John Deere 1023E 4.40 star(s) (29)

John Deere 1023E Tractor
Model Year: 2015

After the first week, the hydraulics leaked. Then I had trouble with the belly mower. Then there was shaving in the front axle and we had been checking the oil in it. It has been in the shop more than I have used it. John Deere service sucks. If I were to buy anything again I would truly check and see how their service departments are first. I has only 677 hours on it and it is sitting in my garage. They are saying it would cost $10,000 to fix. It's almost like whomever was making mine was not a good mechanic.

Pros: It was a good size for my farm
Cons: It stayed in the shop more than I had it and its not worth the buy

A Good Tractor That Could Be A Great Tractor
Model Year: 2018

The drive-over auto-connect mower is great! I have only removed and reinstalled it once, but it was very simple and straightforward. The 120 loader is also great. It is easy to connect and disconnect, and the hydraulic lines are easily accessible (much easier than on my 425). When removed, there is much less left on the tractor than is the case with the 425. Also, there is no need to open and close a barely accessible and difficult to operate valve to get hydraulics to the loader. Hydraulics are always available. The comfort is very good. The steering cylinders operate way too slowly, so steering is too slow. I can see one getting in trouble and having difficulty maintaining control (which has happened to me in normal driving) compared to the speed on the 425, which is just about ideal. The difference is almost like driving a 1960 Chevy compared to an XK-E. There is a lot of very hot air is directed right at the operator's feet. That may be great when snow-blowing in Minneapolis in the winter, but is terrible in Honolulu! The mower height selector is poorly designed. It operates on only one side of the lift linkage, so the mower tends to droop toward the right when it puts its weight on the height selector stop. On the 425 it operates on the center of the linkage, so the mower does not sag to one side. Also, the selector is labeled with numbers, which one would assume translate to inches of cut height, but that is not the case at all. As such the positions should be labeled ABCD instead of 1,2,3,4. I suspect the steps on the stop may wear with time causing inaccurate height selections. Had there been a similar linked, stop on the right side, it might be okay, but a center one would be better. I like the lock and 'load' positions, though, but I can easily do the same thing on the 425 with much more fine control. I have also found that the setting tends to drop to the next lower level, so when I set it to the 3.5 position I often find it has dropped to the 3.25 position and is scalping my lawn. Since I had to put the mower inside my Toyota Sienna when I picked up the tractor (it would not fit through the gate of the UHaul trailer I rented with the mower attached), I would have preferred to have the gauge wheels act as casters. My old mower (which was a real pain to install and remove from the 425) allows the wheels to be turned 90 degrees to allow it to roll out from under the tractor. That also makes it easier to roll in and out of a van or pickup truck bed. Maybe a single hole above maximum height setting could be drilled at 90 degrees from the others to allow setting the wheels at 90 degrees for such activities. But the drive over auto-connect features far outweigh any such deficiencies! The rollover protection system is, in my opinion, more of a hazard than a safety item. I have been driving garden tractors for 45 years, and I have never had an issue with an incipient tipping on my lot with a fairly good slope to part of the lawn. The system actually increases that likelihood, as it is a lot of weight up high, which raises the center of gravity significantly. Also, one must always be concerned about hitting the tail lights, which are on the outside of the rollover protection system and too close to the outside edge of the tractor. I like to mow close to a fence line where the ground slopes slightly toward the fence, and I can't get close enough without hitting the fence with the tail lights! Similarly, there is a palm tree that is just far enough away to fit the 54-inch mower between it and the fence, but I can't mow that area now because I would hit the fence with the tail lights. I can't get close to trees because the tail light or rollover protection system itself will hit the branches. Even a huge monkey pod tree is a hazard because the rollover protection system will hit the huge sloping branches that are no hazard at all without the rollover protection system. I was initially concerned about the turning radius of the 1023 being slightly larger than on my 425, but the turning radius is not the limiting factor when working around trees because the rollover protection system keeps one so far away. It would be a little better if the tail lights were mounted on the inside of the rollover protection system, where one would only need to be concerned about that strong structure hitting branches and such, but I expect that tail lights are some of the first things damaged on these tractors due to their exposure. I did move the tail lights to the inside of the rollover protection system and that is much better. One must spend so much time being sure the rollover protection system is clear of obstacles (such as tree branches, fences, roof overhangs, gutter downspouts, etc.) that attention is diverted away from actually driving the tractor safely. John Deere's answer is to stay about 5 feet away from anything (including tree drip lines) and spend more time weed whacking than mowing. If the rollover protection system were shaped at the top part to more closely conform to the shape of a human (maybe with head padding) and if the tail lights were mounted inside the lower posts, it would be a bit better and would not encourage one to simply remove the entire system as is now the case. John Deere should have made the rollover protection system easily removable, as there are cases when it makes the tractor unusable (think of an orchard). Instead it was designed to be almost impossible to remove because it acts as a spacer for other components at the bottom rear of the tractor frame. I was able to remove the top hinged part fairly easily, but to make it really usable I will have to cut part of the system off, which is permanent. While I know I will get used to it, I dislike having to start in neutral. The hydrostatic transmission, if one's foot is off the pedals, will hold the tractor sufficiently, and if the operator forgets to put the tractor in gear when starting on a slight slope (like a ramp to a garage) and releases the brake, away goes the tractor. This is not a big issue, and is a matter of experience and familiarity, but the 425 (which has only one speed and no neutral selection for its hydrostatic transmission other than pedal position) is much more straightforward. It would be easier to get on and off the tractor if the neutral position was all the way up and back rather than between H and L, as that would move the lever out of the way of one's legs and also have the benefit of making it more attractive to shut the tractor down in neutral. The seat 'safety' switch is also a hazard (more so on the 140 I also have than on the 1023), because if one leans to one side when losing traction to put more weight on the wheel (often necessary on the 140, seldom on the 1023), it often inadvertently causes the engine to die just when one needs maximum control. The RIO system is another 'nanny tractor' frustration that can in itself be a safety hazard. There should be a defeat switch that can be set at the beginning of a work session to disable it, because having to manipulate that switch every time one wants to work in reverse can cause hazards when working in certain areas. The manual for the 1023 has many labeling errors and poor descriptions. It took me some time to even find the section on opening the hood, for example, and the description made it sound like one uses a screwdriver as a prying handle rather than a push button actuator. The hood release is a poor design that should be able to be actuated by a finger, and can easily get out of adjustment, allowing the hood to pop open. Surely there is a better, more reliable, and simpler way! Another example is in the control descriptions, one of which has an A and an E swapped on the drawing (or the description). The 1023 is missing many items and features that the ads and brochures imply are included. Among these are the auto-connect mower feature (which ends up costing about $800 extra by the time it is installed by the dealer), some are apparently included in the 1025 but not the 1023E, also such as cruise control (which my 425 has), tilt steering wheel (which my 425 has), rear power take-off shaft cover (which my 425 has), rockshaft depth stop, seat suspension, arm rests, etc. John Deere should have a comparison list on all their information brochures and web pages that make these differences clear. Maybe they would sell more 1025s. If I were doing this all over again, I would look much more thoroughly at a Kubota tractor.

