should I pull the trigger?

[pauld]

My new house/property needs everything! I've been avoiding spending the money for a tractor, searching for other ways to get the jobs done. All things considered, I'll spend the same money in the long run buying different machines. So here is my question... buy the new, but not used at all JD790 or buy from a dealer with a 3 year/0% interest? And what to buy?
The 790 is 4wd, comes with 60" finish mower, back blade, rake, and tiller all for $14K

All the same equipment new would be about...? maybe $18-20K!

My concern= no warranty, time, experience to fix (not to mention the expense)

Does anyone feel like I should be considering other models for my property? I plan to landscape and do as much as possible with the tractor.

 

[SCB]

Yes! consider all models. Go and talk to a few dealers and drive or at least sit on all they have to offer. Consider how much mowing you will be doing, how much tilling etc. Jd is a great machine, but I think all the major brands put out a good product. In the end you need to go with what feels right for you. Dealer relationship is a big factor also in getting repair/warantee work done. I personally have a Kubota and love it, but my needs are not your needs. Don't limit your options due to color. Good luck!

 

[thcri]

I sure would definately go out and try out the others. Visit different dealers. You might find another rig out there that fits your butt a bit better than what your looking at now. More important is the dealer for service after the sale. For 4 grand more I sure would think about new versus used especially if the difference includes the implements. The tractor may not give you much trouble but the implements may. Do go at this too fast, take your time as buying can be as much fun as owning.

murph

 

[pauld]

I forgot to mention it has a FEL too.

I'm a little suprised, everyone keeps saying to physically try other models for comfort, etc. I drove the BX series...and for a person who has never owned a tractor or been around them much, I don't think I would care too much about the feel of everything. I just figured...it's a tractor- deal with it!

Am I really missing something? No offense to anybody of course. I've been reading a lot of great advice for about 6 months now, good stuff. I'm just not fussy- don't know what to be picky about yet (I guess I would develope those issues by visiting and riding different models) I just know I want flexibility and implements!

 

[RoyJackson]

I'd responded to your PM...

BTW, have you actually found a used 790 for $14K? Although I'm a big believer in buying used (even my wife was previously married), when you compare the monthly payments (considering the interest rates on the loan for a used tractor vs 0% on the new one), you may find the monthly payments to be very close.
However, 14K is a good price for the 790 and all the implements you've listed...if they are one of the higher quality brands. Although tractors do hold their value, implements don't, so think about that.

As far as the comfort on the machine...unless you plan on making your living operating the machine (where time is money and you'll be on the machine 6-8 hours a day, day after day)...I just can't see that being a factor. I know some guys just love all the bells and whistles...but I prefer simple basic tractors. There's a lot of HST fans here. I know one can do FEL work quicker with an HST, but I'm not in that big a hurry. Mowing might be easier using HST, but I'm pretty good with the dual-stage clutch...no hassles there either.

Lot of personal preference in buying these machines... I do suggest you look at other brands. Might find as good a deal iin a Kubota or NH.
If you've a tractor in mind right now...you might miss the deal if you look around. I'm pretty sure that 790 you've described will sell pretty quickly...but there's always another tractor!

But, for a simple reliable tractor...old fashioned designed though...the 790 would be a great fit on your three acres.

 

[goodoleboy]

IU seen a used one on ebay with front end loader, and finish mower4wd for $12,500. Had about 90 hours.

 

[pauld]

Yep, it's a neighbor who owns it. He has not used it but about 5-10 hours. It's brand new! Not to sure about all the implements- new, used/brand. He just doesn't need the tractor since he has others. I would have to pay out for it in full, a new one might cost a little more but I don't know if I would need a 790 if I could chose anything I wanted. Do you thing the 790 is ideal for my tasks of maintaining 2 acres and a 1500 foot drive?

What's a HST? I'm still figuring stuff out here! And what's the concern with a dual stage clutch?

