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G-MAN
11-12-2003 17:16:37
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Re: ANYONE PULL A 4520 JOHN DEERE???? in reply to 4520, 11-12-2003 16:46:24
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Removing everything you listed will definitely shed a pile of weight, but it will be much easier said than done - particularly the steering. As far as I know, the 4520 was not available with a narrow front, and therein lies a major problem. Unlike the 4520's predecessors, the 4020 and 4320, the steering was not controlled by a steering motor integrated into the front casting, but instead by steering cylinders. On a steering-motor-equipped tractor that was available with a narrow front, it's a relatively easy (relatively being the key word - it's still quite a task to swap out steering motors) job to install a convertible steering motor, or if you're really lucky, the tractor already has one. Neither of those options will be available to you. You'll have to devise some way to mount and steer a narrow front, which won't be easy. And if you also want to work the tractor, you'll have to be careful when installing a wide front, to make sure it will stand up to the rigors of hard use. 4520s are not particularly light tractors. As far as the hitch goes, I'm not sure whether the 4520 was available "bare-back" or not, that is to say without a rockshaft housing, rockshaft, lift arms, etc. If it was, you might be able to find a plain housing. If not, you'll have to build one or gut a regular rockshaft housing. Once again, not a lot of fun. Removing the cast wheels is gravy - install a set of dual hubs and pressed steel wheels. This is your tractor, but if it were me who had bought it cheap, and had some money to spend, I'd concentrate on getting the engine and the rest of the tractor in good shape, and start entering farm-stock-type pulls to begin with. It's going to take much more than just lightening it up to be competitive at any level above the county fair type pulls. You might also consider the fact that New Generation Deeres are rapidly becoming collectible, and although the 4520 will probably never be as popular as the 4020, and although the 4520 is more tractor than most guys would want to haul around, there were also no where near as many built as the 4020, so your tractor may be a better investment left as-is, than heavily modified for pulling. If you're going to go into competive pulling, you may as well bite the bullet and buy a late-model 6466 or a 6076 and install that in place of your 6404 engine. Much more potential there, and much stouter from the get-go. They're also just about a bolt-in swap, due to the high hood clearance of the 4520 and 4620. My two cents.
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