Pros: Auto connect mower, ease of connecting front end loader
Cons: 'Nanny tractor' features that could have been much better done

Photo Uploads:

Does Everything I Wanted!
Model Year: 2016

It has nice quality and performance. So far I have put about 20 hours on it and most of it was using the loader. I have moved brush, dug out rocks in the yard, transplanted trees, dug holes for rocks and transplanting at least 3 feet deep, and I used it to dig out for pouring concrete and installing gravel base. The mower works great! I leave the loader on and the mower off until I need to mow. Space in my garage is scarce and if I put the wheels down I can move the mower deck by hand if it is in my way. I am extremely happy with this tractor! I hope to buy a few more attachments.

Pros: Drive over deck is awesome
Cons: Hydraulic for deck is connected with 3-point, put the deck down, 3-point goes down. My son has a 1025R with backhoe, I wanted to have installed brackets and hydraulic so I could use his backhoe but the dealer wanted $2,500 to install brackets and hydraulic

First tractor, Probably Last
Model Year: 2015

I bought the 1023E because I have a long and steep gravel driveway ( they call them ' roads ' here in Maine). I decided that a snow blower would be a better approach to snow removal rather than just pushing it around with the pickup truck. I also purchased a box blade and a scraper blade with which to maintain the gravel road which is prone to erosion. I also purchased a soft cab from the Original Tractor Cab folks and wrestled with its installation, ultimately having to make some modifications to it. I concur with other owners who give the 1023E high marks for being a tough little machine, and with a previous reviewer who objected to the exhaust system.

