Buying Advice help choosing JD 755, 950 or 1050

[Jdinvt2020]

Hi everyone,
I am new to tractors. I live on 109 mostly wooded acres in Vermont. We are in the process of clearing about 10 acres. Most of the wood will be firewood; trees are about 20 years old, max diameter about 9 or so inches.
We also will be maintaining our 3/4 of a mile driveway (ditching on either side as needed, grading as needed, and snow removal should our neighbor who currently plows it, retire from his plowing business), and brush hogging.
We will most likely put up a few small pole barns.
Other work includes moving compost, small stones, and general hauling.

I have leads on a few John Deeres
755 with a bucket and brush hog for 8k 700 hrs. Hydrostatic. Brakes don't really work too well.
950 w/ bucket, brush hog, snow blower, grading blade for 15k 1500 hrs. Hydrostatic. Brakes also don't work too well.
and a 1050 with a bucket and backhoe for 10k 1200 hrs. Manual. Good mechanical condition, drips from one of the hydraulic cylinders.

I also have leads on a 990 and a 4005

I think we would make good use of the backhoe so I'm sort of angling for the 1050, although I the extra HP on the 990 or 4005 might be important. No idea, as I'm new to tractors.

I like the pre-emission machines because I have the space to work on them as needed.

 

[milkie62]

IMO I personally steer away from the HP ratings of tractors. At times their engine pto HP get inflated. You need to be looking at pto HP and cubic inch IMO. Currently I am looking for a cabbed tractor to use a 6 foot finish mower and a snowblower for a long driveway. I do not need a loader on it since I have a bigger Kubota with a loader. I would seriously look into the 130-150 cubic inch motor size and stay away from the older hydro tractors and just get a simple clutch and 4 spd hi/lo range tranny setup. Just my opinion on what I have needed on my property. I currently play on 100 acres and have a Ford 801 172 cubic inch that I use for my firewood and bushogging and a Kubota M6800 for bigger grading and loader work.

 

[rgr33]

I have a JD 950, It has been a very good tractor since I bought it used in 1998. The one thing I don’t like about it is the gear drive, after a long day, it starts wearing on you. What I do like, is that it is incredibly reliable and easy to work on if needed ( brakes, oil change etc.)

My other tractor is HST, and it is much easier to operate on my land, which is a mixture of wooded hills and commercial vineyard.
I doubt I will ever get another gear drive in the future, I’m not getting any younger

I might recommend something in the 40-45 hp range from your list of work expected.

 

[tlj87]

990 or 4005 would have a synchronized transmission which is a big plus, especially with a loader. These would also be the newest of the models you mention and the most capable, but still simple no frills machines.

(You say the 950 has a hydro transmission but that’s not possible, it wasn’t an option on the 50 series.)

 

[Industrial Toys]

Buy the biggest/heaviest machine you can. AND the BIGGEST wheels!!!!

Buying a used tractor with FEL is like buying a plow truck in my opinion. I would put a plow on a used truck but never buy one that way. I would be extra careful buying a used FEL tractor. Too many are abused. Mostly thinking of the front axle.

For general work, I would go Hydro any day of the week over gear drive.


Anything with a YANMAR is :thumbsup:

 

[tlj87]

The 990 and 4005 DO NOT have a synchromesh transmission. They only come with a 9 speed collar shift transmission. It is a constant mesh design, unlike a sliding gear transmission. Shifting is better than a sliding gear type, but it is no match for a synchro design. A collar shift is not intended for applications that require frequent gear changes.

As noted above, the 950 is not a hydrostatic tractor. The 955 is.
Also noted that the OP hasn't been back since his original posting, so...... :confused3:

I stand corrected! I thought, at least In the 70 series, synchro was an option on the 8, 9, and 10. I worked for a landscaper in college that had a 770 and an 870. The 870 could be shifted without completely stopping whereas the 770 could not. Perhaps I am getting my terminology mixed up.