Now in its fourth printing with 15 more pages, this is the handbook of the John Deere model “A,” 1934-1938. A book that should be on the “must read” list of any unstyled “A” owner. There is probably no other book on the market that goes into so much detail on a single model of tractor. Shows illustrations of nearly every change made in the parts that make up the unstyled “A.” 95 pages, 11x8-1/2 inches, soft cover.
Both books include history, specifications, serial numbers, original prices and much more A Specialized Look Into
The Handbook of the John Deere Model B 1934-1938
The same types of information as available in the book above, except now about the model “B,” written and compiled by a panel of experts who have spent decades collecting and restoring the unstyled version of Deere’s most popular tractor. This book shows nearly every change made in the parts that make up the unstyled “B.” 84 pages, 11”x8 ½”, soft cover, over 200 photos - most in color.
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This is one of the 12 photos that will appear in the 2026 Green Magazine calendar.
Tractors pictured in Green Magazine’s 2026 calendar are from 1959
calendar is designed to resemble one from
with those in 2026 so the calendar
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On July 24th, I took off on another adventure that once again had me questioning my sanity. I was heading out on a 400 mile trip, trailer in tow, carrying my “BO” and No. 51 plow to do a little recreational tillage at the Bos Brothers show in Illinois. I felt a little out of place at times, plowing with a tractor that was “only” 78 years old amongst a couple of spoker “Ds,” a nickel hole flywheel “D,” Waterloo Boy, open fan shaft “A’s” and a “GP,” though eventually a styled “A” and “D” joined in the fun and made me feel better. One of the spoker “D” owners was even running his tractor on kerosene, and as might have happened when the tractor was new, it started to “ping” due to pre-ignition, but he had the water injection valve working and after opening it, the tractor quieted down. We’ve all read about that, but when is the last time you heard of that actually happening? While I jumped off and let someone else take my tractor for a couple of rounds, John McConnell asked me if I would like to take his “nickel hole D” for a drive. Absolutely, I would! I jumped on and was about to put it in first gear when he told me, “No, put it in second.” I did, and was soon flying down the field with that powerful century-old tractor. A good time was had by all, as far as I know, and in my quest to plow in as
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many states as possible, I am now up to three. I made it home from my big adventure, but the fact that I did shows that someone was looking out for me. While unloading, I noticed a trailer tire was worn beyond saving and decided to change it before parking. As I was jacking the trailer up, I heard the unmistakable “clang” of metal hitting concrete. A leaf spring from the other side had fallen off, and taking a look at it, I could see that it wasn’t the first one; apparently, another one is lying on Interstate 80 somewhere. Wow, am I lucky that I didn’t have a disaster on the road! While my trailer is hardly new, I do try to keep it maintained, but I think about the kind of abuse these things take. In some areas, the highways and interstates are in awful shape, and flying down them at 70 miles per hour, loaded with a couple of tons of tractor, these trailers get the ever living tar beat out of them. As I write this, the trailer is in the shop getting new springs and everything else checked over by a professional.
Not much else to report this month, just to say that I hope you all have a safe and successful harvest. Oh yeah, don’t forget to order your 2026 calendars.
See you next month.
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Regarding Richard’s Column in the July edition, asking “why I decided to go through all this,” aside from the “D” restoration, I have no doubt it was another example of his interest and support of the hobby for the rest of us! I have always given Carol credit for my purchase, too, maybe because she handled my phone call(s): thanks!
Shown above is our “GP” (1934: 230354), with wife Paulette at the wheel. I prefer my Harleys and our twocylinders with muffled exhaust, so I had a machine shop fabricate a dummy muffler that is trapped inside the shell. It has three layers of plates with different sized holes: large on bottom to smaller on top. Thanks to the Green Magazine team for the years of support; I appreciate it!
Dave Dow, IA
Two simple fixes to vexing fuelrelated problems, which may be of help to others.
First, I have often failed at making a successful copy of the gasket that goes between the bowl and the body of the carburetors of my three working “A’s” and 620. Faced with a recent weeper, instead of laboriously cutting a new gasket, I put a thin layer of Dynatex sealer on the lip of the bowl. Voila! Problem solved! This is the product recommended in the June GM for treating cracks on tires.
Second, while mowing with the 620, the engine suddenly died. It started after a minute or two, and ran well until it died again, near where it
had died before. This was on a slight downhill grade, and although the gas was getting low, there was enough at the shallow outlet-end of the tank to quickly refill the glass settling bowl, which I had emptied to clean, and to inspect the plastic screen, which appeared to be perfect—nothing to see there! When the tractor started up again, I made it to the shop.
Flummoxed, I went online, and came upon a thread initiated by a new 620 owner with the very same problem and who was at his wit’s end. Several responders, wishing to be helpful, thought that the problem was ignition, likely with the coil or even the resister. Another suggested
that there might be debris in the gas tank—this sent me back to the shop, where I had a spare settling bowl screen. When holding the two screens up to the light, I could see clearly through the mesh of the spare, while the other looked foggy, evidently from entrapped moisture. With the spare screen installed, the 620 fired right up, and has run well since. Evidently when the tractor was facing downhill, the weight of the gas was insufficient to overcome the resistance of the moisture-impaired plastic screen, which, by the way, had a much finer mesh than did the original wire screen.
Bill Bunting, Maine
In addition to the 3020 pictures I sent (see front cover), I have a short story you might be interested in. After the engine overhaul, as part of the restoration, I was doing the recommended dyno break in. All was going great until I was in the final full RPM, full load portion of the procedure and it suddenly lost power and started a knocking sound from around the valve cover. I idled it down and while it still ran, sounded terrible. Removed the valve cover to find a rocker arm clamp broke. Easy fix, but looking at the broken clamp, it was no wonder why it broke as porous as it is. I wondered what condition the other clamps were in, so I weighted all of them individually. The broken one weighed 61 grams and the other three were around 67 grams. I grabbed a replacement clamp from a spare 7020 head and that came in at 71 grams. So just when you think all is good and nothing to worry about, how many rocker arm clamps are suffering from porosity issues?