Pros: It does what I need it to do
Cons: Two or three hours of breathing exhaust fumes is a nuisance

Photo Uploads:

My First John Deere Tractor
Model Year: 2016

My 1023E is a great tractor and it works well. It needs 3000 RPMs to get 23 horsepower from the engine, but still performs very well. It lost a star because the exhaust pipe is facing towards the front. Exhaust fumes blow back towards the driver and all you smell is diesel fumes. It needs some kind of way to divert the exhaust to the side. Once I fix the exhaust problem, I will be 100% happy with my purchase.

Pros: Strong, built well
Cons: Always breathing exhaust fumes

Price High But Value High
Model Year: 2016

When I purchased this with all the attachments I needed, I was north of $24.000 with a 1023E, 54-inch drive on deck, H120 loader, power flow bagger, 54-inch snow blower, 42-inch forks, quick 3-point hitch, weight box, the original tractor cab, steering wheel spin knob, and John Deere baseball hat. Even though it was a sticker shock the value of the 1023E and attachments was high as well. It starts every time with a puff of white smoke. This is common and noted by many as normal. The dealer had the ideal set at 1400 rpm. It felt and sounded very uncomfortable, so I adjusted it to 1500 and it is much happier. The seat, pedal, wheel and controls feel well placed and positioned. It is easy walk through mounting and dismounting the tractor. Fuel consumption is a little high but most everyone states it gets much better between 30-50 hours. Attachment change outs are fast and easy once you have done it a couple times. Mowing grass is done in low range two wheel drive but forward pedal to the floor board. It gives a even cut. The bagger collects about 80i percent of the clippings and the same percentage with leaves. The bagger is not a quick attachment. The rear bagging bracket requires tools to take off the tractor. It heavy and cumbersome. The H120 loader is a beast. It works well and is easy to operate. I have spread 40 yards of tops soil and 60 yards of processed concrete. My H120 made short work of the volume. It is a very easy on/off attachment. The 42-inch forks are from Titan. They are John Deere green in color. It is very easy to change them out from bucket to forks and back again. They work better than expected. I have not done heavy lifting with them but have used for many small uses. The snow blower attachment works well, but the instructions on installing the mounting bracket are like most instructions you find on things; never used by the person using the attachment. Once I figured it out, its another attachment that is a 5-minute change out. How it works? There will be more to come on that in the Spring. The original cab is okay at best. The instructions for assembly were written by the same person who wrote the snow blower attachment. The quality was designed to a price point. It will keep you dry, but long term value is questionable. I am thinking maybe 3-4 years before it's ready for the dump. I hope I am wrong. Given a chance to do it over, I think a Curtis Cab would have been on the list. The spinner knob on the steering wheel is great. Buy one. The baseball hat is mandatory for being admitted into the most "redneck" bar in town.

Pros: The amazement at what the tractor can do and how it performs so many different jobs so well
Cons: With the mounting bracket for the snow blower attached to the 1023E, you can't drop the snow blower and attach the H120. When needing to move snowbanks you're going to need to kneel on the ground and reach deep under the tractor

Photo Uploads:

Fluid Leak From Day One
Model Year: 2014

Let's start by saying I feel this is a dealer problem instead of manufacture problem. I picked up my 1023 with a front-end loader and Q/E 54e deck installed. My first problem is that when the bucket is down just about to touch the drive way, one side of the bucket touches first. I checked the tire pressure and found that it was 8 pounds low. I filled and topped off all of tires check. After that, the mower deck wasn't level anymore. I looked at the linkage and found the lift bar and key were not welded exactly perfectly. I called John Deere. They said they do have a problem and to lower the left front tire pressure to correct the problem. I called two other dealers who said they never heard about the tire thing but if it helps to try it. Do a warranty on the lift bars and stop this insanity! I have to let the mower deck ride on the wheels to keep the deck from eating my lawn.

Pros: Good power, moves dirt great for a compact, could have a better seat with air ride for the all day rider.
Cons: Fit and finish is not the greatest on plastic, could use over lap and gaskets to tighten gaps

Mower deck
Model Year: 2013

I purchased the mower deck, the front end loader and the brush mower. All is GREAT except the mower deck.Asolutely the worst mower deck I have ever had. It was a problem from the beginning , it wouldn't connect. The dealer would come out and tried to connect then finally take it to to the shop. It now gaps the grass digs in and make a mess. I love the tractor and the implements but the DECK is absolutely not John Deere quality.

