JD 820 or JD R

[red bearing]

An 820 and an R showed on my radar looking to buy one of em this week same shape tires n all the 820 is not running at the moment..The pony on the 820 was just rebuilt and according a friend of the family it runs good and the big motor ran well…but the guy passed away so it’s been sitting in a shed for 3 years..The R is a solid tractor heard both motors run..looking for opinions.same price $5000..and thank you!

 

[wore out]

An 820 and an R showed on my radar looking to buy one of em this week same shape tires n all the 820 is not running at the moment..The pony on the 820 was just rebuilt and according a friend of the family it runs good and the big motor ran well…but the guy passed away so it’s been sitting in a shed for 3 years..The R is a solid tractor heard both motors run..looking for opinions.same price $5000..and thank you!

What are you planning to do with it, show and parade it or work it and pull it?

If working it the 820 is a helluva lot more tractor.

A third/center bearing was added to the crankshaft, and the PTO, hydraulic system, and steering were greatly improved on the 820, as an example of some of the updates. Horsepower was increased, as well.

(I've owned an R and an 830 which was very similar to the 820.)

 

[red bearing]

Parade it

 

[wore out]

Parade it

Nothing wrong with going with the "R", then!

 

[Jaden]

Why not both?

 

[mijohn]

820 is a lot more tractor than the R, I drove both in field if that is important to you. power steering, real live hydr., a lot stronger PTO. If it has a green dash then it is the same as an 80 except for the fenders. If a black dash and plastic steering wheel then under the sheet metal its the same as an 830. 830s were available with electric start. My self I like the 80s. just my two cents. John

 

[NoDakInMN]

If you get the 820 running, it bring a couple thousand more than you paid for it, maybe even up to twice as much depending on location. They made over 21,000 Rs and only around 7,000 820s, so they are more rare, but that also means there are less parts tractors around. The R pony is a 2 cylinder with magneto ignition, the 820 has a 4 cylinder pony with a coil pack ignition. Magneto parts are plentiful, but the coil packs can be hard to get your hands on a replacement. I've been working with a buddy on his 820, ordered a coil pack last August and just got it a couple weeks ago, cost around $400. My understanding is that they only have a short production run each year and when they're sold out, you have to wait until the next production run.

My preference runs to the R, I have 2, but that's mainly due to sentimental reasons, although I think they have a throatier sound to them.

 

[rustred]

An 820 and an R showed on my radar looking to buy one of em this week same shape tires n all the 820 is not running at the moment..The pony on the 820 was just rebuilt and according a friend of the family it runs good and the big motor ran well…but the guy passed away so it’s been sitting in a shed for 3 years..The R is a solid tractor heard both motors run..looking for opinions.same price $5000..and thank you!

I would be going after the 820. Better built tractor with more h p. 5 k is high for an R and pretty reasonable for an 820. Pay attention to them starting engines. Very costly to overhaul and the R’s two cyl. Horizontal one , parts are probably obsolete. Actually might be in trouble with that v4 also. I like the 830’s of them all.

 

[NoDakInMN]

I would be going after the 820. Better built tractor with more h p. 5 k is high for an R and pretty reasonable for an 820. Pay attention to them starting engines. Very costly to overhaul and the R’s two cyl. Horizontal one , parts are probably obsolete. Actually might be in trouble with that v4 also. I like the 830’s of them all.

Value on the R depends on where you are at. $5,000 is about ballpark here for one with both engines running and fair paint and rubber. New paint and tires can push them up to about $6,500. Pony parts for both are available, but might require a little more effort than a call to the local parts store. But as I said earlier, with the higher production numbers, the R is going to have greater availability of salvage parts and a better chance at NOS parts.

 

[jddrawbar]

Parade it

Definitely go with the R for parade duty. As others have stated, 820 green dash is a big fendered 80......black dash is basically a 830. I've had at least one R for over 50 yrs. (have 2 now), my '53 will never leave. Just recently sold my '60 830 elec. rice special.

