Those tractors are real workhorses that have stood the test of time. A friend of mine bought a used one in the 90’s and it’s still going great. Blessings!
I owned an 855 for more than 20 years and loved it. Was heavy duty and felt like a tractor. Changing the attachments was a bear though because they were all so heavy duty. I went to a 2520 , for ease of changing attachments, which I had for 10 years and never really liked it after the 855.. I went to the 2025r a couple years ago and found, for me, it did not have enough power, I use a TKV-20 material collection system on hills and it would just bog down from the weight. After only one year I had to trade up to the 2038R and I can again say that I love my John Deere. The 2038 gives me the power I need with the benefit of easy change attachments. There truly is no one size fits all and points out that before choosing the tractor for you, it is so important to rely on opinions from others who have been there. I wish TTWT had been here back when I traded the old 855 and started down the road of several “wrong” tractors for me..
The 755 was my dream tractor when I built my new house in 1992. I have 5 acres and a 800 foot driveway. I live in Western New York not far from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Could use the snow plow and rototiller even today. Never got the tractor, but I ended up with 2 more daughters instead. Good piece of equipment. God Bless. 🇺🇸
Wow! Now you're speaking my language! I truly love this era of tractors and their functionality is still very relevant today. I have two 755s and use them all the time. Great to see Mike there with you Tim as I enjoy the Dirt Perfect Channel too! Great discussion and great video. Looking forward to the episode where you put that old one to work!
Hi Tim & Christy, thanks for having Mike bring his 855 on. I have an 855 made approx. '88 (MFWD) and it is a fun tractor with simple operation, so to see this episode was a real treat! If you could feature a video sometime on the attachments Mike and others have done especially if they added skid steer ability/attachments and if there's a possibility of showing us either what Mike (or others) have done to create a power beyond hydraulic system for themselves for these now commonplace attachments that can (hopefully) be adapted to older models.
My son has a 955 with the 70A loader and a 655 4wd with the 60 loader. They both are his pride and joy. The 955 is a beast and it amazes me what he can do with it. He had a 322 and 332 and made the move to the 655 and fell in love with it. For a small tractor it can do a lot. As luck would have it he now works as a tech at a local John Deere dealer working on the big boys…. Has a bunch of 110’s and 112’s along with a pair of 140’s. Amazing how far ahead they were of the competition back then.
I have a 1998 855 I bought back in 2006 with only 310 hrs. Since I have owned the tractor it now has 1031 hrs., I installed a Curtis cab on it from a 455, I believe. I knew if the front of the cab would fit over the 855 hood I could make the rest of the cab work. The 855 is one heck of a tractor, still runs strong. Thanks for the video.
We got our first ever John Deere in 1987.. We paid $14,900 for it brand new, with 4WD, model 52 Loader, and 60” Belly Mower. We kept it for 12 years, and got $14.000 for it on Trade-In towards a John Deere 4200, with model 420 Loader, and 72” Belly Mower... We got to use the 855 for 12 years, for $900!!!! I do miss the mechanical Hydros.. The new 4200 with loader, belly mower, cost us $23,900. Then I got rid of that and I now have a 3720 Cab that I’ve had for 15 years now. I do miss the simplicity of the old tractor.
I have long felt the 55 series, and the 755-855 were some of the best residential landscaping tractors made. Large enough to handle true cat 1 implements, small enough to keep in a residential garage or storage shed. Old enough to be quite affordable, but new enough that parts and service was still available.
Absolutely amazing. Love the old stuff. I have a 1970 140H3 that is built like a tank. I heard from a JD rep at GIE that they used the same hydros as a skid steer.
Great video Tim, that is a great tractor. The thing I like about the old tractors is anyone with basic mechanical knowledge can work on them and fix them. They're simple ya don't need a college degree in computers to fix them. That's why they quit building them that way.
Yes, lock in to the dealers, that is why there is a growing tractor/farm equipment hacking community. YOU own it, and are NOT able to diagnose it due to software lock! That is changing slowly, but not without a legal fight. Best wishes all, stay safe
I owned the Yanmar version, and it was very reliable. It is still in use today. I used to have a part conversion list so that I could use JD 755 parts for my Yanmar.
Thanks for the comparison. The 55 series is hard to beat when you are looking for an older SCUT. Something you could address is parts availability. While many common parts are still available for these units they are becoming harder to find (particularly for the transmission). Of course I nerd out on all the old stuff!! Thanks again.
I went with my Dad and picked up a new 855 with a loader in 1990. We had that tractor up until about 8 years ago. Never had any mechanical issues with it. Great tractor.
Good info. I'm in the early stages of looking for a used subcompact tractor. The testament of the belly mower being a pain to install/remove was great information. Thank you!
Terry, I have an 855. I never used a belly mower, but I did have a 60" PTO finish mower that attached to the draw bar and center link. That worked really well. If you can find an 855 you can't go wrong.
Last year, I picked up a 755 with loader and backhoe for $6500. Problem is, it wasn’t running! The previous owner was an elderly gentleman who seemed trustworthy enough. So, I took the plunge. Fast forward a week, I learned all about Diesel engines. I tightened up the loose glow plugs, changed out the aftermarket fuel filter for an OEM version, gave the system a good bleed, and after sputtering for a few minutes, she fired right up. Since then, always starts on the first turn. Next problem was to change out the broken bolt on the hydrostatic drive gear (removing the pump was a PITA)! Bought a 60” mower deck from a 50 series that I am going to try and retrofit to the 55. But I don’t think it’ll be too difficult. Anyway, I love this thing! Great little tractor!!
I bought a 955 w FEL (33hp) in 1990. Great little tractor. A friend of mine was looking for one and could only find a couple of beat up 955's for sale at rental centers in 1999. I sold mine ($12k) to him and bought the comparable hp JD 4400 (FEL, BH). The 4400 was much larger and less agile...but more competent with the extra 300 lbs of weight and better FEL lift capacity. I also have a 2001 JD 4600.
