As a young teenager in the '50s, dad had two John Deer on a Wisconsin farm - a "B" and a "D." The D was use to do the heavy work, and the B was used for everything else. My big memory was trying to start the D by myself. It had no starter, so first I had to open the petcocks. Then, I would climb onto the flywheel and let my body weight pull the flywheel around. Good thing it usually started pretty well!
My dad had a John Deere D he used it to break new ground in 1956/7 in the Peace country. It was a two cylinder diesel. To start it you opened the pet cocks on the top of each cylinder to release the compression. Can not remember for sure but I think some diesel was poured into the pet cooks. Then you rocked the fly wheel back and forth until you built up enough momentum to push it over the compression point and it started. Once it was running you closed the pet cocks. The exhaust was a horizontal semicircular cast iron pointing forward. Each time it fired it was like a bomb going off. The fly wheel was solid cast iron. It looked much like the one at :28.
Well not really a diesel. It's a spark ignition tractor capable of burning heavy fuels like diesel. It would have had to have been started using gasoline and then switch to heavy fuels once the engine was warm enough to burn it.
If I was collecting Model D's I would definitely want one with an enclosed steering box filled with oil. The early D's had the worm & sector mounted in the front axle right next to the left king pin. It was completely in the open & exposed to mud & dirt. Very primitive.
Although most are now run on gasoline they do not have a gasoline engine. The 1924 Nebraska test was on kerosene. The 1935 and 1940 tests were on distillate. Low grade fuel was Deere's hallmark.
Although the 1939 production started out in the fall of 1938, there were1265 unstyled tractors built before the first styled D came off the line on April 3rd or 4th of 1939, with serial number 143800. For whatever reason, those first 1265 tractors are often referred to as '38's although they were clearly manufactured in the 1939 model year.
The AR was built concurrently with the D and they are smaller. They are based off the A, and the styled ones are a much more modern tractor than the D. For example, 6 speeds are better than 3. Turning brakes are very helpful, and you don't have to adjust the front axle for plowing or belt work. Nevertheless, some farmers liked the primitive design of the D and John Deere sold lots of them.
My father had a D in the early 1950's. No idea what year it was made. I will say it had a nice coat of "patina" on it though. Recall riding with him plowing pulling 2-14"s.
The John Deere D was a modern tractor in 1924, but by 1940, when they were styled, they were quite primitive. Nevertheless, they sold lots of styled Ds. I'm surprised the D was styled rather than replaced by a new model like a standard tread variation of the G.
@@tyfrank3427During the war manufacturers continued to build prewar tractors because of shortages. Many tractors came off the line sporting steel wheels & minus starters, batteries, generators & lights. There were few innovations or new models, if any, produced
Didn't the Exhibit B's (and Exhibit A's that preceded them) have a 3-spd transmission as well? I know the production line of D's didn't get 3-spds until 1935 or so.
Not sure how to refferance my styled D's serial # to determine the year. Or to use the one on the side of the block or is block or the 1 on the metal tab just below the shifter.??
When was electric starting introduced? I plowed with a "styled" D in the late '50s and it had electric starting. I assumed it was a late '40s or early '50s machine.
As a young teenager in the '50s, dad had two John Deer on a Wisconsin farm - a "B" and a "D." The D was use to do the heavy work, and the B was used for everything else. My big memory was trying to start the D by myself. It had no starter, so first I had to open the petcocks. Then, I would climb onto the flywheel and let my body weight pull the flywheel around. Good thing it usually started pretty well!
I love them! They are a blast to drive in a parade!
We have a 1929 D.
Was grampa's pride and joy.
Beautiful machines, wouldn't mind owning a couple dozen of em. Love them Deere's.
You and me both!
Who does not like John Deere D's? What a Great Run of Tractors and Love the D's....
Great history and tractors!
