John Deere 955 4.90 star(s) (22)

Absolutely The Best Overall Compact Tractor Ever
Model Year: 1998

Before I tell what I paid for my tractor, please understand that the guy that sold it to me didn't know the value or even want the tractor! It belonged to his father who recently passed away. He was selling everything cheap as heck. The Tractor had been sitting about a year. The tires would hold air but were dry rotted. So far, So good. The 72-inch belly mower needed some welding repair to one pulley mount. But overall it was in pretty good condition. The 70A loader works great, And the 5-foot box blade with root forks was new. I went there wanting to buy a log splitter. Instead, I (stole) bought the 955 tractor. So here is the price. I offered $1000, He wanted $1500, We settled on $1200. I paid in cash and have put over 100 hours in the last year on it. I've done things with this little tractor that I've never done with bigger tractors. I'll never sell and am going tomorrow to buy myself a 5-foot bush hog for it. I feel very blessed that I got such a great tractor for such a great price.

Pros: Does everything I've wanted to do
Cons: The loader doesn't lift as much as I want, not very fast

Oldie, but Goodie
Model Year: 1996

Because it was a 2nd tractor, with front end loader, I couldn't justify paying much, and paid $6,500. Low hours, but had seen hard work, and poor maintenance (grease fittings dry and pivot points worn). But it's been a Trojan. Greased it up, tended to all maintenance areas. Starts right up, super strong FEL. Ratings are based on it being a 25 years old machine, with features down rated, because newer tractors (including my Kubota B3200) have smoother, more operator friendly, features. Other reviewers feel 955 one of the best tractors Deere made. I don't know, but I'm happy with it.

Pros: Strong FEL.
Cons: No clutch for shifting into/out of 4 wheel drive, or hi-lo range.

Good Green Machine
Model Year: 1998

Good machine but hard to start under 20 degrees.

Pros: Excellent tractor.
Cons: Starts a poorly under 20 degrees.

John Deere 955---All Season Tool
Model Year: 1992

My family bought a slightly used 1992 model 955 back in 1994 to use for mowing our large and very steep lawn, as well as snow blowing our approximately 1/4 mile long driveway. This tractor has been a beast for all those years, with no major and very few minor mechanical issues. With a 72" mower deck and the (I think) 60" front mounted blower, it's been an all season tool that has earned its keep well. When we bought it, there was no front end loader. I searched for years to find a 70A loader and finally got one in very lightly used and excellent shape. That really completed the machine, and I imagine we'll keep this in the family for many more years to come.

Pros: Great size for mowing large and steep lawns. With loaded tires and 4WD, it's very stable and has great traction on steep lawn.
Cons: A little loud especially while mowing. With ear protection this isn't a problem.

John Deere 955
Model Year: 1999

This tractor has performed excellent. I have a few attachments---front end loader, backhoe, Wallenstein wood chipper, rear blade, landscape rake and a homemade cab I built out of a golf cart enclosure (works great for winter snow removal). The tractor has never had any issues except for two hydraulic lines I had to replace on the loader. All in all, I don't think I could have found a better tractor for my needs.

Pros: Excellent size and quality.
Cons: None.

1997 John Deere 955
Model Year: 1997

I bought this 5 year old tractor with 75 hours on it from the original owner in 2002. Tractor came with 70A loader, turf tires and 60" mid mount mower. Tractor has been used for installing and maintaining a 6 acre lawn, some light duty brush hogging and light (1-3") snowfalls using a 7' back blade on my 1/4 mile driveway. I doubt that I will ever sell this tractor as it is so handy and user friendly to operate. Tractor is stable on slopes and very fuel efficient. The mechanical "feel" of the hydro transmission is excellent. The engine is rated at 33 hp and the tractor only weighs 2000 pounds. With unfilled turfs, traction is sometimes less than great, especially clearing snow with the back blade. The only repairs have been a tachometer cable replacement and replacing one headlamp. The tachometer cable cost less than $20 and took less than 15 minutes to replace. That's it for repairs. Of course there are the normal oil and fluid changes. I bought a second set of turf wheels and tires 2 years ago because the price was right and they are hard to find. The tractor is in absolute mint condition and just a pleasure to own and operate. In 2006, I purchased a new cab 3720/300CX to handle the bigger tasks and snow removal. The 3720 has been rock solid and with 350 hours on it I have not had a single repair.

