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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / John Deere backhoe/loader
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Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 13:18
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So guys, I have an opportunity to buy a 2019 JD 1025r with 400hrs with lots of attachments. It has, besides loader and backhoe, 6" and 12" posthole augers, grading blade and front forks attachment. Asking $20k seems like a good price, machine looks pristine.

My most important question is will I be able to operate the backhoe with one arm? I have 25+ years as an operator before losing my arm and have successfully operated an older Kabota with foot swing. This one has twin sticks so a different animal. I do believe I can by wrapping my arm around the sticks putting the right stick in the bend over my elbow and then hand on the left stick. Might be awkward but with practice....

Thoughts?

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 14:17
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I have that same tractor, a 2019 model but sold in 2020. I like mine a lot though the next size up would def be better.
Mind that the rear wheel width is only 4' (can be tippy!) unless they put aftermarket spacers on. Any fluid in tires or wheel weights? They will help with traction overall but wont change the pivot point from the front axle when heavily loading the forks or bucket, for that shift of pivot to the rear axle you need at least the back-hoe mounted but imo 600# or more in a rear ballast box or diy concrete block on the 3pt hitch.
There was the std bucket and a heavy duty option. Either bucket needs the add-on hooks!
I have the brush-hog rotary rear mower rather than the back hoe; the mower suits 'my' purposes better.
Wish I had the real forks attachment! My clamp-on forks arent near as useful; light duty only.
I also have the rear grading or snow blade, a good multi-purpose blade. For real dirt or gravel use the 4' box blade would do a better job. The max the 24hp can probably pull is a 5' and it will depend a lot on of you have tractor tread or the industrial(?) tires.
I can borrow a hole digger or box blade when needed.
Btw, many cat1 3pt hitch attachments should work but the hitch is rated 'limited' that is for travel.
Iirc the pto is 18hp.
Is there a service record with it! I think the first fluids and filter changes should be done at 50hrs, then 100, then 200hrs thereafter. Might be some transferable warrantee for mech internal stuff out to 5yrs? If so use the JD filters and fluids!
Note there is a small garden tractor size 1st stage fuel filter right off the bottom of the fuel tank under the left side floorboard, it will collect the tank crud/water 1st before getting to the nice big one on the engine. The little one will make a mess changing but many dont know about it. Mine, with only 180hrs was 1/4-1/3 full of water. Def only use the JD filter (under $6), it is 25 micron.
The air filter housing had trouble, it may have been a mid-year 2019 change and Not a recall. The proper upgrade housing sits transverse on the back of the radiator mount. The one that breaks is inline and mounted on top of the engine. Note that the housings have 2 filters, a primary and secondary and are different lengths between the housings. I found no aftermarket filters available. The primary (outer) one is likely a 2 to 1 replacement to the inner one; JD, about $26.
The trans fluid is critical and should have def been done at the earlier service intervals. There is a choice of 'weights' depending upon winter use or not.
The Yanmar 3cyl diesel is a well regarded and reliable engine, made in Japan; Im waayyy good with that.
As to price, what else in your area comes close?
As to operating, only you can tell your limitations.
Hope this is helpful.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 15:04
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What is it, tractor days around here?

Can't help much, my 1974 backhoe has bucket curl, up/down, in/out and left/right levers, plus the outriggers, all separate. Definitely a two hander. Maybe you could fashion a U bracket on one lever for your elbow.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 15:19
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I have left a message and am awaiting a call back so don't know much more than is in the add. It is a 4' box blade not just a 3 point ditching/grading blade.

Let you know what transpires.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 16:03
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And remember, everything like this should be negotiable.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 16:05
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Paul, Every day is Tractor Day

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 16:38
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Quoting: gcrank1
And remember, everything like this should be negotiable.


Oh yeah! I lived in China for years.... you negotiated for nearly everything there. Asking price was the "pie in the sky."

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 20:08
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20k can buy you a hell of alot more tractor if you add a decade onto its year and 1,000hours onto its meter. It really depends on the work you want to do. Minimal land clearing and have alot of time it will be fine. Maintence like tasks is would be perfect, how ever I would never mow with one of these sub compact tractors.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 20:13
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Quoting: Brettny
Minimal land clearing and have alot of time it will be fine. Maintence like tasks is would be perfect, how ever I would never mow with one of these sub compact tractors.


