Machine models
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices
The 304J's steering and coupler are useful selection checks
The 304J brochure describes stereo steering as frame articulation combined with rear-wheel steering. Inspect both movements during a demonstration. A turning-radius comparison based only on the articulation joint misses how this loader changes direction, and the rear steering linkage is an additional assembly to check for wear.
Its inching/brake pedal lets the operator reduce ground speed while retaining engine speed for hydraulic response. That matters during close truck loading: lowering the throttle and operating the inching pedal are different ways of slowing the machine. A buyer should have the operator demonstrate the controls before judging slow approach performance from engine output alone.
Deere lists a pin-type hydraulic coupler as the normal 304J arrangement, with a skid-steer-style coupler available as an alternative. The attachment interface needs to match the tools already owned. The fourth hydraulic function is optional too; a coupler that physically accepts an attachment does not establish that the loader has all the functions needed to operate it.
Return-to-dig and boom float perform separate jobs. The first restores the bucket's selected digging attitude; float allows the boom to follow the surface during backdragging. Demonstrating one does not demonstrate the other.
These features describe the 304J configuration in its factory brochure. The larger Z-bar, coupler-equipped and high-lift machines in the following groups need their own geometry and load charts, particularly when comparing bucket clearance or fork work.
John Deere 304J factory brochure, steering, controls and attachments| Model and field | Earlier entry | Manufacturer figure and scope | Source |
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| Earlier heading | John Deere loader 71 to 167 hp |
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| Coverage | Grouped model comparisons retain every listed configuration, including variants outside the former heading band; the individual model figures govern selection. |
Every John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe model with a full listing.
24 John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe models have a page here, 7 backhoe loaders, 12 wheel loaders, 1 soil or asphalt compactor, 1 tracked compact loader, and 3 wheeled compact loaders. The John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe list runs from the 310SE to the 334, at 73 to 215 hp, in 110 listed versions.
The John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe models covered
24 John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe models have a page here, covering 110 listed versions between them.
The John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe range by model and configuration
7 backhoe loader pages: engine power from 75 hp on the 410D to 147 hp on the 710, and the heaviest single listing is the 310K at 13,993 lb. 12 wheel loader pages: engine power from 73 hp on the 210LE to 215 hp on the 724J High-Lift, and the heaviest single listing is the 544GTC at 24,621 lb. 1 soil or asphalt compactor page: engine power from 131 hp on the 646 to 145 hp on the 646B. 1 tracked compact loader page: engine power from 105.8 hp on the 333 to 114.7 hp on the 335. 3 wheeled compact loader pages: engine power from 76 hp on the 328 to 115.3 hp on the 334, and the heaviest single listing is the 334 at 10,264 lb. Half of the 102 John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe models sit between 95 and 160 hp, and half of the listed weights on single-model pages fall between 9,160 lb and 18,761 lb. The three most powerful are the 724J Z-Bar at 215 hp, 724J High-Lift at 215 hp, and 624K Z-Bar at 198 hp. 18 of the 24 pages cover more than one version, and the 444J to 544J Z-Bar has the most, at 16.
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices: Backhoe loader models
| Model | Engine power | Listed weight | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 310SE to 610B | 80 hp, 75 hp, 90 hp, 90 hp, 95 hp, and 80 hp | See page | 6 |
| John Deere 500C, 610C, and 710B | 80 hp, 95 hp, and 100 hp | See page | 3 |
| John Deere 310SG to 315SJ | 91 hp, 92 hp, 86 hp, and 92 hp | See page | 4 |
| John Deere 310K | 87 hp | 13,993 lb | 1 |
| John Deere 410G to 710K | 96 hp, 96 hp, 96 hp, 107.3 hp, 122 hp, 123 hp, and 130.1 hp | See page | 7 |
| John Deere 320, 410, and 710 | 109 hp, 112 hp, and 147 hp | See page | 3 |
| John Deere 710C and 710D | 115 hp and 115 hp | See page | 2 |
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices: Wheel loader models
| Model | Engine power | Listed weight | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 210LE | 73 hp | 9,129 lb | 1 |
| John Deere 304J and 324J | 73 hp | See page | 2 |
| John Deere 444C to 544C | 85 hp, 90 hp, 94 hp, 105 hp, and 110 hp | See page | 5 |
| John Deere 344H to 444E Loader w/ Coupler | 98 hp, 98 hp, 95 hp, and 95 hp | See page | 4 |
| John Deere 344K | 97 hp | 18,761 lb | 1 |
| John Deere 544D to 644E w/ Coupler | 115 hp, 115 hp, 115 hp, 125 hp, 125 hp, 135 hp, 135 hp, 150 hp, 150 hp, 155 hp, 160 hp, and 160 hp | See page | 12 |
| John Deere 444 to 544 G-Tier | 124 hp, 118 hp, 152 hp, 166 hp, and 168 hp | See page | 5 |
