John Deere 1025r Everything I Love And Hate!

[NavyGuyOO]

Been in the market for a compact tractor for a while. Looked at the 1025r, decided to go with the Branson 2505h, for a variety of reasons but the main one being cost. JD sure is proud of that green color, the 1025r with a loader and backhoe was 32k, Branson, loader and backhoe out the door 23k. You get right down to it on these compact/subcompact tractors they're all pretty much the same, same Yanmar 3-cylinder diesel engines, same two-pedal hydrostatic drive setup etc. Little difference in placement of controls, some things I like on the JD over Branson but not enough to warrant an almost 10k price difference.

[waltbennett]

Since I very seldom use the dif lock, I've never been bothered by the stubby little lever. Things I hate about mine after three years + are how the hood latch breaks off from the motor vibrations starting and stopping. Lots of JB Weld fixed it, but that plastic hood needs to be improved. Next is how the bare metal sleeve in the fuel filler spout corrodes after a year or so. Why it's there in the first place, I can't figure out. Third is that the tach quit working at about 110 hours. All I really need it for is for PTO revs and the digital gauge still works fine for that. Otherwise it's been a great little Swiss army knife!

[dave]

Looking myself for one, I'm about to go with RK24 or 25 cost is the biggest reason and JD dealer here is not so good to deal with. Do have a friend with a 1025r he got new and now willing to sell asking 16k may go that route, I know he hasn't hurt it. Hope you got a good trade in for yours.

[macdawg]

Agreed.. wish I get the Versa Turf tires, they are on the wish list.

[zanepaxton]

I bought a 2016 1025R with only 41 hours on it! For my 1-1/3 acres, it’s a game changer. I’ve enjoyed it way more that I expected. My biggest gripes are several things:

1. The hydraulic pump’s flow rate needs to be upgraded because one can only use one function at a time. Lift is separate from curl on the loader. It’s slow and an unnatural flow. I’m looking at the HydrosPlus pump upgrade but it’s expensive at $1, 600 + tax and shipping. That doesn’t increase power just multi-function capability, speed and mechanical “flow”.

2. I need more lifting capacity on the loader and more power on the backhoe. HydrosPlus has bigger cylinders but also expensive at $600-$800 per pair… I bought 42” forks and they weigh 300 lbs so that cuts into lifting capacity a fair amount. All those mods invalidates the warranty, but I’m well past the warranty period anyways!

I need to do some grading and the loader doesn’t tilt. Most box blades and grading blades don’t tilt to create a swale with slopes perpendicular to the straight line normal motion. I’d really like a front tilting dozer blade but there doesn’t seem to be any on the market.

Then I keep lusting after more and more attachments! It’s like a Swiss Army knife in the finer sense. I hate having to store bulky attachments outside in the rain. Now I’m envying farmers with big barns and storage sheds! I’ve ended up building custom Dollie’s for attachments. Attachments are all heavy!

It requires a fair amount of acting as my own mechanic, but on the whole I’m delighted with it!

[JerseyFrank]

The creeping forward issue is due to pedals being out of adjustment. Diff lock can be activated by lightly pressing on brake pedal. Fyi

[Besthunterever]

The lights not turn left or right off the loader?

[michaelogilvy]

How many hours on your tractor? May have missed that. What are you moving “up” to?

[garrymiller]

It’s basically a lawn mower with a loader and its a death trap. I cant believe that John Deere allow people to drive these things with a loader, the slightest gradient when the bucket is full and you will roll it right over !

[bekabeka]

Hey man do you think it’s worth to buy such small tractor or even a tractor for less than an acre garden?

[mickeysm]

John Deere has always put the differential lock the, on The old 4020 that's where the differential lock was

[oddlyrightoddlyright]

1723eb massy front loader backhoe with thumb and a 60 inch mower deck 23, 300……the deeres was 8-10k more

[scotttaylor]

The side lights turn outwards bye the way.