New to Me 790

[grnspot110]

I've been looking for a while now. Wanting to replace my 1958, JD 520, 2001 M2554 Bush Hog ZTR, & 69-JD140 w/Johnson loader with a Compact. Last week I found a 2004 790 set up just like I wanted about 140 miles from home on CL.

Brought it home Monday, 383 hours, R-4 tires, 4WD, 300 loader, & 60" Woods finish mower. It has a few "using scratches, but nothing serious!

Saturday I sold the 520 & Bush Hog, 140 sold last week, also a farm disk I had. All this will let me break even on the price!

Took it to the farm & mowed 3-1/2 hours with the finish mower, did pretty good for worn out blades in foot high Brome grass! New blades came with it, but I haven't had time to put them on yet.

I think I'm going to like this thing! ~~ grnspot110

 

[bullbreaker]

Congrats!That 790 looks real sharp.Thanks for sharing pic"s.:thumbsup:Boone

 

[sixdogs]

No "thinking" about it...you will love it. It is one of the best compacts around and seems to have a cult-like following. I have one that's a TLB and it is the most versatile small tractor I have ever owned.
Congrats on a wise purchase and good luck.

 

[RoyJackson]

And another happy 790 owner!
Must be 5 or 6 guys bought one of these fine tractors in the last two weeks! Must be something in the air...

Nice pics, fine machine...it'll do you fine.

Sorry you sold that very pretty old Deere though...nice looking tractor, but not so good at mowing.

Anyway, congrats on your purchase...you made a good decision!

 

[kebo]

Great looking tractor, not that I'm partial to them!! :laughing: I've had my 790 for a year and a half now and I think they are awesome machines. Very capable, and well designed although a bit light for the 30hp engine. About the only thing I dislike on it is the cramped operator station, it's hard to get one leg (with a big boot on) through to the other side when I'm climbing into the seat.

I notice your bucket has a dent almost identical to the one in my bucket (when I bought it). A small bottle jack and a few pieces of wood took care of that! :thumbsup:

Do you mind telling what you paid for the setup?

Good luck and enjoy it!

 

[whistlepig]

Nice tractor. I know from reading the posts on TBN the 790 seems to be a real workhorse. Seems all that own them are very pleased with this tractor.

 

[foggy1111]

Congrats on the new rig! You just cut your maintenance time and operating expense in a big way....and now have a tractor that will outperform the old combo....more reliable and safer too....IMO. Nice improvement!

 

[grnspot110]

About the only thing I dislike on it is the cramped operator station, it's hard to get one leg (with a big boot on) through to the other side when I'm climbing into the seat.

I notice your bucket has a dent almost identical to the one in my bucket (when I bought it). A small bottle jack and a few pieces of wood took care of that! :thumbsup:

Do you mind telling what you paid for the setup?

Good luck and enjoy it!

I've already straightened the bucket some, just haven't gotten to the one yet. Looks like some brilliant fool wrapped a chain around the cross member & hydraulic lines behind the bucket mashing them, but they still work OK.

Not as cramped as the 850 I looked at though!

$11,500

Not real proud of fluid in the tires, rather have cast iron on the wheels! Hope it's Rimguard, but probably not.

I'll need to make a boom & forks for the loader. I've got 3-pt blades, & an old 5" brush cutter. Going to make a 3-pt off-set disk & probably a 1-14" plow (since I already have the plow parts. All that will take time though! ~~ grnspot110

 

[kebo]

First mod to do is to get some bucket hooks welded on! There are several threads on all the different ways to do it so you might want to search on bucket hooks or chain grabs. Then, I would add a nice John Deere green spinner knob for the steering wheel. I like mine!! :licking:

 

[RoyJackson]

First mod to do is to get some bucket hooks welded on! There are several threads on all the different ways to do it so you might want to search on bucket hooks...

Bucket hooks are mighty handy. Safest way to do it, or have it done, is by dropping off that QA bucket. Then you don't have to worry about the current from welding doing any damage to any electrical components.

I have three, one in the middle and one on each end. Middle one is good for light duty and the end ones (used simultaneously) for heavier loads.
Which brings me to another point: The front axle of the 790/3005 isn't as strong as the rear axle. For heavier loads, use the draw bar and pull forward.

 

[sixdogs]

Bucket hooks are mighty handy. Safest way to do it, or have it done, is by dropping off that QA bucket. Then you don't have to worry about the current from welding doing any damage to any electrical components.

/QUOTE]

Good advice.

 

[grnspot110]

That's what the boom is for, much better than hooks on the bucket!

 

[grnspot110]

Four hours of mowing with the finish mower today=3 gallons of fuel!

Now I know why the new blades the previous owner supplied were still in the box. He had rounded the head on one of the blade bolts! I had to weld a nut on it to get it out, replaced all the blade bolts, w/anti-seize! ~~ grnspot110

 

[RoyJackson]

Four hours of mowing with the finish mower today=3 gallons of fuel!

3 gallons in 4 hours on a 790???
You're using more then I do!

 

[foggy1111]

That is one thing that was such a pleasant surprise after buying and using my 790 for a while: mine just sips fuel! Amazing efficiency for the work it does. :thumbsup:

 

[grnspot110]

I finally got the 3-pt. receiver hitch welded up & painted today! It's been raining too much of the time for me to get any welding done. Will put the pins on it tomorrow & have it ready to use. Next is a 5' boom for the loader. ~~ grnspot110

 

[kebo]

Nice job on the 3 pt hitch! Is the top of the vertical 2" sq. channel capped off? If it's not, I hope you drilled a weep hole near the bottom of it for water to run out.

Just for comparison, here's the one I made for mine.....

 

[grnspot110]

Are the weld-on quik-attach hooks that hook the bucket to the loader available separately? If so, where can I get them? This would be easier than making my own if I can find some! ~~ grnspot110

 

[TommyJD790]

Nice choice grnspot110. If you keep it as nice as your previous tractor, you'll have it for a long time.

Good luck with your new toy.

TommyJD790

 

[grnspot110]

I've started work on a 5' boom for the loader & a 3-pt weight unit. For now I've added a hammer & big screwdriver holder next to the seat, each has a tube to keep them from flopping around & a plastic pad to protect the fender. A 30 caliber ammo box clamped to the loader frame for smaller tools & a chain box on the front. ~~ grnspot110