[AJD] John Deere 650

Tue Mar 15 05:12:12 PST 2005

Dean

I should restate that comment about the Duramax. My son just negotiated
the contract, I actually have to pay for it out of the proceeds from the
station. We had just enough snow to be a nuisance, to try to shove it
off by hand. That's the excuse I'm going to use to justify the purchase.
Probably be better off to get a blade for the pickup!
We set up two tables and 8 chairs by the big windows of the station and
the retirees sit there and drink free coffee and eat peanuts. Now they
are bringing their own peanuts and 3 lb cans of coffee.
We call them the "Do Da " boys, as DO DA check come in yet?
Of course I'm just as bad as any of them, except I do get out and work a
few hours. Am presently wiring and helping plumb an old house my
daughter picked up here in Broadus, so am kept pretty busy, except I
don't seem to accomplish much each day.
I should run down and see what implements he has with the 650.

Amsden, south by east Montana

-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf
Of Dean VP
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 10:49 PM
To: 'Antique John Deere mailing list'
Subject: RE: [AJD] John Deere 650

Lyman:

I wouldn't downgrade the 650 very much for having less than 20HP. I
don't
ever recall when I was short of HP on my 750. However, short on
traction,
yes. I think you would find the 650 to be quite handy compared to a JD
G.
Much more maneuverable. But it depends on what you want to use it for.
However, it won't do the job of a G out in the wheat field that much I
do
know. But was never intended to. Don't know how well it would do moving
snow
off of your stations driveways but if your weather is anything like ours
this past winter, that's not something you have to worry about. 

I don't know what your gas prices are in Eastern MT but my last fill of
diesel fuel was at $2.79 a gallon. That got my attention. I suppose you
only
get to keep a flat few cents of margin over the cost no matter what the
retail price is. That means turning allot of dollars at lower and lower
profit margin percentages. Volume, volume, the world's business knows no
other word. Better than sitting home watching TV, I hope. 

I would be curious what the JD 650 model numbers of the implements are
that
are available. I think some of the same implements were used on the 650
and
750. I might be interested in having you bid on some of them for me if
you
don't need them. I would want to know more about them if possible. I
would
only be interested if they are JD implements and are in decent shape.

Wow, a 2004 Diesel truck. That is cool. Just when diesel fuel prices go
through the roof. :-) But you get to buy the fuel at cost. That is not
fair!
:-)

I'll tell you what, I would be most grateful if I am as active and
healthy
as you are at 79. Some mornings I am just grateful I'm still capable of
getting vertical!

Don't think we will be driving East this year. Heading for Redmond, Or
in
April and then will be flying over your head in July heading for
Washington
DC and then in September a trip to Pacific Beach, CA for a family
reunion. I
think that will be the extent of our travels in 2005 but one never
knows.
The offer of free coffee and peanuts is tempting! Always enjoy visiting
with
you and your wife. 

Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the
storeroom door 

www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm

-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf
Of
lyman amsden
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:05 PM
To: 'Antique John Deere mailing list'
Subject: RE: [AJD] John Deere 650

Dean

Thanks for your reply!
Seems the 650 is smaller than I had hoped for, have not seen it yet, as
I'm used to farming with a G I think I would be disappointed.
Yes it is 4 wheel drive or front wheel assist, has a 4 ft loader on it ,
also at this sale are other implements such as one bottom plow , mower
and mulcher.
I was hoping it would be bigger.
The station is going great, would be a money maker if we weren't always
buying so much. Averages around $2500 to $3000 per day.
Would be a real moneymaker if gas prices were lower.
Guess I'll go to the sale and see if I can buy the 650 at a reasonable
price to allow me to buy some of the equipment also.
Have been following some of the discussions on this list but as you know
I'm not knowledgeable enough to add much to the discussion.
Almost answered the one discussion about how dangerous it was to start a
tractor from the ground while it was in gear and the operator was
standing in front of the back wheel. Luckily my G seldom starts on the
first pop but
Did scare the heck out of me.
Don't get much free time to work on my projects, but son bought me a
2004 one ton Duramax Diesel to use at the station which is some comfort,
specially enjoy the heated seats and the SM radio.
Also good to hear from you, and keep up the good work you do in advising
guys like me about this old iron.

