John Deere 6420 premium vs 6430 standard

[FarmerMatt04]

Been looking at getting a loader tractor and definitely decided on one of these 2.
From Ireland so hard to find 6420 with under 7000hrs and can get 6430 with around 5000hrs.
Tractor would not be main tractor and used for light loader work and the most power requiring jobs would be towing 14ft trailers and 3m power harrowing.
I'm looking at 6430 standard over the premium due to simpler electronics and hence better reliability and ease of maintenance.
Any one with experience in these tractors able to suggest which would be better and y?
Have heard issues with head gaskets is that a problem with both series?
Also with the 6420 how can u tell if its a premium model or not?
Is it worth getting a 6420sp over 6420p?

 

[Tractortech]

Now Then..
If I was looking, I'd rather have a premium 30 series over a standard. A 6420 would be a better tractor than a 6430 Standard too, however a tidy low hour one could prove difficult to find.
6420 - 110 hp , no extra power
6420S -120 hp, 10 hp extra power
6430 standard - 110 hp, no extra power.
6430 Premium - 120 hp plus 10hp extra power
The later 20 series had a 4 valve engine with HPCR and are much better than the earlier 2 valve engine. No VGT or EGR to play up
30 series Standard are all 2 valve engines with HPCR and normal turbo. Unfortunately, they are a bit 'steady'
30 series Premium are all HPCR, VGT, and EGR but pull very well.
Realistically, there's little difference in the electronics, all have an ECU, BIF, BCU, EPC, etc. Obviously a few more on a premium.
The head gasket thing should only need doing once if done properly, and the radiators washed out occasionally.
If you seriously insist on a Standard tractor, look for one with TLS as it'll have better hydraulic performance..
The poverty spec 20 series was badged as an 'SE'
Any of the above are probably best bought off the farm privately. That way you can see how it's been looked after ..
Obviously, there'll be a shed load of different opinions, these are just my thoughts mixed with a few facts...
(No guarantee of factual correctness given or implied) 🛠

 

[nelson]

we went from one of the last 6620 to a 6930 standard the 66 would match the 69 on power but the 66 was 139hp at the pto and that was from the factory

 

[Timbo75]

Bear in mind a Standard has the Fixed Gear Hyd pump, so you will be disappointed with loader performance.

I would go for the Premium and make sure it has the optional big pump and aux tank as a must for any amount of loader work.

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

We have both a 6420s and a 6430 premium.

very little difference between the two, the 6430 has the screen for set up but thats about the only major difference.

The 6420s has had a head gasket the 6430 hasn't yet but its not at the hours that the 6420 was when it required one.

As above the 20 series were either SE (basic version) or unbadged which would be the equivalent to the premium.

I am fairly sure that our 6420s has a VGT however which contradicts what Tractor tech is saying above but I could be wrong.

 

[Timbo75]

We have both a 6420s and a 6430 premium.

very little difference between the two, the 6430 has the screen for set up but thats about the only major difference.

The 6420s has had a head gasket the 6430 hasn't yet but its not at the hours that the 6420 was when it required one.

As above the 20 series were either SE (basic version) or unbadged which would be the equivalent to the premium.

I am fairly sure that our 6420s has a VGT however which contradicts what Tractor tech is saying above but I could be wrong.

No, fixed turbo on a 6420.

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

No, fixed turbo on a 6420.

I was talking about a late model 6420S not a normal 6420.

 

[Timbo75]

I was talking about a late model 6420S not a normal 6420.

Still fixed geometry

 

[aidan]

We have both a 6420s and a 6430 premium.

very little difference between the two, the 6430 has the screen for set up but thats about the only major difference.

The 6420s has had a head gasket the 6430 hasn't yet but its not at the hours that the 6420 was when it required one.

As above the 20 series were either SE (basic version) or unbadged which would be the equivalent to the premium.

I am fairly sure that our 6420s has a VGT however which contradicts what Tractor tech is saying above but I could be wrong.

how many hrs you get to before the 6420s needed a HG

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

how many hrs you get to before the 6420s needed a HG

It was between 5000 and 6000 I don't remember exactly

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

We had a 6430 standard and it was bombproof did 11 thousand hours and the only thing we did was the head gasket.

 

[Wesley]

It was between 5000 and 6000 I don't remember exactly

5000 was the service interval for head gaskets on our 6920s. Had one just after we got it at 5000, another at 10000. Turned 15k now but hopefully they cured the issue last time.

 

[FarmerMatt04]

Thanks for all the replies and a big thanks to @Tractortech.
A 6420s premium would be the perfect fit it would seem however the big issue we would have is picking up one which meets the specs and has low enough hours. We ourselves typically wouldn't buy a tractor over 6k hrs.
Would a 6420 premium be that much better than a 6430 standard to justify going for a higher houred tractor probably an extra 1.5k to 2.5k hrs?

 

[Tractortech]

Do you know of anyone locally who has a 6420S, 6430 Standard and a 6430 Premium?? If so, see if you can try each. Either at theirs, or yours....

 

[Runs Like a Deere]

Thanks for all the replies and a big thanks to @Tractortech.
A 6420s premium would be the perfect fit it would seem however the big issue we would have is picking up one which meets the specs and has low enough hours. We ourselves typically wouldn't buy a tractor over 6k hrs.
Would a 6420 premium be that much better than a 6430 standard to justify going for a higher houred tractor probably an extra 1.5k to 2.5k hrs?

What are you planning on using the tractor for? The hydraulic pump will be bigger capacity on the premium version and the rear lift capacity might also be slightly better. Also premiums came with boost where as i don't think the standard did?

 

[FarmerMatt04]

What are you planning on using the tractor for? The hydraulic pump will be bigger capacity on the premium version and the rear lift capacity might also be slightly better. Also premiums came with boost where as i don't think the standard did?

#1^ "Tractor would not be main tractor and used for light loader work and the most power requiring jobs would be towing 14ft trailers and 3m power harrowing."

 

[Tractortech]

The more 'fit' tractors you have, the more you can spread your workload and hours over the fit tractors..