Stumbled upon your post from a few months back about the John Deere 1010. Sounds like it's been a solid workhorse for you despite its quirks. The posi pedal sounds like a nice feature to have on a 2WD, and strong hydraulics are always a plus. It's a bummer about the starter and the tire situation, but hey, it's an older model, so some wear and tear is expected. By the way, if you're considering a replacement or know someone who is, have you ever looked into Siromer small farm tractors? They offer both 2WD and 4WD options, are easy to maintain, and are quite versatile for a range of tasks. Just throwing it out there in case you or someone else might find it useful.