John Deere 401C tractor....any experience?

MotoSook · 10-22-2011, 09:45 AM

Gonna go look a at a 401C front loader. Natural aspirated deisel 60 HP 2wd. I don't know much about these but it looks like the right size and power for what I need. I'd like a backhoe for it at some point, but the loader should be handy.

Anyone with experience? How hard will it be to find a bachhoe for this thing later on? Will I be better off waiting one a good deal on a tractor with a front end loader and a backhoe?

What's a good price?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

It's green and they have a good rep. Call around the ag boards and see what they are going for.

MotoSook · 10-22-2011, 10:28 AM

I've been searching the internet and there's little discussion on these. Apparently it is an industrial (not an AG) model. Not sure what the difference is. Its yellow, no JD green.

LakeCleElum · 10-22-2011, 11:10 AM

www.mytractorfourm.com

Go to the John Deere/tractor section and ask there,,,,

Seahawk · 10-22-2011, 12:42 PM

60 HP is a whole lotta tractor in diesel...my biggest tractor, a '70's MF235, is 35 hp, 42 at the PTO. I have never felt I needed more HP.

As always, it depends on what you want to use the tractor for. My MF235 came with the farm and was used to deep plow, bush hog, harrow, etc. It has almost 4k hours on it and still runs great. It has a front end loader, which it key.

I like old tractors but there are some screaming deals on new tractors that have so much more ease of use, HST transmissions (no shifting), power steering, attachments and, frankly overall usability.

I really like Kubotas and will probably get one in the next year or so. They have a great rep, can be depreciated (the tractor itself as well as the financing) and have very attractive bundle options.

Kubota Tractor Corporation | Tractors

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Very heavy for landscape or all around the acreage use.

They are more of an along side the road, make a road type of tractor....not agricultural....ie...heavy, large turning radius, shifting, tire types, non 4 wheel drive.

It all depends on what you plan on doing on your acreage. Be prepared to get stuck in it and hopefully you can bucket walk it out or you will need something very, very large to help you get unstuck.

Good luck.

MotoSook · 10-22-2011, 03:42 PM

Well...it was definitely bigger than I expected but it was in good shape and for $3500 I got a brush hog and gills with it. It had been parked in a warehouse for the last couple years and there wasn't any puddles or stains under it. It started up easy so I left a deposit. Will have it delivered next Friday.

The bucket will come in handy as we want to cut into a hill and level some areas. My small international is getting beat up being used with my tiller and auger. We pond to build a guest house soon and I hope to do some excavating/clearing myself for the foundation. For $3500 I figure it'll be worth it and can get all or most of my money back if I decide to sell it.

Its got wheel weights too.

It is probably too much tractor but I'll make it work.

LakeCleElum · 10-22-2011, 07:22 PM

Screaming deal....Would go for twice the money where I live....My brother has something similar (not sure of the model with less HP and the backhoe) He paid $17,000 used about 5 yrs ago....

MotoSook · 10-22-2011, 07:44 PM

I've been watching the local adds for a year and this one looked better than a lot of them. The kicker was when I stopped at the local repair shop and the elderly owner/wrench offered me his beat up International for $4500 :O

Now I'll be on the hunt for the backhoe.

MotoSook · 10-22-2011, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmmac

Very heavy for landscape or all around the acreage use.

They are more of an along side the road, make a road type of tractor....not agricultural....ie...heavy, large turning radius, shifting, tire types, non 4 wheel drive.

It all depends on what you plan on doing on your acreage. Be prepared to get stuck in it and hopefully you can bucket walk it out or you will need something very, very large to help you get unstuck.

Good luck.

The thing is probably 7500 lbs with the bucket. So yeah...I won't be driving it on soft ground if I can avoid it. If I do get stuck my neighbor should be able to pull me out with his tractor....

I've got 16 acres so hopefully it won't seem too small for this thing.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

3,500 is a steal. Try to find some turf tires and you should be good to go.

Heck, you can't get a good JD lawn mower for that.

Seahawk · 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmmac

3,500 is a steal. Try to find some turf tires and you should be good to go.

Heck, you can't get a good JD lawn mower for that.

Agreed. Great deal.