Bob Salm, WI
• New aftermarket, rebuilt and used parts for JD A, B , D, G, H, M, R, 320, 330, 40, 420, 430, 50, 520, 530, 60, 620, 630, 70, 720, 730, 80, 820, 830, 3010 3020, 4010, 4020.
• Used parts include: weights, 3-pts., toplinks, dual hydraulics, float ride seats, clutch parts, hubs, transmission gears, sheet metal, tires and rims, 720-730 ES parts, all-fuel manifolds, brake parts, square and round tube WFEs, heads, blocks and PTO parts.
• New parts include: manifolds, battery boxes, carburetor kits, air stacks, mufflers, grill screens, radiator cores, lights and overhaul kits.
• Rebuilt parts include: Taper-Loc flywheels, electric start conversion kits, float ride seats, starters, carburetors, cleaned and lined gas tanks. Also have crack checked heads and blocks.
As a youngster, Leonard “Lenny” Maschino played on an Allis Chalmers pedal tractor. As he grew too big for it, the pedal tractor was passed on to cousins, and eventually the toy was all used up, played on and worn out. In time, the family lost track of it but tractors and farming continued to be a big part of Lenny’s life. His dad, Roger, farmed, so a love of the equipment and the land was instilled in Lenny from a young age. Today Lenny and his son, Jason, farm 1,100 acres together.
In 1991, Lenny and Roger completed their first tractor restoration, a John Deere “A.” Next was a 1938 model “D.” It wasn’t long before they amassed 26 tractor restorations that they took to shows and enjoyed using and driving around the farm. Then, in 1996, Lenny’s wife, Gayle, happened across an Allis Chalmers pedal tractor at a yard sale for $5. She excitedly called Lenny to see if she should get it and he said yes. They had no idea the flood gates that would be opened with this one little pedal tractor purchase. Lenny got busy restoring it, planning to gift it to his dad. When Roger received the gift, the happiness it brought began a new avenue in their tractor collecting hobby.
Roger had the idea of creating a way to take a pedal tractor display to the local tractor shows. He and Lenny had decided it could be a hassle to haul the big tractors to shows and they wanted to give the kids something fun just for them to see and enjoy at the tractor shows. Roger customized a 20 foot trailer that held 40 pedal tractors and could be pulled behind a pickup truck. Roger and wife, Maryann,
began making an annual trek to the Dyersville Iowa National Toy Show as their “normal” yearly vacation and while there, they looked at and made purchases to add to their pedal tractor collection. The 40 trailer spots filled up quickly and Roger had ideas for something even bigger. Within three years, another trailer replaced the first; this time it was a 24 foot trailer with pedal tractors stacked three high. Still more ideas followed and the final version that makes its rounds to tractor shows today is a semi-trailer with pedal tractors four shelves high throughout. There’s a small living quarters to simplify being at tractor shows and it gets used when Lenny and Jason take the rig but a camper usually accompanies them when more family attends.
The Maschino family travels within Indiana because it helps to be familiar with where to set up at shows and even more so because their truck and trailer are farm use. It keeps them
from needing permits or to have to manage regulatory compliances for the display. They go to approximately six tractor shows a year, as far north from home as Rushville, about an hour away. To the east, they go as far as Brookville, which is an hour plus some change, and to the west, they travel over two hours to Elnora.
Elnora is the show where we found them: Lenny with his son, Jason; his daughter, Jessica; and her daughter (Lenny’s granddaughter), Madalyn, all sitting in lawn chairs comfortably under the shade of an awning. The rear doors to the semi-trailer were standing open and a set of steps pushed up to enter. Visible from the entry were the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, an airplane, a Caterpillar dozer, and several other pedal tractors. The dozer, as well as several customized John Deere track tractor toys, were ones that Roger and Maryann found on their trips to Dyersville. They made connections with people there at the toy show and
were able to buy some pedal tractors and toys that had been modified. Once folks learned what they were doing with the display trailer, they got behind Roger and Maryann’s vision and helped them make a great collection worth seeing.
Lenny found the airplane at Elnora about 10 years ago and incorporated it into the collection, much to his mom’s disapproval. She said it wasn’t a pedal tractor, but he snuck it in anyway and she gave up easily enough when she saw how kids liked it. The Elnora show is Lenny’s favorite because it has the most kids go through the trailer there. From the very beginning with the small trailer, Lenny and Roger wished they had a way to count how many kids passed through their tractor display. Lenny estimates it’s at least a hundred kids each day of the show at Elnora. While standing and visiting with the Maschinos, we watched as a dad with a little one on his shoulders take to the steps, followed by a couple more youngsters. Hearing their feet tromp as they passed through and hearing the youngest loudly say, “Tra’tr’, tra’tr,” over and over. It brought smiles to their faces. Lenny says the display was especially for the little ones but the big kids enjoy seeing the toys, too.
The collection includes a special edition gold 4430 John Deere pedal tractor that they were sure to
snatch up when they came out in 2022. The pedal tractor commemorates the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the real 30 series tractors. Lenny made a shelf for the golden tractor at the front of the trailer so it has its proper place of honor to travel along with them on their adventures. Another of Lenny’s favorites is a John Deere “A” with corn picker. The semi-trailer holds 140 pedal tractors, with most displays staying the same within the trailer. They have rotated some in and out so they have their favorites with them and also to give the display some variety.
Over the years, they’ve done their best to make it to four to six
Indiana shows each summer, juggling it with farming responsibilities. The one challenge they learned was muddy shows. When the rain comes and with it the mud that follows, they simply shut the doors. It’s unfortunate the display has to close. Lenny says it can get messy inside the trailer really quick and it took them only once to discover that.
