Making hay with 1020?

[Jason from MI]

Hi Guys,
My neighbor has a 1020 for sale. I"m going to look at it tomorrow. Right now a different neighbor is working our 7-8 acres of hayfields. I"m considering getting my own hay equipment for next year and want to make sure the tractor I buy can manage it. Is the 1020 big enough to run a haybine and square baler?

Thanks. Jason

 

[bigtomhb]

I have the diesel version of the 1020 and have been running a haybine and a square baler with it for several years... plenty of power! My son and I have about 15 acres of hay, 1st and 2nd cutting. If acreage were much greater, a larger tractor might be desirable.

 

[Ryan]

Our neighbor bought one brand new years ago. He said it didn't have any power was a "dog". He finally got rid of it and started using his farmall H again he said it had more power. They fooled and fooled with that 1020 to no avail. Sounds like the diesels may be better.

Ryan

 

[Pat Lafon]

We baled for years with a smaller 820 3 cyl so a 1020 surely will handle it.

 

[JDemaris]

I know several people that do all their haying (mowing, raking, and baling) with 1020s - gas and diesel. This is NO difference in power - both exactly the same.

It's one of the best small utility tractors that Deere ever made - as long as you don't need more then 38 horsepower.

If you have a choice, the industrial version is a slightly better tractors (the 300). Basically the same tractor as a 1020 ag. but with better hydraulics. And, 820 and 830 models are also close to the same, but with lesser hydraulics than the 1020.

 

[chris blohm]

i have baled with a farmall h and a deere 950 both did the job very well

 

[Pete@Pequawketfarm]

I agree with the posts below. We have a 1020 gas that we have pulled a 7" haybine with. Also pulled a NH 267 baler with wagon behind. The wagon behind was a little much but she did the job. Good all around tractor with good hydraulics and quick steering. Its the only thing I rake with now. Did get a bigger tractor to haul the new round baler with. Good luck - Pete

 

[Mike M]

Glad to see there are so many happy 1020 owners still out there after all these years. I don't see to many of them ? Likely they are still being used and not passed around at sales.
I always did like those older Deere utility tractors.

 

[Pat Lafon]

I agree. Very few for sale but when you do find them, the sellers wants as much for them as a tractor that's 10 to 15 years newer. I've seen 820's and 1020's for 3 to 6 thousand bucks and then run into a 2040 for 6k. I'll take the 2040 over a 1020 because they are basically the same tractor but 10 to 15+ years newer.

 

[Mike M]

I still remember back in what must of been 1976 ? I was p-oed at Dad for not buying the JD830 leftover at a dealer I think the 40 series were coming out. Tractors were hard to find and in demand. He bought an Allis-Chalmers 5040. I think Orange may be his favortie color ? I never did like that pos ! Best thing he ever did was trade it off on the JD 750 in 1982 ? still have that 750. You can still tell it isn't Dads favorite tractor as he takes better care of some of his other stuff and his Ventrac then the 750. I had to get on him about the oil change just the other day ! It had 110 hrs on it and counting, and I don't think I ever let it go over 100 hrs.

 

[Anonymous-0]

maybe he didn't like that JD wannabe. 750's were all japanese and no JD in them

 

[Mike M]

That's exactly why that series of tractor had the LEAST amount of warranty claims of anything JD ever sold.

Just too darn bad the factories in the USA couldn't match that kinda quailty ! Ford, Gm and Chrysler couldn't figure it out either.

 

[buickanddeere]

Some of those 20,30, some 40 and all 50,55 series tractors were built in Mannheim Germany with engines from Saran France.
I've seen some people get awful cranky when that was pointed out on the serial number plates.

 

[buickanddeere]

4100lbs dry, 32 drawbar hp and 39 pto HP. The 1020 should have dragged the H around like a toy.

 

[Mike M]

I really like the smooth running 6 cyl. from France.