Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
:

Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts????

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
DJL

02-21-2007 20:36:18




Report to Moderator

Still sorting through page after page of used tractors in newspapers, auction sale bills and on-line. I know I"m on the Farmall Forum here guys, but really need to know you"re opinions on the pro"s/con"s of a 966 vs a 4020. I know the 4020"s are a few years older. Just a touch less HP and about 2000 lbs lighter than a 966. I know the green paint usually fetchs more $"s, maybe because of brand loyalty, maybe because of dealer support or maybe perception. I also know they can run along time and are almost bullet proof, with the SR tranny and the diesel engine. I"ve seen a bunch with 8-12,000 hrs, some overhauled some not. Seems like the 966"s are running 4-7,000 hours and probably need an overhaul. Was the JD engine just that much better? Is the agility of the 4020 or creature comforts that much better? Seems like I can get into a 966, comparable visual condition as a 4020 for about $2,000 - $3,000 less, with a lot fewer hours! I grew up on IH tractors, but am almost convinced that the 4020 is the way to go from a financial investment perspective. All in all, I just want the tractor to get the work done. I DON"T want to stir the pot into a brand war, just need some objective input!
Thanks
DJL

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
dwag

02-22-2007 19:41:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
I"m not a "Deere Man", but NOBODY had a tractor as advanced as a 4020 till the Magnums or Ford Genesis. Hyd"s, Brakes, Planatary final drives, Syncromesh trans, power steering. We work on all colors and have found JD parts to be the cheapest $ also, which is why there isn"t a good aftermarket source on repair parts. That said, a 966 aint no bad tractor either



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
wolfman

02-22-2007 18:29:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
A 966 compares to a 4020 like a Wolverine boot to a K-Mart special.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
mark-in-Mi

02-22-2007 15:14:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
Comparing them.I have a bumper sticker on my tool chest thats roughly 35 years old.It reads "826 outperforms 4020 and costs less to".That sticker came from IH dealership.It depends what you are going to do with this tractor.Work horse in the field,966.All around the farm do everything tractor nimble handling 4020.Red or green I've owned both among others.67 power shift,68 power shift(still own),straight 8 syncro,1066.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Farmall Freak

02-22-2007 14:51:38




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
966



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BOBM25

02-22-2007 09:23:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
Yeah DJL, I gotta agree with Gordo on this one. Those 4020 prices are getting insane. They can have 6000 hrs and will still bring 10+ around here. Everybody wants one cuz everybody had one. The 4020 would be more comparable to the 856 as far as timeline and size is concerned. You can get tons of hours on a 66 series IH, if you take care of em. Our 1066 has close to 7000 on it. Mostly heavy tillage hrs too! If those 4020's aren't powershift, then they are worse than a 966 as far as loader work goes. My question is this, if you want a good loader, light field work, haying, snow removal tractor, why give 10 grand for 30+ year old 4020 when for 15 you could probably get a 10-15 year old utility tractor, with a shuttle-shift type tranny. Those 4020's were good tractors, but they were still designed primarily for row crop field work. If you still think you need a Deere, look at 4030's. Just about the same tractor, only newer, for the same money, but to alot of guys its JUST NOT A 4020! But I would go IH just for the fact that these are older tractors, you're gonna need parts, and green parts are EXSPENSIVE!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lawmar

02-22-2007 08:12:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
One more thought. We just rebuilt last spring a 966 for my brother in law that had 4200 hours on it and the engine was beautiful but electolosis got the sleeves. The engine had never been apart. The tractor is in beautiful condition. Through an unfortunate series of events it may be for sale soon and I hope to buy it. Why? I like the 4020 better but like KB said, you need deep pockets to fix them even if you do the work yourself. It also typically takes a lot more shop time to fix a 4020 if something breaks on it.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lawmar

02-22-2007 08:06:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
Two Words... POWER SHIFT! I like the 966 tractors and the ones that needed overhauling at 5000 hours either were not taken care of or did not have the water filter kit that prevents the wet sleeves from breaking down due to elctrolosyis. The 966 like all the IH tractors of this era did need to have the rod bearings changed in them every few thousand hours however if that was done and the oil changed regularly and they were not overheated and the fuel delivery system was kept up, they should run well over 10,000 hours. The 4020 did have a small habit of breaking crankshafts however there is a reason they are worth more and it is not the color. They just are a better tractor to drive.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

02-22-2007 08:29:16




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to Lawmar, 02-22-2007 08:06:49  
Oh Heck Yeah,

Those 4020s are a great loader tractor, cultivating tractor, just plain super on a rotary hoe or in a hay field. "Zippin' around here and there is what they do best.

