Buying new 790

[dirt ditch]

Hello everyone, I was trying to decide on what JD tractor to buy when I came across this site! Read as many posts as possible before deciding on a 790 with a 300 loader + extras. Was able to find a dealer who had one. Glad I did because the dealers I have talked to said they can't order the 790 any more because it is being replaced next year with a new model. Thanks again for all the great info. I found out about the 790 on this site. The dealers wanted to sell me something in the twenty series but the 790 is what I am looking for.

 

[mnbowhunter1960]

Congradulations Dirt, welcome to TBN. I am sure you will enjoy the 790 from what I have read they are a real workhorse and a very high quality built tractor. Enjoy and be safe. MH

 

[irwin]

Welcome to TBN dirt ditch:

Glad you found what you wanted, the 790 is a great basic tractor that will be working for you many years from now. I have the older brother, a 770 and it has been worked hard in rocky Connecticut with no complaints.
One huge plus (IMHO) is no ecu (powertrain computer) this tractor is a solid tool that has made my life soo much easier as I dig stumps, and rocks, move earth and drag wood for the wood stove.

BTW do you have any pictures?

good luck...

 

[dirt ditch]

No photos yet. The dealer just got the loader in today. The tractor is in the shop getting everything put on it. Hope by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Not having a computer was a big plus for me as well. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) is the rule to live by.

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Congratulations on your purchase.

My son bought a new 790 w/ 300 FEL, about 3 or 4 years ago. AFAIK it has been flawless, except for something minor related to a battery cable.

 

[RoyJackson]

Great tractor...you'll really like it! I know I like mine!
I suggest you get the ballast box to balance out the loader. Several hundred pounds of sand (or other material) works fine. Just remember to always install the loader before rigging the ballast box to your 3PH.

I'm really sorry Deere is replacing the 90 series tractors. The replacement tractors will probably be Chinese junk.
However, the 90 series has been around for almost 10 years now...quite a lifespan for a tractor.

 

[dirt ditch]

Last week called the dealer after ordering everything I wanted and added the ballast box. I ordered the tractor with 4 wheel weights (dealer said that will be plenty), but everyone here talks about how light these tractors get in the rear using the loader. Hope this setup works, so I don't have to load the rear tires.

4wd 790 / R4 tires / 4 - 60lb wheel weights / power beyond / 2 rear work lights / block heater / ballast box / 300 loader / 61" heavy duty bucket / pallet forks

One dealer said The 790 will have a new model number, but will be basically the same tractor, and it will cost more.

 

[Skipholiday]

Congrats

 

[canoetrpr]

Have to agree with Roy. I can't see any reason to get rid of the 790 in the line up. Nice solid tractor with no electronics... get it while you can.

If they had just added a mechanical hydrostat as an option to it, they would have probably doubled the sales of it and given the other 'economy' models - Kubota L2800, NH TC-30 something to compete with.

On that note. I was dissapointed that when I drove a JD 3520 last weekend, the first thing I noticed was the big "MADE IN CHINA" on the loader. Its probably made to JD specs but I don't associate CHINA with quality ... yet.

 

[easygo]

Congrats dirt ditch

My neighbor owns a 790 and I looked at them when I was in the market for a tractor. It is a really good one. The dealer said it is the most popular model among small farm operations and homeowners. My neighbor always has a logging winch on the 3ph but I don't know if the tires on his machine are loaded or not. Save your money on the ballast box you can always make ballast out of concrete I made mine for about $25. People posted several threads about that.

 

[dirt ditch]

I was thinking of building a ballast bar out of some antique aftermarket JD wheel weights when I got the 790.
But some of the ballast box tool holder ideas on this site looked like great ideas.
I am thinking of painting the inside of the box with a pickup bed liner paint before filling with concrete and pipe. I could also make a bracket out of 8" pipe and weld it to the out side of the ballast box to hold the wheel weights which would add 300 pounds. But I don't know how much weight I will need yet.

 

[tessiers]

I strongly recomend loading the rear tires

Mine Are Loaded and the loader is not strong enough to lift the rear tires

I still Always have something or another on the back

My problem is with the Backhoe Installed the front end is way to light (Doesn't steer well)

I love my 790 We bought it for our family farm and it has proven excellent

 

[RoyJackson]

I strongly recomend loading the rear tires

Mine Are Loaded and the loader is not strong enough to lift the rear tires

I still Always have something or another on the back

My problem is with the Backhoe Installed the front end is way to light (Doesn't steer well)

I love my 790 We bought it for our family farm and it has proven excellent

The Ballast Box helps most when you're digging in a pile of dried out clumpy material. The loader load might not lift your rear tires, but you'll likely lose traction when attacking that pile of material.
I'm surprised the front end of your tractor is so light with the 'hoe on. You do have your loader installed, right?
I believe some TBNer's partially fill their loader bucket when the 'hoe is installed.

 

[dirt ditch]

Would it work with 6 wheel weights, that would be 360 lbs. on the rear axle + ballast box? I don't want to load the tires if I don't have to. My grandfather still has his 48 8N Ford he bought new. He rusted out 2 sets of wheels on the 8N with loaded tires. Now he has wheel weights on the tractor and it works just fine.

Fixing a leaking loaded tire is a pain, so I want to avoid loading them if possible.

 

[RoyJackson]

Would it work with 6 wheel weights, that would be 360 lbs. on the rear axle + ballast box? I don't want to load the tires if I don't have to. My grandfather still has his 48 8N Ford he bought new. He rusted out 2 sets of wheels on the 8N with loaded tires. Now he has wheel weights on the tractor and it works just fine.

Fixing a leaking loaded tire is a pain, so I want to avoid loading them if possible.

That should do it.
The biggest advantage of filled tires is getting weight as low as possible for stability. Also, installing and removing those weights can be a daunting task, so I have been told (never did it myself), but it sounds like your weights are only 60 lbs each...not so bad.

 

[Nuru]

That should do it.
The biggest advantage of filled tires is getting weight as low as possible for stability. Also, installing and removing those weights can be a daunting task, so I have been told (never did it myself), but it sounds like your weights are only 60 lbs each...not so bad.

Hello Roy! how have you been?

So far I have been lucky and have not had to use weights. But i have not done any seriuos digging yet. I plan to switch my front tires today as my super turfs don't seem to like the loader arms and the boom blade too much. One of them lookeed pretty low right away, and so I am probably gong to switch them today. I may try to inflate them but I am really worried about damaging the fronts. So I may end up running the super turf rears with the R3 fronts - since it is for snow plowing, I should be okay - unless the rear turfs don't provide traction in the snow? Hmm, wonder if I should switch all four? Any comments?

 

[mboulais]

I'm really sorry Deere is replacing the 90 series tractors. The replacement tractors will probably be Chinese junk.
However, the 90 series has been around for almost 10 years now...quite a lifespan for a tractor.

The 90 series aren't American made either.

 

[RoyJackson]

The 90 series aren't American made either.

I know...they're Japanese...Yanmar.
Chinese crap is just that...crap.

 

[Westendorf-RR]

On that note. I was dissapointed that when I drove a JD 3520 last weekend, the first thing I noticed was the big "MADE IN CHINA" on the loader. Its probably made to JD specs but I don't associate CHINA with quality ... yet.

Anyone heard if the availability or if lead times have been a problem?

 

[Mech]

My dealer said he is still getting them and didn't know anything about them being discontinued. He is in Lakewood, CO.