John Deere makes good tractors all around, but this particular model is lightning in a bottle. The 6 cylinder, 7.6L diesel engine is (in my opinion) the best diesel engine John Deere has ever made. It’s incredibly reliable! This model joins the fabulous engine with the legendary PowerShift transmission.
John Deere 4840
Photo: TractorData.com
These tractors are so outstanding that it’s rare to see one with an old, tired engine or a transmission that’s beyond repair. In fact, the heart of these tractors will outlive the frame. One of the first things to show wear in very high hour tractors is the axle components. This isn’t because there’s a design flaw in the axle - it’s just that competing tractors will often have a major failure (transmission, engine problems) long before they get enough hours to start to wear out the axle. The JD 4840 is different, and that’s great news!
After many long hours, the JD 4840 will start to wear down. The good news is that replacement parts are easy to come by and relatively simple to install.
One more thing: the fuel tank holds more than 100 gallons, so you can go for a long time before you’ll need to take a break to fill up. That’s okay, though, because this model has a very modern cab with all the creature comforts you’d expect - a quiet ride, heat, air conditioning, and a comfy seat.