Buying Advice JD 955 with turf tires

[woodlandgiant]

Hi, I have been shopping for a compact tractor for about two months. I need the tractor for skidding fuelwood logs (about 5 cords) and doing materials moving on about 20 acres, only 2 of which are open. I have been looking for fair deals under 15k. My land has very little slope and the grass around the house, is lawn and meadow grass. We have chickens, I'll be putting in a big garden, and I'll use the tractor to move snow (winter), but mostly I'll be using it to move wood from April to September, maybe into the fall. I've seen some old 2WD tractors with the back wheels loaded that looked good, but mostly I am thinking 4WD will work best. My buddy has got a tractor with turf tires he uses in the woods, and he says, their real gentle on the land. He uses chains in the winter and with 4wd they're fine. Without chains he says they're useless.

I'd like some expert opinion. Does the following sound like a good fit for me: s a 1999 JD 955 (33 hp) with a 1000 hrs for 11k that has a loader and turf tires (In 1998 they sold new for $18,000). My plan is to get a wheeled arch from Logrite and connect it to the draw bar with a hitch. The tractor is kind of beat looking like it wasn't garaged. The bucket loader is big-time rusted. Looks aren't that important to me unless it means something else. I will have to drive a bit to go look at it.

What do you think?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[RoyJackson]

955 is a great tractor and $11K isn't an unreasonably high price.
Unless the rust on the bucket perforates the metal...I wouldn't worry about that much. I would expect surface rust on any used tractor' bucket. Those buckets can always be removed, sand blasted and repainted. Even perforated buckets can be weld repaired.
However, there are two things that would concern me:
1) Does the 955 have adequate ground clearance for the log skidding you're planning to do?
2) Is the 955 heavy (weight) enough to do that work?

If you can answer yes to those questions, and you are confident the mechanicals/electrics are sound, then it would be a good tractor for you.

 

[JohnBoyMD]

955 is a great tractor and $11K isn't an unreasonably high price.
Unless the rust on the bucket perforates the metal...I wouldn't worry about that much. I would expect surface rust on any used tractor' bucket. Those buckets can always be removed, sand blasted and repainted. Even perforated buckets can be weld repaired.
However, there are two things that would concern me:
1) Does the 955 have adequate ground clearance for the log skidding you're planning to do?
2) Is the 955 heavy (weight) enough to do that work?

If you can answer yes to those questions, and you are confident the mechanicals/electrics are sound, then it would be a good tractor for you.

I have a 955 with a FEL that I have used to skid logs. Mostly used chains or the FEL to roll them. Since you're not concerned about lumber length like you would be if you were using them for lumber instead of firewood, you should be able to cut them to a size the tractor can handle. I'm not familiar with the log skidder you are considering, so I don't know how much weight it adds to the tractor. Mine is 4WD and has Ag tires instead of turf tires so that will make a difference.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Hope this helps.
With my mid 1980s model 855 (24hp engine, turfs, hydro)
I have skidded several whole, delimbed pine trees about 20" in diameter.
I choked them up close to the draw bar on the 3pt to take some of the weight off the front end of the tree. Not over real rough ground, but was able to move them out to where it was more convenient to work up the wood.

I plan on loading my tires with wind shield washer fluid and use 2 link ladder chains. Has worked well for me.

Little stinker has moved a lot more than I thought it should.
I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised.
Good luck
Wyo