They like making a family event of attending the shows and sharing the collection. Lenny and Jason are the main show travelers with Jessica and her family traveling along when they can. Maryann has a couple favorite shows that she attends each year. Roger passed away in 2006 and they honor him by keeping up his pedal tractor collection and taking it where it can be seen and appreciated. He loved going to the shows, seeing children’s eyes light up, and being with his family. Lenny is particularly glad his dad was able to see the semi and trailer dream come together. The Maschino family is still traveling to shows, sharing the pedal toys with children, and enjoying time together along the way. If you want to catch up with the Maschino collection, look for them at one of these shows: Edinburg, Osgood, Rushville, Greensburg, Brookville, or Elnora, Indiana. Keep on pedal tractoring!
Complete clutch rebuild kits and clutch lining kits
& light parts
cores, water pumps, bolt kits
PARTS TRACTORS
Late A, 530, 720D pony start, 50, 1020G, LA ES, 50 w/801 hitch, G, uns A, 730G, 5020, uns G, 430T, 2510G, 730 LP, 2010D, 530, late 520, ’39 B, BN, 40U, ’53 AO, ’41 H, ‘46 A, late A’s, ‘46 B, late Bs, slant dash B, uns B, sty D, G, uns L, M, MT, R, 40T, 40U, 40W, 70D std., 70G, 420U, 420W, 440 w/ reverser and PS, 440 gas, early & late 50s, early 60, 60 w/power block, 620, 620 LP, 630, 630 single front, 70G, 720G, 720 LP, 720D pony, 730D, 730G, 820, 1010, 2010, 2010D, 2010RU, 2020, 3010D, 3020, 4020D.
Most of these tractors are parted out & on the shelf—ready for quick shipment!
Oversize pistons available again for many two cylinder tractors
Brake
ESTATE AUCTION
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20, 2025
940315 HWY 99 S, Stroud, OK • Glen Mayes Estate
24 JD TRACTORS • 658 A. LAND
1937 JD A, SN 462193, restored
1938 JD G, SN 452987, restored
1937 JD AN, SN 449648, restored
1948 JD A, SN 589978, restored
1941 JD B, SN 117941, restored
1946 JD H, SN 58041, restored
Auction: Glen Mayes Estate
1958 JD 520, SN 521068, restored
1950 JD MT, SN 14850, restored
1953 JD 40T, SN 60688, restored
1943 JD, model L w/plow, SN 3450, restored
1937 JD B, SN 30737, restored
1958 JD 620, LP, SN 6215934, restored
1994 JD 7400 w/ FEL. cab & air, 4380 hrs., SN 7400H001122
2009 JD 6330 w/ FEL. cab & air, 1600 hrs, SN L063308602688
1956 JD 420, SN 809253, restored
4 JD B & 2 JD A to be restored • Other equipment & vehicles
Large inventory of antique John Deere parts
Spitler & Johnson Auction & Realty • Prague, OK
Ph. 405-567-3523 • www.spitlerauction.com
So far I’m still working on getting the ’33 “D” in good mechanical shape before I start to unrestore the paint job. After running the tractor a bit, I drained the oil, and removed the screen assembly that takes the large chunks out of the oil before it heads to the oil
Crankcase with screen assembly removed.
Right: Tool for cleaning gunk out of bottom of crankcase. It took hours to make, but it was worth it.
Below: The old “horse hair” air cleaner.
pump. Using threaded rod and a four inch piece of metal, I made a tool to scrape the primordial ooze from the bottom of the crankcase.
I have no doubt that part of that ooze was the “horsehair” used in the and crankcase vent filter. Whatever the stuff these things are actually packed with had deteriorated badly, and you could see through both it and the air filter. The crankcase vent is easy, because you can order new ones, but the air cleaner is a little tougher. Fortunately, Tony Knobbe, who also owns a ’33 “D,” sent me photos of what he put together as a replacement. Using a Fram CA3924 dry filter, which was used on many late 20th century GM products, a couple of pieces of sheet metal and some threaded rod, a suitable retrofit can be made. Tony had his pieces made by a professional with a water jet, plasma cutter or some other machine that I don’t have. I could have found someone to do the same, but since I am sometimes cheap and often allergic to asking people to do stuff for me, I decided to try it myself with the tools I have available. My first thought was to cut the circles with a jig saw, but the expensive Bosch that I have hated practically since I bought it new, decided it wasn’t going to let me change blades without a fight. I
I used the 46179, which is the Wix version of the Fram 3924.
Below: This photo shows the outer plate with filter installed in the air cleaner housing.
then remembered the air “nibbler” I have and soon had the two end pieces cut. If you are wondering what kind of metal I used, it’s about as thick as a dime, which I believe is 16 gauge. I guess you could say that the air is now running through the filter backwards. I hope that is not a problem.
While the tractor ran well, I decided to do a quick clean up on the carburetor and at least replace
Here’s a shot of the end that goes in first. I’m using Tony’s photos, because his professionally cut version looks a lot nicer than mine cut with a “nibbler.”
Below: For those who have never seen a nibbler, here is mine. It uses a punch and die to cut metal. Despite the name, they cut reasonably fast. This one is a small version; however, it would likely cut a foot a minute.
the throttle shaft, which was a bit sloppy. Examining the carb, I noticed something rather odd—there was no hole in the bottom of the main nozzle. This makes removing the nozzle even more difficult than usual. Since this was the first DLTX-6 I have taken apart, I had to ask the experts online what was going on. Several veteran mechanics gave me the usual advice on how to remove the nozzle, pulling on it from the bottom, until one astute man explained that the nozzle on these carbs doesn’t have a hole at the bottom,
This little bracket isn’t absolutely necessary, but it will make installing the filter easier by keeping it from falling out while closing the cover.
and that Deere made a special tool to push them out from the top. We’ve run plenty of carb rebuilding articles in the past, so I won’t go into the gory details, though as is my usual, I had to go back and fix something I “fixed” wrong the first time.
The bulk of this series is supposed to be about removing the green paint and getting the tractor back to an unrestored patina. While we are making our way to that, I would like to hear what some of you have used to coat these tractors. So far I’ve heard Fluid Film, Penetrol, Johnson’s paste wax for furniture, linseed oil—sometimes with turpentine added—and diesel-oil mix. What is your favorite?
