The John Deere 1025R is one of the most capable sub-compact tractors on the market, engineered for homeowners, hobby farms, and small-acreage operations. With strong PTO horsepower, a smooth hydrostatic transmission, and an impressive range of attachments, it handles mowing, loader work, snow removal, and light tillage with ease. Its compact size makes it highly maneuverable while still delivering real tractor performance.
Below you’ll find complete 1025R tractor specifications, features, and real-world insights to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your property.
General Overview
The John Deere 1025R is a premium sub-compact utility tractor built for loader work, mowing, snow removal, and light tillage on small acreages and large residential properties. Its compact footprint, 4WD, and hydrostatic drive make it easy to maneuver around trees, buildings, and driveways, while still delivering enough PTO horsepower to run mid-mount mowers, rotary cutters, and rear tillers. For many owners it becomes the “do-everything” machine for year-round chores and hay work support.
Engine, Power & Performance
The 1025R’s three-cylinder Yanmar diesel delivers responsive power for mowing, loader work, and light tillage while remaining fuel-efficient. Owners typically see low fuel consumption for routine chores, with enough extra PTO horsepower in reserve to handle thicker grass, small hay work, and snowblower duty without bogging the tractor.
Transmission, PTO & Hydraulics
The hydrostatic transmission with Twin Touch pedals makes frequent forward-reverse changes effortless, which is ideal for front-loader work, mowing around obstacles, and snowblowing. The open-center hydraulic system provides enough flow for the 120R loader, power steering, and 3-point implements so you can raise, curl, and steer smoothly under load.
Dimensions, Weight & Tires
With a narrow overall width and relatively low hood height, the 1025R feels compact around trees, barns, and landscaped areas yet still offers a stable 57-inch wheelbase. The combination of 4WD, wide 26×12-12 rear tires, and low operating weight keeps ground compaction down while maintaining stability on moderate slopes and when carrying a loaded front-end loader.
Electrical System & Attachments
The 1025R’s 12-volt electrical system supports LED work lighting, heated cab options, and electric PTO controls while keeping starting reliable in cold weather. Owners frequently add additional LED work lights, 12V accessories, and rear implement lighting without overloading the charging system.
- 120R front loader with quick-attach bucket, pallet forks, and grapple options
- AutoConnect™ mid-mount mower decks (54D or 60D) for finish mowing and turf work
- Front snowblower, front blade, and rear snowblowers for winter cleanup
- Rear rotary cutter (typically 4 ft), box blade, rear blade, and landscape rake
- Rotary tiller, post hole digger, spreaders, and small hay or material-handling implements
With a limited Category 1 hitch and mid-PTO, the 1025R can run a wide range of compact tractor attachments, turning one machine into a mower, loader, snow mover, and light hay or property-maintenance tractor.
Price, Value & Resale
The 1025R holds value extremely well thanks to strong demand from acreage owners, landscapers, and hobby farms. Clean, low-hour units with a loader, mower deck, and snow package often sell quickly and command premium resale pricing compared to many competing sub-compact tractor models.
Maintenance, Fluids & Service
Routine service on the 1025R is straightforward: wide-opening hood, easily accessible engine oil filter, fuel filters, and spin-on hydraulic filter. Following Deere’s recommended intervals for oil, Hy-Gard, and filter changes keeps the hydrostatic drive and Yanmar diesel happy for thousands of hours.
Common service tips include greasing the 120R loader pivot points and AutoConnect™ mower driveshaft regularly, keeping the radiator and screens clear of chaff, and watching hydraulic quick-couplers for dirt or o-ring damage that can cause small leaks or connection issues.
Common Issues & Parts Compatibility
Most reported 1025R issues center around setup and wear items rather than core drivetrain failures: AutoConnect™ mower decks need to be adjusted correctly to avoid PTO noise and hookup trouble, and hydraulic quick-couplers can be finicky if not kept clean and greased. Deck lift problems are often traced to mis-routed hydraulics or worn linkage rather than major hydraulic failures.
The upside is parts availability—filters, fluids, many hydraulic components, and 3-point hardware are widely shared across the 1 Series and related compact tractors, so OEM and aftermarket parts support is excellent and long-term ownership is generally low-risk.
Tractor Tests & Real-World Use
In real-world use the 1025R shines as an all-around acreage tractor: it has enough PTO horsepower to power a 60-inch AutoConnect™ mower deck, 4-foot rotary cutter, or compact tiller while staying compact enough for suburban lots and tight barnyards. Owners commonly use it for loader work, snow removal, small hay and material-handling tasks, and general chore duty around the farmstead.
If you need one tractor to handle mowing, loader work, driveway maintenance, and light tillage without stepping up to a heavier compact utility, the John Deere 1025R is a strong fit in this horsepower class and offers modern tractor specifications with excellent comfort and attachment support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the engine oil capacity of the John Deere 1025R?
The John Deere 1025R holds approximately 2.7 quarts (2.5 liters) of engine oil when performing a full change with filter. Always verify levels using the dipstick and refer to the owner’s manual for fluid specifications and recommended service intervals.
What is the John Deere 1025R best used for?
The 1025R is ideal for mowing, loader work, snow removal, landscaping, garden tillage, and general property maintenance. Its compact size and tight turning radius make it perfect for small acreages and maneuvering around buildings or trees.
What is the lift capacity of the John Deere 1025R?
The John Deere 1025R has a 3-point hitch lift capacity of approximately 681 pounds at 24 inches behind the hitch. When paired with the 120R loader, it can lift around 758 pounds at the pivot pin, making it capable of handling buckets, pallet forks, and a wide range of compact implements.
How much PTO horsepower does the John Deere 1025R have?
The 1025R produces about 18 PTO horsepower, which is enough to run a 4-ft rotary cutter, tillers, snow blowers, and mid-mount mower decks. This PTO rating places it firmly in the sub-compact utility tractor class.
What attachments are compatible with the John Deere 1025R?
The 1025R supports a wide range of implements, including the 120R front loader, 54” and 60” AutoConnect mower decks, rear blades, box blades, tillers, snow blowers, pallet forks, grapples, and post-hole augers. Most Category 1 (limited) implements sized for 18–25 PTO hp tractors will fit.
Is the John Deere 1025R good for loader work?
Yes — the 120R loader pairs extremely well with the 1025R, offering strong lift capacity for mulch, gravel, manure, and general material handling. Proper ballast greatly improves stability and loader performance.
Can the John Deere 1025R handle tillage or garden work?
The 1025R can comfortably operate 4-ft tillers, small disc harrows, and soil-preparation tools suited to its size. It’s excellent for garden plots, food plots, and light tillage, though not intended for heavy primary tillage like large plow setups.