Amsden, south by east Montana

PS--- Am coming up on 79. slowing up some but can only blame it on
laziness
And not old age. Have free coffee and peanuts every day at the station
if you ever get out this way.  Lyman

-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf
Of Dean VP
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 9:12 PM
To: 'Antique John Deere mailing list'
Subject: RE: [AJD] John Deere 650

Lyman:

I own a 1981 (first year made if my memory is right) JD 750 which is the
next size up from the 650. This series of tractors was made for JD by
Yanmar. Mine has a three cylinder diesel engine in it. The 750 is just
under
20HP so I would guess a 650 is a couple HP less. I bought mine with a
190
hours on it in 1998. It has essentially been trouble free with the
exception
of the brakes which seem to be the weakest link on the tractor. I have
the
rear ties filled with fluid and if I really wanted to make the tractor
right
I would add more rear wheel weights. Mine came with a front three way
blade
and a 50" JD brush cutter that were both like new. Unfortunately I have
used
the brush cutter a lot and it no longer looks like new anymore as I was
mowing rocks here for awhile until I got the pasture policed properly.
Actually the thing that did the most damage was the PO left the cutoff
tops
of 4 x 4 posts laying along the fence line and the first time I used the
cutter, when we moved here, the grass was quite long already and I
didn't
realize the 4 x 4 cutoffs were buried under the maze.  As soon as I hit
the
first ones, I policed the rest of the fence line but the damage had
already
been done. 

The one thing I don't like about the 750 is the fact that it doesn't
have
live PTO and I don't think that was an available option either. It is a
bit
of mystery to me why that feature wasn't designed in and offered or
standard
as the capability existed all the way back into the 50's. It hasn't
hindered
my use of the brush cutter but there have been times when a live PTO
would
have really helped. 

If the 650 you are looking at has a loader then I would recommend that
it
better have Power Steering at the minimum and hopefully 4 WD as well.
I'm
pretty sure both features would almost be a necessity with a loader.
This
line of tractors has manual transmissions with a High/Low shifter as
well.
Differential lock is via foot pedal. It seems to be geared properly for
the
work I use it for. I do occasionally grind the gears when shifting for
some
odd reason. Maybe because it doesn't have a Live PTO. The three point
hitch
lift capacity is quite limited but for normal work does the job. I
occasional use a rear mounted scoop on mine and have had loads in the
scoop
that it cannot lift but they were large rocks. The lift capacity seems
to
have been engineered to equal the balance of a 750 with front blade. If
I
can get it to lift the scoop with a really heavy load it will sometimes
instead lift the front end. Kind of scary on slopes. Using a boom on the
three point is an exercise in futility. It just doesn't have the lift
capacity required in that application. My JD 620 has to be used for
that. 

All in all a very good tractor for it's cost today compared to the
latest
and greatest JD offering with hydraulic transmissions and numerous other
bells and whistles. I really don't know what 650's with a loader sell
for
but if it could be had in the $4,000 to $7,000 region I would think that
would be in the reasonable ball park.  Others on the list may be able to
give a much better educated value guess.

Hope this helps somehow. 

BTW:  Good to hear from you again. How is the station doing?   

Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

I'm a walking storeroom of facts..... I've just lost the key to the
storeroom door 

www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm

-----Original Message-----
From: antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:antique-johndeere-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf
Of
lyman amsden
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 7:15 PM
To: antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AJD] John Deere 650

Anybody on this list familiar with the 650 garden tractor?
Have located one with a small loader on it. 1986 model with low hours
and clean. Any ideas how much it's worth?
Any help would be appreciated.

Amsden, south by east Montana

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