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4044, 4052, 4066 John Deere Tractors Hitch

Hitch Assist

Activating Hitch Assist

JD 4044M, 4044R, 4052M, 4052R, 4066M, 4066R PTO must be off.

- Sit on operator’s seat with the engine running.
- Hand throttle must be at low idle.
- Fully engage park brake; when fully engaged, park brake light on the instrument panel starts to blink.
- Transmission range shift lever must be in the “A” range.
- Engage hitch assist switch. Warning lights begins to flash when feature is active. If any of the interlock conditions are not met, the instrument control panel displays which interlock needs attention.
- When the operator gets out of the seat, five audible beeps signaling that hitch assist is engaged sound and the warning lights flash at low frequency.

Operating Hitch Assist - Press forward switch or reverse switch while holding the hitch engagement switch.

Disabling Hitch Switch - The rear controls can be disabled in three different ways:

- Sitting on the seat.
- Turning off the hitch assist switch.
- Any change in interlock state.

To resume normal operation, hitch assist switch in the operator station must be turned off.

JD 4044, 4052, 4066 Tractors Drawbar Hitch

Use only the drawbar that was provided with the machine (if equipped) or the optional drawbar available from your John Deere dealer. Do not install or use any other type of drawbar. To avoid rearward upset, all towed loads must be attached to the drawbar, not just to the center link or draft arms. Maximum static vertical load on drawbar must not exceed maximum recommendations. Drive slowly with heavy loads.

Maximum Drawbar Loads - Certain heavy equipment such as a loaded single-axle trailer can place excessive strain on the drawbar. Strain is greatly increased by speed and rough ground. Do not exceed the following maximum static vertical loads on drawbar: All models—400 kg (882 lb.)

Adjusting Drawbar Length

For drawn PTO-driven implements, the drawbar must be in the operating position. The drawbar is equipped with two adjusting holes for changing drawbar length and one hole for storage.

- Remove quick-lock pin and drilled pin.
- Adjust drawbar to one of two operating positions or to storage position.
- Install drilled pin up from bottom of machine. Secure with quick-lock pin.

Towing Loads

Stopping distance increases with speed and weight of towed load, and on slopes. Towed loads, with or without brakes, that are too heavy for the machine or are towed too fast can cause loss of control. Consider the weight of the equipment and its load. Ensure that load does not exceed recommended weight. The machine must be heavy and powerful enough with adequate braking power for the towed load. Use additional caution and reduce speed when towing loads under adverse surface conditions, when turning, and on inclines.

- 4044M, 4044R, 4052M, 4052R, 4066M, 4066R John Deere hitch the towed load only to the drawbar. Lock the drawbar and pin in place.
- Install a safety chain to the machine drawbar support and to the towed load. Provide only enough slack to permit turning.
- Before descending a hill, shift to a gear low enough to control machine without having to use the brake pedal.

Weight requirement for towed equipment:

- If towed equipment does not have brakes, do not tow loads more than 1500 kg (3307 lb.) maximum.
- If towed equipment has brakes, do not tow loads more than 2000 kg (4409 lb.) maximum.

Safety Chain

Hitch towed loads only to the drawbar to avoid rearward upset. Do not use the safety chain for towing loads. Secure the towed load to the drawbar. The safety chain is designed to help control the towed load in case of separation from the drawbar. Use a chain with a strength rating greater than the gross weight of the towed load. Replace or repair the safety chain if one or more links or fittings are broken, stretched, or damaged.

- Attach safety chain to drawbar support and to towed load. Provide only enough slack to permit turning.
- Install additional attaching points for chain on drawbar to reduce slack in chain when necessary.
- Remove safety chain and store when not in use.

JD 4044, 4052, 4066 Tractors 3-Point Hitch

Using 3-Point Hitch - The 3-point hitch on your machine is classified as a category 1 hitch.

Center Link Storage Position - Place center link in storage hook when hitch is not in use.

Positioning Center Link - For light and medium draft loads: Install center link in bottom hole of mounting bracket. Example of a light or medium draft load implement is a landscape rake. A category I implement tilts forward while rising in this position.

For medium and heavy draft loads: Install center link in middle hole of mounting bracket. Example of a medium or heavy draft load implement is a tiller or box blade. A category I implement tilts forward slightly while rising in this position. For very heavy draft loads: Install center link in top hole of mounting bracket. Example of a very heavy draft load implement is a plow or ripper. A category I implement rises, but angle remains constant.

Rockshaft Control Lever

Use rockshaft control lever to raise and lower equipment attached to 3-point hitch. The six rockshaft position identifiers do not signify specific operating depths. When rockshaft control lever is moved forward, draft arms lower closer to the ground. Lower Implement: Push rockshaft control lever forward. Raise Implement: Pull rockshaft control lever rearward. The rockshaft depth stop can be adjusted to maintain a particular implement operating depth.

To use the depth stop knob:

- Operate implement for a few minutes to determine the desired operating depth.
- Loosen the depth stop knob.
- Move knob against rockshaft control lever.
- Tighten knob to keep the depth stop in position. Implement will operate in same position each time rockshaft control lever is pushed against the depth stop.

