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Dietrich, Idaho and Mountain Home, Idaho | I am looking at buying either a Ford 8730 powershift with 5200 hours($28,000) or a JD 7800 powershift with 6900 hours($42,000) and am wondering which tractor is better(I only have JD's up to the 40 series)? What are the high points and low points of both? How do the engines, transmissions, axles, and pto's hold up on these two tractors? How reliable are the electronic controls on these two tractors? I will be using the tractor with a NH BB960 big square baler, JD 15' offset disk, and Hesston 14 shank chisel plow. Also, how necessary is MFWD(I have never owned or operated a tractor with MFWD)? |
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| I think you would be better off with the Ford. There are a few around and they seem to reliable tractors, and the guys who have them sure dont seem to complain about the power. You will want the MFWD for the tillage work, once you experience this you will never go back to a 2wd tractor for tillage.
My dad and brother have a 7810 deere, and it really works hard with their BB940 baler, and I know their tractor has been back in the shop a number of times with transmission and electrical issues.
I run a BB940 with a chopper behind a Case MX220, and it has power to spare.
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north central SD | We have a 7800 ps MFWD that we got used with 3300 hrs on it. It now has 11000 hrs and have had a few minor issues but no major ones. PTO switch replaced along with PTO speed sensor. Nut on MFWD clutch pack loosened up but just tightened it. The pto shaft is a weak point. Although it's never failed, you can wiggle it quite a bit and has a tendency to wear if it isn't greased. |
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SCIA | I had a ford tw25 same tractor as a 8730. Some 8730 had a power shift some a duel power.I would not take another of this model if they gave it to me mine was the biggest money pit I ever bought.Check the adds most have new motors between 4000 to 5000 hours. |
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Swmn | I own an 8730 and love the tractor. Have 5600 hours and have owned since 2300. Purchased from our neighbor, who didn't really take care of it. But that doesn't seem to matter its been a great tractor. the only thing we have done to it was put in rear bearings and seals at 5400 hrs. That was the result of running a 36' mounted planter on it. now i pull a 108' redball sprayer in the summer and mainly use it in the fall for chopping stalks. We buy fords because they are 2X the tractor for 3/4 the money. the only thing i really don't like is its hard to get in the seat. the seat doesn't pivot either which is sometimes an inconvenience. other than that its a nice reliable tractor. one nice feature is the fuel capacity. not sure on the exact gallons but it seems i can run forever on a fill. Several years ago we bought an 8870 new holland tractor used and have had great experience with that as well. the 8730 will work great for what you describe. once you have mfwd you will wonder why you didn't buy one sooner. |
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Southeast Florida | That's my memories of a FORD tractor too, my uncle had 7 of them ranging from 8700 to TW 35. Uncle Sid was constantly borrowing my Deere's then 4440, 4840 and 4850 MFWD because his FORD's had broke down and he needed to go. FORD is famous for changing part number and subbing it maybe 15 times and the part not be available.
Another famous FORD problem is they've got a parent bore block that'll pinhole into the cylinder usually on the back of the engine; very expensive to repair too.
Bern, [email protected], is a former shop manager for a large FORD dealer and is now a college professor teaching mechanics so he does know what he's saying, ask him about it would be my suggestion.
The Deere 7800 did have some issues early because I had the first one that came to our local dealer in FL, it didn't last 1 year at my farm before it was traded on a 4455 that somebody had left over. The latter models were great tractors but it's like any new series being introduced they always have problems. My guess is if it's still running today it's a later series and has all the bugs worked out. My personal favorite of that era is a MAGNUM. |
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Ford 8730 or JD 7800?