This is exactly what we will be doing, no real heavy excavation work. I expect to dig a few trenches for neighbors occasionally but no big jobs. There is another guy up here with big equipment for those jobs.

This tractor will accept a mower deck under it, like a riding mower but bigger. You can also get a brush hog for it. Are you saying no under deck or brush hog?

Irrigation Guy
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 20:41
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I unfortunately can’t see how one could be productive with a backhoe using just one arm. you really need two hands on these machines to use them as intended. That being said a one armed guy would get more done with a backhoe than a one armed guy with a shovel. You might be able to craft some type of bracket/strap to connect one of the sticks to your knee if you are flexible enough. I have seen videos of people with no arms doing some incredible stuff with their legs and feet.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 20:47 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Mine runs the 4' Frontier 'brush-hog' rear rotary just fine. Day after I brought it home I mowed/widened all our trails with a single pass and trialed it on the out of control blackberry bush mess we have on one side of the property. Is that ever going to save us oldsters a lot of bull work next season.
I have no need to have the mid-deck, I aint doing a golf course.
Anything that has a pto to hook up may be a problem for you?
Btw, the model 1025R is JD's most popular/best selling sub compact. Many of the controls are similar to the large JD lawn tractors so the transition is easy for those who have such. Also makes them attractive to more users for resale.
Some folks have posted they with the rear tires were larger dia. but really, you dont gain much ground clearance unless you go to a much bigger tractor.
Brett's comment is well taken though, older and higher hour units will likely be less money.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2022 22:33
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Thanks IrrigationGuy.... yeah I'm not sure. Like I said I can operate a backhoe with foot swing... actually fairly well. But twin sticks I guess I need to try before I buy.

I'm not really trying to be "productive" rather just get a bit of work done around the place and maybe do a little digging for neighbors. My guess is I'll use the front end loader, porthole digger and box blade more than the backhoe... but useless to have a backhoe if I can't run it.

Bruces
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 00:44
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You guys have to watch a guy on YouTube called the “harmless farmer “ ,Unfortunately he passed away a month or so ago ,but he is the poster child for this exact thing ,except he had no arms at all .He was a real farmer ,running real equipment ,repairing real equipment (literally rebuilding vintage tractors from the ground up ,along with the newer stuff too ) .No doubt that equipment your interested in he would of run the wheels off of it no problem .Look him up and be prepared to be amazed !

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 06:14
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Quoting: Nobadays
This tractor will accept a mower deck under it, like a riding mower but bigger. You can also get a brush hog for it. Are you saying no under deck or brush hog

Dont bother with a under belly mower. There called mid mount mowers. Zero turn mowers mow so much better and quicker. And you dont need to remove it when you do offroad loader work.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 06:23
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Quoting: gcrank1
Brett's comment is well taken though, older and higher hour units will likely be less money.

I have found that theres a sweet spot between too new and to old. It seams to be about 10-20yrs of age. Tractors came a long way in the late 90s yet if you go towards the late 2000s ( and on) they started to introduce computers and DEF, regenerative systems for the exhaust. DPF and the such would be a deal killer for me I have delt with these systems on large trucks and even larger JD tractors with out them. There computer systems are way more complex then needed.

A few months ago I bought a new holland Tc40 with loader, rear remote and grapple bucket. No computers, weights roughly 5,000lbs and can lift nearly 2,000lbs and has 3,000hrs paid $14k. I expect it to be running just fine in 20yrs.

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 07:25
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My two cents is, when you go to look at it, factor in the "getting on and off" factor". Backhoes on small tractors cannot dig a very long area before you have to get off and move forward a bit. I have a larger, Kubota L3800 with a backhoe. It has two seats, one for the tractor and one for the backhoe. In my case, I have to get off and get into the driver seat to move forward, then get off and get back into the backhoe seat to work. Now, the John Deere you are looking at has just one seat. It might be possible to swivel or turn around to move forward. If this is the case, you may have to keep unstrapping your arm from the joy stick. I don't know, but it's something only you can figure out for yourself. This might only be a problem if you plan to dig long ditches. I dug about 100 feet for a water line and the on and off thing is manageable since I was not in a hurry. A larger machine has a longer dipper and can reach out to do more digging before moving.

