Quick Answer: A used New Holland 1004 is a 100 hp four-wheel-drive tractor from the Shanghai New Holland range, aimed at contractors who pull heavy draught implements every day rather than at light-duty farm chores. Units in circulation were mostly built between 2010 and 2014 and run a Deutz engine with 12.4-24 front and 18.4-34 rear dry-land tyres plus a front ballast block. That package puts working weight at roughly 3.6 to 4.0 tonnes, enough to hold a three-disc heavy plough or a 2.5 m tiller at depth without wheel slip. For importers, the New Holland 1004 is the answer when customers say their 80 hp machines lug in hard ground.
What the New Holland 1004 Is: Deutz Engine, Tyres and Working Weight
Inside the Shanghai New Holland ladder the New Holland 1004 sits at the top of the utility range, above the 70 hp SNH704, the 75 hp SNH754, the 80 hp SNH804 and the 90 hp SNH904. The difference that matters to a buyer is the engine: where the smaller SNH models run the SNH4102Z or a licensed four-cylinder, the 100 hp unit is specified with a Deutz engine. For exporters shipping to Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia that is a real advantage, because Deutz service networks and parts catalogues exist in most regional capitals independently of the tractor brand.
The 12.4-24 front and 18.4-34 rear package is a dry-land specification, not a paddy one, giving a tall rear wheel for drawbar pull and clearance for row-crop work. With the factory front ballast it lets a 100 hp machine deliver its rating at the drawbar instead of spinning. Dealers who strip the front weights to save freight get the complaint back within one season.
New Holland 1004 Ballast Setup: Turning 100 HP into Drawbar Pull
Horsepower that never reaches the ground is diesel burned for nothing. When a New Holland 1004 feels no stronger than an old 80 hp tractor, the cause is nearly always ballast or tyre pressure, not the engine. Check these settings first:
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- Front ballast for mounted implements: add front weights to 25 to 30 per cent of tractor weight, so roughly 900 to 1,100 kg on a 3.8 tonne unit.
- Front ballast for trailed implements: 10 to 15 per cent is enough, since the implement carries its own weight on its wheels.
- Wheel slip target: 8 to 12 per cent on firm ground, up to 15 per cent on soft soil. Above that, add ballast rather than dropping a gear.
- Rear tyre pressure: 1.0 to 1.2 bar for draught work, raised to 1.6 to 2.0 bar for road transport to save tyre wear.
- Draft control: run the lower links in draft-position control in variable soil so the hitch reacts to load instead of holding a fixed height.
Run this list and most setup complaints disappear on the first pass. A tractor that still slips with correct ballast needs hydraulic or clutch inspection before shipment.
Matching Implements to the New Holland 1004
At 100 hp there is margin to run implements that sit at the limit on a 75 hp unit. Our reference is the 1LY-325 disc plough: 750 mm working width, 250 to 300 mm depth, three 660 mm discs, 480 kg, rated 60 hp on a Cat II hitch. On a New Holland 1004 it runs at about two-thirds of available power, where fuel economy per hectare is best.
| Implement | Working width | Depth | Power demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1LY-325 disc plough | 750 mm | 250-300 mm | 60 hp |
| 3-furrow reversible plough | 900-1,050 mm | 250-300 mm | 80-90 hp |
| 2.5 m rotary tiller | 2,500 mm | 120-180 mm | 80-100 hp |
The subsoiler is the limit: five tines at 450 mm in dry compacted ground pull a New Holland 1004 down to walking pace, so quote it only to customers who know their soil. For general contracting, the disc plough plus a 2.5 m tiller covers most paid work.
Cost per Hectare and Container Loading for Importers
A 100 hp machine burns more per hour than a 90 hp one but finishes the field faster; the published specific fuel consumption for the SNH family is 242 g/kWh or better, and contractors report 14 to 20 litres per hectare under plough load. Where the New Holland 1004 clearly wins is daily area covered, roughly 5 to 7 hectares a day against 4 to 5 for an 80 hp unit.
For shipping, budget about 4.4 x 2.3 x 2.8 m with cab and close to 4.0 tonnes. A 40HQ container takes two cabbed units, or three ROPS units with the exhaust stack and mirrors removed. Ship the front ballast inside the cab or strapped to the frame rather than leaving it behind, and add a first-service kit of filters, clutch plate and PTO shaft to the same container.
FAQ
Is 100 hp too much for a 30-hectare farm?
Not if the work includes primary tillage. On 30 hectares with a disc plough and tiller, the New Holland 1004 finishes in fewer passes and holds depth in dry soil where an 80 hp tractor drops a gear. The trade-off is a higher purchase price and more fuel per hour. If the farm only sprays, mows and hauls, buy 80 hp.
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What should I check before buying a used New Holland 1004?
Six items, in order: engine cold-start behaviour and blow-by on the Deutz; clutch engagement under load in a high gear; hydraulic lift holding a 480 kg implement for ten minutes without drop; front axle and steering ball joints for play; PTO shaft spline condition; and tyre sidewalls for cracking on units stored outdoors. Ask for photos of the engine plate and hour meter before transfer, and confirm the manufacture year, which for these units is typically 2010 to 2014.
Sourcing a Used New Holland 1004 from China
Every New Holland 1004 we ship is inspected, serviced and photographed before loading, and the implement set is matched to the customer's soil. Current stock is listed as SNH1004 100hp 4wd New Holland Used Tractor, and the plough referenced above is available as the 1LY disc plough.
Linyi Gama Machinery Co., Ltd is based in Linyi City, Shandong Province, China, and exports used tractors, harvesters and implements to more than thirty markets. For quotations, inspection reports and container planning on the New Holland 1004 or any other model in the SNH range, contact Mr. Gavin Zhang at Gavin@gamagr.com or by phone and WhatsApp on +86 13013532997.