Pros: Power, ease of use, reliability.
Cons: A little light for some tasks, replacement tires can be hard to find.

Bullet Tough
Model Year: 1996

Tough little tractor, has a 70A loader new paint job. Tires are about 80%. Has performed very well. Perfect for the work that I need it for.

Pros: Compact tractor with all the bells whistles.
Cons: None so far.

JD 955 Does What Needs to Be Done
Model Year: 0

I farm two acres of pick your own strawberries and 2 acres of squash and pumpkins. Also snow blow about a mile and a half of private road and 10 driveways in the winter. The 955 does everything I ask it to do.

Pros: Tight turning, power.
Cons: Had worn out turf tires on when I bought it. Wanted to put on Ag tires. The dealer said they can't get them anymore so ended up with skid steer tires on it. They work but the lugs are not as high as they would be with Ag tires so I am sure I don't have the traction I could have.

John Deere 955
Model Year: 1999

This has been a great tractor. I don't use it on a daily basis but when I do it has always done the job. I have attachments to do most anything I need. Loader, backhoe, 72" mower deck, rear blade, landscape rake, bucket forks [homemade],soft cab [homemade]. This tractor has been great for maintaining the property and is just a lot of fun.

Pros: Medium size, good power, hydro transmission, quality.
Cons: None.

Perfect Tractor for Me
Model Year: 1999

Great tractor, very little problems. I use it for clearing, mowing, some ground work and snow plowing. It is a bit light and I wish the FEL had a bit more capacity, but it has been one of the best investments I have ever made. Had one problem where the ground strap to the engine broke and starter current was returning through the throttle cable, which was weird, but easy to fix.

Pros: Reliable, excellent build quality, great for yard work.
Cons: Sometimes too light for pulling/pushing.

JD 955
Model Year: 0

I bought this tractor to use to build/maintain trails and plant food plots on some hunting property and have been VERY pleased. It is small enough to move around and between the trees, yet powerful enough to work ground for planting. The HST is great when using the FEL.

Pros: Power, size, and simplicity of operation.
Cons: I found a good deal on the tractor, but it was impossible to find a great deal. I guess it's the green paint.

JD 955 with Loader and Bradco 408 Backhoe
Model Year: 1992

I bought this tractor without the full support of my wife but once she realized all the projects I could complete with our landscaping, etc., she then decided it was a good move. The tractor is a real workhorse for moving dirt, grading, brush clearing and just about anything. The backhoe is great. I've dug footings, installed water lines, excavated for patios, dug up stumps, removed beaver dams and just anything else I could find to do. The 4-wheel drive is great and having turf tires makes this tractor easy on my yard. The only issue I have is that with me being 6'3", when I use the backhoe I have to be very careful of not getting my forehead slammed against the ROPS or my pants getting ripped by the bolt that holds the spinner to the steering wheel.

Pros: Very solid. Workhorse of a tractor for it's size.
Cons: Narrow wheelbase can feel unstable on slopes.

John Deere 955 Compact Tractor
Model Year: 1996

I would argue this may be the best compact tractor John Deere has ever built. The size and power is perfect for this type of machine. It is small enough to fit in tight spots and powerful enough to do the job once you're there. The jobs I have taken on and completed with this machine are just amazing.

Pros: Perfect size and plenty of power.
Cons: None.

John Deere 955 4X4 with Loader
Model Year: 1986

Great little tractor for anything except pulling such as hay wagon or single bottom plow or disc. The hydrostatic tranny won't pull much w/o over heating. Use it for rototilling, bushhogging w/ 5 ft mower, landscaping, baling hay w/ Star round baler, moving manure inside barn w/ no problems. Unit was a rental for the 1st 500 hrs then a contractors until 1600 hrs and yet it has held up to all the abuse. Works great for stop and go type work or if it doesn't have too heavy a load to pull. Great for the northwest in the winter where it rains so much everything is muddy. It floats over the mud where other tractors get stuck.

Pros: Small, light, easy to drive.
Cons: Can be too light and tippy, hydro-tranny won't pull much.