Anyway, give this some thought.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 08:01
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Mine has the swivel seat and your right, there's a lot of getting up and down. On a long straight trench in open ground I can run the bucket into the bottom of the trench and use it to push the tractor forward without having to get up.

Mine is 8,000lbs, 50hp diesel. Even with the narrowest 12" bucket, anything hard in the ground, roots or big rocks will stop it, or move the tractor. I don't know how the lighter machines do it.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 08:28
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Thanks for all the input!

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 09:10
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Quoting: Brettny
Zero turn mowers mow so much better and quicker.


One arm.... pretty close to no chance operating any zero turn I've seen.

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 10:16
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Country Clipper Zero Turn has a joy stick for steering:

https://www.countryclipper.com/learn-more/videos/features/joystick-steering.aspx

Tim_Ohio

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 10:33
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It is likely the joystick can be located on either side of the unit.

Tim

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 10:44
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Lol, I consider lawn mowing less and less important as I get older; my 'lawn' is gettin smaller every year.

Tim_Ohio
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 10:52
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Quoting: gcrank1
less important as I get older


Me too. My wife moved us from a postage stamp lot to a 3 acre lot, recently. I had to buy a "fast as fast can be" mower so I could spend time going to the cabin, instead of lawn surfing. It cost me a bundle....have you seen the prices of those things, lately....geese!

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 12:37
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I have one of the cub cadet zero turn mowers with a steering wheel....works pretty well actually...

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 12:44
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A fellow I knew hated lawn mowing and had to wear goggles and mask for allergies.
He gave his nice rider mower to his neighbor in exchange for the neighbor keeping his lawn mowed.
Good Trade for him

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 14:04
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Didn't know zero turn mowers were made with steering wheels and single joy sticks. My issue is hillside with bunch grass. I need a high wheeled, high clearance mower. The areas I want to mow( presently use a wheeled string trimmer and weed eater) isn't horribly steep so with care I'm sure I can mow it. So many trees a brush hog would be a pita and something else to distract me. The JD 1025r has a quick connect mid mount mower you just drive over and hook up. I'll have to find out if it can operate fully lifted. I just want to knock the bunch grass down not chop off the bunches.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 14:47
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Reports Ive read/seen online are that you have to have a flat pad and be pretty good to do the 'drive-on mount. It still has a pto hook-up beneath, maybe it works like an in-flight fuel guide in nozzle?
Think they are for nicely done 'parks', not roughish ground?
Was even said that a lot of dealers cant actually do it well in demo's; idk, Im not trying to embarrass my dealer by asking since I dont want one anyway.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2022 15:02
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Gcrank1, good to know

Bruces
Member
# Posted: 4 Nov 2022 00:11
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https://youtu.be/4FcgGfDUYUk

If the link works you will see how a guy with no arms can indeed run a zero turn mower ,and change out 3 mower blades in 15 minutes using his feet .

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 4 Nov 2022 11:02
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You do all you can with what you have... all any of us can do. Kudos to this gentleman for adapting!

Seeing how close the handles are to each other, pretty sure I could run that no problem. But IMHO, my ground is too rough for that kind of mower. I will need to have a deck... mid mount or brush hog that can be raised 6-8" to keep from scalping the bunch grass.

BTW I think I read that JD uses SAE configuration on their backhoe controls which puts the stick and bucket in my right hand... the one I have... and the boom/swing on the left stick. I think this would give me a good advantage. I know, at least in ditching it's stick all the way in and boom all up to make a smooth even cut at the bottom of the ditch. That shouldn't be too hard using my right hand and left foot, or reaching across both sticks in a hugging motion. We'll see!

But.... my wife says she wants to learn how to operate as well! If I can't do some tasks, I bet she can!

Oh, a while back some were surprised she has her own chainsaw... she had trouble starting the Stihl, so she uses our Makita electric, she loves that saw!

We are pretty much snowed in right now with 13" of snow yesterday. Will be going up to see the machine the first of the week when this melts down.

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