Side view
Schebler tool No. 2599 was designed to push the nozzle out from the top.
Below:
of the main nozzle.
The main nozzle on the DLTX-6 has no hole in the end.
Kit Cleans Up Older Deere Hydraulic Mess
Scott Grove cleaned up leaky hydraulic valves on his older Deere tractors with a simple insert. The long-standing problem is one the company has yet to fix. Grove says it forces him and other owners of Deere tractors to replace O-rings on a regular basis, only to have the mess return. Grove’s fix eliminated the mess and the need to replace parts. With the Grove Conversion kit:
• Convert to ISO with easy push-pull connection
Wapsi Innovations
• Couplers connect under residual pressure with breakaway feature
• Kits available for 10 through 70 series JD tractors manufactured from 1961 through 1996
• Inserts are made in the USA. This product is protected under US Patent 10,760,725 B2 and other patents pending.
Installation consists of stripping the OEM outlets down to the block, removing the barrels and O-rings, and replacing them with the inserts. Grove then adds the aftermarket ISO coupler that threads into the insert. Installation instructions can be found on the Wapsi website.
Kits for 10 series are priced at $315, kits for 20-40 series are priced at $329, and kits for 50-70 series are priced at $355. Also watch the website for more additions coming soon. Grove suggests checking with local Deere dealers & local repair shops or Wapsi Innovations directly.
DON’T
Many of Deere and Company’s competitors were likely still reeling from the surprise release of the New Generation tractors when, in 1964, Deere brought forth another new series. The New Generation set new standards for power, convenience, versatility, dependability, practicality, comfort, and style. Deere’s new 20 series made upgrades to those machines at a time when other companies were still trying to catch up to the first.
Deere’s 3010 had a bit of middle child syndrome. It was slightly underpowered and, particularly in the case of the gasoline engine, thirsty. Deere called it the successor to the 730, but it could never keep up with that tractor in a job when any amount of torque was required. Fewer 3010s were sold than 2010s or 4010s, and even the little 1010 was within 1,000 tractors of matching it in sales. When Deere upgraded their lineup, turning the 3010 to the 3020, the tractor was significantly improved.
The tractor’s four-cylinder engines were retained, but Deere increased their displacements to improve their power. The diesel engine was bored out by 1/8th inch to 4-1/4 inches. This was a small change, but it resulted in a five-horsepower improvement, bringing the machine’s rating to 65 horsepower.
The gas engine gained a bigger improvement, as it was bored out from 4 inches to 4-1/4 inches, giving 227 cubic inches of displacement. The engine gained nine horsepower, bringing it to 64.14 and in line with the diesel. While
Mark Peckumn owns this beautiful row crop diesel.
Graeme Howden of West Melton Christchurch, New Zealand owns this 3020 standard and 42 combine.
the power improved, fuel economy remained about the same, coming in at just over 10 horsepower-hours per gallon. The LP-gas engine was also expanded to a 4-1/4 inch bore. Its new horsepower came out at 64.7. Deere now had the entire line of 3020 tractors powered up and producing power nearly equal to each other.
One of the most exciting new features for the 3020 was the optional Power Shift transmission. Deere’s Power Shift had eight forward and four reverse gears. The clutch did not need to be used at all on tractors equipped with this transmission. In fact, Deere had renamed it the “inching pedal,” as its main use now was to move the tractor short distances during operations such as when hooking up to equipment. The Power Shift had other benefits aside from giving your left leg a rest. The operator could shift down when slowing for rough terrain, adding a bit of pulling power for a spot of particularly tough soil, or turning around at the end of the row without leaving the engine’s power band. Then, when through the complication, he could shift back up again. This transmission also had a lower first and reverse gear and a higher top gear than the Syncro-Range.
There was a trade-off, however. The Power Shift transmission used
about five percent of the tractor’s horsepower, allowing the tractor to put less power to the ground. The Power Shift also cost more than the Syncro-Range. So, when ordering a tractor, a customer had to consider whether the convenience of the Power Shift was worth the extra cost and the loss of horsepower. It was not an easy decision to make.
Most of the rest of the 3020 was the same as it had been on the 3010. It had been only a few years since the New Generation was released, and the cutting-edge features that were introduced with those machines were still at the forefront of the industry. Putting more power and a better transmission to the 3020 was enough to improve the tractor sharply, and the 3010, which had already been a crowd pleaser, became the exciting 3020.
The 3020 happened to be the right size for a lot of different kinds of farms. It was right from row crops to specialty crops and for many other kinds of farm chores. Deere built the 3020 into seven different chassis types to appeal to almost every farmer. The 3020 row crop was the most popular of these by far, which makes sense, since that is the most common type of farm in the United States. The 3020 row crop was also the most versatile of the options. Standard equipment
on these tractors was a 48 to 80 inch adjustable front axle. A wider 56 to 88 inch adjustable front axle was also available. Deere also provided a single front wheel, dual front wheel, Roll-OMatic and heavy duty Roll-O-Matic as other options for people who preferred narrow front ends.
Farms that grew relatively small amounts of small grains might have looked at adding a 3020 standard to their fleet. The 3020 standard came with an adjustable wide front axle, but had a fixed tread wide front axle as an option.
The row crop utility tractor was a row crop tractor for farmers who needed stability in their tractor more than they needed ground or crop clearance. These tractors were a bit shorter than row crop tractors, making them better on side hills and more adapted to a few jobs that row crop tractors struggled with.
If your situation was the opposite of that, the 3020 Hi-Crop, which sacrificed stability for extra crop clearance, was your tractor. These machines were most often used in specialty crops such as sugar cane, tomatoes, broccoli, or any others that required working when the crops were tall.
Deere also built a 3020 Special utility tractor. This machine was built for the export market, specifically de-
Still working hard are Raymond McCarter’s 1966 3020 gas Syncro and 1967 3020 diesel Power Shift.
