JD 755's, 855's, 955's

[Tunguska]

Hope you find the tractor you want.

I'd like to throw in my 2 cents with Roy as far as at least considering a gear tractor. I have nothing against the hydros (I don't have much experience with them) but I love my 870. Sounds like I do the same things you want to do, minus the mowing. I've seen them for sale from $6-$12K, depending on features and condition.

I also drag logs with the 3PH. In the picture it's at full height but when I'm dragging the front of the log (as you noted) is only an inch or 2 off the ground. This little guy will pull some big timber. I'm convinced it thinks it's a 3020!

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Look at the "older" JD770 models.

Beefy little tractor and if you can find one in good shape you will be happy. Although, the mid-pto is optional.

By the way, it is the same tractor as a JD790, just an older model year. New, it is now the 3005 that retails for about $11,000.

These tractors do preserve their resale value.

 

[Dennisfly]

I love my 855. It is 24 HP with MFD and a loader. I do everything you describe except the snow blowing. Here in Virginia we don't get the snow that you do. I use a back blade and the loader for snow which works well on the 6 or 8 inches that we usually get here. It is hard to start when it gets cold (it has an air heater instead of glow plugs). I bought the factory block heater for about $30.00 and 30 minutes of heat makes it start easy.

Depending on model, condition, and accessories I would think you could find something in the $8500 range with loader

 

[wcpeabody]

I have a 770 (24 hp). I live on 10 acres with a 600 ft driveway and help maintain a .7 mile long road with a couple of other guys with similar size tractors. I find it to be a nice compromise between old & new and also between big and little. I paid about 7500 2 years ago (it had about 630 hours on it). It came with a back blade & 4 foot rotatory cutter & FEL.

If I were you I would not rule out the 770, 870, 970, 1070. I really like my 770 and if I see and 870 for the right price I would buy it in a heartbeat.

FYI - Not sure where you are located but we do our winter maintenance with blades and not blowers. Mainly due to cost of the blower. Last year we got right around 100 inches of snow in about 3 weeks. It was a lot of seat time to keep ourselves for getting banked in by the snow banks. Last year was quite a but more snow then we usually get and if I lived somewhere that much snow on a regular basis I would try to find a blower.

Bill

 

[RWEST]

Great machines, but, clean ones are getting harder and harder to find

Front-mount blowers show up sometimes on e-bay - just be sure it comes with the mounting kit!! I have the 3 point blower on mine, and couldn't imagine what it would be like driving backwards with my head turned around like an owl for 1/2 mile...

 

[jxhopper]

I love my 855. It is 24 HP with MFD and a loader. I do everything you describe except the snow blowing. Here in Virginia we don't get the snow that you do. I use a back blade and the loader for snow which works well on the 6 or 8 inches that we usually get here. It is hard to start when it gets cold (it has an air heater instead of glow plugs). I bought the factory block heater for about $30.00 and 30 minutes of heat makes it start easy.

Depending on model, condition, and accessories I would think you could find something in the $8500 range with loader

The 955 I just purchased has glow plugs that worked rather well the other day. Started at about 2 degrees after about 2-3 minutes of the glow plugs. It started slow but it did start. I was impressed.

There's a youtube of a 955 with a front mount blower straight up launching some snow. It's impressive. Here in the south we don't get snow, so I don't have to worry about that at all.

 

[dfkrug]

The 955 I just purchased has glow plugs that worked rather well the other day. Started at about 2 degrees after about 2-3 minutes of the glow plugs. It started slow but it did start. I was impressed.

All these x55s are direct-injection engines with a single heating element
in the air intake plenum. No glow plugs. Since the heater comes on
automatically and shuts off after a period, you may have had to turn
the starter key fully several times to get it to start at that low temp.

Those 955s were excellent tractors.

 

[JD755]

Only the 855 and 955 are direct injection with air heaters. The 755 is indirect injection with glow plugs.

 

[dfkrug]

The 755 is indirect injection with glow plugs.

My mistake....I keep forgetting that both the 655 and 755 have GPs
and indirect injection.