What's New? -And Old?

One of my favorite topics to cover in this column is tractor options and accessories. Information pertaining to these options is usually not readily available today to the collector and enthusiast. I feel it is important to locate and document any available information today so that tomorrow's restorer will have an easier time of it. Just look how difficult it is to find this information already and, in some cases, not very much time has elapsed since the options were available and widely in use!

TI was going through more of my old books (again) when I uncovered the topic of this month's article. It is quite amusing to go back through some old books that I, in my much younger days, had sorted and put up. Never realizing that I would someday actually make use of these books, I often scribbled notes about a book in pencil on the covers. It is certainly strange to read a phrase that I originally wrote on a book almost 20 years ago! And was my penmanship better!

Anyway, this time I chanced across an installation and parts list manual for an M&W turbocharger kit for the John Deere 4010 and 4020 diesel tractor. Now, I cannot count how many times customers have come in over the years and asked for the turbo filter for the turbo that their 4020 came with. Ha! I patiently explain that the turbo was an aftermarket kit and ask if the filter is a spin-on and is it yellow, by chance? Many times a customer responds that Dad bought it new and it did come with that turbo! I politely smile and hand them the filter. This situation is very similar to the hi-lo gearbox that was installed on the (cover your eyes!) Ford 8N. So many 8Ns have this gearbox that you would swear it was factory installed! Same with the 4010 and 4020. As mentioned in an earlier column on the Baker multi-valve, the turbo kit was simply a natural accessory to install. Factory horsepower was increased as well as torque and overall responsiveness. Follow along as we touch quickly on the highlights of installing a turbo kit on your new JD 4020.

This manual covers kit "T-24." I am uncertain whether other kits existed and whether the basic information differed. This kit was produced and marketed by the M&W Company, long famous for its line of aftermarket piston kits, tractor dynamometers and engine accessories. Since this is a very quick overview, anyone interested in obtaining a copy of this manual may have one for $2.00 to cover copying and postage. Just write to me at the address at the end of this article.

To begin with, the following parts are to be removed before beginning installation of the turbo kit-muffler, air pre-cleaner, hood, grille screens, side shields, cowl, radiator hose, air cleaner pipe, water manifold, thermostat housings and exhaust manifold. Well, now! Just as well pull the crankshaft, too, and throw it on the shop floor! Disassembly alone would take quite a bit of time.

The thermostat housings were reinstalled, but 180 degrees from the original position. The water manifold was then installed with 4020s requiring a new, longer radiator hose. The new exhaust manifolds were next to go back on. The turbo was plumbed and installed to the new exhaust manifold and the new exhaust elbow fitted to the turbo. Logically, the new air intake pipe hooked up the turbo to the air cleaner hose next. Then, three air discharge pipes between the intake manifold and the turbo air discharge opening were installed. A new heat shield was utilized behind the two lower air discharge pipes. The turbo oil lines were then plumbed to the oil pan.

The next part of the instructions differs depending upon what year tractor the kit was being installed on. 1970 tractors required a two inch section of the oil return line to be flattened in a vise to facilitate installation ofthe line past the tractor frame. An oil filter assembly was then installed to ensure proper oil filtration. This is the turbo filter I mentioned earlier in the article. This section also varies, depending upon if it is a 4010 or 4020 being worked on. Incidentally, the manual shows a beautiful closeup of the engine AND ... a nice closeup of factory stenciling on the fuel filters which I was unaware of.

This would make a very nice "detail" item for a 4020 restoration! Further plumbing is also covered. Variations in 4010 versus 4020 installations are also gone over in this section and items such as dealing with block heaters and crankcase air pumps are illustrated. An interesting picture shows the hood on a 1969 tractor being cut (horror of horrors!) and modified with a "rework" patch to clear the new exhaust pipe. I had seen this before, but thought that this was a farmer's "modification." Final instructions were then issued. Fill the tractor with coolant and oil, start engine and run at a medium speed on an M&W dyno (wonder what happened if someone didn't use an M&W brand dyno?) until operating temperature is reached. After checking for leaks, 4010 tractors were to have the injection pump adjusted to a maximum horsepower of 110 at 1160 PTO speed. 4020s were to be set to 115 horsepower at 1160 PTO speed. Cylinder heads were to be retorqued after one hour of operation.

Then, in large red printing was listed the following: "IMPORTANT - You are cautioned not to increase fuel settings to obtain a higher horsepower output than listed in this manual at rated engine RPM." It is also further stated that many installs will develop higher horsepower than listed but temperatures are also increased and the turbo and components could suffer. If this was not corrected, warranty would be voided. Well, I think we all know of a neighbor who might have a tractor that has been "turned up," so to speak. This is usually just fine until the engine throws a rod! And I think we all know of a pulling tractor or two that might be just a "wee" bit higher than factory settings. But obviously, M&W was not interested in providing warranty coverage for installations that exceeded what they felt they had designed for. The book also has a very nice foldout full parts installation that is reproduced here.

Again, this was another "non-John Deere" accessory that was, when properly installed, a very useful enhancement to an already great tractor. When you consider the increase in horsepower from a factory 85 PTO horsepower to 110-115 PTO horsepower that this simple modification added, it would have been almost impossible to resist purchasing a kit and enjoying the added productivity that was gained by the installation. That is why so many tractors today have this turbo. This kit literally moved the 4020 up an entire horsepower class without sacrificing the balance and overall design superiority that made the 4020 one of the most successful John Deere tractors ever. The 4020 was, and still is, a legend in the history of tractor production. The same thing could be said of the 4020 T!

Greg Stephen is a John Deere dealer in Colorado who specializes in New Old Stock (NOS) and reproduction tractor parts. His articles, which appear on a regular basis, usually focus on parts and accessories. He explains what special parts were available, what was unique about them and why they were needed. He covers everything from turbochargers for 4020s to spoke flywheels for model Ds.

Greg can be reached at Stephen Equipment Co., 7460 E. Highway 86, Franktown, CO 80116; telephone 303-688-3151.