Great Little Work Horse
Model Year: 1997

Owned this tractor for 11 years without a single problem.Starts right up no matter the weather. All the power you ever need in a compact. Attachments galore.Deere dealer near me says its the best compact ever made and I have to agree.

Pros: Everything about it.
Cons: Not found one yet.

Luckiest Purchase Ever!
Model Year: 1991

Everyone knows this legendary utility tractor and its plethora of beefy attachments. Can't get it stuck - even after stupidly sliding into a muddy hole next to a newly poured footer/foundation. Scared the crap outta me for a few long seconds, but no rollover and locked the rear and walked right out. The one thing that annoyed me was having 2 seats for backhoe ops - flipping one forward, unlocking the other to flip it down - it was a colossal waste of time and made me think about getting another tractor/backhoe. Anyways - I finally took the time to research suspension seats that rotates and found the perfect one! Now I sit with a comfort of bigger machines, but kept my maneuverability of a small machine. Best part is that the seat is attached to the tractor and I no longer am jolted by the actions of the backhoe - can work longer with much less fatigue.

Pros: Everything.
Cons: JD takes your first born for any part - they are unconscionable!

Great Little Tractor
Model Year: 1995

What makes this little tractor great is that you can purchase so many tools to use (mower, scoop, blade, tiller, etc.). It's one tough tractor, but like all JD products, get the big bills out of your billfold when you finally break something. I purchased the first 955 several years ago. It came with scoop and belly mower and had turf tires. I put four ag-tread tires on it and had all four of them filled with liquid. That made a great change. It was like a new tractor. Over a few years of work I put a lot of hours on it. I liked it so much, I found one in Kentucky that was 2 years younger and only had 189 hours on it, so I bought that one too. Now I and a friend can run the two tractors and can do two of the following tasks at the same time: backhoe, grade, scoop, mow, till.

Pros: Hydrostatic with cruise control and float.
Cons: None.

JD 955
Model Year: 0

Very reliable tractor. 70A loader. Hydro. Plenty of power. I wish it had more in the gpm/psi hydraulics department.

Pros: Power, small footprint, hydrostatic transmission
Cons: Headlight location, lack of std. rear hydraulics.

JD 955
Model Year: 1995

The tractor came with MFWD, hydrostatic transmission, FEL, backhoe, mid-mount mower on turf tires. Since acquired bush hog rear mower, rear-mount snowblower, box blade, blade, 60" tiller and front forks. Changed to a quick connect FEL for switching back and forth between bucket and forks. Tractor has done a lot of work for me, some commercial stuff before building the house (mostly small excavating jobs) and more diy stuff during the building and after (trenching, forestry, trail cutting, forklift....). Pretty reliable but some issues lately that I can't pinpoint related to starting. I did get a new rear seal as the first one failed ($1200 to replace a $30 dollar seal). Replaced one of the front wheel bearings ($350), blown a few hydraulic hoses, repaired backhoe outrigger cylinder, and other miscellaneous repairs. Can run the unit all day, 6 to 7 hours on 20 liters (approx 5 gallons) of diesel. Hydrostatic works great for loader work and snowblowing. The unit gets used on average every 3 days throughout the year.

Pros: Pretty reliable. All my implements make it pretty versatile, from digging and loading to mowing and snowblowing.
Cons: No cab makes snowblowing pretty miserable (love a 4720 with cab). Lack of work lights. Expensive repairs - pay for the name.

John Deere 955 Loader/Front Mount Snow Blower
Model Year: 1997

Great tractor, I purchased with 180 hrs and this unit has given me no problems other than a headlight burn out and a flasher failure. I have a 30 Kw PTO gen on it for power outages and it will put up to 23Kw, I also have the 59" front mount JD blower which it handles beautiful, also a 59" Buhler tiller Which it has no problem with. I should load the tires but I use a weight box about 900 lbs for the loader and blower as the tractor could be a little heavier. I keep the wheels out, much safer. Wish it had 1000 PTO.

Pros: FWD, Mid PTO,Cruise,Hydrostatic,Diff.lock. Brakes,
Cons: Small fuel tank,4-4.25 hrs./Poor lights with loader on./12MPH.