Enjoyed the episode, I have a 755 John Deere compact tractor that I bought new exactly 30 years ago the 60" belly mower just wore out with less than 1k hours on it, just ordered a finishing mower for the rear only because they don't make new belly mower replacement for this tractor, I was hoping to find a new old stock belly mower but with no luck decided on a rear finishing mower, I have no intention of getting rid of it !!!!
Great video! I owned the 955 4wd. Absolutely loved it. Zero maintenance. Completely reliable. Started below zero with ease. The only bad thing as mentioned here was the belly mower. What a pain to install/uninstall. But it functioned great even with the mulching plates.
Great to see you collaborate with dirt perfect. I really enjoy his channel as well. Also cool to learn about those tractor models. Sounds like those were great machines and still could be for the right person
Great video but I have to disagree with the comments that the 855 is totally a Yanmar tractor. The 655-955 were initially designed and built at the Horicon Works plant in Horicon Wisconsin. Later production was moved to Augusta GA. I had the opportunity to tour the Horicon plant in 1989 and can attest to the tractors being manufactured from start to finish at that plant. I had actually purchased a 955 at the time of the tour. Of course Yanmar was the supplier of the engine and I am sure there were sourced components that could have included some common parts with Yanmar but I think it is safe to say that the 55 series tractors were John deere designed and assembled.
@@TractorTimewithTim I am pretty certain that the gear drive 50 and later 70 series were Yanmar built with a few John Deere specs. I was always impressed with the 55 series tractors as I actually had gotten one of the first 855's when they first went into production in the summer of 1986. When the 955 introduced in the fall of 1989 I just had to have one so I traded. These tractors were so versatile with their ability to have the front loader, the mid mount mower and a three point hitch all on the tractor, and usable, at the same time. Deere offered a mid mount hydraulic control option that changed the mid mower from a three point hitch control lift to using the dual hydraulic controls that operated the loader. Of course the loader bucket would curl when the mower was raised. The 55 series tractors were built extremely well and I think would still hold up well against today's tractors. The mfwd axles don't turn as well as our new tractors and of course there is no tilt steering, the ROPS doesn't fold and front lighting was pretty minimal. The fender mounted lights helped considerably but I don't recall any halogen option either. I comparison between a 955 and a 2032r would be interesting. I think even those who like the latest gadgetry would be impressed with the power and performance of the 955. But what I found interesting in your video Tim was the how expensive the tractors were and we didn't know it. I would bet that the 2032r when factored for inflation is probably a little less than what we paid back in 1989. Keep these type of videos coming Tim.
Great Video although I’m waiting on the attachment trial by fire. I have an 855 with cab and loader and I use it daily and not sure if I want to sell and pickup a new one exactly for the quick attach function. Can’t wait for next video. Do 1 and 2 bottom plow test if you can!
Wow Tim,.....this video brought back some memories!!! I grew up on the farm, and have run many different types of tractors. When John Deere came out with this 55 series Compact tractors, I purchased a 1986 John Deere 855 Hydro 4WD with a loader and 5' bucket, ballast box, 6' rear blade, and a 6' belly mower. It was a wonderful tractor to run and service. Then I got a hankerin' for the next size bigger, because I wanted a big snow blower and a little more lift height and capacity on the loader. So I traded my rig in for a 1993 John Deere 955 Hydro 4WD with a John Deere 2-stage 666 snow blower (66") on the rear 3-pt hitch, a loader with a 5' bucket, rear ballast box, and a 6' belly mower. Loved running it with the 4WD and Hydro. Probably had at least a dozen people or more, run it at various times. Kids and Women found it very user friendly. Unfortunately, I had to sell it to get some money for my divorce settlement in 2002.
Looks like the reason the 855 was relevant for so long is because it was very well thought out. It would be cool to have an older machine without all the lawyer stuff built into it. Much easier to troubleshoot and fix. But it is nice having a newer machine too.
Started my mowing career on an "Economy Jim Dandy" at age 7 and moved to a Bolens 850 in 1965. Paid cash for my first new car in 1974 thanks to the Bolens. The move to the 1026R is so superior, there is no real comparison other than all the units mow grass. Good to see DP on your channel Tim. Thanks for the nostalgic look back.
I have a old JD 855 for regular use mowing yard, tilling garden, raking driveway. When I was a kid i use to go to JD Dealer and get all the brochure. I studied then religiously, I always dreamed about have a 855 deere. 20 years later i got one. I have had it for 6 years. Now i am 36 I really would like a 2038R. Just really hard to justify the price tag.. But some day..
I have an 855 4WD in very good condition still. I added a skidsteer quick attach adapter to the loader to make changing between the bucket, forks, grapple etc. much easier.
I had a 950 for over 40 years summer time raking hay and mowing lakes for the Corp of Engineers. During my career, I mowed every lake in the state of Oklahoma.
The HST on my old 855 went out earlier this year and I just moved up to a 2016 1025R. I've been surprised how similar they feel given the 855 was almost as old as I am. The biggest thing I miss is the differential breaking, and even with the better seat the 1025R is a rougher ride on bumpy terrain because of the smaller tires. I think the extra weight is also nice to have for loader work and traction, but you can get around that for the most part with ballast. The auto-connect MMM and improved turning radius make is such a huge difference though!
I have an 855 as well. 2320 hrs and still going strong. It's a pain in the rear to service because everything is a different size but it's the most dependable tractor I've ever used
I'm more of and old school tractor guy I love my ole 790 thing is built like a tank and just keeps going . Glad to see you two guys finally get together .
I have a 855, its been a good tractor. I hope to get some videos of it in action in the spring. Implements can be a bear to attach but its a solid tractor. 3pt can actually lift just over 1000 pounds!!
I love my 855 4wd! The belly mower is awesome too! I mow 15 acres every week all summer and use it to haul wood the rest of the year (since 1994). The 3pt lifts 800 lb logs up waist high, making it easy on my back to cut. I just put a set of forks on the 3pt and slide under the logs. I’d love to have a second 855 4wd.
In 2020 I bought a 98 4100 HST with a loader w/1949 hours for 8k ,six months later found a 98 4100 HST with a loader w/"326" hours for 8K sold the high hour one for 9k ! The low hour one is cherry !
