John Deere 1050 Reviews

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

1050 John Deere
Bought New In 1986
Model Year: 1986

This is a great tractor. It is used to backhoe trenches, pull logs and excavate. The biggest issue is I have had to put two clutches in it during the 34 years I have owned it and it is going again.

Pros: Turbo Diesel is powerful for size
Cons: Eats up clutches

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

1050 John Deere
Unstoppable
Model Year: 1983

This tractor is unbelievably tough. I bought it off of a guy who had some idiot kids working for him and they ran it into a tree a couple of times; it just has a few dents in the hood but nothing major. It has 4-wheel drive, which helps when I'm plowing snow or going through mud, otherwise the calcium in the rear tires gives it more than enough traction for plowing, tilling, mowing, and pulling out small trees and bushes. It's nice having a tractor that's fully loaded with 4-wheel drive, live power take-off, and a turbocharger.

Pros: Never gets stuck, has more than enough power, runs like a champ
Cons: The parking brake is tricky to use

5.00 star(s)
Anonymous Poster

1050 John Deere
John Deere 1050
Model Year: 1988

A real work horse, only repair in 14 years of hard use other than keeping fluids changed and general maintenance was replacing the clutch. bushhog about 20 acres with it and use it for everything else as well.Only complaint would be the two reverse gears being to slow or to fast.

Pros: dependability
Cons: reverse grears

5.00 star(s)
bennersaw

1050 John Deere
Older John Deere 1050
Model Year: 0

Older tractor that is very capable. I love the tractor other than 2 things: 1 is no power steering 2 is in high the reverse is too fast and in low it's too slow. If they had mad the high slower it would have been fine, but other than those two things (which I can get used to). I love the tractor.

Pros: Price for a very good tractor.
Cons: No power steering, reverse is too high or too low.

5.00 star(s)
Wade Clifton

1050 John Deere
Old Faithful
Model Year: 1971

I try to maintain a few thousand acres in west Texas with this tractor I inherited from my father. I mostly shred pasture roads and fields, and disk and plow a few small fields and wildlife food plots totaling less than 50 acres. This little beast is reliable and thrifty, but my equipment is all small, so it's slow.

Pros: Reliable, thrifty.
Cons: Too small.

4.00 star(s)
1987JohnDeere1050

1050 John Deere
Used Tractor Has More Problems Than I'd Like, But a Good Deal Was Had
Model Year: 1987

Bought for $3,500 from my local Kubota dealer. A 1987 John Deere 1050 2WD large frame compact tractor with newer tires and no loader or attachments. Worked well, however, some parts are no longer made and repairs are expensive. Rust will mean that sometime soon, there will be a lot of work to do on the metal. The PTO clutch need adjusting and likely replacement. The fuel gauge is inaccurate and the fuel sending unit does not work and is no longer available. The tractor has power steering, but the valve is weak, and it is $2000 to replace. It is around $2500 for a PTO clutch.I bought it to do commercial field and brush mowing, and for that it does well.

Pros: 28" tires, metal, not plastic body, simple and utilitarian, 150 years medallion on dash.
Cons: Used with some problems.

5.00 star(s)
dotkyahstormy

1050 John Deere
Remotes
Model Year: 1987

My 1050 came without remotes. I went to an aftermarket supplier to get the setup to be able to use a small loader.

Pros: Always starts even when cold. Great on fuel. Shifts easily. Power steering is good.
Cons: Can't say of any.

3.00 star(s)
swampmaple

1050 John Deere
No Parts
Model Year: 0

I have owned this tractor for 20 video years. I worked it pretty hard. Hauling out fire wood and farming. I like the tractor a lot. My only complaint is finding parts. I have a tractor that is ninety-percent working. I broke the left front drive hub. Can't find one. Hindsight I would get a tractor you can get parts for.

Pros: Good tractor for small farms.
Cons: Can't find major parts.