A few things you probably already know:

- Find the nearest place with "off road" diesel. It is much cheaper than road diesel. The only difference is that they dye it red.

- Get diesel fuel conditioner...it helps take water out of the tank.

- Fill the tank after every use. It is a pain, but it keeps the fuel dry.

- Stabil has specific diesel fuel storage goop.

- Grease everything with a nipple religiously.

- Air filters are key.

- For smoothing roads and other surfaces, learn to use the bucket as a scrapper in reverse. Works great!.

Again, great deal.

MotoSook · 10-23-2011, 06:02 PM

Good tips. I'm a bit lazy when it comes to greasing. My International manual says to grease every 8 hours...oye! That's everytime I mow my lawn.

The John Deere will be gone over before it sees heavy lifting. I may replace all the hoses over the winter. They looked a little dry. Friday ill have a good idea of what needs attention.

Thanks guys...pictures on Friday.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Run it thru the Greek diner at end of shift.....should be workable.

vash · vash's Garage

my friends have a Lincoln rechargable grease gun. they love it! they lube it before every use. these guys work daily, so the 8-hour cycle makes sense.

souk, you are like an all out farmer now.. this thing easy to operate?

i also know a contractor that got busted driving around with dyed diesel..cant be sure, but i think the fine was in the several of thousands.. you have a surplus tank in the back of the truck?

MotoSook · 10-24-2011, 07:52 AM

I always thought the rechargeable grease guns were an excess but now it makes sense

I haven't really operated the loader as it was blocked in by other stuff in the warehouse, but we started it up and actuated he loader and hitch. Friday we're going to run it around before I hand over the funds and load it up.

I've never operated a loader before but the controls look pretty simple, more so than the controls on my little Vase-International. This new one has 8 gears in forward and reverse with a shuttle shift for changing between forward and reverse so it should be pretty easy to use.

As for transfer tank, I didn't need one before as my C-I only has a 5 gallon tank and I burn about 4 gallons per 8 hours. So it just stopped for diesel on Friday and was set all weekend. No I have to start looking at transfer tanks more seriously. I don't want anything too big as I like using the full 6.5' bed of my truck. I casually looked at tanks and MN are they expensive.

As for diesel, there is a Farm Service store a couple miles away. They supply Tue local farmers. So I should be able to get AG diesel.

Farmer? Yeah am getting close. Maybe the beef cattle topic needs revisiting

In February there is a farm equipment consignment auction next door so I could get a little closer to farming. LOL

vash · vash's Garage

just so you know. i visited my buddy's property. he has a huge transfer tank. he uses his loader to put it into his pickup. drives down and fills it up, and pulls it back out of the truck and into his barn. then he simply alligatorclips in a 12v battery as needed.

i know he just installed a new above ground gravity tank..200 gall + where some company comes and fills up for him. so i think moving the transfer tank to and fro must have sucked.

MotoSook · 10-24-2011, 10:02 AM

After I posted last time, I got to thinking that since I'll have the loader I can do what your buddy did. But with 55 gallon drums. A couple of them. I can store the drums in the barn or outside under a cover. Hand pumps would probably be find, the kind that screws onto 55 gallon drums.

When I was looking before I was looking for a small tank to bolt onto the bed, but with the loader I can just load/unload off the bed!

I have to go pick up my fish order tomorrow (to stock the pond) at the Soil and Water Conservation (next door to the Farm Service store). I'll check to see if they have any drums and red diesel. Who knows. Maybe they'll deliver the diesel. I already get my propane from them.

Seahawk · 10-24-2011, 10:08 AM

I have one of these, which makes moving trailers and lifting/pulling stuff a breeze. I do the 55 gallon drum thing and it is so much easier with the lift ring.

Welcome to the madness

Paynes Forks Hitch Receiver Clamp with Lift Ring | Bucket Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

Evans, Marv · 10-24-2011, 10:08 AM

If you decide to get turf tires, be aware you may have to get wheels to go with them. On my tractor the turf tires are on a much wider wheel. Also, I don't really know if it does any good or not, but I always put a few ounces of 2-cycle, fuel injection rated oil in with my fuel conditioner. I hope the little bit of added lubrication will prolong the life of my injectors, fuel pump, etc. - but who knows. You can't beat a tractor for getting larger jobs done.