A collectable for sure
What do I think? Absolutely beautiful
My dad had a John Deere D he used it to break new ground in 1956/7 in the Peace country. It was a two cylinder diesel. To start it you opened the pet cocks on the top of each cylinder to release the compression. Can not remember for sure but I think some diesel was poured into the pet cooks. Then you rocked the fly wheel back and forth until you built up enough momentum to push it over the compression point and it started. Once it was running you closed the pet cocks. The exhaust was a horizontal semicircular cast iron pointing forward. Each time it fired it was like a bomb going off. The fly wheel was solid cast iron. It looked much like the one at :28.
Well not really a diesel. It's a spark ignition tractor capable of burning heavy fuels like diesel. It would have had to have been started using gasoline and then switch to heavy fuels once the engine was warm enough to burn it.
I always wanted a Styled D, and one day I will bought one of them !
Old tractors is the best
Are*
If I was collecting Model D's I would definitely want one with an enclosed steering box filled with oil. The early D's had the worm & sector mounted in the front axle right next to the left king pin. It was completely in the open & exposed to mud & dirt. Very primitive.
I restored a late styled D in the 90's and it had individual turning brakes.
The most popular poppers for collectors
Although most are now run on gasoline they do not have a gasoline engine. The 1924 Nebraska test was on kerosene. The 1935 and 1940 tests were on distillate. Low grade fuel was Deere's hallmark.
Although the 1939 production started out in the fall of 1938, there were1265 unstyled tractors built before the first styled D came off the line on April 3rd or 4th of 1939, with serial number 143800. For whatever reason, those first 1265 tractors are often referred to as '38's although they were clearly manufactured in the 1939 model year.
I'm old enough to remember them as working tractors - in Africa!
That is awesome
I always thought the styled John Deere D at 0:44 was an older version of the John Deere AR but both JD AR-AO are versions of a John Deere A.
The AR was built concurrently with the D and they are smaller. They are based off the A, and the styled ones are a much more modern tractor than the D. For example, 6 speeds are better than 3. Turning brakes are very helpful, and you don't have to adjust the front axle for plowing or belt work. Nevertheless, some farmers liked the primitive design of the D and John Deere sold lots of them.
Now that was an economical tractor. But why no drink holder?!
But that does look like an ejection seat though!
My father had a D in the early 1950's. No idea what year it was made. I will say it had a nice coat of "patina" on it though. Recall riding with him plowing pulling 2-14"s.
I like them all but my heart is won over by the centennial john deere d. aka gold d.
The John Deere D was a modern tractor in 1924, but by 1940, when they were styled, they were quite primitive. Nevertheless, they sold lots of styled Ds. I'm surprised the D was styled rather than replaced by a new model like a standard tread variation of the G.
It's probably because we had a war going on about that time. I would have liked to have seen a fourth gear added to the D's though.
@@n.mcneil4066I don't think it's the war. Just after John Deere styled the D, International replaced their comparable W-30 with the all new W-6.
@@tyfrank3427During the war manufacturers continued to build prewar tractors because of shortages. Many tractors came off the line sporting steel wheels & minus starters, batteries, generators & lights. There were few innovations or new models, if any, produced
I was at that auction and saw it bring $210,000
Didn't the Exhibit B's (and Exhibit A's that preceded them) have a 3-spd transmission as well? I know the production line of D's didn't get 3-spds until 1935 or so.
Not sure how to refferance my styled D's serial # to determine the year. Or to use the one on the side of the block or is block or the 1 on the metal tab just below the shifter.??
When was electric starting introduced? I plowed with a "styled" D in the late '50s and it had electric starting. I assumed it was a late '40s or early '50s machine.
My rarest is a John Deere 70 gas standard that was exported. 1954
the Waterloo Boy was built until 1924
Unstyled d?
I have a 1930
Jessika
🤔mmmhhh, what about ladder frame radiator, and the real holy grail, fabricated front axle??
👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💯💯💯!!!!!
Q: Why is a John Deere D like a navel ? A: 'cause everybody has one ! One of my brother's is different that way, he has five, ... D's that is.
Deere should’ve used the D model for a crawler instead of the m,40