Right: A 3020 diesel, Power Shift, console, Hi-Crop.
signed to keep the cost down. It was stripped down and kept as simple as possible, as foreign markets tended to have low cost as their primary concern.
3020 orchard tractors included full shielding and fenders to protect the operator, tractor, and trees. These were the least common of all of the varieties of 3020. Only 139 were built.
An industrial version of the 3020 was also produced. Deere designated this tractor the model 500. It was based on the row crop utility chassis to enhance its stability. Heavier castings were used in certain areas of the tractor to withstand the abuse that an industrial tractor would typically experience. A stronger front grille was also installed. The tractors were styled to look a bit heavier and squarer than the agricultural machines, underlining their heavy duty engineering. While the 500 was built specifically for the industrial market, Deere also sold a few agricultural tractors to industrial firms, shipped with yellow paint, to companies that needed different features than the 500 provided or that did not need the extra ruggedness of that tractor.
The 3020 came with a bunch of standard features, including power steering, power brakes, lighting, closed-center hydraulics with a single remote cylinder, and 540/1000 RPM PTO. A “base model” tractor outfitted with just this equipment would
still be at the top of the class when put up against the competition. Deere provided numerous options, allowing customers to outfit their machines as they preferred. Picking from that list, a customer could add up to three selective control valves with or without single or double acting remote cylinders, a three-point hitch for Category 1 and 2 equipment, a Quik-Coupler for Category 2 equipment, power differential lock, hydrostatic front wheel drive, rear single-speed 1000 RPM PTO, mid-mounted 1000 RPM
The row crop utility was a handy tractor for many jobs.
PTO, Roll-Gard with a canopy, RollGard cab, exhaust muffler extension, engine coolant heater, weight packages, platform mat, rear view mirror, radio for the fender or for inside of the cab, a frame-mounted tool box, a horn, an upright air intake stack with a precleaner, and more.
Deere also gave the option to leave some of the standard features off of the 3020. If a farmer did not need them and wanted to save some money during their purchase, they could leave off the PTO shaft, remote cylinder control valve, and/or the rear rockshaft. With all of these options to add or subtract equipment, the seven chassis types, and three engine types, the 3020 could be built to suit nearly any farmer and their needs.
The 3020 was a success from the date of its release. This should not be any surprise, as the 3010 sold well. Those who were on the fence about buying one of those may have now been convinced to make the investment. Some who owned and enjoyed a 3010 may have decided to upgrade to the 3020. Of course, some customers came from older tractors or other brands, lured by the new 3020 and what it could provide to their farm.
As farmers racked up hours in
The 3020 was Deere’s largest orchard tractor at the time.
the field with the 3020, a couple of problems showed up. For the most part, these problems were ones that only showed up after a lot of time on a tractor, but they were something that 3020 owners needed to be aware of. The first of these issues was with the eccentric weight that was added to counterbalance the inherent imbalance in the engine. This weight spun at twice the speed of the engine. Holding the weight in place were some bushings. The bushings wore out over time, allowing the weight to come loose, spin freely, and travel. Nothing good came out of this situation. If you have a 3020 that you are performing an overhaul on, take a look at these bushings and consider replacing them.
The second recurring problem in the 3020 lies in the oil pump/camshaft drive gear. These gears sometimes strip, making it so that the oil pump stops working, which is liable to quickly cause major engine damage. The good news is that these gears are easy to examine because they are located near the oil pressure regulator housing on the engine block. The bad news is that replacing them means replacing the camshaft, which is not cheap or easy.
While one of the big improvements in the 3020 was its increased power over the 3010, there were, as always, several requests for yet more power in the tractor. In 1969, Deere responded to these customers by increasing the stroke in the gasoline and LP-gas engines to provide a total displacement of 241 cubic inches. While they were working on it, Deere made a few more improvements to the engine. They re-engineered the thrust plate to use four bolts instead of three and used new camshaft gears to allow access to the bolts. The connection between these two parts was improved, and reliability naturally increased. Mushroom-type followers replaced the older type to improve their durability. The rotators on the exhaust valves were improved, and Stellite valves were put into gasoline engines. These valves were harder, which was becoming more important
in this era, as leaded gas was on the way out, and unleaded gas was not as lubricative.
Deere’s engineers redesigned the engine head to create a better seal on the push rod side. This change reduced the chances of the all-too-common problem of having an oil leak around the head gasket. The engineers also determined that the ventilator pumps that were equipped on the 3020’s diesel engines were unnecessary and, worse than that, were drawing power from the engine. These were no longer installed on the engines beginning in 1969.
Every type of engine had its pistons redesigned to accept three rings
horsepower drain of the Power Shift transmission by turning up those tractors equipped with it. The transmission still drew more power from the engine, but the tractor still put the rated 70 horsepower to the implement. Since those engines had been turned up, they burned a bit more fuel and so had poorer fuel efficiency.
Deere upgraded the muffler on the 3020 to a quieter oval-shaped part. A second advantage of these mufflers was that they had a slimmer profile when seen from the driver’s seat, and so allowed the operator a fraction more clear space in his field of vision.
A major change was also made to the operator’s station. Deere moved
instead of four. The top ring was a new keystone type, the middle ring was a traditional rectangular style, and the bottom ring had a coil expander that caused it to push against the cylinder liner to keep oil out of the chamber. The pistons in the LP-gas and gasoline engines were further revised with deeper combustion chamber pockets to allow a higher compression ratio.
The improved 3020 tractors were now all rated at 70 horsepower. The gasoline engine’s economy was improved because its fuel consumption remained the same despite making more power. Deere “eliminated” the
the hydraulic controls to a new console positioned on the right side of the operator’s seat. The operator could now control the hydraulics with his right hand while maintaining control of the tractor with his left hand on the steering wheel. This was a dramatic improvement over the controls’ old position on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. This change put nearly every control on the right side of the operator. No longer would he have to switch driving hands for certain operations, and he would no longer have to lean forward to control the equipment that was likely behind
The 500 industrial was based on the two crop utility chassis.
