904 P-Tier | Wheel Loader | John Deere

The latest features on the 904 P-Tier Wheel Loader focus on helping increase productivity and uptime. Download specs, compare models, and view and print our 904 P-Tier Wheel Loader brochure.

904 P-Tier scooping up material

The 904 P-Tier is John Deere’s two-pass loader solution for loading standard over the road trucks in two passes. Built off the success of the 844L Aggregate Handler, the 904 P-Tier is equipped with key features like increased horsepower, breakout force, hydraulic pressures, and bucket offerings enabling it to meet the rugged demands of the aggregates industry.

• Rugged 7.5- and 7.1-m3 (9.8 and 9.3 cu. yd.) material-handling buckets with integrated spill guards and curved side cutters are designed to heap heavier loads of processed aggregates in fewer passes and maximize load retention while still providing clear visibility to the jobsite in front of the machine.
• Tilt cylinders that are 12-percent larger deliver more breakout force than previous designs. Increased hydraulic pressure helps make repetitive bucket loading, unloading, and reloading seem like no big deal.
• Low-profile tire options improve traction, flotation, and stability over standard tires.
• Larger rear cast bumper/counterweight enables the 904 P-Tier to handle an 11-percent greater payload than our earlier aggregate handlers.
• Factory-installed payload scale enables more efficient loading and tracking of material flow to maximize productivity.
• Standard factory-installed auto-lube system with empty-reservoir sensor is electrically powered and integrated with machine diagnostics.

Built in EH controls within the right-hand controllers

Overview

Electrohydraulic (EH) controls allow for increased functionality to customize machine operations. Operators can adjust settings based on preference to increase productivity across a range of jobsite applications.

Benefits

• Enable soft hydraulic stops to select how abrupt the bucket or boom stops when end of travel is reached or when the lever of the joystick is released.
• Personalize both multi-function buttons, incorporated into the joysticks with up to 9 options selectable from the monitor.
  • From the factory multi-function 1 is set as kickdown and multi-function 2 is set as the horn

• P-Tier production class loaders may be equipped with low effort, shorter throw single axis controls or joystick controls.
• Set and store up to 10 different attachment configuration settings including flow, responsiveness, and other modes through the monitor for the most frequently used attachments in your fleet.

Additional Details

Multi-Function Button Programmable Options

• EH Precision Mode allows fine metering of bucket or boom movement when precision loader functions are required. This scales back on the aggressiveness of the functions during operation as well as limits flow. The feature is best utilized in any application that requires reduced hydraulic function speed such as laying pipe or installing manholes.

View of improved hydraulic routing at the loader articulation joint

The cooling system has ground level serviceability capabilities

Overview

With improvements to the electrical and hydraulic routing and features such as ground level servicing, customers have an upgraded serviceability experience.

Benefits

• Wire harness routing has been enhanced and additional retention points have been added to reduce rubbing
• Factory installed auto-lube system is offered as standard equipment. Automatic greasing takes place while the machine is operating which is more effective for grease distribution.
• Daily engine oil access has been improved; no longer opening the fender is required.
• Controllers and fuse panel are all protected from the environment while also being more serviceable from inside the cab.

The engine oil dipstick is located near the back tire on the left side, giving operators easier access to perform daily service checks

With Remote Engine Oil Dipstick enhancements, the task to open the rear fender is eliminated, making it easier to perform daily service checks, while providing easy access to the engine service light

Loader Working in a Sand and Gravel Operation

P-Tier production class loaders pack more power and burn less fuel than previous series machines helping increase productivity to keep up with all the demands of the sites they work on.

• All P-Tier Production Class Loaders have received a net horsepower increase (see chart below) and burn less fuel compared to K-series machines.

  • The 904 P-Tier burns 3-7 percent less fuel than the 844K-III AH

• Lower cost of maintenance due to smaller engine oil capacities.

• Shuttle Shift minimizes the chance for an operator to make a poor shifting decision; shuttle shift allows a commanded direction to change while still moving.

• Standard Automatic Ride Control improves operator comfort and material retention when traveling over uneven terrain.

• Standard Lockup Torque Converter adds additional torque and improves fuel economy during material transport.

• Dedicated steering pump improves multifunction performance and fuel efficiency while also enabling faster steering, bucket raising, and cycle times compared to previous series.

View of the newly redesigned cab from left-side entrance

CB Radio Mounting Bracket, USB, and Auxiliary Port

Temperature, Seat, and Powered Mirrors controls

View of the front of the loader from the seat

Overview

The redesigned cab in the P-Tier John Deere Production Class loader lineup features improvements that provide operators with a first-class work environment. The range of creature comfort options are intended to keep operators comfortable and productive no matter what task at hand.

Benefits

• An additional 3 inches of leg room has been added over the previous K-Series loaders
• Standard premium seat with heating and ventilation and seat pan and tilt adjustment
• Cab door has increased by 79% over previous series machines at the bottom opening for easier ingress and egress
• Additional 12V power ports have been strategically placed for proper powering of devices and a USB port has been added for connecting to the radio
• Auxiliary accessory mounting points are strategically placed on the right front and rear cab posts for equipment such as a payload scale interface or CB radio
• Upgraded HVAC system, including automatic temperature control, improves cooling capacity, adds additional precision control, and increases reliability and durability. 
  • The AC unit has been relocated to the right side of the cab for easier access and service
  • The fresh air filter exchange is made through the top of the unit located outside the cab.  This allows the dirty filter to be replaced completely outside of the operator compartment.
  • The brushless motor provides infinite fan speeds, quieter operation, and increased airflow.
  • A standard blower vent located behind the seat defrosts the rear window is adjustable to control the direction of air flow.

