John Deere 820 Reviews
Variety
Model Year: 1956
I own 3 jewels. The first is a 1947 MM model U that my mothers father sold to my dads father fresh off the showroom floor. Runs like a top on LP but needs tires and cosmetics. The second is a 1956 JD 820 purchased at a neighbors liquidation auction in the mid 1980's. The 820 has a bent transmission shaft and needs pony motor work done. The parts are on my shelf but jewel #3 is in the way. #3 is a1974 MF 40 construction tractor that was intended to be my loader/utility tractor. At $1,600 I thought it was a bargain...yeah right. Every time I get it out of my shop and test it I find more problems. Rebuilt pump, brakes and axle seals but on the last test run a clutch noise popped up so it looks like I get to break it in half. The 820 is my favorite. I put a lot of hours on it plowing terraces and it never fails to amaze me when it comes to efficiency. It will hold its own with a 100 hp tractor and do it on 1/3 to 1/2 the fuel. Never get tired of the big Johnny Popper sound and the occasional smoke ring on a hard pull beats surround and air conditioning any day for entertainment value!
Pros: Great reliability, very efficient operation.
Cons: No TV.
Model Year: 1956
I own 3 jewels. The first is a 1947 MM model U that my mothers father sold to my dads father fresh off the showroom floor. Runs like a top on LP but needs tires and cosmetics. The second is a 1956 JD 820 purchased at a neighbors liquidation auction in the mid 1980's. The 820 has a bent transmission shaft and needs pony motor work done. The parts are on my shelf but jewel #3 is in the way. #3 is a1974 MF 40 construction tractor that was intended to be my loader/utility tractor. At $1,600 I thought it was a bargain...yeah right. Every time I get it out of my shop and test it I find more problems. Rebuilt pump, brakes and axle seals but on the last test run a clutch noise popped up so it looks like I get to break it in half. The 820 is my favorite. I put a lot of hours on it plowing terraces and it never fails to amaze me when it comes to efficiency. It will hold its own with a 100 hp tractor and do it on 1/3 to 1/2 the fuel. Never get tired of the big Johnny Popper sound and the occasional smoke ring on a hard pull beats surround and air conditioning any day for entertainment value!
Pros: Great reliability, very efficient operation.
Cons: No TV.
Classic Deere
Model Year: 1968
Living on a working deer farm, I was in need of a tractor for odds and ends jobs that arise on a farm. It only seemed fitting to get a Deere. My uncle had come across an old John Deere 820 that had a modified bucket, which was important because I needed to move some gravel. The bucket is probably a little big for the tractor...but the '68 would just chug along. I'm not sure how many hours it has as the instrument cluster is missing. Also came with a 4 ft brush hog and have recently reclaimed some land that had been overgrown with pecan saplings. I love finding any reason to climb up there and go to work, she is always more than capable!
Pros: Turns well even without power steering, relatively small but strong, durable, reliable.
Cons: It's green so parts are $$.
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Model Year: 1968
Living on a working deer farm, I was in need of a tractor for odds and ends jobs that arise on a farm. It only seemed fitting to get a Deere. My uncle had come across an old John Deere 820 that had a modified bucket, which was important because I needed to move some gravel. The bucket is probably a little big for the tractor...but the '68 would just chug along. I'm not sure how many hours it has as the instrument cluster is missing. Also came with a 4 ft brush hog and have recently reclaimed some land that had been overgrown with pecan saplings. I love finding any reason to climb up there and go to work, she is always more than capable!
Pros: Turns well even without power steering, relatively small but strong, durable, reliable.
Cons: It's green so parts are $$.
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Good Tractor
Model Year: 1971
Broken final drive about seven years ago, haven't repaired yet, planning on getting into shop this winter. Would like to locate used final drive parts. Planning on tearing down and finding what is broken about Feb 2013.
Pros: Excellent tractor, many offers to buy, but won't sell, was father's tractor.
Cons: None.
Model Year: 1971
Broken final drive about seven years ago, haven't repaired yet, planning on getting into shop this winter. Would like to locate used final drive parts. Planning on tearing down and finding what is broken about Feb 2013.
Pros: Excellent tractor, many offers to buy, but won't sell, was father's tractor.
Cons: None.
John Deere 820 3 Cyl
Model Year: 1969
I use this tractor for brush hogging and plowing snow. It has been very reliable and gets the job done. Compact enough to get under low hanging branches along edges of field. I have the muffler that is under the tractor for just that reason.
Pros: Powerful compact tractor and heavy enough (4k) to get the job done.
Cons: No power steering.
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Model Year: 1969
I use this tractor for brush hogging and plowing snow. It has been very reliable and gets the job done. Compact enough to get under low hanging branches along edges of field. I have the muffler that is under the tractor for just that reason.
Pros: Powerful compact tractor and heavy enough (4k) to get the job done.
Cons: No power steering.
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Our JD 820 is a Workhorse!
Model Year: 1973
Can't say enough good things about this little tractor. It appears to be almost bullet-proof...am having a few problems right now, but hopefully will figure them out soon...on here with the help of forum members and a little old-fashioned elbow grease.
Based on not only my experiences, but also reading over this forum's other reviews and postings involving the JD 820, I'd definitely recommend a person snatch up one of these tractors if they can reasonably assess that it has been properly maintained during its life.
Pros: Power is sufficient, is dependable and appears fairly straight-froward to work on.
Cons: Can't think of any at the moment...
Model Year: 1973
Can't say enough good things about this little tractor. It appears to be almost bullet-proof...am having a few problems right now, but hopefully will figure them out soon...on here with the help of forum members and a little old-fashioned elbow grease.
Based on not only my experiences, but also reading over this forum's other reviews and postings involving the JD 820, I'd definitely recommend a person snatch up one of these tractors if they can reasonably assess that it has been properly maintained during its life. Pros: Power is sufficient, is dependable and appears fairly straight-froward to work on.
Cons: Can't think of any at the moment...
Great Utility Tractor
Model Year: 1970
A wonderful utility series tractor made in Germany. Heavy, super economical to run, reliable and nice to drive. Good weight for doing jobs unlike the compact newer tractors. I also have a 830 w power steering. Only replaced water pump on this little tractor, but it had top end rebuild just before I purchased it at 2300 hours. Now it dynos at 43 hp. I really love these little tractors.
Pros: See above.
Cons: John Deere parts are always expensive, but at least are available from dealer and good quality.
Model Year: 1970
A wonderful utility series tractor made in Germany. Heavy, super economical to run, reliable and nice to drive. Good weight for doing jobs unlike the compact newer tractors. I also have a 830 w power steering. Only replaced water pump on this little tractor, but it had top end rebuild just before I purchased it at 2300 hours. Now it dynos at 43 hp. I really love these little tractors.
Pros: See above.
Cons: John Deere parts are always expensive, but at least are available from dealer and good quality.