Rate-of-Drop/Lock Valve

Excessive rate-of-drop may cause injury or damage. Fully lowering implement takes at least 2 seconds. The rate-of-drop/lock valve controls the rate of rockshaft drop when rockshaft control lever is operated. This valve provides direct rate-of-drop control for 3-point hitch mounted implements. the valve can be used to hydraulically lock rockshaft from lowering (3-point hitch) in a desired position. The JD 4044M, 4044R, 4052M, 4052R, 4066M, 4066R tractor can be operated with rate-of-drop/lock valve closed. The rockshaft can be raised with the rate-of-drop/lock valve closed.

Increase Rate-of-Drop: Rotate rate-of-drop/lock valve knob counterclockwise to make drop faster.
Decrease Rate-of-Drop: Rotate rate-of-drop/lock valve knob clockwise to make drop slower.

Do not use the rate-of-drop/lock valve knob for holding an attachment in raised position for service work. Loss of hydraulic pressure could result in sudden drop of attachment. Lower attachment onto blocks or remove from machine before servicing.

Lock 3-Point Hitch: Rotate rate-of-drop/lock valve knob clockwise until tight.
Unlock 3-Point Hitch: Rotate rate-of-drop/lock valve knob counterclockwise.

Draft Links

Look down and behind before and while backing. Clear area of all bystanders before backing machine. Slowly back machine into position to align draft links with implement lift brackets.

- Park machine safely.
- Connect draft links to the implement.
- Secure implement with quick lock pins.

Telescoping Draft Link (Optional)

Telescoping draft link locking levers must be in locked position before operating the machine, or link damage could occur.4044, 4052, 4066 John Deere tractor machines equipped with optional telescoping draft links can be connected two different ways.

Option one

- Slowly back machine into position to align draft links with implement lift brackets.
- Park machine safely.
- Raise locking lever and pull link to extend as needed.
- Connect draft links to the implement.

Option two

- Sit on operator’s seat and start engine.
- Back machine until each lock lever snaps and secures each draft link in the locked position.

Leveling Implement Front-to-Rear

- When the 3-point hitch is not being used, return center link to storage hook.
- Lower implement to ground to relieve pressure on center link.
- Loosen lock nut.
- Do not turn center link body past the stops, or threads may be damaged.
- Rotate center link body to lengthen or shorten the center link until implement is level from front to rear.
- Tighten lock nut.

Leveling Implement Side-to-Side

- Use turnbuckle collar on the right adjustable lift link to level a 4044, 4052, 4066 John Deere 3-point hitch implement side-to-side.
- Lower any rear-mounted implement to the ground.
- Slide up and rotate turnbuckle collar to raise or lower draft link until 3-point hitch mounted implement is level from side to side.
- Slide down and line up the slot in turnbuckle collar with turnbuckle collar lock to secure position.

Adjusting Implement Side-to-Side Sway Chains

Check implement operator’s manual procedure for adjusting sway links. When sway links have been properly adjusted, side sway of implement is controlled by position of links. A small amount of sway, 13—25 mm (1/2—1 in.), is needed for many implements. Use left and right sway links to adjust 3-point hitch implement side-to-side sway.

- Park machine safely.
- Lower any rear-mounted implement to the ground.
- Loosen lock nut.
- Rotate sway link adjusting rod to adjust 3-point hitch implement side-to-side sway.
- Tighten lock nut.

Adjusting Implement Side-to-Side Sway Bars

Check implement operator’s manual procedure for adjusting sway links. When sway links have been properly adjusted, side sway of implement is controlled by position of links. A small amount of sway, 13—25 mm (1/2—1 in.), is needed for many implements. Use left and right sway links to adjust 3-point hitch implement side-to-side sway.

- Park machine safely.
- Lower any rear-mounted implement to the ground.
- Remove locking pin.
- Slide stabilizer sway link adjusting shaft to adjust 3-point hitch implement side-to-side sway.
- Replace locking pin.

Adjusting Draft Links to Float Position - Adjusting 3-point hitch stops to the float position will allow both draft links to rise slightly as the implement follows ground contour. Adjust stops to the float position for 3-point hitch implement such as a cultivator or mower. These implements have ground gauging skids or wheels, which may otherwise cause the implement to twist relative to the machine. Remove spring locking pin and rotate stop pin 90 degrees to position shown.

Adjusting Draft Links to Rigid Position - Adjusting 3-point hitch stops to the rigid position will restrict movement of the draft links as the implement follows ground contour. Adjust stops to the rigid position for 3-point hitch implements such as plows and ground engaging implements that should not twist relative to the machine. Remove spring locking pin and rotate stop pin 90 degrees to position shown.

Mounting Guidelines

- To keep tire rotation in right direction, move each rim to opposite side of machine, rather than turning rim around.
- Dished wheels can be reversed.
- Tighten all bolts to specifications.
- Wide position - Install wheel with valve stem to the inside.
- Narrow position - Install wheel with valve stem to the outside.