John Deere 750 Transmission Parts

[SwingOak]

My dad has a 1980's vintage JD 750 4wd compact tractor, and he's had it for many years. One of the front wheel hubs had a bearing seize up, and when it locked up tight when he was skidding a log it smoked a couple of gears in the transmission on the FWD side of things. Apparently, the two gears he needs for the transmission are obsolete and no longer available. We've tried every used tractor part place we could find on the web, and no luck.

My dad is considering getting another 750 and use his old one for parts, because he has all the implements for it including the backhoe and subframe and there seem to be more then a few of them on the used market. The backhoe attachment he has is probably worth more than the tractor. He's 86, so my dad doesn't want to spent $30K and more on a new tractor which is understandable, although he uses it regularly for hauling logs for his firewood business and other chores around the property - and I told him I would really love to have a backhoe when he's ready to give up on the firewood business.

The question is if anyone knows of a shop that makes obsolete tractor parts? I keep asking my dad to send me the broken parts because I know a few folks in the machine shop trade and could probably get new parts made, but he hasn't done that yet. Just wondering if anyone knows of a place that might already make obsolete parts for old tractors.

 

[beenthere]

Suggest getting a used tractor to move logs. Sell the broken 750 for parts as well as the backhoe attachment. Dad deserves and earned something to use "now", IMO.

 

[SwingOak]

Suggest getting a used tractor to move logs. Sell the broken 750 for parts as well as the backhoe attachment. Dad deserves and earned something to use "now", IMO.

He wants the backhoe. The 750 has been a good tractor (until now), so if he can get another one for $4-5k and get the subframe switched over, he'll be happy enough with that.

I find it a little hard to believe that JD would obsolete a few critical driveline parts for an older tractor model, and yet everything else on the tractor is available. I mean, they still have parts available for horse drawn equipment dating back to the early part of the last century...

 

[Jims1025R]

I had a JD 650, excellent tractor! 'Lost it in a fire, or I'd still have it!

On behalf of you dad, inquire with a machine shop of having the required gears made. I have machined gears before, where I could not purchase what I needed. It won't be cheap (neither ar new JD parts anyway!), but it's likely possible. One of the things I remind myself while repairing/restoring is that spending your time searching for and then buying a used part (which maybe worn out or damaged anyway) can exceed the cost of new, or a custom made part.

 

[Hoss710]

that tractor was made by yanmar . I'd contact a yanmar dealership. I heard there is a big 1 in TX you can get parts for the 750 still.

also there is a group on fb that I see 750s for sale responsible about 1 every 2 to 3 weeks.

 

[Hoss710]

here is the Facebook link

John Deere Compact Utility Tractors | Facebook

This is an open public group for all John Deere enthusiasts to buy, sell, trade, or share photos and comments. The only rule is to have fun and play nice!

www.facebook.com

 

[SwingOak]

Update: The ol' 750 is fixed! So as it turns out, the shop my dad had the tractor hauled to in NJ apparently didn't know what they were doing and never actually bothered to look at the tractor, basically BSing my dad to get him to buy a new tractor.

So, a couple of months ago, I drove the 1000 miles to my dad's place, loaded up the tractor and managed to skid the backhoe attachment onto the trailer and hook it up to the tractor (ripping an abdominal muscle in the process, and that hurt for a few weeks!). I hauled it back to my farm in Wisconsin and dropped it off at my local JD dealer. They are really a great outfit, they've helped me with my JD equipment before and their service folks are very knowledgeable.

Short version: the left front wheel bearing failed, the balls dropped into the gear housing and were jamming up the gear teeth. New bearings, seals, and gaskets up front and problem #1 was solved.

Second problem - the clutch would not engage, meaning you had to start it in gear. The place my dad originally took it to said this was because of some damaged and obsolete parts in the transmission. The real problem was the clutch had rusted to the flywheel, and just needed to be popped free with a prybar/big screwdriver.

Now it's back at my place, it runs and drives great, and there's nothing wrong with the transmission. The next things to be gone through are the hydraulics - all the cylinders need to be rebuilt and all of the hoses & steel lines replaced, it needs a new bucket for the FEL, and new seats for the tractor at backhoe, as they are falling apart and are not fun to sit on.

But, fixing this one is still cheaper than a new tractor OR getting another older one.