Thanks for your replies

 

[RoyJackson]

HST is a HydroStatic Transmission...basically a clutchless, gearless transmission (You still have to shift between High/Low ranges though). If you've ever used a garden or lawn tractor, you probably had one of these. It's somewhat equivalent to an automatic transmission in a car or truck, using fluid to transfer power rather then gears. The disadvantages are a higher cost (about $2000) when purchasing a new tractor, around 10% loss in usable HP (compared to a gear driven tractor) and higher repair costs if something goes bad (but there's a heck of a lot of old Deeres...755's, 855's etc, that have never required any kind of repair on the HST). Personaaly, I wouldn't spend the money on HST on a new tractor, but I wouldn't walk away from a used machine with HST. As far as resale value, the HST's may be a bit better, but basing an observation on two used Deere's I'm acquainted with there wasn't much difference as a percentage of the original price.

The dual-stage clutch allows the PTO driven implements to run when you shift gears. Pressing the clutch ½ down disengages the transmission so you can shift gears, but the PTO will continue running. Pushing the clutch all the way down disengages the transmission and the PTO. Pretty reliable system, but replacing that clutch costs around $1500. I've read life expectancy of a dual-stage clutch is around a 1000 hours, but that probably depends upon the competency of the operator. As with an automotive lutch, if one "rides" the clutch, it'll wear out faster. But an operator that knows how to use a clutch might get a lot more then a thousand hours out of one. For me, a thousand hours of use will be 8 to 10 years.

I use my 790 to maintain 2 acres. The other acre is all wooded. Frankly, it is a bit big for my needs...but I wanted that 24 HP at the PTO to drive a chipper. Also, I do brush cut an acre or mine and about an acre and a half for a neighbor.

When I first looked into getting a tractor, my first choice was a Kubota BX2200. For the majority of my work, that would have been fine...but it wouldn't handle the brush cutting I'm doing now. Also, for most of the loader work I do, the BX wouldn't have been enough. I must admit, when the tractor gets bigger, the projects do too.

I really enjoy my 790. Some of that enjoyment is the kid in me... It's a good tractor for me...sounds like you're in similar circumstances, so it ought to be a good tractor for you.

The way I read your post, it seems your neighbor must be in agriculture since he has more then one tractor. Well, the 790 isn't so good at that...too small. The guy who had my tractor originally sold it to buy a bigger machine (990).

But, for a residential or small (hobby) farm user of no more then 10 acres, the 790 is a great tractor. If the machine you're looking at doesn't have a mid-PTO, that can be added for $400. You can add several front attachments including a snow blower ($$$ though).

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Varmintmist]

That 790 would do everything you want it and a a lot more. For 3 ac its overkill. You can do everything but bale with it. 100 ac horsr farms are worked with the same sized machine.

Overkill or not, you will be hard pressed to find a smaller machine with implements for that $$. If I would have found a 790+ implements used for that money I would have bought it. As it was, since I was going new, I got a bigger machine for about the same dollars as the 790, neither with implements.

I wouldnt worry about parts or repairs. You are not going to be putting 200 hours a year on it. First year or 2 probably with the house, after that what are you going to do with it? Mow, plow snow, move some mulch. None are real hard on a tractor. JD has about the best parts network IMHO of any of them. Do your maint. and run it.

Buy it, for that money, even if you dont like it you can resell it, but I think it will do anything you want.

In a word, BANG /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I do see an alterior motive for the neighbor. He sells you the tractor, and you become friends. Then he has access to the tractor AND a operator. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Tell him that s why he wants to sell it to you. In real life, he might be in over his head a bit but if you like the guy you can still bust his chops.

 

[Buck]

I hear the newer 790's have less HP then those made a couple of years ago. This may help choose used over new.

My 790 is quite simply the most reliable piece of equipment I have ever owned. The only problem I ever had was due to my own negligence. (Once I punctured the radiator with a stick.) Currently, I have 590 hours on my 2001 model.

My view of the 790 is that it is a very mature design. That is, they have not changed much on it year to year and the bugs have been eliminated. The specs on the FEL and the lift capacity are matched for the tractors weight. A lot of the newer makes spec out a bit higher, but I doubt that there is anything intrinsically different other than factory settings.

On the other hand, I have never experienced a need for any thing more.

Good luck!

Buck