My 4020 Story: 4020 Narrowly Dodges Demise

When we were kids, the folks had a 1951 John Deere Model A with a 226 mounted corn picker. In 1959, they traded a 1949 John Deere Model D and the 226 picker on a John Deere 730 with a 227 picker. Then in the spring of 1966 we got our 4020 when they traded the 730 on a 4020. They bought the power shift model. They figured it would be easier for kids turning teenagers to drive for the hay baler.

The John Deere 4020 was way too long to fit in the 227 picker. Was the plan to put the 227 picker on our John Deere 620? That would require taking the 45 loader off the 620. How would we handle manure in the fall? Unknown to us kids, the folks planned to swap the 227 picker for a 237 picker.

Above, John Otte pictured with the family's 4020 tractor.

Mounting the picker takes muscle

Mounting brackets for the 227 picker affixed to 730's axle housing with studs. This was a weakness as those studs occasionally broke off, requiring precision drilling and good luck with an easy out to replace.

John Deere corrected this deficiency with the 237 picker. Huge clamps around the axle housing affixed the mounting brackets to the 4020. Naturally, all of that steel was heavy. Fifty years ago, removing 4020's fenders and installing those mounts seemed not overly challenging. Today, we would need two men, a boy, and forklift.

With all that hardware firmly affixed to the axle, we mounted the ear corn elevator and eased the 4020 into the picker. Whoops, the left side mount is one notch too close to the tractor. We need to move it two inches farther away. We back out to wrestle the steel again.

Why is diesel fuel dripping below the engine?

The 4020 engine has a tube that connects to all six diesel injectors. This is a surplus fuel return of some sort. Each injector connects to the return tube with a nylon hose. When new and painted green, we logically believed those hoses were permanent couplings. Two are reasonably convenient to get at. Two are reasonably inconvenient to get at. And two are down right inconvenient to get at. All are considerably more challenging to get at with the picker on.

Naturally, the picker was on when we learned that those were hoses that do not last forever. And, you guessed it, the most inconveniently located one was the one that leaked first. Subsequently those tubes got changed before the picker went on.

What is making that strange noise?

Field shelling came along in the mid 1970s. A John Deere number 50 sheller replaced the ear corn elevator.

While Uncle Reuben ran the picker, my brother Keith unloaded shelled corn in the new bin. They had been noticing the picker was making an abnormal noise, but they could not detect the source. They concluded the malfunction would eventually display other symptoms, which would simplify detection. In retrospect, that decision nearly brought 4020 to an untimely demise.

As it turns out, a bearing at the top of one of the snapping rolls was going out. It got hot. The retainer wore out and popped off, sending shards of red hot steel onto loose, dry corn leaves on and near 4020's platform. They instantly ignited.

Reuben shot the fire extinguisher at the fire. It went out. But shards of red hot steel promptly rekindled the blaze. He commenced kicking burning leaves out of the picker. He kept easing ahead so as to not get too much fire under the tractor.

Keith, seeing the smoke,  got a gravel shovel, came charging across the field with 620 in road gear. He commenced shoveling ground up into the picker, which eventually extinguished the blaze. Disaster avoided, 4020 saved.

Story written by John Otte. Have a 4020 story to share with Prairie State Tractor? We're collecting John Deere 4020 tractor stories to help promote our new 4020 special inspection program. Plus, our favorite entry will get their 4020 inspected for free. Click here for all the details on how to submit your own story. To schedule a 4020 special inspection for only $195, click here and complete the form.