JD 790

[wvhillbilly]

To anyone who can help me out here. I have a question about the JD790 3-point hitch capacity. Does anyone know why this tractor has such a puny little lift capacity of 815 pounds?? I am in the market to buy a compact tractor this upcoming fall and thought I wanted the 790 until I started looking around comparable tractors...Which have lift capacities well over 1500 pounds. Is there any advantage to a tractor that will lift so little?? Do they limit it due lighter weight causing a weight/balance issue (a C.Y.A deal) or is the unit only physically capable of 815pounds?? This let me to look at other tractors like the Kubota L3000 and MF 1433. This in turn led me back to the JD 4310. The 4310 is really appealing to me for a couple of reasons: A dealer 5 minutes down the road is always a plus. To look at the axles and such, the 4310 just looks a lot beefier than the 790. And I like the fact that the 4310 originates here in the good ole' USA. (With the exception of the Yanmar engine which I am pleased with) Well what do ya'll think.
Hillbilly (Dave)

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I think some have beefed it up to get better kift. Involves adding shims to the hydraulics.

But I LOVE my 4310. It's pretty amazing. So if you like it, I'd encourage you to check it out.

 

[JDgreen227]

While shopping I compared the 790 and 4210---checked the specs on lift capacity and asked my salesguy why the 790 had such a low 3 point lift capacity, he told me it's mainly becuz the 790 has a shorter WB and less weight. A CYA deal, in my opinion. I also wanted a hydro and the 4210 operator platform was much more comfortable than the crowded one on the 790. I also wondered if the 790 was going to remain in production much longer, knowing the 4000-TEN series was going to be continued for many years was a factor in my choice.

But I won't tell you how to spend your money, there are many other TBN members who will do that. Oh, yes, there is another reason I wanted a mid size JD--made in USA--BUY AMERICAN.

 

[RoyJackson]

"why the 790 had such a low 3 point lift capacity, he told me it's mainly becuz the 790 has a shorter WB and less weight."

Although that's a good point about the 790's limitations, I don't think you'll find too many implements that weigh >800 lbs. and have HP requirements that fall within the output of the 790.
My 670 has right about the same lift limits as the 790. The heaviest implement I own is the 60" rotary cutter which goes just over 600 lbs.

 

[JDgreen227]

Well said, since all my implements weigh under 300 lbs. I did not even consider that. DUH...

 

[Magruder]

I have had my 790 for 10 months - lots of tph implements e.g. snowblower, mixer, box blade, etc. I am very happy w/ it and have had no problem. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[yellowsocks93]

You would still be able to buy parts for it even if it was discontinued. I bought a 990 in preparation that the design was getting too old as it was first introduced in 1989 and thought they might discontinue it due to poor sales. I really like the 70 and 90 series and they will always be one of my favorite JDs ever.

 

[wvhillbilly]

Thank you all who responded to my question so quickly. I guess I never thought about the implement weight. Good point. I guess I will have to look at the 790 again as a consideration. Although I was by the JD dealership today looking at the units parked outside and that 4310 looked almost as sweet as a 20 year-old holding a lollipop /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I also like the semi-flat operator platform. I am planning on getting the sync-shift. I guess I consider myself more of a "gear jammer" and that is as close as I will get with the 4000 ten series.

 

[Henry]

I've owned my JD 790 now for about 3 years and have no serious complaints. It takes care of my 11 acres just fine. The only thing I've noticed, since I'm sort of a hefty guy, is that getting on/off is a little tight. Guess I gotta keep the low-carb thing going a little bit longer /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Joe1]

I've had my 1998 770 for about 8 months. This is my first tractor, so my knowledge is limited. Even though it's 5 years old, with under 300 hrs, it's still like new. The limited 3 pt lift capacity initially was my concern also. However, it handles everything very well. I love this rugged "little" tractor. If anything happened to it, I'd probably replace it with a 790.

Just for your information, 1998 was the last year for the 770 which was replaced by the 790. If you're concerned about how many years it will be available, you might look up it's sales stats since 1999. Someone here on the forum must have a link to that information.

