Opinion needed Deere 700-750 feed mill

tomstractorsandtoys

Well-known Member
My neighbor is looking for a feed grinder. His Gehl fell apart. I was wondering how good or bad a Deere 700-750 is? What are the differences between the two? We have two Deere 400's and get along ok with them. He needs something to grind for a small steer operation and will more than likely power it with a Deere 4000. Would prefer a NH 353-355 but they seem very over priced. Tom
 
The John Deere 700-750 mills where great at mixing feed that did not want to slide well. They have a flat bottom and a sweep arm that moves the feed to the center mixing auger. Their weakness was the unloading auger system. They depend on the vertical auger to "throw" the feed into the horizontal unloading auger. So this system is NOT one that works well at low speeds. So farmers used to other brands that you could idle the tractor to unload would plug the up right auger as it needed speed for the paddles to throw the feed over into the next auger.

The difference in the 700 and 750 where capacity. The 700 was around 100 bushels and the 750 was 150, I think.

Now the bad news. I would NOT buy one these days. 15 years ago parts where getting hard to get and costly. JD has discontinued many of the parts for these mixers.

The JD 400 is a simpler machine and the wear parts are easier/cheaper to find/make.

I owned several JD 750s when they were newer. Nothing would mix fresh picked ear corn better. I switched to a NH mills about 15 years ago just because of parts. Now NH quit making mixers too. I currently have an Artsway mixer. I like it and have had few problems with it. H&S also makes a grinder mixer now too. It sure looks like a Gehl mixer copied/improved.

If I was buying a used grinder mixer today it would be an Artsway, Gehl,or New Holland. Parts are still available for the Gehl and New Holland for now. H&S just has not been making them for long. So the used ones for sale are limited. I would not buy a JD one with JD dropping parts and raising the price on the ones still left.
 
Like JD says,that flat bottom mixer is great. I never put anything through mine that hung up,no matter how wet it was. The Rube Goldberg set up of shafts and gears to the mixer and unloader was the real downfall of them. There had to have been a simpler way of running those things without so many gears reversing direction of rotation.

Getting parts for mine was the last straw between me and the dealer,but that's a story that been told over and over.
 
I don't know if you have any Mennonites where you live but it may pay to see if they know about aftermarket parts for those JD grinder mixers. I know they or the Amish are making parts for JD and NH small square balers and forage harvesters. I know because they send me catalogs via the mail. Somebody on here was saying they also turn out parts for JD and NI corn pickers. Somebody in their community may be making parts for grinder mixers.
 
JD gave me some of the same advice years ago between a 400 and 700. I got a 400 and have been very happy. I think I have put three bearings in it and a chain - all stock item I got from Napa. I'll use the 400 again today. It just keeps soldiering on and does a great job.
 
H&S wanted to buy the designs from Gehl but they wouldn't sell them so they reverse engineered their grinder using a Gehl as a pattern as told to me by an H&S rep, Dad bought a new 1150 IH in 75 and ear corn would bridge up in the corn unless it was really dry, he always wanted a 700, probably a good thing we never got one, I have an IH 105 that I use when I wean my claves or feed some pigs for eating
 
I have a 400 Deere I've been happy with, pre 700 model. I keep it greased and store it inside. Its been good to me as I use it once a week 8-10 months a year. I have had it about 15 years.

The previous owner replaced the gear box on the bottom of the mixer. He said it was a big costly job so make sure you keep a close eye on the gear box. Mine leaks and I fill it full of corn head grease and 90wt oil. I check the level every 3-5 uses. I'm not getting any younger and I just hope it last as long as I do.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top