5.00 star(s)
thresher58

1050 John Deere
Tractor
Model Year: 1986

This tractor has been easy to use and uses the same implements as other big units without the price drain. maintenance is the same as any other tractor but has fewer breakdown times when dealt with. Yes I would buy another one if needed.

Pros: Ease of use, easy to work on.
Cons: Haven't found one.

5.00 star(s)
rb8496

1050 John Deere
John Deere 1050 Tractor
Model Year: 1988

Purchased used in 1999 and age is best guess. I have used tractor for light duty around the property such as carrying hay bales, moving dirt, dragging drive, shredding weeds, and disking garden. Have had very little repair, mostly batteries, starter and such. Tractor is very fuel efficient, parts readily available when required but nothing is cheap from John Deere so it is good that repairs are seldom required. Overall I am very satisfied with this tractor. Able to haul on 16 foot utility trailer behind pickup with no problem.

Pros: Reliability.
Cons: Cost of parts.

5.00 star(s)
daljd1050

1050 John Deere
JD 1050 Loader
Model Year: 1981

Tractor was used to clear snow with blower and loader as well as haul logs from my woods to the cut and split area. Now used to clear snow and light dirt work around the house. Bought and used a JD 450 crawler for heavier work at the woods. Both units did exactly what they were purchased for.

Pros: Compact and reliable.
Cons: 2 wheel drive, manual shift.

5.00 star(s)
Eric67ct

1050 John Deere
John Deere 1050
Model Year: 1988

I really don't have a ton to review on my "new" 1988 John Deere 1050 tractor since I just picked it up on Friday, but all I can say is that I am extremely happy with my purchase so far!

Pros: Diesel, excellent on diesel usage, powerful, dependable.
Cons: None.

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5.00 star(s)
thewizardofbozz

1050 John Deere
1050
Model Year: 1981

Small enough to get around, but big enough to do stuff. And the Yanmar engine sips fuel.

Pros: Good size.
Cons: Could use more power.

5.00 star(s)
tbutman

1050 John Deere
Tough
Model Year: 1989

I have owned this tractor since new in 89. It has been a work horse for sure, from flail mowing and bush hogging to Getting my winters wood out with it. From the start the starter has (sort of) given me problems meaning that you often have to jog the ignition switch several times before it engages the starter, but it always engages the starter and ALWAYS starts so it's not that big of an issue for me. Mine is the two wheel drive model with an adjustable width front end. Other than replacing the radiator once and a turn buckle to one of the swing arms on the 3 pth and a few batteries and tires the tractor has been very reliable and tough through the over 4000 hrs the meter reads. Many parts are no longer available for this tractor which would give me pause on weather to buy another JD though. Seems the customer service of past tractors they sold is very LOW on their commitment level, instead they concentrate on selling you a new one.

Pros: Simplicity and reliability.
Cons: Lack of part availability.

4.00 star(s)
kring630@yahoo.com

1050 John Deere
1050
Model Year: 1988

Okay.

Pros: Dependable, does amazing work.
Cons: Difficult to get on and off. No third valve.

4.00 star(s)
mbrunelli

1050 John Deere
JD 1050
Model Year: 1989

My tractor is older with low hours. After its first day of trouble as a new owner I did well this used tractor. Some recent problems with ignition system.

Pros: Woods backhoe, cab, & turf tires.
Cons: Poor ignition system.

5.00 star(s)
1987JohnDeere1050

1050 John Deere
Just Getting Started
Model Year: 1987

I bought this for below the lowest blue book value of $5,000 with $3,785.1 hrs on it. It is pretty sparse on features but it is much more tractor than I could get otherwise. It needs work, but works where it must.

Pros: Simple.
Cons: Dry brakes and clutch, seat is not very good and power steering is an optional feature (mine has it).

3.00 star(s)
jim7631

1050 John Deere
John Deere 1050
Model Year: 0

Just bought it so it's too early too review. I wouldn't have bought it if I thought it wouldn't do what I need done. I'm pleased with the price and the work it has completed so far.

Pros: Loader.
Cons: Instrument lights instead of guages.

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