time with. This is the first mowing of the year.<br>My brother-in-law has a rotary [king kutter 5' $499] and it does a better job with the the thistle and other heavy duty stuff. The belly mower gives better results in the lawn areas. We had the fields cut with a flail mower last year and it did not seem to do as good a job as the rotary. But that is just my perception.

Rotary cutter vs mid or rear mower
Mowers Field and Finish
Replies 9 Post by DougH

I have a 4300 [25.5 PTO hp] with a 50

My brother in law has a 6' combination scraper [box scraper on one side, reverse blade on another and teeth on the third - you rotate it] for his 8N and he moves along with it quite handily, even with the teeth down. "> How much box blade for 21hp
Snowblowers / Snow Plows
Replies 9 Post by DougH

I ordered my 4300/HST at the end of March and was told 8 - 10 weeks. The tractor was in with in that time frame, but not the loader. I was not in a particular rush so I waited until everything was in.<br>This is in south central Wisconsin.

DEERE 4000 Series Availability amp Delivery Dates
John Deere Tractors
Replies 34 Post by DougH

You may have thought of this already, but clean your battery contacts. I just had a similar problem with my garden tractor. Thought it may be time for a new started. Cleaned the contacts and it is as good as new.

JDLX176
John Deere Tractors
Replies 4 Post by DougH

I have a new [12 hours] 4300 with loader, belly mower and backhoe. Taking off and putting on the loader and the backhoe is really a three minute job - almost. <br>Access to the loader hydro connections is good and easy to work. But JD seems to have gone out of their way to hide the backhoe hydro connection, especially with the mower hydro connections. Does anyone have any tips on how to connect / disconnect the hydro connection with less that three hands? <br>Thanks,<br>Doug<br>

4300 backhoe hydraulics help needed
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 4 Post by DougH

I agree they should not charge for pick-up and delivery. I had some warenty work done on my 4300 and they picked it up for no charge. Not sure how long the repairs took as I was out of town.<br>

New owners opinion of JD 4300
John Deere Tractors
Replies 4 Post by DougH

I have a 4300 with a belly mower and was out cutting very deep weeds and grass this weekend. It seems to work best to make two passes - one with the deck all the way up. It was still tough going in some places and if I took too big a bite of tough grass and weeds, the mower would bog down. But it can be done. <br>My brother in law has the king kutter 5' rotary and it did not cut any better on a first pass.[it was $499 at the local farm store].<br>I have hst and it is great. I am a stick shift person, but would not give up the HST. Makes everything so easy. Just slide your foot over 3

I have the R4 tires. When I drive / cut on wet ground, I can see some tracks. I drove through a muddy area this weekend and if I had had turf tires, I would still be there.
"> The Right Tractor
Other Tractor Brands
Replies 10 Post by DougH