likes/dislikes on John Deere Model 950

I am considering purchasing a John Deere Model 950, it is a 1986 with model 8 backhoe and 75 loader that were factory installed. 4X4 31hp with 990 hours has complete 3pt hitch and draw bar. any comments on likes and dislikes would be great, also the asking price is $12,500 and I think that is in the ball-park and comment on that also will help.
This will be used for personal use of clearing a lot and installing a driveway and culverts.

Thank you, Stefan in New Hampshire...

I have an early 80's model 850 2WD for about 11 years, really like it. I mainly use it with a 5' shredder. Here is a list of pros and cons
Pros: extremely fuel efficient, can run it all day at full throttle on a tank of diesel. Starts easy, easy to operate and maintain, only maintenance has been a new water pump, batteries, filters.

Cons: There was a serial number break sometime in the 80's - new models have a two stage clutch, wish I had that. I'd like to have remote hydraulics, but when you find used parts such as the hyraulic SCVs or the power steering kit, which was an option that is no longer available from Deere, they are expensive. I have heard that parts such as a new clutch are expensive, but aren't they all? With only 990 hours, that should not be an issue for you.

I plan to keep it forever, no reason to ever get rid of it.

I had a 1050 and there isn"t much difference between them.

Likes:

Super easy on fuel, dead reliable to start, nimble and powerful for their class.

Dislikes:

Too lightweight, brakes are crap, and most have no power steering as it was a dealer only, add-on option.

I sold mine 5 years ago for $5,000. It had 1499 hours and was in excellent condition. 1980 model.

I can't speak to the price, but you'll love the tractor.

I have it's little brother the 750, bought new in 1988. I have beat the snot out of that thing, running a 5 foot rotary mower and a three-point backhoe among other things and you simply can not kill it.

Yup, it's too light and nope, it doesn't have power steering or live PTO, but it has ALWAYS done anything I've asked of it, never failed to start, and the only repair I've ever done that wasn't the direct result of abuse or operator stupidity was replace the battery once.

I don"t know what kind of clearing or building drive ways you plan on doing, but the 950 is kind of a toy set up like that. It is more like 27hp if I remember right. Grew up on my folks 950 and a 1050 and had several myself.

Brakes are crappy, but work OK if you keep good pads in them and don"t let the shaft that goes into the brake housing freeze up. Hydraulics are not very robust compared to bigger stuff, kinda slow actually. They do come with factory power steering, most don"t have it, I would NOT have one with a loader without power steering.

They have a tendency to crack heads when overheated or overworked, mostly if the idiot light for the temp isn"t working. Engine parts are really expensive for what they are.

Otherwise they are a good little tractor, but I don"t think you will want to move more than just a little dirt and you sure won"t take out any trees bigger than 6-8" around, even with the backhoe

That and for a tractor over 20 years old, it better be really cherry to be worth 12,500. Even if it is nice it is only worth maybe 10,000. The tractor and loader are worth about 7000 and the backhoe maybe 3000

Look at getting a newer 310 backhoe or something similiar for about the same money, it will probably have more hours, but will be many times the machine in power and strength. Also it is made for just what you want to do, not a converted garden tractor

All of the above gripes fuel economy was the worst of all my diesels.Parts will floor you.

BTW I have a factory service manual for 850-1050 I am looking to get rid of and I'm in NH.

Fuel economy was average, not horrible. I have a 950 and it has 960 hours on it. I would price it at 5000 even. It has smaller rear tires, been well maintained, 2wd. It is a good tractor for straight driving. You can't steer it sitting still without ram assist steering.

It has been reliable, but would not use it for a loader. Torque tube (clutch housing) too weak for jarring effects of the loader. It is only 8 inches in diameter.

12500 is way too much for it. Maybe 10 grand even.

The loader and backhoe will use every ounce of that 31 hp yanmar. On the dyno, mine shows 28 hp.

You will not make it clearing a lot. Ever.

Buy a cheap Case 580CLK backhoe for 6 grand, and get a LOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT more work done.