I have a 1990 JD770 with just under 1200 hours. The good news is that it still runs just about as good as 30 years ago. The bad news is my wife remembers when I bought it in 1990 I told her this would last me the rest of my life:(
I heard the comment about adjusting the transmission linkage to cure the tractor from creeping. I would definitely be interested in hearing more about how that is done. My 1st 855 did not creep at all. I sold it and bought another 855 that was set up with a backhoe and Power Beyond. It is a great machine, but would really like to cure the creeping.
There's a procedure to adjusting a series of turnbuckles. You have to make sure they and related linkages aren't worn to much or you won't get it into adjustment. I helped a neighbor fix his and it was very similar to my 318 and 430 garden tractors. We ended up replacing a lot of the linkage knuckles and turnbuckles.
I remember my school had an 855. They mowed and plowed the entire grounds with that thing. for years. They eventually got a grasshopper ztr to compliment it, but still used the 855 for quite a while after.
Wow, I have had both an 855 and a 955. I sold my 955 with a bucket and mowing deck two years ago for $8500. I now have a 4066r. I have made the comment that I did things with my 955 that I haven’t with the 4066r. That 955 could do some work. I used the 25A flail mower on it as well as a 6ft bush hog. I had someone say they couldn’t believe it could run them until they saw it for themselves. I used to tell people that it was the 4WD that made it a very worthwhile tractor. The 2WD limited it’s ability, especially on hills.
Those are still 10k around here in well worn condition. It’s more like 12k if good. Or the ones that don’t sell in an hour are priced like that. That’s why I don’t own a 7/855 yet.
5:28 it’s like like today’s electric vs hydraulic power steering. Electric mostly goes numb but they can be tuned for some feel but nothing like hydronic where there is a direct connection.
I moved a lot of dirt with a 955 with the 70a loader from around 1995 until a brand new 3320 was ordered in 2005. The 955 was one of the best machines for grading I ever ran. Couldn't move mountains but I could hold +- 1/4" in a hundred feet. I love the newer 3320 but miss the 955.
Sweet video! I have 2 JD F1145 front mowers that according to Deere is the 855 compact tractor turned around backwards. Shares the same transmission and engine components as the 855. I’m very impressed with the engineering that went into these, very stout and reliable. I wouldn’t hesitate to own an 855, but on the other hand, I like the front print of the 1 series for landscaping and tight quarters.
Super video. Love those mid 1980s to early 1990s compact tractors. In fact, have 5 of them that get used almost every week. Still have the first one I bought brand new in 1989.
I’ve been watching Dirt Perfect about as long as I’ve been watching you guys.Both on my favorite channels list :) it was fun to see and hear about the 855 model.I can’t wait to see them compared in the field.. Hope Mike picked up his Pepsi cans before he head back home lol...
The 650 to 1050 tractor models were built by Yanmar for JD. They were basically Yanmar tractors painted green. The 655 to 955 model tractors were built in the USA at Horicon, Wisconsin and Augusta, Georgia. The hydrostatic transmission was the best feature of the 55 series.
I used to mow grass with a JD 950 with a 7' flail mower. It was a standard shift with turf tires, turned out to be as wide a possible (Side Slopes = Less Pucker Factor).It had no extras headlights, three point hitch, differential lock and a volt meter. The fuel gauge was on the cap for the tank. You know the ones with the cork for a float and apiece of steel twisted with a pointer on the end to let you know how much fuel you have. lol High Tech back then! No DEF, DPF or BS just what you need. I miss that tractor I don't need one that big but wish I had it.
Nice to see an old vs new video!! I started out on a John Deere 650 hope to own one one day again and graduated to a ford 1310 now love the old stuff but if somebody like in the automotive world had an idea to offer aftermarket parts for the oldies I think that would be awesome as the older these get the harder it is to find parts for them....great video!!
I have a 755 4x4 with loader I inherited from my uncle. Only 630 hrs. I agree that the 60" deck is not fun to remove/install. That deck is built nice and heavy though as is the tractor. I wouldn't trade this tractor for anything!! I wouldn't mind acquiring a 955 with a loader and backhoe though! One overlooked area the 55 series shines is ground clearance. With larger tires you drive over things that would stop a new one. The front wheels are the same as the rear wheels on a garden tractor.
My 4100 may not be new but it is a good tractor for its age and hours. I installed a loader and I have a belly mower, box blade ,tiler, landscape rake, rear blade, Imach hitch, canopy , and 4' brushhog, It runs like a top.
Wish I could post a picture, I keep it up and it looks as good as it runs. Nice to see "older" JD equipment featured not everyone can afford $$ for new. I started out with a 850 and a rear finish mower, traded up for the 4100 . Good Used equipment is hard to find.at least in Glasford Illinois!
Really enjoyed this video. Looking forward to part 2! I looked around for a 855 and couldn't find one that didnt need rebuilt before buying my 3032. Correct if if im wrong, i thought i had read where the x55 series was built in the US and the x50 series was built in Japan.
I got a 955 American model until 7 years ago. Bought it from a guy who told me that the hydrostatic was broken. Took it home, looked at all the different connections and greased the hell out of it. Previous owner never used a grease gun, he really did not know what that was a grease gun. After that, I could do wheelies with it, drifting on wet grass on the turf tires. Great tractor ...
Really enjoyed your hosting Dirt Perfect on your channel. I have followed both of you sites for a long time. My first JD was. 855 I now have a 2320. Great video look forward to seeing you both again. Thanks
It's good to see the older Deere vs a newer model. There are definitely pro's and con's to both but I am sure that the older ones are built like a tank. Good job Gents and I am looking forward to part 2 of this comparison.
Great video. In the late 90's I put a lot of hours on a 755 working on grounds for a school. It was a tough machine. Now I have a 1025r. The 1 series is way more comfortable. Even in my younger years the 755 was very hard on my knees as there was really a lot of resistance in the hydro pedals. I think the 755 started easier because it wasn't tier 4.
My first tractor was a 650 it came from a boat trailer factory and was pretty rough used it for 10 years or more. Traded it for a yanmar 1401d, then bought a new 1025r after another 10 years.
Subscribed to both your channels, really enjoyed listening to a pair of seasoned knowledgeable operators. Brings back memories of helping around the golf course, at a young age, learning all about jubilee ford's and my favorite- a 1020 Deere.....
Good to see an old 855 John Deere (which is made by Yanmar). I have a Yanmar YM220 (non grey market) which is roughly a John Deere 750. Of course John Deere stopped Yanmar from selling tractors under their own name and there are only a few of the non-grey market Yanmars out there. You can get parts from John Deere; however, sometimes the dealers are a little less helpful if you say Yanmar. Bought a replacement headlight bulb for my Yanmar from the local John Deere dealer. Bulb came in a John Deere box which had a Yanmar box inside with the bulb.
Yup! They just had Yanmar engines. Possibly axles too. The 50 series was entirely Yanmar. I actually found a picture of the Yanmar equivalent to the 50 series but no longer have it. Looks almost identical. All great tractors!
Tim, I have a 1999 John Deere 4300, Hydrostat, 4x4, 430 loader, 48 backhoe, turf tires it started my business it has been the one peace of equipment we have never traded in to replace, when it was 8 years old the hour meter quit at 5000hrs it would have 10-12000 on it now, I keep looking at new but just can't do it it works to good.
@@e.cfarmphotography1095 my favorite was the 40 series,specifically the 4440 and 4640. Dont know why deere ever stopped making them they are bulletproof.
@@lucaslex9327 yes the 4640s the 3650s, 4955s, 7810s, 6910s, and 6030 series are the beast tractors they made or at least made and got solid in England
I bought a 955 12 years ago, about 2 years later I had an opportunity to buy a second unit. Larer I found a couple of 755’s then an 855 and then a 655. The I bought a POS 3046R. Out of all the 55 series, none of them have ever dripped I drop of oil on the floor. My POS 3046R has about a 3’ dia puddle under it after setting for a month. The only time I use it is to move it out of the way to get one of my 55’s out😂. All the hydraulics suck on the POS. I use my 55’s for all my tillage tools and front end loader work because the hydraulics are so worthless and scary on the POS. The cab is nice but that is as far as it goes. I’ve added beet juice, 2 wheel weights per wheel and 4” spacers to try to make the tractor feel as stable as the 955. I cascaded my wheels and tires down so my 655 has 755 wheels and tires on it, etc. l agree 100% with the man with the 855👍👍
What is leaking? Hydraulic leaks on new machines are not unusual...no matter what brand. I think the cable driven loader joystick is too tight on the cab 3R. Maybe that is what you mean? The open station doesn’t have the cable driven stick...so probably feels better.
@Dirtperfect has an excellent channel, love his channel. Maybe my 1025R can be much more useful with the right attachments than I give it credit for. I do love my 1025R, and plan to get some more attachments for it this years.
I'ld like to see that 855 or 755 in the field vs a 1023 or 1025. Lift capacity, dead pull capacity, 3point lift capacity, ext. I think people would be surprised. They didn't have all the bells and whistles just brute force and power to the ground.
Thanks for having me Tim really enjoyed the visit and awesome video as always 👍😁
I'm glad to see you haven't been persuaded to a newer one quite yet, but that cab in the winter could be a strong argument!😃
If only Volvo made tractors
U can probably get 3,500$ easily for that jd, I love the old 55 series John Deere’s. I wish I had one😕.
955 owner here. Absolutely love it!! Its the reason I found your channel Tim. Looking for compact tractor information.
Those tractors are real workhorses that have stood the test of time. A friend of mine bought a used one in the 90’s and it’s still going great. Blessings!
I'd love to see side by side comparisons of tractor tasks between the 1025r and 855 with various attachments! That would make for a cool video!
I owned an 855 for more than 20 years and loved it. Was heavy duty and felt like a tractor. Changing the attachments was a bear though because they were all so heavy duty. I went to a 2520 , for ease of changing attachments, which I had for 10 years and never really liked it after the 855.. I went to the 2025r a couple years ago and found, for me, it did not have enough power, I use a TKV-20 material collection system on hills and it would just bog down from the weight. After only one year I had to trade up to the 2038R and I can again say that I love my John Deere. The 2038 gives me the power I need with the benefit of easy change attachments. There truly is no one size fits all and points out that before choosing the tractor for you, it is so important to rely on opinions from others who have been there. I wish TTWT had been here back when I traded the old 855 and started down the road of several “wrong” tractors for me..
2025R Gen 2 is my first tractor. I was shocked when it wouldn't climb the hill in my yard in high range. I mow with a JD X738.
Wow it’s like watching my 2 favorite channels at once, glad you guys finally met up!
Thanks appreciate that had a blast with Tim and the family
The 755 was my dream tractor when I built my new house in 1992. I have 5 acres and a 800 foot driveway. I live in Western New York not far from Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Could use the snow plow and rototiller even today. Never got the tractor, but I ended up with 2 more daughters instead. Good piece of equipment. God Bless. 🇺🇸
Wow! Now you're speaking my language! I truly love this era of tractors and their functionality is still very relevant today. I have two 755s and use them all the time. Great to see Mike there with you Tim as I enjoy the Dirt Perfect Channel too! Great discussion and great video. Looking forward to the episode where you put that old one to work!
Hi Tim & Christy, thanks for having Mike bring his 855 on. I have an 855 made approx. '88 (MFWD) and it is a fun tractor with simple operation, so to see this episode was a real treat! If you could feature a video sometime on the attachments Mike and others have done especially if they added skid steer ability/attachments and if there's a possibility of showing us either what Mike (or others) have done to create a power beyond hydraulic system for themselves for these now commonplace attachments that can (hopefully) be adapted to older models.
My son has a 955 with the 70A loader and a 655 4wd with the 60 loader. They both are his pride and joy. The 955 is a beast and it amazes me what he can do with it. He had a 322 and 332 and made the move to the 655 and fell in love with it. For a small tractor it can do a lot. As luck would have it he now works as a tech at a local John Deere dealer working on the big boys…. Has a bunch of 110’s and 112’s along with a pair of 140’s. Amazing how far ahead they were of the competition back then.
I have a 1998 855 I bought back in 2006 with only 310 hrs. Since I have owned the tractor it now has 1031 hrs., I installed a Curtis cab on it from a 455, I believe. I knew if the front of the cab would fit over the 855 hood I could make the rest of the cab work. The 855 is one heck of a tractor, still runs strong. Thanks for the video.
We got our first ever John Deere in 1987.. We paid $14,900 for it brand new, with 4WD, model 52 Loader, and 60” Belly Mower. We kept it for 12 years, and got $14.000 for it on Trade-In towards a John Deere 4200, with model 420 Loader, and 72” Belly Mower... We got to use the 855 for 12 years, for $900!!!! I do miss the mechanical Hydros.. The new 4200 with loader, belly mower, cost us $23,900. Then I got rid of that and I now have a 3720 Cab that I’ve had for 15 years now. I do miss the simplicity of the old tractor.
I have long felt the 55 series, and the 755-855 were some of the best residential landscaping tractors made. Large enough to handle true cat 1 implements, small enough to keep in a residential garage or storage shed. Old enough to be quite affordable, but new enough that parts and service was still available.
Absolutely amazing. Love the old stuff. I have a 1970 140H3 that is built like a tank. I heard from a JD rep at GIE that they used the same hydros as a skid steer.
Old Iron never dies. It's amazing to see your tractor all decked out with the lights and cab and his No Frills tractor. Should we do a pulling test?
Great video Tim, that is a great tractor. The thing I like about the old tractors is anyone with basic mechanical knowledge can work on them and fix them. They're simple ya don't need a college degree in computers to fix them. That's why they quit building them that way.
Yes, lock in to the dealers, that is why there is a growing tractor/farm equipment hacking community. YOU own it, and are NOT able to diagnose it due to software lock! That is changing slowly, but not without a legal fight.
Best wishes all, stay safe
I owned the Yanmar version, and it was very reliable. It is still in use today. I used to have a part conversion list so that I could use JD 755 parts for my Yanmar.
Thanks for the comparison. The 55 series is hard to beat when you are looking for an older SCUT. Something you could address is parts availability. While many common parts are still available for these units they are becoming harder to find (particularly for the transmission). Of course I nerd out on all the old stuff!! Thanks again.
I went with my Dad and picked up a new 855 with a loader in 1990. We had that tractor up until about 8 years ago. Never had any mechanical issues with it. Great tractor.
Good info. I'm in the early stages of looking for a used subcompact tractor. The testament of the belly mower being a pain to install/remove was great information. Thank you!
Terry, I have an 855. I never used a belly mower, but I did have a 60" PTO finish mower that attached to the draw bar and center link. That worked really well. If you can find an 855 you can't go wrong.
Last year, I picked up a 755 with loader and backhoe for $6500. Problem is, it wasn’t running! The previous owner was an elderly gentleman who seemed trustworthy enough. So, I took the plunge.
Fast forward a week, I learned all about Diesel engines. I tightened up the loose glow plugs, changed out the aftermarket fuel filter for an OEM version, gave the system a good bleed, and after sputtering for a few minutes, she fired right up. Since then, always starts on the first turn.
Next problem was to change out the broken bolt on the hydrostatic drive gear (removing the pump was a PITA)!
Bought a 60” mower deck from a 50 series that I am going to try and retrofit to the 55. But I don’t think it’ll be too difficult.
Anyway, I love this thing! Great little tractor!!
It's pretty cool to see a couple of guys, hanging out, laughing, talking tractors and not dropping F-Bombs every other word and none at all.
Thanks Bob. Agreed. Not sure why the F-bomb thing is so popular. It simply makes folks seem unintelligent.
Really enjoy the Dirt Perfect channel. Nice to see you both!
I bought a 955 w FEL (33hp) in 1990. Great little tractor. A friend of mine was looking for one and could only find a couple of beat up 955's for sale at rental centers in 1999. I sold mine ($12k) to him and bought the comparable hp JD 4400 (FEL, BH). The 4400 was much larger and less agile...but more competent with the extra 300 lbs of weight and better FEL lift capacity. I also have a 2001 JD 4600.
Enjoyed the episode, I have a 755 John Deere compact tractor that I bought new exactly 30 years ago the 60" belly mower just wore out with less than 1k hours on it, just ordered a finishing mower for the rear only because they don't make new belly mower replacement for this tractor, I was hoping to find a new old stock belly mower but with no luck decided on a rear finishing mower, I have no intention of getting rid of it !!!!
That 855 needs restored. It has earned it.
Really like my 855 its likely best small tractor ever built.
Thanks guys for sharing, please share more.
We had a 650 and now have two 1070s. Those older Deere compacts were very good tractors and the new ones are just as good
Great video! I owned the 955 4wd. Absolutely loved it. Zero maintenance. Completely reliable. Started below zero with ease. The only bad thing as mentioned here was the belly mower. What a pain to install/uninstall. But it functioned great even with the mulching plates.
Great to see you collaborate with dirt perfect. I really enjoy his channel as well.
Also cool to learn about those tractor models. Sounds like those were great machines and still could be for the right person
Great video but I have to disagree with the comments that the 855 is totally a Yanmar tractor. The 655-955 were initially designed and built at the Horicon Works plant in Horicon Wisconsin. Later production was moved to Augusta GA. I had the opportunity to tour the Horicon plant in 1989 and can attest to the tractors being manufactured from start to finish at that plant. I had actually purchased a 955 at the time of the tour. Of course Yanmar was the supplier of the engine and I am sure there were sourced components that could have included some common parts with Yanmar but I think it is safe to say that the 55 series tractors were John deere designed and assembled.
Interesting. That is news to me. Did that apply to the 50 and 70 series gear drive tractors as well??
@@TractorTimewithTim I am pretty certain that the gear drive 50 and later 70 series were Yanmar built with a few John Deere specs. I was always impressed with the 55 series tractors as I actually had gotten one of the first 855's when they first went into production in the summer of 1986. When the 955 introduced in the fall of 1989 I just had to have one so I traded. These tractors were so versatile with their ability to have the front loader, the mid mount mower and a three point hitch all on the tractor, and usable, at the same time. Deere offered a mid mount hydraulic control option that changed the mid mower from a three point hitch control lift to using the dual hydraulic controls that operated the loader. Of course the loader bucket would curl when the mower was raised.
The 55 series tractors were built extremely well and I think would still hold up well against today's tractors. The mfwd axles don't turn as well as our new tractors and of course there is no tilt steering, the ROPS doesn't fold and front lighting was pretty minimal. The fender mounted lights helped considerably but I don't recall any halogen option either.
I comparison between a 955 and a 2032r would be interesting. I think even those who like the latest gadgetry would be impressed with the power and performance of the 955. But what I found interesting in your video Tim was the how expensive the tractors were and we didn't know it. I would bet that the 2032r when factored for inflation is probably a little less than what we paid back in 1989.
Keep these type of videos coming Tim.
Thanks for inviting Dirt Perfect for a older & newer tractor comparison. Look forward to future work out comparison.
Great Video although I’m waiting on the attachment trial by fire. I have an 855 with cab and loader and I use it daily and not sure if I want to sell and pickup a new one exactly for the quick attach function. Can’t wait for next video. Do 1 and 2 bottom plow test if you can!
Wow Tim,.....this video brought back some memories!!! I grew up on the farm, and have run many different types of tractors. When John Deere came out with this 55 series Compact tractors, I purchased a 1986 John Deere 855 Hydro 4WD with a loader and 5' bucket, ballast box, 6' rear blade, and a 6' belly mower. It was a wonderful tractor to run and service. Then I got a hankerin' for the next size bigger, because I wanted a big snow blower and a little more lift height and capacity on the loader. So I traded my rig in for a 1993 John Deere 955 Hydro 4WD with a John Deere 2-stage 666 snow blower (66") on the rear 3-pt hitch, a loader with a 5' bucket, rear ballast box, and a 6' belly mower. Loved running it with the 4WD and Hydro. Probably had at least a dozen people or more, run it at various times. Kids and Women found it very user friendly. Unfortunately, I had to sell it to get some money for my divorce settlement in 2002.
Looks like the reason the 855 was relevant for so long is because it was very well thought out. It would be cool to have an older machine without all the lawyer stuff built into it. Much easier to troubleshoot and fix. But it is nice having a newer machine too.
Yes, there are advantages to both!
my grandpa had the 750 jd. and an old farmall h. I bought the 1025 r because of my experience with the 750 power and dependability. love my 1025 r
Started my mowing career on an "Economy Jim Dandy" at age 7 and moved to a Bolens 850 in 1965. Paid cash for my first new car in 1974 thanks to the Bolens. The move to the 1026R is so superior, there is no real comparison other than all the units mow grass. Good to see DP on your channel Tim. Thanks for the nostalgic look back.
I have a old JD 855 for regular use mowing yard, tilling garden, raking driveway. When I was a kid i use to go to JD Dealer and get all the brochure. I studied then religiously, I always dreamed about have a 855 deere. 20 years later i got one. I have had it for 6 years. Now i am 36 I really would like a 2038R. Just really hard to justify the price tag.. But some day..
I have an 855 4WD in very good condition still. I added a skidsteer quick attach adapter to the loader to make changing between the bucket, forks, grapple etc. much easier.
I had a 950 for over 40 years summer time raking hay and mowing lakes for the Corp of Engineers. During my career, I mowed every lake in the state of Oklahoma.
The HST on my old 855 went out earlier this year and I just moved up to a 2016 1025R. I've been surprised how similar they feel given the 855 was almost as old as I am. The biggest thing I miss is the differential breaking, and even with the better seat the 1025R is a rougher ride on bumpy terrain because of the smaller tires. I think the extra weight is also nice to have for loader work and traction, but you can get around that for the most part with ballast. The auto-connect MMM and improved turning radius make is such a huge difference though!
I have an 855 as well. 2320 hrs and still going strong. It's a pain in the rear to service because everything is a different size but it's the most dependable tractor I've ever used
I'm more of and old school tractor guy I love my ole 790 thing is built like a tank and just keeps going . Glad to see you two guys finally get together .
I have a 855, its been a good tractor. I hope to get some videos of it in action in the spring. Implements can be a bear to attach but its a solid tractor. 3pt can actually lift just over 1000 pounds!!
I love my 855 4wd! The belly mower is awesome too! I mow 15 acres every week all summer and use it to haul wood the rest of the year (since 1994). The 3pt lifts 800 lb logs up waist high, making it easy on my back to cut. I just put a set of forks on the 3pt and slide under the logs. I’d love to have a second 855 4wd.
In 2020 I bought a 98 4100 HST with a loader w/1949 hours for 8k ,six months later found a 98 4100 HST with a loader w/"326" hours for 8K sold the high hour one for 9k ! The low hour one is cherry !
I got my start on an 855. FWD with a loader, It sure felt like a big tractor at the time.
I have a 1990 JD770 with just under 1200 hours. The good news is that it still runs just about as good as 30 years ago. The bad news is my wife remembers when I bought it in 1990 I told her this would last me the rest of my life:(
I heard the comment about adjusting the transmission linkage to cure the tractor from creeping. I would definitely be interested in hearing more about how that is done. My 1st 855 did not creep at all. I sold it and bought another 855 that was set up with a backhoe and Power Beyond. It is a great machine, but would really like to cure the creeping.
There's a procedure to adjusting a series of turnbuckles. You have to make sure they and related linkages aren't worn to much or you won't get it into adjustment. I helped a neighbor fix his and it was very similar to my 318 and 430 garden tractors. We ended up replacing a lot of the linkage knuckles and turnbuckles.
I also have a 1992 855 with a very slight backwards creep. Would love to see a video of adjusting it.
My 1996 Ford NH 1520 has a little creep mostly when the oil is cold. I should look into that.
That's why it's always a good habit to set the parking brake. I learned that lesson the hard way....
Here's a link to the hydro adjustment:. www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ttalk&th=1824835
It's like watching the kids play with their toys! 😀
I remember my school had an 855. They mowed and plowed the entire grounds with that thing. for years. They eventually got a grasshopper ztr to compliment it, but still used the 855 for quite a while after.
Wow, I have had both an 855 and a 955. I sold my 955 with a bucket and mowing deck two years ago for $8500. I now have a 4066r. I have made the comment that I did things with my 955 that I haven’t with the 4066r. That 955 could do some work. I used the 25A flail mower on it as well as a 6ft bush hog. I had someone say they couldn’t believe it could run them until they saw it for themselves. I used to tell people that it was the 4WD that made it a very worthwhile tractor. The 2WD limited it’s ability, especially on hills.
I have a 955 with a loader. Great tractor. Has all the options on it that newer tractor have, except the emissions control add-ons. Great video.
Those are still 10k around here in well worn condition. It’s more like 12k if good. Or the ones that don’t sell in an hour are priced like that. That’s why I don’t own a 7/855 yet.
5:28 it’s like like today’s electric vs hydraulic power steering. Electric mostly goes numb but they can be tuned for some feel but nothing like hydronic where there is a direct connection.
I moved a lot of dirt with a 955 with the 70a loader from around 1995 until a brand new 3320 was ordered in 2005. The 955 was one of the best machines for grading I ever ran. Couldn't move mountains but I could hold +- 1/4" in a hundred feet. I love the newer 3320 but miss the 955.
Sweet video! I have 2 JD F1145 front mowers that according to Deere is the 855 compact tractor turned around backwards. Shares the same transmission and engine components as the 855. I’m very impressed with the engineering that went into these, very stout and reliable. I wouldn’t hesitate to own an 855, but on the other hand, I like the front print of the 1 series for landscaping and tight quarters.
Super video. Love those mid 1980s to early 1990s compact tractors. In fact, have 5 of them that get used almost every week. Still have the first one I bought brand new in 1989.
I’ve been watching Dirt Perfect about as long as I’ve been watching you guys.Both on my favorite channels list :) it was fun to see and hear about the 855 model.I can’t wait to see them compared in the field.. Hope Mike picked up his Pepsi cans before he head back home lol...
Thanks and yes I did 😁
The 650 to 1050 tractor models were built by Yanmar for JD. They were basically Yanmar tractors painted green. The 655 to 955 model tractors were built in the USA at Horicon, Wisconsin and Augusta, Georgia. The hydrostatic transmission was the best feature of the 55 series.
Yes. My mistake. I was unaware that the 55’s were made in WI until the many comments correcting me in this episode.
@@TractorTimewithTim Yeah, I thought they were both built in Japan until someone corrected me. The engines are Yanmar for both of them.
This is an interesting collab never thought I’d see dirt perfect here.
Why not?
Really enjoyed it Tim is a awesome guy
I love my 755. I’ve been waiting on some videos with the old stuff Tim.
I used to mow grass with a JD 950 with a 7' flail mower. It was a standard shift with turf tires, turned out to be as wide a possible (Side Slopes = Less Pucker Factor).It had no extras headlights, three point hitch, differential lock and a volt meter. The fuel gauge was on the cap for the tank. You know the ones with the cork for a float and apiece of steel twisted with a pointer on the end to let you know how much fuel you have. lol High Tech back then! No DEF, DPF or BS just what you need. I miss that tractor I don't need one that big but wish I had it.
Nice to see an old vs new video!! I started out on a John Deere 650 hope to own one one day again and graduated to a ford 1310 now love the old stuff but if somebody like in the automotive world had an idea to offer aftermarket parts for the oldies I think that would be awesome as the older these get the harder it is to find parts for them....great video!!
I have a 755 4x4 with loader I inherited from my uncle. Only 630 hrs. I agree that the 60" deck is not fun to remove/install. That deck is built nice and heavy though as is the tractor. I wouldn't trade this tractor for anything!! I wouldn't mind acquiring a 955 with a loader and backhoe though! One overlooked area the 55 series shines is ground clearance. With larger tires you drive over things that would stop a new one. The front wheels are the same as the rear wheels on a garden tractor.
My 4100 may not be new but it is a good tractor for its age and hours. I installed a loader and I have a belly mower, box blade ,tiler, landscape rake, rear blade, Imach hitch, canopy , and 4' brushhog, It runs like a top.
Wish I could post a picture, I keep it up and it looks as good as it runs. Nice to see "older" JD equipment featured not everyone can afford $$ for new. I started out with a 850 and a rear finish mower, traded up for the 4100 . Good Used equipment is hard to find.at least in Glasford Illinois!
Really enjoyed this video. Looking forward to part 2! I looked around for a 855 and couldn't find one that didnt need rebuilt before buying my 3032. Correct if if im wrong, i thought i had read where the x55 series was built in the US and the x50 series was built in Japan.
I got a 955 American model until 7 years ago. Bought it from a guy who told me that the hydrostatic was broken. Took it home, looked at all the different connections and greased the hell out of it. Previous owner never used a grease gun, he really did not know what that was a grease gun. After that, I could do wheelies with it, drifting on wet grass on the turf tires. Great tractor ...
Really enjoyed your hosting Dirt Perfect on your channel. I have followed both of you sites for a long time.
My first JD was. 855 I now have a 2320.
Great video look forward to seeing you both again. Thanks
It's good to see the older Deere vs a newer model. There are definitely pro's and con's to both but I am sure that the older ones are built like a tank. Good job Gents and I am looking forward to part 2 of this comparison.
Great video. In the late 90's I put a lot of hours on a 755 working on grounds for a school. It was a tough machine. Now I have a 1025r. The 1 series is way more comfortable. Even in my younger years the 755 was very hard on my knees as there was really a lot of resistance in the hydro pedals. I think the 755 started easier because it wasn't tier 4.
My first tractor was a 650 it came from a boat trailer factory and was pretty rough used it for 10 years or more. Traded it for a yanmar 1401d, then bought a new 1025r after another 10 years.
I love my FWD 855! roughly 1300 hrs, loader, belly mower, box blade, grader blade, rototiller! Best investment I’ve made I think.
Wow, I never expected this episode! I have been watching DP for a while now, but I have been watching TTWT since early 2017.
Thanks Gerald
what a change of pace here today. it was great to see DP's little JD at TTWT'S place. i thought it was A-OK!
Thanks buddy
Awesome! Tim and Mike in a vid together. Great collaboration!
Subscribed to both your channels, really enjoyed listening to a pair of seasoned knowledgeable operators. Brings back memories of helping around the golf course, at a young age, learning all about jubilee ford's and my favorite- a 1020 Deere.....
Good to see an old 855 John Deere (which is made by Yanmar). I have a Yanmar YM220 (non grey market) which is roughly a John Deere 750. Of course John Deere stopped Yanmar from selling tractors under their own name and there are only a few of the non-grey market Yanmars out there. You can get parts from John Deere; however, sometimes the dealers are a little less helpful if you say Yanmar. Bought a replacement headlight bulb for my Yanmar from the local John Deere dealer. Bulb came in a John Deere box which had a Yanmar box inside with the bulb.
I love the old 55 series John Deere tractors. I worked at a dealership in the late 80's, set up and delivered many of them
Addresses please. Lmao. I can't wait to find one for sale sorta near me.
Love the "walk back in history". Takes be back to my JD 2040 years which I loved every minute of! Actually over 7000 hours!
I have a 1998 955 I mow 7 acres plow both my driveways and 3 of my neighbors the plow is a beast also have a loader I would not trade it
So glad you too got together!!!
Me to
Have a 755 love it to bits. Never drove any tractor like it👍
That's cool to see the 855 compared to a 1025. I have a 955 and I love it. They are a beast !!
i have a 87 yanmar, its a taller tractor or at least the rear tires but 22hp. its the 226d which i may have mentioned on another vid.
Glad to see you two on the screen.
Them are good old tractors that will do a lot of work. Uncle had a 855 that would not quit.
I have a 790 which was the replacement for the 770 after the 50 series. Another Yanmar produced tractor. LOVE it!!
Turns out, the 55 series was designed and built by Deere in Horicon WI.
Yup! They just had Yanmar engines. Possibly axles too. The 50 series was entirely Yanmar. I actually found a picture of the Yanmar equivalent to the 50 series but no longer have it. Looks almost identical. All great tractors!
Had a 955 loved it but I didn't have the skills to maintain it, so I bought a 2038R to replace it. Local farmer bought the 955 and rebuilt it.
Tim, I have a 1999 John Deere 4300, Hydrostat, 4x4, 430 loader, 48 backhoe, turf tires it started my business it has been the one peace of equipment we have never traded in to replace, when it was 8 years old the hour meter quit at 5000hrs it would have 10-12000 on it now, I keep looking at new but just can't do it it works to good.
Awesome video. I would love to see the 855 pull the TS10
Ha! I think that would be asking a bit too much!
I also have an 855. Very curious what it would do with a TS10
its nice to hear that these machines are so reliable ,i wanna buy one after iam done with college, seems to be a good choice....
That 855 is a real john deere, not the plastic crap it is turning into. Coming from a John deere fan too, not a hater
i agree john Deere has really gone down hill especially in big tractors once they stopped making the 30 series they went down hill
@@e.cfarmphotography1095 my favorite was the 40 series,specifically the 4440 and 4640. Dont know why deere ever stopped making them they are bulletproof.
@@lucaslex9327 yes the 4640s the 3650s, 4955s, 7810s, 6910s, and 6030 series are the beast tractors they made or at least made and got solid in England
@@e.cfarmphotography1095 are you in England?
@@lucaslex9327 yep
I bought a 955 12 years ago, about 2 years later I had an opportunity to buy a second unit. Larer I found a couple of 755’s then an 855 and then a 655. The I bought a POS 3046R. Out of all the 55 series, none of them have ever dripped I drop of oil on the floor. My POS 3046R has about a 3’ dia puddle under it after setting for a month. The only time I use it is to move it out of the way to get one of my 55’s out😂. All the hydraulics suck on the POS. I use my 55’s for all my tillage tools and front end loader work because the hydraulics are so worthless and scary on the POS. The cab is nice but that is as far as it goes. I’ve added beet juice, 2 wheel weights per wheel and 4” spacers to try to make the tractor feel as stable as the 955. I cascaded my wheels and tires down so my 655 has 755 wheels and tires on it, etc. l agree 100% with the man with the 855👍👍
What is leaking? Hydraulic leaks on new machines are not unusual...no matter what brand.
I think the cable driven loader joystick is too tight on the cab 3R. Maybe that is what you mean? The open station doesn’t have the cable driven stick...so probably feels better.
Dirt Perfect with a Logger Wade shirt on TTWT. It could only get better if they had a Buck Billy Ray sticker somewhere!
@Dirtperfect has an excellent channel, love his channel. Maybe my 1025R can be much more useful with the right attachments than I give it credit for. I do love my 1025R, and plan to get some more attachments for it this years.
This was a very fun video to see. I have a 955 that is four wheel drive with a loader. It is amazing how handy it is to have it around.
Awesome tractor
Bought a new 970 in 1993, still have it. Always wanted a 955 because they would run a 6 foot mower deck. Still looking, but not real hard.
955 would run the TS10 flex wing!
I have an 84 650 and its a bullet proof tractor. The manual trans takes some skill to do some loader work.
Wonder how the stump grinder attachment would compare to my bandit zt1844 stump grinder?
I'ld like to see that 855 or 755 in the field vs a 1023 or 1025. Lift capacity, dead pull capacity, 3point lift capacity, ext. I think people would be surprised. They didn't have all the bells and whistles just brute force and power to the ground.