JD 970

Riddler · Aug 2, 2004

First of all, thanks to all who provided comments in response to my post a few weeks back about looking for a used CUT in Northern Cal. As many you of pointed out, the pickings are slim and the pricing is close to the worst anywhere.

That said, I've been offered a well-maintained JD 970 with 4WD, SS transmission, #440 FEL and #8A backhoe for $16.5K. It has 450 hours on it. It is being offered by the dealer that sold it originally (7 years ago) and has serviced it ever since. All the fluids/filters have been changed and new rubber has been installed in preparation for a sale. I was put in touch with this dealer personally by one his oldest and best customers (a very large grape grower in the county), so I have reason to believe that he will steer me in the direction of a machine that he has some confidence in. When it comes to pricing, however, I wouldn't expect him take less from me than he can get elsewhere.

On a new machine, I can't get away with a FEL and backhoe new for much less than $10K, and the dealer claims that after a few years of use I should still be able to resell the thing for $13K-$15K (if I maintain it well). The price sounds high for a seven year old machine, but with the set-up, modest hours and (apparently) reliable history, perhaps it is fair. Because it is at one of the dealers' locations a few hours away, I want to make sure that I'm truly interested before I have him trailer it down to test drive (which he has offered to do). Any thoughts, including any personal experience (good or bad) with the 970, would be much appreciated.

frank_f15 · Aug 2, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( On a new machine, I can't get away with a FEL and backhoe new for much less than $10K, )</font>

Riddler : i don't understand this sentence? please clarify

KiotiJohn · Aug 2, 2004

I know you're asking about this particular model, and I only know what I've read, but it seems to me you could get a comparable new tractor for the same kind of money, or at least close enough and with a warranty to justify buying a new one. 7 years is still 7 years, and that's a good bit of money. After seven years, how is the rubber on the hoses holding up? How are any other rubber components? Age, not just hours, have an effect on the future of the tractor.
If I were you, I would check out more brands, in the HP you actually need and see if it would make more sense. John

Riddler · Aug 2, 2004

Thanks John. In my area, I believe that the price of a comparable new model (990?) with both FEL and backhoe will be much more than $16.5K, but I plan to check.

Frank, sorrow for the confusion, but I was referring to the combined price of an FEL and backhoe on a new comparable model. I believe they add somewhere in the neighborhood of $10K to the purchase price of a new machine. I am wondering how much I should be willing to pay for the same add-ons when they are part of a seven year old unit.

yellowsocks93 · Aug 2, 2004

We got a JD 970. Best machine we ever bought for our place. I love it so much I got a 990. Not as nice as the 970 but does the job. Zero problems with it. If you get it you could always buy a extended warranty from your Deere dealer. We have 700 hours on our 970 and it still runs like the day we bought it. The transmission is smooth. You state it has the syncronized transmission which was an option. We also have the syncro. The 4 cyl Yanmar has a lot of power and would have more than say a 4310 which is probably the model that you would be looking at new. New price back in the day was around 15 grand for the 970 plus attachments. If it is in excellent shape I would buy it but if it is beat on and abused in the 400 hours I would pass and get a new 4310 package.

Riddler · Aug 2, 2004

Nick, after searching the archives and seeing your posts on the 970, I was hoping you might chime in. The dealer says that the owner purchased a bigger machine with a "boom" because he has alot of ditches and other hard to reach places to mow. The dealer seems to be rather familar with the owner and how he used the machine, so I plan to ask alot of questions along those lines before I have him trailer it to my location for inspection. I may ask him for a set of pictures as well (assuming he has them).

From all the research I've done, the 970 appears to be an ideal choice for my needs. Very recently, I drove and priced a new Kubota Grand L 4WD model (40 HP one, I believe) with GT transmission and FEL. Admittedly, the orange has more bells and whistles, including a new warranty and some attractive financing, but add a backhoe and you're sniffing $30K. l can get by without financing, so if the used 970 will perform as reliably as a new machine, I see no compelling reason to turn down the $10K+ in savings.

Is this a great site, or what??!!

yellowsocks93 · Aug 2, 2004

Unless you really want new then I see no reason to go for the 970. You don't seem to mind shifing now and then so it would be fine. Have you looked at the new Deere compacts yet or just the 970 and Kubota?

Varmintmist · Aug 3, 2004

Thats not a bad price at all and I bet it wont last at the dealer to long. I just looked at a 870 fel/hoe good rubber front of the hood bashed in, for the same price.

400 hours is nothing and I wouldnt be afraid of it. Go over it well, make sure the hoe and subframe isnt twisted, look for welds that arent OEM. Hyd hoses are cheap compared to the extra 15,000 for a new machine, and 7 years isnt much on them anyway. Start worrying in another 13-14 years.

zuiko · Aug 3, 2004

Based on where you are located and the fact that it comes with a backhoe (which is a very expensive option). It sounds good to me. You would probably pay about that for a 990 without the backhoe new. That tractor has several decades of life left in it if it isn't abused.

Riddler · Aug 4, 2004

Well, I guess it was a decent deal because it sold the day after I learned about it (shortly after I posted this thread). I was about to offer $15.5K sight unseen (subject to my inspecting the machine and approving of its condition) but someone who had already seen the thing jumped on it. The good news is that I'm enjoying the learning process so much I am not too disappointed that it will drag on a little longer.