How do I Compare the John Deere 4300 & 790?

Both the John Deere 4300 and 790 are light utility tractors of about 30 horse power manufactured since 2000. Both are available in the used farm equipment market. While the John Deere 4300 is about 1,000 pounds heavier than the 790, they are both powered by a three-cylinder diesel engine manufactured by Yanmar. Both are available in the stand two-wheel drive configuration or the optional four-wheel drive. The choice between the two models will often boil down to condition and price.

Things You'll Need

  • John Deere 4300
  • John Deere 790
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Instructions

    • 1

      Know what your tractor needs are. Even though the John Deere 4300 and 790 are similar in many ways, there are differences. The 4300 is about 1,000 pounds heavier, making it more adapted for tasks requiring traction. The 4300 has a hydraulic valve flow of 12.9 gallons per minute compared to the 5.4 gpm of the 790. This makes the 4300 more suitable for tasks utilizing the hydraulic system such as powering a backhoe or other device.

    • 2

      Check the tractor for a mid-tractor power take off. The mid-tractor PTO powers the mower deck and is optional on the 4300 and standard on the 790. If you plan to use the tractor as a large-scale lawn mower, a mid-tractor PTO is necessary.

    • 3

      Look at the number of hours on the tractor. The 790 was manufactured from 2000 to 2007 while the 4300 was built from 1998 to 2003. While there are three years of overlap in production, for the most part it's more likely to find a low hour John Deere 790 rather than 4300 simply because of the more recent years of manufacture.

    • 4

      Check the condition of the tractor. Look for the condition of the tires; smoothness of clutch operation, if applicable; and overall condition of the tractor. Tires can be expensive to replace while the overall condition of the tractor indicates the type of care it received from its former user.

    • 5

      Check the attachments that come with the tractor. The 790 had optional attachments including a lawn mower deck, backhoe and loader. The 4300 could be fitted with both John Deere and third-party attachments offering more flexibility. In either case make sure the attachments needed to accomplish your specific tasks are available.