John Deere 4020 Synchro-range shifter rebuild - zeketheantiquefreak

John Deere Model 4020 Serial 22T 89,000 1964 with Synchro-Range standard transmission. Parts for the rebuild (three bushings, two roll pins and three 3/8" pins) was around $70.00 Canadian. There are still small amounts of play in the linkage rods but the results are more than acceptable as it is now. Well worth the time and expense and may save some wear and tear on the transmission gears if everything is working properly.

[@thetractorguyoldtractor3524]

Regards to 24 volt starting set-up ... that's a good question , i work fulltime near Winnipeg and am a weekend farmer so i will take a close look at that 1964 4020 next saturday. Bought this unit about 8 years ago and it has ran smooth and even till the last task on the land leveler in October when rpms suddenly surged a bit faster/slower , Installed new fuel filters and drove it to the shed and parked it for the winter. Will test it again in April. Love these old tractors. Still have my dad's 4020... also a 1964 wheatland standard... he purchased it new from Scotty Sisson here in Elm Creek , and this one is still all original as the 24 volt & generator never gave us any grief. 5600 hour on her. Also have my dad's row crop diesel 1961 model year 3010 , bought new in May of '62 from Johny Janzen when he had the JD dealership in Elm Creek. 15,000plus hours on this one and back in the early '80's we swithed it over to 12 volt & an alternator.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Would love to see that green line-up. Maybe take a video or two where you would explain the family history, etc. Only reason I mention the 24 volt system is the starter... It is real easy to take the end cap off and blow out the brush dust... Possibly preventing a short or fire. I have posted a video elsewhere on the channel. I strongly recommend installation of a 'disconnect switch' also. Just going by personal experience. Thank you for the comment and information.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Curious how you made out?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

A friend has a '65 or '66 4020, never opened, and swears it has 20,000 hours on it. Amazing.

[@littlewingpilot]

This was quite helpful, as I purchased a 63' 4010 & didn't even get to drive it that much before the shifter controls got stuck, took it apart on the gravel road once (I think I dropped that inside washer) & got it back working for a few more hours then it jammed again. As of now it's still stuck & only have 3rd gear fwd & 2nd reverse. I hope to get to it when I get back to the cabin. (but first I have to bleed the fuel sys to get it running again- never did get it running last summer)Thanks for the video

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Yea, those shifters are are a beotch when worn out... A few bushings and some TLC will go a long way. You could possibly shift it so that it will move by manipulating the yokes at the bottom where the shafts enter the transmission. The neutral safety switch will be an issue though. Be careful!

[@franklilley6613]

Excellent video

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Thanks a bunch!

[@FarmerTed]

Thank you!

[@huntingchandler]

Where did you find the bushings for shifter?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

I ordered them in from the JD dealer.

[@littlewingpilot]

Bought my 1963 4010 in St. Andrews Manitoba, FYI

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

The one I have came from Holland, Manitoba. It had sat for a couple/three years and the pump plungers had seized from the old rotten purple diesel. A very expensive learning curve indeed. My channel has a video on bleeding the fuel system that may be of help.

[@littlewingpilot]

Hey there Zek, I shoulda got back to you sooner..., I did get the tractor running again last summer but not until I had the fuel injection pump rebuilt by Lakeside injection & turbo in Thunder Bay. They had it done in one day & it fired up immediately after I installed it. (countless hours trying other things but that's what it was lol) I still only have 3rd & reverse though. I'll get to that one of these day if I ever get time. I am thinking of getting it on a trailer & taking it to the John Deere place in Emo and having them that + fix a few other things. The tach doesn't work ...etc.

[@crazyldy002]

Hope you don't mind I shared this page on facebook as we have a few 4020's here in our county as well as in Georgia.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Hey, no problem. If any of this info can help somebody maintain their equipment, great. These are great old tractors that have stood the test of time.

[@crazyldy002]

@@zeketheantiquefreak8518 You are so right, have a great evening :-) Did you go to the polar plunge today in your town ? They did it for cancer fund raiser. I watched it earlier today.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

@@crazyldy002 Those polar plungers are nutz! Lol. My small contribution to society is to sew up polar-fleece neck warmers and give them to homeless and women's shelters. 125 made so far this winter. I hope they warm up this cold, cruel world just a bit for someone in need. Thank you for your comments and have a great year.

[@crazyldy002]

@@zeketheantiquefreak8518 that is so awesome and you make them yourself very commendable. I can, make quilts and use the tractor LOL

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

More 4020 info: www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/64-john-deere-4020.html You can find your year of manufacture by the serial number.

[@thastinger345]

I'm presently working to restore my Dad's old 68 3020 with the (non)synchro-range shifter. Right now it is hunt and pray shifting. Is there a rebuild "kit" with all the pins and brass bushings needed to rebuild the linkages?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

I am not aware of a kit... Your John Deere dealer may correct me though. If you do a search under jd parts, you can get diagrams and part #'s for your serial group. Also check for play in the clevis/rod linkage going down to the transmission. 'Yesterdays Tractors forums' are a great resource but requires signing up/in for free access. Thank you for the comment and hope your project goes well. Doing the bushings on my old 4020 made a day and night difference on shifting.