 

[David from Kansas]

I have both but never farmed with an R, but lots of hours on 820s, starting out working for a neighbor who bought a new 820 and 5x14 plow in 1958. Then later I was farming with an Oliver 99 and traded it for a very good black dash 820 in 1967, later traded off, then about 6 years ago I bought a black dash which I thought I needed for nostalgic reasons. It had been "rode hard and put away wet", showed lack of maintenance and high hours, had to have the pony repaired and put new rear tires on so probably have more invested than I will ever recoup. Bought the R which I knew nothing about but it is an excellent starting and running tractor which I really enjoy driving. I have participated in plow days with both of them. The R does not have hydraulics or PTO so I have a trip lift plow that I use. You should buy both tractors.

 

[John Deere D]

An 820 and an R showed on my radar looking to buy one of em this week same shape tires n all the 820 is not running at the moment..The pony on the 820 was just rebuilt and according a friend of the family it runs good and the big motor ran well…but the guy passed away so it’s been sitting in a shed for 3 years..The R is a solid tractor heard both motors run..looking for opinions.same price $5000..and thank you!

The "R" was the first attempt by JD to design the R/80/820/830 Series.

I owned an "R" and the Tractor was not geared properly given the "R"s HP.

JD added an extra gear in the Transmission of the 80/820/830 Series........................

The Rear axles Diameter of the 80/820/830 were increased with the increased HP of the 80/820/830 Series........................

I was plowing with my "R" when the engine RPM suddenly increased and the tractor stopped moving.....

As the Tractor was being towed to the shop,the Rear broken axle stub with tire and rim passed me...........

Neighbor was parting out an R.......he had one rear axle left.........

Your $$$$$$$'s,all the best.

 

[buickanddeere]

An 820 and an R showed on my radar looking to buy one of em this week same shape tires n all the 820 is not running at the moment..The pony on the 820 was just rebuilt and according a friend of the family it runs good and the big motor ran well…but the guy passed away so it’s been sitting in a shed for 3 years..The R is a solid tractor heard both motors run..looking for opinions.same price $5000..and thank you!

820 by far

 

[Buckhammer]

Tell them you have 80 $100 bills for both tractors and see what they say.

 

[jddrawbar]

820 by far

Yea, leave the switch on an fry a couple coil packs at about $1k......fun times.

 

[wore out]

Yea, leave the switch on an fry a couple coil packs at about $1k......fun times.

NO need to be so careless, and if you are; adding an oil pressure switch makes the system "idiot proof".

Do you often leave the ignition switch on your car in the "ON" position?

 

[jddrawbar]

NO need to be so careless, and if you are; adding an oil pressure switch makes the system "idiot proof".

Do you often leave the ignition switch on your car in the "ON" position?

I was careless once, cost about $25 as I remember.....about 12 yrs. old at the time, and the 820 was new. I would be willing to bet, I've had more opportunities to be careless than you. I'd hate to guess how many hrs. I've spent in the field with R's, 820, & 830's. Gotten rid of all the V4's in the past few years, and by the way, I've never owned or ran a 80. Seems like most farmers went from D's to R's and skipped the 80 & picked up 820 or 30's. While rambling on, I remember a farmer that bought a new 4010 standard to replace his 820......short story, it didn't!

 

[Dan in Ohio]

820 is a lot more tractor than the R, I drove both in field if that is important to you. power steering, real live hydr., a lot stronger PTO. If it has a green dash then it is the same as an 80 except for the fenders. If a black dash and plastic steering wheel then under the sheet metal its the same as an 830. 830s were available with electric start. My self I like the 80s. just my two cents. John

Certainly like the 80 too. If when you say "Parade it" you mean load it on your trailer and haul it to a parade cite, they are both too cumbersome to haul for the average guy (ask me how I know that). Both for same money, take the 820, much more tractor as other have already said.

 

[NIK OWEN]

I was careless once, cost about $25 as I remember.....about 12 yrs. old at the time, and the 820 was new. I would be willing to bet, I've had more opportunities to be careless than you. I'd hate to guess how many hrs. I've spent in the field with R's, 820, & 830's. Gotten rid of all the V4's in the past few years, and by the way, I've never owned or ran a 80. Seems like most farmers went from D's to R's and skipped the 80 & picked up 820 or 30's. While rambling on, I remember a farmer that bought a new 4010 standard to replace his 820......short story, it didn't!

WE HAD NEW 4010 DSL STANDARD, 18.4/30..SWEETHEART, ATE H20 PUMPS, BRAKES GRABBY...BE BLESSED, GRATEFUL, PREPARED, NIK