JD 1070

[sodly]

Anyone have any opinions on this model... good, bad or otherwise? What is the engine's life expectancy in terms of hours? Thanks.

 

[Mark]

sodly,

I don't know what series engine the 1070 has. I had a 1050, which the 1070 replaced and it had a Yanmar 3T90T engine (3 cylinders at 90 mm ea.). That was one of the stoutest little tractors I have straddled. It was super easy on fuel too. Now the downside and why I traded it...is because at 1490 hours it began to lose oil pressure. I took excellent care of that machine and it only did light work like mowing grass and garden tilling/cultivating. The oil was changed twice a year and it only got about 50 hours a year put on it. The idiot light began to come on when I idled the tractor down. I went down to the JD dealership and began asking the mechanics questions. I was ready to install a new oil pump. They told me it was the main bearings, plain and simple. To test this, I was told to install a gauge at the oil pump and monitor the pressure at cold start up, what it should read cold and warmed up. It would start at 65 pounds and steadily drop as it warmed up (the oil thinned). The idiot light is set to come on at around 28 pounds as I recall. My engine held 24 pounds at idle. It was supposed to maintain 60+ at working speeds and the best it would do was 40 something. Now, was that enough for safe operation? Certainly, and the tractor is in continuous use by the man who bought it. It never ever USED any oil. BUT, it wasn't going to heal itself and when I was told that there was precious little extra meat in the Yanmar cranks if it needed turning and a new one was $750....I could see a big bill for a rebuild coming....enough that the tractor's value wouldn't be worth the investment. So, I sold it. Other than that.....it was a super machine. Absolutely NO leaks after 20+ years of service. The weak points on the 1050 that the 1070 may have solved, were crappy dry brakes and no PS. The dealers quit carrying the add on PS kits because I tried to buy one. The other minor thing was being too lightweight. Needed about 300 pounds on the front when using a 5 ft. bushhog.

 

[DAVID in WALES]

Hi;
When I was selling implements for a farm machinery manufacturer I was impressed with the build quality and performance of the 1070.
Deere sold a lot of hydrostatic 755,855 & 955 compacts, but never managed to break into the larger size & HP market with the 1070; this was dominated by the Kubuta & Ford/NH models in England. The only thing in England that let the 1070 down was the aftermarket cab, not as good as those on other makes.
Cheers David