John Deere 970 Reviews

Awesome Tractor
Model Year: 1992

I can't say enough about this excellent little machine. This is actually a Yanmar made for John Deere in Japan. The only major thing I have had to do to this tractor is replace the clutch at about 2600 hours. I bought this used from a golf course so I cannot vouch for the maintenance prior to my owning it, but it was in very good shape. I have done extreme logging, moved dirt, mowed pastures, drilled piers, set beams, and a hundred other things that require diesel and hydraulics. It is very dependable, simple, and easy to work on. The only word of caution is that parts are increasingly hard to find.

Pros: Sturdy and dependable
Cons: Parts are getting scarce

John Deere 970
Model Year: 1993

Tractor has out-performed all of my expectations. It's just a great 4 wheel drive smaller tractor with a 80 loader very pleased. - Denny

Pros: All good.
Cons: As of yet no cons.

Henry the Little John Deere
Model Year: 2005

We bought this little JD 970 because we needed a tractor with a bucket to move round bales to a second row for storage and load manure spreader (we also have a 1986 Ford 2810). I really wanted one with a hydraulic transmission so moving back and forth without having to clutch constantly seemed the way to go. We bought It for 8200 dollars and it came with four pieces of equipment (6 ft. finish mower, disc harrow, box blade and 4 ft bush hog). Good hard working tractor. Since he (named him Henry) was purchased used, we have had to do a little work welding the bucket, and have had to replace the brass hydraulic line to oil cooler twice. I have determined that it's a design flaw that allows the line to rub frame until it wears through, but solved that by wrapping that area in old rubber hydraulic hose and clamps.

Pros: Easy to use, reliable engine.
Cons: Brass lines mentioned above, replacement muffler no longer available and had to move a lot of electrical lins and clamps to make new version fit.

John Deere 970
Model Year: 1991

Love this tractor. It hardly uses any fuel. Can go all day without worrying when I have to fuel up. This was not so with my Farmall M. It had no power steering and used fuel like it was going out of style. Great tractor for garden etc.

Pros: Easy to handle.
Cons: None.

John Deere 4x4 970 diesel
Model Year: 1996

Bought tractor used last year; came with loader bucket and power angle plow with Curtis hard cab and two remotes. Have since purchased a snowblower attachment and had full service check last fall. Very satisfied with performance. Purchased a JD rotary mower (brush hog) used at a great price this month; works great!

Pros: Size and 4 wheel drive; diesel fuel; 3 point hitch; hard cab; remotes.
Cons: Hydraulic leak somewhere.

A Good Purchase
Model Year: 1990

I bought my John Deere 970 diesel 4WD when it was about 10 years old, with fewer than 1000 hours on it. It had been used in a golf course community in the common areas and was in pretty good shape at that time. For the most part, it's been pretty reliable. The radiator developed a leak and had to be replaced, and I also had to replace the fuel tank (which had accumulated excessive sediment).

Pros: Reasonably reliable.
Cons: It's a good idea to do the maintenance as scheduled.

Good Little Tractor
Model Year: 1997

I bought this tractor to maintain my horse pastures and move the round bales I feed in the winter, as well as clearing my drive of snow using a 3 point mounted blower. The tractor has a Koyker lift on the front, which works well at handling the bales. The tractor works well for my uses. The only thing I wish it had different is the transmission. I've had to replace the clutch due to the need to run the PTO at 2500rpm while shifting gears to blow snow or brush hog. I'm more careful now, but still would be easier with a hydro trans.

Pros: Good size, big enough for the round bales, small enough to be maneuverable around the barns/home.
Cons: Manual trans when using the PTO.

John Deere #970 Year 1991
Model Year: 1991

Had a Farmall M tractor year 1949 for bush hogging it was a tricycle no power steering. I am a senior citizen and wanted a tractor that had power steering and also one great on fuel economy. This John Deere met well above my standards for easy handling and fuel economy. These tractors are well made and will last a long long time

Pros: None.
Cons: None.

JD 970
Model Year: 2000

Smallest tractor I own but also one of the most well built.

Pros: Simple.
Cons: Small fuel tank.

John Deere 970
Model Year: 1989

What's not to love about this thing? Still worth what I paid for it 10 years ago. Always starts, more power than I can use, no hydrostatic or electronics to cause problems. Fab'd a clip on fork lift carriage (side shifter type) for the 430 loader that uses standard forks and works great. Runs a Wallenstein BX62 6" chipper faster than I can feed it (anything over about 3" is firewood) . Also heated cab, rotary cutter, rear snow blower, rear blade, middle buster (2-passes and you have a trencher), rear dump bucket and a front blade. Only tip would be that in sand country consider going with turf tires. The Ag's will cut thru the root structure of any kind of grass and everything will wash out with the next rain - expensive upgrade, but worth it.

Pros: KIS and you'll be a happy camper. Bells and whistles break.
Cons: None - does what it is supposed to and has never failed me.

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John Deere 970
Model Year: 1989

Nice little compact, mechanical four wheel drive, front end loader, all season sun roof does everything I wanted it for, good hydraulics for pulling posts, will not get stuck with four wheel drive engaged, one of the best deals I have ever made.

Pros: Compact, 4cyl diesel, good hydraulics, nice working tractor with controls where you would want them, fuel efficient.
Cons: Exhaust pipe will get rain or snow inside if not covered when left outside.