Pros: Good tractor
Cons: Mower deck is not John Deere quality

For Your Info
Model Year: 2014

i bought the tractor to find some disappointments, the main one being that the mower deck hydraulics are connected and operated together with the 3 point hitch. if u have the rototiller on the back and don't remove it it will go down when u let the mower down or vise versa. bad feature, also does not come with a rear work lite !!! not even a small one ??? the drive over auto deck is fabulous !!! other than that is is a great tractor but i already have traded it off for a 1025r that had the hydraulic features i wanted. tks.

Pros: as above
Cons: as above

KB
Model Year: 2014

We bought our 1023E new, kept it in the garage, were horrified to find out that when we took it out of the garage to mow that it made huge gouges in our yard. We worked on it for hours, finally took it back to the dealer and I must say that it now mows pretty good. However, the ROPS prevents us from mowing even CLOSE to the trees in our yard. The engine is very loud and wearing head phones doesn't kill the drone. The hood does not fit our tractor. It is too small, in my opinion. First there was twice the gap on the left side of the hood as the ride and then they adjusted the hood and now the gap is equal on both sides, but it does not cover the shroud(?) or the side of the tractor. The hood also binds up against the gauge face and there is a piece on the right side of the tractor, which is now gaping out from the tractor. The JD dealer says there is nothing they can do as it was not made right. They say that if they adjust it more, the hood will not latch. This machine is considered a nightmare by this owner.

Pros: Seems to have enough power. Loader seems to work okay.
Cons: Mower is finally better, quality of workmanship/engineering, etc. on this tractor is quite poor. We are quite dissatisfied with it as the ROPS doesn't allow us to get close to the trees that we mow around. The problems with the hood are just plain unacceptable. I wouldn't recommend this tractor to anyone. It is a VERY poor substitute for our 2210 which is a wonderful mowing machine, but has lots of mowing hours. We were hoping to replace it with the 1023E. Our mistake.

John Deere 1023e
Model Year: 2013

Nothing but Green. This tractor has been everything we need. I am shocked as to what a small tractor can do. Sorry Kubota and the rest but this things rocks.

Pros: It just works.
Cons: Nothing.

60-Inch 7 Iron Drive Over Quick Connect Mower Deck
Model Year: 2012

I purchased the tractor new, H120 bucket 60-inch quick connect 7 iron mower deck. The fit and finish is poor, but it performed well until April 2014. The deck started making a loud rattle. It has been in the John Deere dealer three times and one time the mechanics came to the residence. The problem is the coupler and mounting hardware for the quick connect mower deck mine failed at 100 hrs. Every time they return it begins to rattle very badly again after 2 hrs. of operation. From my investigation there have been problems with these units/quick connect decks. There is a tech bulletin about the rattle some of it is normal, but mine was so loud my neighbor could hear it a 70 yards away and I was slightly deaf in my left ear after two hours of mowing. The connector requires a perfect alignment and fit or the coupler will wear out very quickly and begin to rattle badly. I have been in contact with John Deere customer service which I might as well been talking to a wall if you ask for a supervisors they give you a canned response. No help! I'm waiting for it to return from the dealer its been there a week then if I have a issue again. I will have to look at options. New tractor, litigation so on.

Pros: The tractor has a strong lifting capacity and powerful PTO.
Cons: Problems with quick connect deck/coupler.

Updated Review on the John Deere 1023E
Model Year: 2013

I need to update my previous post. I was not happy having to wait 1 month for a part, but it was under warranty so the part was replaced for no charge. Our local dealer even picked up & delivered at no charge for the warranty repair. Once I got it back have been getting used to it. It is different than a mower---not so easy to mow under low branches but it is solid and the filled rear tires along with the roll bar make me feel very safe on hilly terrain. It is a solid machine and well built. After using the JD1023E for the past year, I have really changed my mind about this machine. I LOVE IT! This thing is like a mountain goat, going up & down hills and so far, even down the steepest hill. I haven't managed to get into any situation I couldn't get out of (not like the previous GT235 we had). We have a large property to mow and there is not one level spot in the whole yard and short steep slopes. The dogs dig holes all over and this SCUT has mowed like a champ. I have really changed my mind about this 1023E and feel real confident mowing everywhere in my hilly & sloped yard. I have grown to really really love my new John Deere 1023E and I don't think I would be interested in going back to a lawn mower anytime soon.

Pros: Solid machine, well built, handles hills & slopes really well, but BE CAREFUL and GO SLOW! Turning ratio is excellent, mows around obstacles well (except those low-hanging branches!).
Cons: Not built for mowing under low branches. Plastic hood is kind of chintzy. Lots of nooks & crannies catch dirt & debris.

Five Stars Is Not Enough
Model Year: 2014

For the first time in my life, I feel like I got what I paid for . . and I mean that in a GOOD way. Everything about the 1023e exceeded my expectations. I have a reputation for over-stressing everything but this sub-compact tractor is really built for the long haul. I have 8-acres (three that I mow and 5 in hay). Some of the terrain, especially near the creeks, can be difficult to negotiate. The 4WD and the differential lock allow me to move through the big mess with ease. I'm just sorry that I waited so long to get one. I got mine with he 60D mower and H120 loader. I haven't tried to remove the deck, but I'm getting pretty good at detaching and re-attaching the loader. What a great piece of machinery!

Pros: Quick-disconnect attachments, diesel power, 4WD.
Cons: Still looking for one, but not having much luck. Oh yeah, it wasn't free.

1023E John Deere Tractor
Model Year: 2014

So far I have been very happy with this tractor. Bought it with the H120 loader and 60" auto connect mower deck. John Deere had a great sale price and financing deal this spring. Loader comes off and on very quickly and easily. Mows well and has adequate power for my use. I have 9 acres and am mowing most of it. I will be using the tractor for a variety of landscaping and home maintenance activities. We are in the process of building a home on the site and the loader has proved invaluable already. The mower deck height control is a little difficult to get out of the lock position, but other than that no problems.

Pros: Adequate power, H120 loader great, 4-wheel drive a must have.
Cons: The 1025R has some features I would like to have had, but for the cost the 1023E was right for me.

Photo Uploads:

Strong, and Dependable Sub-Compact Tractor
Model Year: 2013

I have had my John Deere 1023 tractor now for about a year. I bought it with the H120 loader and ballast box, I purchased the blade a few weeks later. I have made quick work of clear a bunch of brush, bushes and debris from my yard. In the fall I purchased the front mounted snow blower, what a great decision that was, I had a blast removing snow all winter. I actually looked forward to a good snow storm. Now with spring I have just purchased the rake and a box blade for the tractor. Looking forward to having some fun with those tools real soon. This tractor has been a blast for the last year.

Pros: Compact, with lots of features, dependable and affordable.
Cons: Lift strength, ground clearance.

Awesome Little Tractor
Model Year: 2012

I have a small private landscaping business and this is one of my main machines. I've done everything from grading driveways and spreading top soil to plowing small commercial lots. Very good machine!

Pros: Has good strong power and can squeeze into smaller areas bigger tractors can't!
Cons: John Deere isn't very easy when it comes to buying attachments.

Photo Uploads:

Hackney
Model Year: 2013

Tractor works well for all my needs in caring for my show pony stock.

Pros: Has performed well for every chore.
Cons: Horse power.

Nice Machine But Quality is Lacking
Model Year: 2012

Like all 1023s, this one also suffers from to have and JD refuses to acknowledge. Design isn't bad but some changes could make it much better. They used hard pipe instead of hoses for hydraulic lines down by the bucket. I have 2 that are crushed. The bucket leveler got crunched long ago. The rear differential lock is cheap and either falls off or bends and becomes useless. Tires don't last long at all (on second set for fronts). Would I buy it again? Probably not.

Pros: Very handy to have. Was easy to buy.
Cons: Quality is lacking. Is not an American made machine.

1023E
Model Year: 2011

Use for gathering and moving firewood, mulch, stone, dirt, and clearing snow. Bought 54 blower last year but only had small storms to clear up after. Bucket and blower are easy to interchange. I got rid of the ballast box and added a "heavy hitch with 8 of the 40# weights. I also have rim guard in the rears and wheel weights. Makes a big difference in dragging and pushing. Only problem with tractor was initial seat used to trip safety shutoff all the time when cold. New seat seems to have improved that. Not sure if I would spend the extra $ for a 1026 or not at this point.

Pros: See above.
Cons: See above.