| John Deere 444J to 544J Z-Bar | 119 hp, 119 hp, 119 hp, 128 hp, 128 hp, 128 hp, 146 hp, 146 hp, 149 hp, 149 hp, 167 hp, and 167 hp | See page | 16 |
| John Deere 544GTC | 120 hp | 24,621 lb | 1 |
| John Deere 544H to 644J Z-Bar | 130 hp, 167 hp, 160 hp, 167 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, and 185 hp | See page | 12 |
| John Deere 644A and 644B | 131 hp and 145 hp | See page | 2 |
| John Deere 544K to 724J Z-Bar | 167 hp, 167 hp, 167 hp, 198 hp, 167 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 215 hp, and 215 hp | See page | 12 |
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices: Soil or asphalt compactor models
| Model | Engine power | Listed weight | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 646 and 646B | 131 hp and 145 hp | See page | 2 |
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices: Tracked compact loader models
| Model | Engine power | Listed weight | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 333 and 335 | 105.8 hp and 114.7 hp | See page | 2 |
John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices: Wheeled compact loader models
| Model | Engine power | Listed weight | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Deere 270 to 328 | 77 hp, 77 hp, 85 hp, 85 hp, and 76 hp | See page | 5 |
| John Deere 332 | 85 hp | 9,160 lb | 1 |
| John Deere 334 | 115.3 hp | 10,264 lb | 1 |
What the John Deere mid-size loader and backhoe list holds
24 pages, ordered by power. 310SE to 610B (80 hp, 75 hp, 90 hp, 90 hp, 95 hp, and 80 hp); 500C, 610C, and 710B (80 hp, 95 hp, and 100 hp); 310SG to 315SJ (91 hp, 92 hp, 86 hp, and 92 hp); 310K (87 hp, 13,993 lb); 410G to 710K (96 hp, 96 hp, 96 hp, 107.3 hp, 122 hp, 123 hp, and 130.1 hp); 320, 410, and 710 (109 hp, 112 hp, and 147 hp); 710C and 710D (115 hp and 115 hp); 210LE (73 hp, 9,129 lb); 304J and 324J (73 hp); 444C to 544C (85 hp, 90 hp, 94 hp, 105 hp, and 110 hp); 344H to 444E Loader w/ Coupler (98 hp, 98 hp, 95 hp, and 95 hp); 344K (97 hp, 18,761 lb); 544D to 644E w/ Coupler (115 hp, 115 hp, 115 hp, 125 hp, 125 hp, 135 hp, 135 hp, 150 hp, 150 hp, 155 hp, 160 hp, and 160 hp); 444 to 544 G-Tier (124 hp, 118 hp, 152 hp, 166 hp, and 168 hp); 444J to 544J Z-Bar (119 hp, 119 hp, 119 hp, 128 hp, 128 hp, 128 hp, 146 hp, 146 hp, 149 hp, 149 hp, 167 hp, and 167 hp); 544GTC (120 hp, 24,621 lb); 544H to 644J Z-Bar (130 hp, 167 hp, 160 hp, 167 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, 185 hp, and 185 hp); 644A and 644B (131 hp and 145 hp); 544K to 724J Z-Bar (167 hp, 167 hp, 167 hp, 198 hp, 167 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 198 hp, 215 hp, and 215 hp); 646 and 646B (131 hp and 145 hp); 333 and 335 (105.8 hp and 114.7 hp); 270 to 328 (77 hp, 77 hp, 85 hp, 85 hp, and 76 hp); 332 (85 hp, 9,160 lb); 334 (115.3 hp, 10,264 lb). By kind: 7 backhoe loaders at 75 to 147 hp and 325 to 26,500 lb; 12 wheel loaders at 73 to 215 hp and 2,520 to 49,130 lb; 1 soil or asphalt compactor at 131 to 145 hp and 30,012 to 31,450 lb; 1 tracked compact loader at 106 to 115 hp; 3 wheeled compact loaders at 76 to 115 hp and 8,500 to 10,264 lb. The engines that recur are 6068H (18), 4045T (17), 6068T (5), E 6068H, Tier III certified (5), and 300 Series (4).
Other John Deere equipment directories
New to the figures? Start with the specifications section and the machine classes.
| Evidence class | Document, classification and recorded date |
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John Deere mid-size loaders and backhoes: steering, couplers and model choices questions
| Equipment inventory | 24 models in 5 kinds of machine: 7 backhoe loaders, 12 wheel loaders, 1 soil or asphalt compactor, 1 tracked compact loader, and 3 wheeled compact loaders. |
|---|---|
| Named starting references | The list starts with 310SE, 500C, and 310SG. |
| Comparison example | The 310SE to 610B page is one example, setting 6 listed versions side by side. |
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| Directory guides recorded | 24 |
| Reference pages | 24 |
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| Observation date | 2026-09-24 |
| First named reference | 310SE |
| Last named reference | 334 |
| Recorded field-count cutoff | 20 |
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| Short listings recorded | 46 |
| Examples named in the record | 17 P-Tier Compact Excavator, 210 P-Tier Mid-Size Excavator, and 230 P-Tier Mid-Size Excavator |
| Configurations recorded | 110 |
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| Recorded engine-power range |
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| Model | 310K |
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| Engine hp per 1,000 lb | 6.2 |
| Engine power in this directory |
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| Observation date | 2026-09-24 |
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| Configurations in that observation | 110 |
| Guides in the stated price-exclusion scope | 24 |
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| Count by class | 7 backhoe loaders, 12 wheel loaders, 1 soil or asphalt compactor, 1 tracked compact loader, and 3 wheeled compact loaders |
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| Engine-power range |
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| Configurations | 110 |
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| Reference pages | 24 |