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Truley large hp JD tractors are frowned upon by those that know. Nearly any other brand of big 4wd tractor beats them in one way or another - either more power, more durable, or easier to get off-the-shelf parts to fix ecconomically. If you meant mid-sized 2wd/ FWA ag tractors, JD has a good rep - but _not_ the large machines. The large JD had some _real_ issues, none good.
In the 60's Gleaner was toe to toe with JD on combines, one offered good value & easy to work on, the other slightly more rugged for more $$$in purchase & parts & labor. In the 70's the 4400 & 6600 & 7700 were top dog around the midwest. In 2000, the only game in town is the Case rotories. I see 4 new of those on farms around me for any one new machine of all others combined. It is amazing how much Case has taken over the combine market up here.
I happen to own 4 different colors of tractors, and yet a different brand of combine. I might be not too terribly biased.
--->Paul )</font>
Okay, I'm curious. What are the specific problems with the big JDs? Are you talking articulates specifically or just the high hp, large tractors? I ask because large JDs seem to be all the rage around here. Granted some of the bigger farms have been JD loyal for years, but I sure see a lot of big JDs. Of course I see a lot of other stuff (mostly CaseIH or NH), but the JDs seem to be the most prominent.
As for combines.... they almost ALL seem to be JDs. Either rotary or strawwalkers. Yes, the odd other brand, but not much, especially when talking about newer machines.