3020 Row Crop Production
him. History has proven that this console was a revolution in ease of tractor operation. As even now, more than 50 years later, all of the controls in a tractor or combine remain on the right side of the operator. The shape of the console may have changed, but the idea remains the same—long-tested and proven.
Deere added a hydraulically actuated PTO to the Syncro-Range transmission. This made it much easier to engage and disengage, so the lever did not need to be as long as it was. The shorter lever was moved to where the hydraulic controls used to be on the left side of the dash.
The 3020 was also updated with a more modern electric system. Circuit breaker protection was incorporated. This protected many of the electrical
parts in case of trouble. The generator was eliminated and replaced with an alternator. The alternator could produce more power and was more reliable than the generator. Many older tractors have been updated to an alternator because it was such an improvement and is a relatively simple upgrade. New wiring harnesses were fashioned for the 3020. They better met industry standards. Fiber optic lighting was now built into the gauges and the dash, illuminating the information that the operator needed. This also allowed the dash lighting to be done with a single bulb, reducing the wiring
and clutter under the dash.
Deere decided to put an end to the row crop utility, Special utility, and orchard versions of the 3020 at this time. These tractors never sold well and farmers who needed a machine with one of these chassis types could look to Dubuque and the 2020 to fill their needs. The 3020 standard tractor was also cut from the lineup, but a 3020 row crop with the options of special fenders and a wide front end would build for the customer a machine that was essentially the same.
Deere produced over 82,000 model 3020 tractors, putting the model
at number five in the ranks of the most Deere tractors produced. The machines could be found all across the country, as they were suitable to so many different farms. Despite such a large number of the model produced, there were several configurations of the 3020 that were very rare. There was only one each of a Hi-Crop gas SyncroRange, Hi-Crop gas Power Shift, and Hi-Crop LP-gas Power Shift ever built. Other models of 3020 were almost as rare, with production numbers of eight gas orchard tractors, 10 LP-gas HiCrop Syncro-Range tractors, and just 23 LP-gas row crop utility machines. It may not be hard to find a 3020 for your collection, but it would likely prove impossible to collect a “full set.”
The 3020 fits well into a sweet spot in collectible Deere tractors. These are classics in every sense, but they’re modern enough to find a use for on the farm. They’re not too difficult to work on, and even a complete overhaul is something that many could perform with a fairly simple set of tools. Their size also works well. They aren’t too heavy to easily haul to a tractor show and would fit in a modestly sized shop. If you like the 3020, there’s a good chance you can own one and enjoy it, and you’ll have a piece of American agricultural history.
We also carry: Starters, Regulators, Generators, Alternators, Relays, Coils, Lights, Alternator Brackets, Pulleys
We make alternator conversion harnesses
I like wrenching.
There are lots of kinds of wrenching, so I will be more specific. Some people like to tackle an old rusty, crusty machine with all of the key fasteners tucked out of sight in back of something sharp, in the hope that they will strip out a nut and skin a knuckle and have an excuse to just go get the torch. Some like the process of disassembling a machine down to each individual part, so that they can clean and examine it in detail and start the list of what can be re-conditioned, what can be fixed, and what will need to be replaced. Some like the end game, where everything is back together and you get to see if it actually works.
I most enjoy the assembly process, the act of putting the machine together. And I think I know where my love of this aspect of wrenching was really established.
I think it was in one of my last years of high school. Dad had spent part of the winter and early spring on two old John Deere 490 planters—the ones with the strap iron frames and the iconic cylindrical hoppers—cutting one in half and attaching each half to the outside of the intact one, adding some bracing, and building himself a six-row, 30inch planter for the soybeans. And it worked! So well that he used it for years, and it was borrowed by our uncle to plant his field. That led to the next question, that of how to cultivate the narrow row crop. Dad’s four-row, 40-inch mounted cultivator would not do.
The answer to this question arrived one bright, sunny afternoon
in late spring, in the form of what seemed like an impossibly long tool bar and several piles of painted steel and associated parts. Dad had purchased a new, rear-mounted, sixrow John Deere cultivator. In pieces. I do not know if there were savings involved in having it delivered unassembled. I do know how excited I was to learn that I would be given the opportunity to put it together, part-by-part, each afternoon after I had finished my chores. You may imagine how pleasant the task of after-school chores can become if it is to be regularly followed by the prospect of working with your very own, full-sized Erector set. In green and yellow.
on across the bar. Dad had made my job much easier by assuring me that I didn’t have to fix the exact position of each section and shovel. This would be finalized by trial and error, out in the field.
I quickly learned what size bolt went in each hole and from what direction to insert it; what special washers were needed in each spot; what nuts to use; how to sequence the order of attachment of parts so that everything was in the right place and nothing had to be removed or disassembled in order to add another piece. How to line up the parts so that I could more easily insert a bolt; what bolt to insert first so that the assembly could hang
You may imagine how pleasant the task of after-school chores can become if it is to be regularly followed by the prospect of working with your very own, full-sized Erector set. In green and yellow.
There was little to any technical work involved. I think the necessary tools were limited to a Crescent wrench, a Vise-Grips, a socket set, a tape measure, and maybe a hammer and an alignment punch, the latter just to help line up the shovels on their mounting posts. I don’t recall if the tool bar came with the three-point hitch attachment already on, or if Dad and I did that work. I also cannot recall if the tool bar remained attached to a tractor, or if it was propped up on something. But once the bar was up, I was on my own, starting with the instructions, building up the first section, using this as a guide to the second, and the third, and on and
in place while I attached the other parts. I came to value the practice of hand-tightening everything first and getting all the pieces lined up, by careful measure if needed, by sight if that was enough, and then tightening it all when everything appeared to be in place. I tried my best to not scratch or nick all that shiny paint, to try to make my work look as pro-
fessional as possible. And then, it was finished! All the brackets, the attachment points, the framing pieces, the shields and the shovels. With that subtle mirroring of parts on each side of the row that let you know you assembled those sections correctly, and the outside sections equally distant from the ends of the tool bar so that all remained in symmetry.