Don't put 'em in a gunfight with a 966 when it comes to heavy work tho. That pretty green paint fades in one heck of a hurry.

5020, yes. 4020, no. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
GordoSD

02-22-2007 06:50:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
A reply from owner of 966, former owner of 3010JD. I think you will find the price difference is more than 3000. Last week a very rough 4010 with even rougher loader sold at auction for 12k. I know a much better 966 , with almost new Dual loader can be bought for 8500. Fuel consumption is vastly greater with the 4020. Neither tractor will depreciate much in 10 years. In 4 years I have spent about 300 dollars in maintenance and preventative maintenance on my 966. The 966 starts in less than 2 seconds, with heater plugged in, down to 0 degrees. The Deere wouldn't start if there was a light frost. It's easy to find both models, go look and drive them. You'll end up with the 9!

Gordo

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

02-22-2007 07:19:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to GordoSD, 02-22-2007 06:50:59  
Gordo,

You say "Neither tractor will depreciate much in 10 years."

At this point, it's more a matter of which will "APRECIATE" the most over the next 10 years!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Hugh MacKay

02-22-2007 05:31:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
DJL: I think KB covers most of it, you find yourself a Deere with brakes, clutch, hydraulics and most of the power train rebuilt, you'll have a good tractor. The same can be said for the 966. these tractors are now getting to be 30 to 40 years old, and if someone wants to pay for the component by component rebuild he can have a top notch tractor that will compete with a new one for under $25,000.

Ask Allan he must have close to $20,000, in that 966 of his by now. There is a guy just north of me restoring Deeres of that vintage. I understand he'll sell you a 4020 or 4030 with a warrenty, in the 20-25 K range. That is precisely what reliable horse power will cost you. The warrenty is important, then and only then you know he did more than a cosmetic rebuild.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Nat 2

02-22-2007 05:00:22




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
Look for a '66 series with a water filter. Originally they did not come with water filters and the engines didn't last long because particulates in the coolant would hammer holes in the piston sleeves from the outside. If you get one with a water filter, the engine will last 10,000 hours.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
BOBM25

02-22-2007 09:51:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to Nat 2, 02-22-2007 05:00:22  
True story a local long time IH mehcanic told me. A large hog/grain farmer from the area brought in one of his 966's. He had a pair of em. Bought them both new. They gave her a pretty major overhaul, clutch, TA, engine. Made a new tractor out of it. When the man came to pick it up the mechanic told him, "Well, you didn't do too bad, you got about 5500 hrs outta the old girl.", as this is what the tach read. "Thats the second time around." the gentleman replied.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
r4etired

02-22-2007 04:43:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
It depends on the jobs you are planning to do with the loader,If your going to load gravel at the pit or unload pallets of seed corn I think you would want the 966, Jobs like moving snow or cleaning the cattle shed I would like the 4020 better, If you choose a 966, make sure it is a good shifter, A lot of guys in our area turnd away from IH for that reason for there loader tractor.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE

02-22-2007 03:37:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
Hey Pard,

Sure nothing wrong with the 4020 and it all depends what you are going to be using the tractor for.

The 4020 would be more in line compared to an 806 IH. Just not in the same tractor size as the 966.

Is there any way you can run a 4020 for a day to see it is big enough for what you need?

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
K.B.-826

02-21-2007 22:29:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Want the scoop on 966 vs 4020 -Thoughts???? in reply to DJL, 02-21-2007 20:36:18  
That extra 2000 pounds makes a huge difference as to how big of tillage equipment you can run. However, the 4020's smaller size makes it much more versitile. If you are compairing an IH 414 engine to a 4020-style 404 and both have about the same hours and have both been well maintained, it is my opinion that the IH will be more reliable. Those older 404's have a few issues, main one being the head gasket. My only other big complaint about the 4020 is that almost everything is more difficult and expensive to repair. One example is the main hydraulic pump. Deere's hydraulics are far superior to IH's, but if you should ever have main pump trouble, it's going to eat up $2500 in a hurry. A professional clutch job for a 4020 averages $2000. IH clutch can be done for under $1000 by even the most expensive shop. Ever seen a brake job done to a 4020? Once again, Deere's brakes are far superior to IH's in the way they work, but when they fail they flake apart and end up in the bottom of the transmission case and you need to remove the entire rear axle to service them. Just seems like everything that makes a Deere nicer to operate also makes them a pain to repair.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy