Is a 1010 a good tractor?

[Chris Cash]

A dealership that I deal with a lot has one that someone used as a trade-in. It looks like it was just recently drug out of the woods. The sheetmetal is rough but the engine isn't stuck and everything else seems to be there. I have been looking for a project tractor to restore and they only want what they gave the guy as trade-in which is $500. It is the wide front end gas model. I'm not sure which letter that is. I haven't copied down the number and resaerched the year yet. But upon looking through parts I have found that 1010 parts seem to be hit and miss. Does anyone on here have one that could share they're experience with it?

 

[JDemaris]

For $500 you can't lose. I see the value going up on 1010 and 2010 ag. tractors as collectors items. The more people condemn them, the more they seem to bring. I see rusty junkers with parts missing often bring over a $1000 at auction.

Also, the 1010 and 2010 series had the first full size engine that Deere put removable sleeves in - and it was the only engine to ever get a siameezed sleeve deck. As I recall, the little pony motor in 720 diesels also have removable sleeves. And - the 1010 and 2010 series diesels are the first Deeres to try out the "new" Stanadyne/Roosamaster rotary injection pumps.
So, in a way, the 1010s and 2010s broke new ground.

On a reference frame when compared to other tractors of the time, they were not that bad. When compared to other John Deeres - it was one of their worst efforts.

That being said, besides having brakes that will never work, most of the rest can be fixed, and most parts are still available.

 

[bo54door]

If you do not want it tell me where it is.

 

[NTW ROSEBUD]

IF PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HELP ME FIND A NEW STEERING WORM FOR MY 1010 RS. MY JD DEALER SAYS MOST PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE .

 

[Mark]

It's pretty much a 430 with a 4 cylinder engine. I've had more Deere's than any other color and in my opinion....remember MY OPINION, the 1010's are a POS! But $500 won't buy much these days....then again, you're not getting much for your money either. I suppose it's ultimately what you want or will end up with after investing your time and efforts in the project. I like Deere's, but I also don't think they started building tractors until the mid 60's. Other than making a distinctive NOISE, I wouldn't have a 2 cylinder on my place. One was enough, been there, done that. However, I would welcome any 4000 series to come park in my barn! The old 10 series are ho-hum, at best.

 

[Chris Cash]

Thank you for all your replies. I have been finding a lot more 2010 parts like the sleeves and stuff. I"ll probably pick it up next week and bring it home.

 

[buickanddeere]

A late 1010 or 2010 gasser can be a decent odd jobs and show tractor.
For a working utility tractor you want a 20 to 55 series Dubuque or Mannheim built JD.

 

[Vermont John]

I think you"re right to give the 1010 a try at that price. I bought mine from a dealer who thought it was "tired" and had low compression. He said that this led to starting problems and plug fouling. Turns out compression was fine but the ignition timing was set to TDC rather than spec. I am now enjoying it.

HOWEVER, you may want to check compression before you buy it. If the compression is within 10 p.s.i. of 125 p.s.i in all cylinders (information thanks to jdemaris) the engine is sound and should provide years of service.

However, if the engine needs a rebuild, it may end up costing you as much as a newer tractor, along with tons of headaches unless you are an excellent mechanic. Although I like my 1010, sometimes think I should have spent a bit more to get something a bit newer. On the other hand, I will probably get a newer one, and keep the 1010 and my M too!

 

[Mark]

buickanddeere,

for a utility tractor, the 830 is a fine little machine. I know where 2 are within shouting distance....one has less than 2000 hours and the other around 1200, both one owners and like new with recent paint jobs...just to clean them up...couldn't buy them for love nor money. I ran one of them a little...pure joy to operate and handy as can be. They belong to different neighbors, neither has ever had a minutes trouble from them. I think they are about '75 models.

 

[JDemaris]

Sleeves from a 2010 gas are the same as the 1010 diesel. But, 1010 gas sleeve assembly is different.

Rebuilding a 1010 isn't any more expensive than any other engine except - the extra price for the sleeve-deck. If you need one, it will cost around $700-$900 whereas most other engines you'd spend around $350 - $400.

 

[Pauls1010]

I would stay away from it if it is a diesel model. I have a 64" RUS gas I am restoring. Parts are not that hard to find, in my opinion. It really depends how bad you want them.

New Generation is not for everyone, but I am sure the value will increase steady on a nice clean tractor.

 

[Grant Walker]

The 1010 was a good tractor. The diesel had some revisions for cold starting. The gas machine went through fewer revisions. The gear shifter started on the dash and then went to the top of the transmission between your legs. Also, the front end went to I-beam front round tube. This was the lowest horse power of the "new style" of tractors at 30 hp at wheels and 36 at the PTO. It got a bit of a bad wrap because it really wasn"t meant to power heavy equipment beyond the HP rating all day. If you use it with equipment up to the 40 HP category it will do you fine. One thing to mention though, the 1010 was made in Debuque and then the 1020 was made in Waterlou. As a result, the 1010 was a new series but the last made in Debuqe. Accordingly, there are fewer parts available from JD than other models. If you are looking for a restoration project, there are probably cheaper models to restore.

 

[Grant Walker]

On the note of the parts availability, for 10 years I have been looking for the following JD 1010 gas parts:

On the gas orchard model, the exhaust manifold exited out the side and not the top through the hood. I'm looking for this exhaust manifold.

Behind the seat, mounted to the rock shaft on the left side there was a couple for hydraulic hose connection for equipment that you attach to the three point hitch. JD calls it a remote cylinder.

On a few models, there is an auxiliary hydraulic reservoir tank that mounted between the seat and the left fender.

I-beam style front axle assembly instead of round tube type. This I have only been looking for since summer.

 

[Mike M]

Bottom line is at $500 snatch it up if you like to tinker ! At least try to get it up and running and watch you don't spend much on it right away. When and if ? you get it running use it some and see what else is wrong with it, as in why was it left to sit ?
If you can spend a day in time and a few bucks and get it running you can likely double your money than put that towards a better tractor than a 1010.

 

[buickanddeere]

The three cylinder 820/830 would included.

 

[Chris Cash]

I brought it home today. It"s a "64 model with the serial number being RUS52669. I figure it will be a fun toy to restore. When i"m finished i"ll see if I want to keep it or find another project.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought a 1010 RUS about twelve or thirteen years ago. Got it for $2250 and thought it was a bargain. Began to question that opinion after it ran so badly and the dealer had so many bad things to say about it. Then I found the main problem with the running issues. There is an in-line fuel filter inside the top of the carb and mine was completely plugged with what looked like fuzz of some sort. Cleaned it out and all was well. However, as somebody said, the brakes will never be worth much. They work while your foot is on them, but don't expect much from the locking mechanism. Having said that, my 1010 hauls, cuts, drags and grades as much as I need it to do.

Want to hear what the dealer said when I asked him about working on the hydraulics? "No way. We won't touch them." He also said that the only tractor Deere ever made that was worse than a 1010 or 2010 gas tractor was either one of them with diesel. To each his own. Mine works for me. My brother-in-law finally traded his 2010 for an old Allis because he was so disgusted with trying to keep it running.

 

[Tx Jim]

Grant your statement that JD 1020's were made in Waterloo is incorrect! All JD utility and industrial tractors were made in Dubuque! Tx Jim