I was given the honor (well, Dad needed someone to drive the tractor so that he could watch the thing working) of helping Dad do the final adjustments to the spacing of the sections and the position and depth of the shovels out in the field, before the cultivator went to work making the bean rows look clean and pretty.
Since then I have noted how much I enjoy assembly work, how I volunteer at every chance to put something together. I can take stuff apart, but I lack some of the technical skill to really excel at that, and I am always afraid I will break something rare or expensive. I do enjoy the startup or first use, but quite frankly, the fact that something I fixed or assembled actually works still amazes me. But I know that I am good at putting a machine together, getting everything to go in its place, to fit, and to be securely fashioned in such a manner that it shouldn’t come loose.
Especially if the process involves a wrench; even better if it says John Deere on the side. Thanks, Dad!
But I know that I am good at putting a machine together, getting everything to go in its place, to fit, and to be securely fashioned in such a manner that it shouldn’t come loose. Especially if the process involves a wrench; even better if it says John Deere on the side.
When John Deere announced that it would discontinue the final model of traditional moldboard plow to bear their name, the 3710 drawn model, I was struck by the significance that the primary farm implement was no longer offered. Farming had evolved so much from the beginnings of the blacksmith from Vermont (and later Illinois) from 1837 to 2023 that after 186 years, there was no longer enough product demand to justify production. Perhaps one might consider that today reapers and binders are no longer mainstream as well as row crop cultivation. Farming practices have changed, continue to evolve with time and the addition of better technology to boost productivity with lower inputs while reducing environmental impact.
One tidbit of information that readers might find interesting regarding the 3710 drawn moldboard plows is that Deere had not been producing them for several years before the end of JD moldboard plows in 2023. Yetter Manufacturing had been building the John Deere 3710 model plows until right before the last production units were produced. I happened to work for a Yetter dealer and had some inside information to this topic.
Yetter Manufacturing Co., Inc., a family owned agricultural equipment manufacturer based in Colchester, Illinois, has had a significant relationship with John Deere, primarily as an OEM partner supplying planter attachments
and residue management equipment. While planter attachments are their focus with Deere & Company, Yetter has assembled small volume products including the end wheel box drills (current) and moldboard plows (discontinued).
I personally toured Yetter Mfg. in Colchester, Illinois back in 2016; they told me about building John Deere moldboard plows because the volume was too low for Deere to bother with it in one of their own facilities. They were in essence a subcontractor for plow production. At that time, Yetter told me that most plows built at their facility were shipped to Ukraine. According to an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune, the last 3710 plows were assembled at the Des Moines Works and given special care. I have read online, but cannot confirm that the last three serial number model 3710 plows reside at the John Deere Archives.
Being an avid plow enthusiast, I pondered if I ought to pursue adding one of the last John Deere built plows to my collection. My rule has always been, if my 4020 with the 148 loader will not pick it up, the plow would be too large for my collection and to date has been my self-imposed limit. Seeing how the smallest 3710 plow was a sixbottom size, it would no doubt be too heavy for the 4020. Looking at asking prices for any size 3710, I have decided that their values are simply too rich for my blood regarding ownership for the
Below: Two-bottom PB1002 sold under the Frontier line through Deere dealers.
The end of the line after 186 years.
sole purpose of collecting.
Earlier this year, I happened across a plow on Facebook Marketplace that caught my attention. Listed as a “two bottom JD plow,” I noticed it was a much newer type than I am used to. Often, I see the moldboard plows like the numbers 15, 20, 25 and 30, which were designed solely for use with JD garden tractors, but this one had a feature that made it heavier—a toggle-trip standard. With some research, it became clear that this two bottom plow was a JD model 1000. Built in the 1980s, they are scarcely found as the demand for moldboard plows had reduced dramatically beginning in the late ’70s as minimum-till and eventually no-till farming practices took hold. Until I bought this 1000 plow, I had never seen one before in person.
I have never owned a JD plow with metric plow bottoms (telltale for these bottoms are that they lack rear moldboard support braces and that the
Wear part fitment on the PB series plows. Note the gap between the shin and share.
Below: Plowing without coulters makes turning a clean furrow and burying trash difficult.
shares attach with only three 16 mm clipped head plow bolts). Additionally, the moldboards on the 350 mm (approximately 14 inch) and 400 mm (approximately 16 inch) had unusually straight lines on the outer profiles of their respective moldboards (all earlier bottoms had moldboards with very smooth outer radius). The seller was asking $1,500 or best offer. I made what I considered a low-ball offer and, to my surprise, the seller took me up on it. The seller agreed to drive up to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky and meet me there with the plow. They met me in the parking lot on Friday afternoon of the show. I suggested that I would find a forklift to lift it over onto my pickup bed, but the seller brought his brute of a nephew along and said they could move it over without any problem. With some grunting and the use of a four foot prybar, the nephew and I, along with one other fellow, slid the plow across both pickup tailgates onto my F250. Later I learned in research
The 1000 plow is secured in the bed of my F250 at National Farm Machinery Show.
Below: Back home in Missouri, the 1000 on a sheet of ice.
that the two bottom model 1000 weighs 478 pounds! The seller noted that the original owner of the plow was a fellow who owned a machine shop and farmed a few acres, mostly tobacco. He recalled the plow being used with a JD model 2040 tractor back in the late ’80s into the ’90s before the owner got out of farming. The plow had been shed kept until just recently after the man I bought it from obtained it from the original owner’s family. Obviously, the plow was used very little with the only visible wear on any of the parts
Note the shape of the moldboard with its many straight line outer profile. This was purportedly done to save cost on tooling when stamping out the moldboard blanks and reducing the trimming operation necessary when shaping.
Below: Here is what Deere called the safety trip standard (commonly referred to as the “toggle trip”), which prevented damage to the plow bottom when hitting an obstruction in the field. It would cam over center when excess force was applied. To reset, the operator had to lift and back up allowing gravity to reset the toggle.
