JD 670

RoyJackson · Nov 18, 2001

I recently bought a 1990 Deere 670 with 610 hours. The deal included the FEL (factory) and a rear finishing mower.
I asking anyone who has (or had) this tractor to let me know what they thought of them.
I'm a newbie to compacts...except for running a Ford Backhoe (big'un) in the late '60's.
My first preference was a BX2200, but we couldn't quite make the deal.
The 670 is in really fine shape. Starts easy, sips fuel.
Seems a bit tippy, but my slopes are mild, so it's a matter of getting a comfort zone.

Any comments are welcome...thanks, folks!

BTW, I'm in south central PA. We own three acres, mostly wooded. The tractor is for mowing, snow removal and (when I get a bush hog) maintaining a part of the property that is overgrown and vine infested.

TerryinMD · Nov 18, 2001

Roy,

Welcome to TBN. You will find this site educational and entertaining.

The following link is a summary of some of the top ten must have's for your tractor. Mikes suggestions

If you haven't yet spent some time cruising through all of the topics, I suggest that you a favorite economy sized beverage and sit down and read through them. You will get a flavor for what the TBN brain trust has to offer.

Good luck with your JD. It is a nice looking rig. Question though, I see that your front tires are turf tires and the rears are R4's. I'm assuming that the tractor is not 4wd and that may be normal. Did you ask the dealer if that is normal for that model?

Terry

RoyJackson · Nov 18, 2001

I've been cruising this site for quite some time now, as well as a few others.

As far as the tires, that is what was on the tractor when I bought it (actually, the Dealer replaced the fronts due to some sidewall cuts). The rears aren't quite ag type tires. I was told they are a modified turf. The previous owner (lives in northern Baltimore County) had the tires installed for his type of use. I know he wasn't a farmer. He'd traded in on a larger Deere.

It is 4WD, however. That does come in handy! I don't know if the different tread types could be detrimental to the drive train, however (as it would with an automotive drive train).

Thanks for the links! I'm going to need to get a drum (30 or 55 gal) and a pump for the diesel. I kick my butt because I tossed a surplus pump (Vietnam era....brand new...was used for field refueling of helicopters from 55 gallon drums of JP) about two years ago. I'd had it since my Navy days 20some years ago!

Bird · Nov 18, 2001

I don't know if the different tread types could be detrimental to the drive train, however (as it would with an automotive drive train).

Roy, I wouldn't worry about the different tread types hurting anything if the rolling circumference ratio is right, but if it isn't right, then yes, it can be hard on the drive train.

RoyJackson · Nov 18, 2001

Hm...how does one determine that?

I'm more curious if the REAR tires are the ones to be concerned about (see Terry's post above)
Edited by RoyJackson on 11/18/01 02:08 PM (server time).

Bird · Nov 18, 2001

Roy, instead of me trying to explain, some other folks (perhaps most notably MChalkley) have explained this in the past better than I can. You can go to the "search" function above and enter "rolling circumference" and find maybe more than you want to read. You might start with this thread .

Von · Nov 18, 2001

Roy,
My neighbor has a 670 with the same tires on it. The backs are called bar-turf and the fronts are just turf. My brother has the same setup on his Kubota B2400.These are the right tires for your tractor. I think you will be very happy with it.

Anonymous Poster · Nov 18, 2001

Roy,

This site has some good info; FIRESTONEAG.COM
Under Choose Destination, select Farm Tire Data Book. Once there select General Info and view the Lead/Lag section.

Russ

TerryinMD · Nov 19, 2001

Roy,

I would see what the owners manual and JD has to say about tire usage and mixing of tire types. Since you bought it from a JD dealer, the onus is on them if anything goes wrong. What type of tires were on it originally?

No sense in messing up your tractor if you can be sure that it is configured correctly. Also, check to see what the FEL owners manual states for correct tire usage. Again, it may be okay but .....

Terry

GlennT · Nov 23, 2001

Roy: Congratulations on the tractor and welcome to the discussion group. I am the contented owner of a JD Model 670. Mine is 2 wheel drive. The tractor is built like a tank; components used on larger tractors were incorporated into this one--things like the hitch assembly, for example. I don't have slopes to work on; even so, one of the first things I did after purchase was to change the rear wheels to their widest configuration. I wanted a tractor that was small enough and narrow enough to get between trees on our property, but the tractor did seem tippy with the rear wheels set in. So far, I have never felt that I lacked sufficient power for what I was doing. The tractor powers my chipper nicely and there is no problem whatsoever with my 4 foot shredder and my 4 foot finish mower. Problems I have experienced include lack of traction with a box blade and a rear blade (at 1,850 pounds the tractor is pretty light) and a tendency for the front end to rise majestically into the air when I have the chipper or the rear scoop attached. I have all of the suitcase weights I can hook on (200 pounds) on the front all of the time. The only design problem I've identified is the chinzy construction of the brake lock. The teeth on the flimsy rachet are worn down at 250 hours and there's so much stuff to take off to replace it that I haven't gotten around to it. Although it sounds a bit Rube Goldbergish, I've been giving some thought to constructing a wedge mechanism to hold the brakes on. If I replace the rachet, it's just going to wear down again rapidly. What would I add if I could? Live PTO, naturally. Fuel consumption is amazingly low. In summary, I really like the tractor, I would buy it again, and I expect that it will outlast me by many, many years.