The only thing you might use that might tax it would be a 3 pt fork lift with a pallet full of tile or stone. However, any implement it can drive it can carry.

My issue has only been like Henry's, getting off it. My feet sometimes have trouble around the shift lever. I get on fine, just getting off when I'm tired is sometimes harder.

I guess that makes me half clumsy. I shouldn't be on it anyway when I'm tired.

Overall bang for your buck, the 790 is an outstanding buy.

Here in the wine country of the Central Coast of California, vineyards lease tractors for a season and put about 40 - 60 hrs on them. They lease from all three major manufactureres (Deere, N.H. and Kubota; not much MF representation here on the coast) and they always lease the 790 4 X 4 from John Deere. They could get anything they want, but they get the 790. I will add here, however, that they do not use the 3 pt hitch very much, but mostly tow loaded 4 wheel farm trailers. At the end of each season, the dealers may have 50 - 80 of the 790's for sale, and they ALWAYS sell every one.

It's reliable, does the job of towing trailers loaded with grapes and other tasks and is easy to operate.

If the ergonomics are right, and the lift limitation isn't an issue, you could spend a whole lot more and not get that much more tractor.

Try them all and good luck.

 

[JDgreen227]

My wife's brother in law has one of the older 770 models, about a 1990 vintage and he swears it is the best value he ever got for his money....and he is a very careful man with his dollars.

 

[Joe1]

The contractor that built my house has a 1994 770 with Front End Loader and Back Hoe. They have worked the stuffin' out of that tractor with minimum problems. They bought the backhoe used, rebuilt it, wore it down and rebuilt it again. That tractor sits outside all the time, and is the Timex of the tractor world. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. They left it parked too long with the parking brake on. One brake froze up and no longer works, but that's about it. It probably has about 950 hard hours on it.

I tried to buy it from him thinking he might want to upgrade, but he won't sell it.

When I park mine, I leave it in gear with the implements on the ground. and the brake off. It's not going anywhere. I only use the parking brake if I jump off it for a minute and want to leave it running.

 

[RoyJackson]

"My wife's brother in law has one of the older 770 models"

I've got the 770's little brother, the 670. This machine has 19 Gross HP, ~ 16.5@ the PTO.

One tough little tractor!! I'd love to have that 770's dual stage clutch and 20 PTO HP though.

Problem is, these little machines really hold their value!

"When I park mine, I leave it in gear with the implements on the ground. and the brake off. "

That's a good idea...and, since the safety switch won't even allow the starter to turn over (when in gear)..sort of a win-win situation.

"4310 looked almost as sweet as a 20 year-old holding a lollipop " WVHillbilly's 2nd post

About a year ago, I looked at a '99 4300 sync shift. Nice tractor!! Now, this was an online love affair, y'know... And, although the price was right ($14.2K) and 480 hours, I just waited too long to make up my mind. It would have been a 6 hour drive to go see it.
Anyway, buddy of mine just traded an 855 (always thought they were bigger then my 670) in on a new 4310 eHydro. So, went to drool over his new machine (although, I'd of gone for the gears)...wow! what would I have done with such a big machine on my 3 acres!!!
But, ...with 8 to 10 acres..and although I love that 770 and 90 series machine...I'd have to look seriously at the 4310 (or, best of both worlds..990!)

 

[JDgreen227]

Roy, I moved to my 11 acres in late 1989. Bought my JD 318 the following year and ran it 1300 hard hours before buying my 4210 last year. How I wish I had bought a bigger tractor years ago, but had to save up my money for the addition my wife's brother and I built on our existing house over the past year and a half. Once I got the 4210 and realized all the work a larger tractor could perform I cussed myself out for not getting it sooner.

 

[JimMc]

You might PM "edv". You can find some of his posts in the attachments forum, especially in the recent thread on finish mowers. His dealership sells more 790's than any other in the US. There may be some things he is doing for his customers that might help you as well in your "tractor quest"

 

[zuiko]

The 990 is similar to the 790 but has a much greater lift capacity. If you don't need a MMM I would check it out... the difference in price is pretty small.