Coming into the new year, farmers who are thinking of buying a new tractor will most likely have the deal done in time for 151-registration. The majority will also trade in the tractor they are replacing.

Good quality trade-ins are always in demand. Here, we look at a model from John Deere, which is in high demand secondhand.

John Deere’s 6320 Premium and SE have a solid reputation. TFM’s Ken Doyle and Peter Breen are both salesmen with TFM Ltd’s Enniscorthy branch and talk us though what to look for in a used 6320SE.

Both have been working with TFM for a number of years. Ken is tillage and Lemken sales specialist within the TFM group, while Peter is harvest and combine specialist for the entire TFM group.

Deere’s 6320 was introduced around late 2002 and ran until around 2007, according to Ken. “You’ll find that there is a good mix of both SE and Premium versions out there.”

Peter explains the major differences between versions. “SE versions of the 6320 have mechanical injection systems, while the Premium versions had common-rail electronic fuel injection from 2003 onwards.

“Many have specified front suspension, a/c and possibly even headland management system (HMS) on Premium versions,” Ken adds.

For this article, we will look at the SE version with a mechanical fuel injection system and 66l/min fixed displacement hydraulic pump (96l/min PFC pump on the Premium version). “Farmers like simplicity, especially in a secondhand tractor,” Peter says.

Ken and Peter had an excellent example of a John Deere 6320SE in stock. This is a 2006 tractor with 7,867 hours on the clock and a John Deere 631 front loader fitted from new.

The customer who traded it in kept the loader and its brackets were transferred to a 6430, which he purchased from TFM.

The brackets suited exactly, according to Peter, but there are some differences in the loader hydraulic kit.

  • Frame: Full chassis design with ISO-mounted engine and tiltable cab for maintenance/servicing.
  • Engine: John Deere 4.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled engine with mechanical fuel injection developing 100hp.
  • Main clutch: PermaClutchII oil-immersed wet clutch.
  • Transmission: Most popular, Powr16/16 with four gears and four powershift speeds. Cable-operated power-shuttle.
  • Brakes: Transmission lock, independent handbrake and oil immersed disc brakes.
  • Pto: 540/540E/1,000rpm.
  • Hydraulics: 63 litres/min gear pump, with load-sensing valves. Three mechanical spools.
  • Lift type/capacity: Electronic lift control/45.9kN (approximately 4.68t).
  • Fuel tank: 165 litres
  • Wheelbase: 2,400mm.
  • Height: 2,714mm.
  • Weight: 4,340kg.
  • Hitch: Sauermann telescopic.
  • Tyres rear: 16.9 -R38 to 540/65-R38.
  • Tyres front: 13.6-R24 to 480/65-R24.
  • Typical prices: €27,000 to €32,000 s/h John Deere loader typically adds around €5,000.
  • Replacement parts prices: Headlight €80.64 plus Vat, F/R shuttle cable €131.94 plus Vat, hitch locking pin housing €122.40 plus Vat, replacement single step €30, plus Vat.
  • TFM winter service offer (in garage), 6020 Series €625 plus vat when done in TFM garage (subject to 13.5% vat). Includes changing of engine oil and filter, fuel filters, trans and hyd filters, hyd oil, front axle and front axle hub oils, fully greased tractor plus numerous other checks and a clean air filter.