• The sealed switch module has been updated and relocated on L-series and P-Tier loaders. The new location brings the switches to the operator’s line of sight during operation for quick reference and ese of selection. There are also multiple updated and new functions included.

  • Selecting the About button on the main menu of the monitor, then going down to SSM feature button the next screen takes you to a menu where you can view each button on the SSM and learn more about each feature.

Loader Undergoing a ReLife

Loaders in this size class are expected to last multiple lives and total cost of ownership is a key factor in upfront purchasing decisions.  Extend the life of your machine with Powertrain Re-Life Plus Program that provides you with one more option to extend the life of your equipment without compromising the performance and reliability you have come to expect from it.

• With the Powertrain ReLife Plus program, you can extend the warranty coverage on major powertrain components replaced under the program to three years/5,000 hours or two years/6,000 hours (three years/3,000 hours for all Scraper Tractors).
• John Deere Financial provides no-payment and no-interest options followed by low-interest-rate terms, allowing you to get your machine back on the job and generating income before you make a payment. Contact your local dealer for more information on available financing options.
• John Deere Certified Rebuild Centers contain the expertise, tools, and facilities needed to accommodate relife’s on current series or J and K series production class loaders in an efficient manner.

Loader weighing material in the bucket

Overview

SmartWeigh™ is a John Deere designed and supported payload weighing solution that delivers accurate measurements, dynamic weighing capabilities, and is easy to calibrate.  For those not sold on whether or not a payload weighing solutions is a fit for your application, John Deere offers a low cost 250-hour trial period that provides you full SmartWeigh™ capabilities to help enable you to make the decision.

Benefits

• Leading Accuracy: SmartWeigh™ provides operators with increased accuracy (+/- 1.5 percent) because of John Deere’s expertise knowledge of our loader’s kinematic properties and exact dimensions and specifications.  This ensures near exact target weights are hit and efficiently loaded into feed mixers, trucks, hoppers, or processing plants.  This also helps prevent the loader from having to go back to the pile to get more material or to dump excess material.
• Seamless Calibration: Unlike other payload weighing systems, SmartWeigh™ does not need to be calibrated with a known weight and is designed to be easy to complete without the help of a dealer. By going through an easy-to-follow calibration process in the machine monitor, the system will be ready to accurately weigh material.
• Dynamic Weighing: There’s no need to constantly lower and reraise the boom of the loader to determine the weight after tipping off material. Bucket capture height can be set anywhere from 15-90 percent of boom height and can be captured at any boom speed.  The SmartWeigh™ system can automatically determine the new weight after tip offs, reducing the time it takes to load the exact amount of material.
• John Deere Designed and Supported: SmartWeigh™ is a John Deere designed and supported solution meaning if issues arise, the only call you need to make is to your John Deere dealer.
• JDLink™ Integrated: Integration of payload weighing data into JDLink™ means that you can access the data from nearly anywhere, not just within the cab of the machine.
• Factory and Field Kit Options: A range of options are available to equip John Deere utility loaders with SmartWeigh™ including fully integrating from the factory or adding through field kits.  The 250-hour trial period enables you to utilize SmartWeigh™ for 250 machine hours and decide if you would like to easily add on the feature for the life of the machine after the trial period expires.

*SmartWeigh is not legal for trade.

In-cab G5 display showing the projected path lines as the machine is in reverse.

Building on the advanced object detection technology offerings, SmartDetect is available on John Deere Utility and Production Class Loaders, as a field kit or factory install. This technology provides visual and audible alerts to the operator, to increase situational awareness of people or objects around the machine. There is also a distinct audible alarm to alert the bystander.

• Builds upon our operator centered Advanced Vision System by incorporating smart obstacle intelligence on the job site
• Featured on the in-cab display are projected path lines when in reverse; the in-cab display will also show the operator potential hazards in close proximity
• Alerts operator and bystander through distinct audible alarms
  • Operator Alerts:
    • Alerts operator of all objects behind the loader
    • Provides unique audible and visual alerts when a bystander is detected
    • Alerts triggered on speed-based zones
  • Bystander Alerts:
    • Provides a unique external alarm to warn bystanders when they are detected in close proximity

Option code 6525 is required for SmartDetect. The rear counterweight and wide hitch with pin is required for SmartDetect. Option Code: 6525. See image below.

Option code 6525 is required for SmartDetect.

SmartDetect Digital

Customers can view footage of near miss events captured through SmartDetect by subscribing to SmartDetect Digital, available in John Deere Operations Center web and mobile.

The digital footage captured consists of:

• Push notification alerts for near miss events (Received within ~30 minutes)
• Event based near miss report and corresponding video
• Weekly report of technology usage and event summary
• Event heat map summary for jobsite operation optimization and trend analysis

John Deere Operations Center mobile showing SmartDetect Digital reporting capabilities.