[@Bigcountry-fx7wn]

+ I probably need to go through the whole shifters because mine is sloppy and can easily miss a gear and here lately it doesn't seem like shifter is going down far enough to get it in second reverse. When you let off clutch it rolls back a little then grinds. All other gears are fine other than the slop

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+Kyle Spears Hopefully when the slop is taken out of the shifter that there is enough 'travel' in the rods to fully engage the internal transmission parts. Is this problem something new or has it been in poor condition for a long time?

[@Bigcountry-fx7wn]

+zeketheantiquefreak do you happen to have a video of removing and rebuilding the hydraulic pump by chance?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

For those of us in the colder climates, the trans/hydraulic oil is available from the JD dealer in a lower viscosity variety. The slight extra cost could could be made up for by easier cold starts.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+Kyle Spears No, I have only replaced these pumps, not rebuilt them. If the 3020 has a similar system to the 4010/4020 the same oil is used for the hydraulics and the transmission gears.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+Kyle Spears The transmission screen can only be removed and cleaned with the oil drained. Please check these out before getting into a very expensive pump job.

[@thetractorguyoldtractor3524]

Thanks for the informative videos. I operate a small grain farm near Elm Creek.i also have a 1964 jd 4020 diesel (standard ,whearland) similar to yours. This fall rpm's surging a bit and stalled? Changed the fuel filters , and parked the unit in the shed for the winter. If it still runs uneven next spring , any suggestions? Are you just west of me , near Treherne or Holland? Do you take in tractors like mine for tune-up servicing repair? Thanks!

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Yea, I am right here in Holland. If you do have more problems when you dig out the 4020 in the spring, let me know as I may be able to help. Is yours a 24v system?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

How are you making out? Nasty spring.

[@thetractorguyoldtractor3524]

We ended up buying a rebuilt diesel injection fuel pump last summer from Dave McMillan , Brandon. his price was quite reasonable. Tractor runs smooth now!!

[@Bigcountry-fx7wn]

I need to do one on a 3020. Can you tell me why you sawed the bushings in half again. And did you do much welding? Thanks

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+Kyle Spears I do not own a set of bushing drivers to properly remove old brass bushings. I usually just insert the blade of a hacksaw through the opening and do a cut to the old bushing. The cut bushing can then be collapsed and easily removed. After cleaning I just press in the new bushings with a bench vise.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+Kyle Spears Remember to change the roll pins (if you are going to) in that centre part before installing the new bushing! I didn't have to do any welding. Nothing was worn in this case bad enough to require being built up. The job went fairly well and I hope the video will help others to help themselves.

[@felixpradorosales7878]

Quiciera escuchar en español grasias

[@djmorgan8783]

I just got a John Deere 4020 and when I go into 8 gear I must go too far in a pop out can this help that situation

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

If the shifter mechanism is sloppy, it would be worth doing this relatively inexpensive (If you can do the labor yourself.) repair and then trying it. Hopefully others that know for sure will see your question and be able to answer.

[@osi2484]

Have you done a video on replacing the Park Safety Switch?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

No, sorry, I have not. Have you considered putting in a 'battery disconnect' in?

[@osi2484]

@@zeketheantiquefreak8518 Yes/ I have one in ,,,Thanks

[@klh3244]

Are all synchro range’s the same? I have a 66 3020 gas.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

I imagine that they are essentially the same inside. A comparison can be made by checking with the online JD parts diagrams.

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

A couple of mistakes in terminology and poor camera angle, but hopefully the video is helpful to you. The new bushings were pressed in with a regular bench vise... Nothing fancy. No bushing reamer was required for this job.

[@marklen2322]

I just purchased a 4020 with syncho- range and the shifting lever is very loose. Do you think my problem could be solved by doing your repair? Or is the problem in the transmission?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

There are rods that go down from the shifter to the side of the transmission. If the transmission is loose and sloppy, wiggling the connections there should reveal the problem. If the problem is in the shifter, the motion would not be transmitted nice and tight to the yokes at the bottom. If I was a betting kinda guy, I would bet your trouble is in the shifter mechanism as in the video. Check the pins in those lower yokes also, there can be a bit of wear and play there.

[@marklen2322]

@@zeketheantiquefreak8518

[@marklen2322]

@@zeketheantiquefreak8518 your video has given me the confidence to try to rebuild it. Thank you

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

@@marklen2322 Thank you for watching and commenting. The repair should make a huge difference.

[@robrohling538]

Is it the same on a 3010 diesel?

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Yes, I believe if it is a 'synchro-range' transmission the shift mechanism is of the same style, different part numbers, though. Perhaps someone reading this can chime in and verify. You can check the John Deere parts site (similar link below in next comment.) Good luck with your project.

[@robrohling538]

zeketheantiquefreak Ok, I’ll check jd’s parts site, Thank you!

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Here is the official John Deere 4020 less than serial #200,999 shifter parts breakdown: jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog.view.servlets.HomePageServlet_Alt

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

+zeketheantiquefreak 4010/4020 service intervals: Engine oil and filter 200 hrs. Trans/hydraulic oil (Type 303) and filter 1,200 hrs. Please don't forget to grease the outer rear axle bearings every 1,200 hours.

[@donf5722]

Canadian aye?? Lol

[@zeketheantiquefreak8518]

Yup. When I travel overseas, I cannot hide my 'Canadianity'... It is too deeply ingrained. Thank you for the comment.