1986 sales literature showed the features of the 1000 series plows. They were the last fully integral John Deere built plows sold in the North American market. They were phased out sometime in the late 1980s.
being the tips of the plow shares. I feel that the wear parts are all original to the plow. I will attest that the truck ride back home from the show was smoother than on the way out with the extra ballast dampening the suspension on the bumpy Indiana roads.
After getting the plow home and inspecting it further, the only visible damage is a broken shear bolt on one of the coulters. The 1000 series plows came out in 1982 and were built until the late ’80s until they were discontinued all together. They were made in two to five bottom sizes, all with 14-inch frame spacing. What was interesting about this model was that it was adjustable in cutting width from 12, 14, or 16 inches. Cutting width was adjusted by use of tapered shims between the standard and the plow frame. While I do not have a period correct utility tractor to pair with the model 1000, I am eager to hitch it on a 420W or perhaps my 630 to give it a try.
Having never used a JD plow with the metric series bottom, I do not know what to expect. JD sales literature describes the metric series
bottoms as being designed for speeds up to six miles per hour; the shorter moldboards on this series bottoms compared to earlier designs would support that claim. If you have used a model 1000 series JD plow, I would welcome you reaching out to me to share your experience. The model 1000 series plows were the very last to be built for the three-point (fully integral) at John Deere.
Deere still offers a plow for primary tillage, albeit it is not a traditional moldboard type nor was it of their own design concept. The 995 is a reversible (also referred to as switch) plow that operates by hydraulically reversing direction. Because the moldboards are quite short, it must be pulled at higher minimum speeds to ensure the soil moves enough to bury trash. The switch plow was designed for improving efficiency in flat or irrigated fields in which it could eliminate the occurrence of back or dead furrows, but potentially pulling harder in heavy soils.
Furthermore, it would be worth noting that Deere technically still sells
Rear view of the 14 inch (350 mm) metric bottoms on the 1000. Some may notice there are not any moldboard braces used on these bottoms. All of the metric series bottoms featured larger and better supporting frogs to keep the moldboard from flexing too much.
a traditional moldboard plow through its Frontier brand line. Frontier products, sold through John Deere dealers, are a line of implements and attachments designed to complement John Deere tractors, particularly for agricultural, landscaping, and groundskeeping tasks. The Frontier Equipment line was introduced in 2000 and was developed to simplify the business model for John Deere dealers by offering a broad range of equipment to serve diverse customer segments, such as large property owners, hobby farmers, and part-time producers. Frontier equipment features a shade of green paint similar (but not identical) to modern John Deere OEM paint, but being produced by other short-line manufacturers such as Woods Equipment, Maschio, or Aldo Biagioli to name a few.
Currently, Frontier offers two models of integral moldboard plows— BP1001 and PB1002. They are built by
Tarter Company in Dunville, Kentucky and are branded as Frontier sold through John Deere dealers. Compared to plows built by Deere directly, these are quite crude. Personally, I have inspected them and found bottom wear parts fitment to be uneven, usually with gaps that would have your grandad shaking his head. It is worth keeping in mind that original HS 14-inch bottoms were assembled by experts who had an eye for parts fitting tightly together and before leaving the factory, the bottoms were surface ground overall to ensure a smooth and flush finish of all wearing surfaces. Most of the guys with that type of skillset for building top-notch plow bottoms are passed on by now.
The Frontier moldboard plows use 14 inch high-speed JD plow bottom parts with shares, moldboards, and shins supplied by Wiese out of Iowa. Their landsides (parts catalogs refer to this as a “rock slide”) are basic with only a piece of angle iron. Upon personal inspection of this series of plows on a dealer lot, one striking feature that is surprising is that the moldboards have no bracing to support as the HS bottoms were designed! One can imagine that the typical customer for this type of plow is likely none the wiser unless he/she is reading this. Another huge missing part of a good plow is a coulter. Coulters were not shown in sales literature nor were listed in the parts catalog!
I was surprised to learn that the PB1002 weights 479 pounds, according to the sales literature. This would make the PB1002 without coulters one pound
heavier than my original 1000 JD built plow. I suspect the mono-beam frame design of the 1000 is where the weight savings lies as the PB1002 uses solid flat bar stock for frame. With current list pricing at $1,055 for the PB1001 and $1,748 for the PB1002, I would suggest looking for a real original JD plow as they were simply built better.
I was able to purchase my 1000 series JD plow for less than half of what the Frontier model sells for today and I would guess it has a good deal greater potential for collector appeal. Will anyone 40 years from now collect the Frontier models? Only time will tell, but I will stick to the plow with the approximate age as your author!
It appears that there are still a few people out there who own John Deere spring shellers.
Paul and Larry Poessnecker of Atkinson, Nebraska were the first to get a photo to us, thus winning a one year subscription.
Kenny Layher of Wood River, Nebraska stands between his D600 and D400 shellers. The 600 was originally purchased by his father, Lester, and his brother, John.
Steve Strattman sent us this photo of his D600.
“The 75 Hi-Dump Wagon is a perfect running mate for the Hay Cuber.” That’s what Deere sales literature said way back in 1965. It and the later 76 both had a capacity of 4-1/2 tons or 300 cubic feet and weighed 4,000 pounds empty. Seems like a lot, but it needed a heavy base in order that all four wheels stayed on the ground when dumping. Indeed, it was suggested that either wheel weights or liquid ballast be added to the rightside wheels as well as 860 pounds of concrete to the frame.
What’s the difference between the 75 and 76? Not sure, the only differences I can see in the specifications is that the tires went from 7.50x16s to more flotational 11.00x15s. Sharp eyed
readers might notice that the 76 in the color photo has an extra extension on the left side that helped dump the cubes closer to the center of the truck. True, but it is listed as an option on the 75. Built at Deere’s Ottumwa factory, the 75 had a list price of $3,391 in 1969. That’s a fairly hefty price when you consider that’s 50 percent of the base price of a new 3020. One would not think that very many 75s and 76s were made because of their limited uses. They might have had some application in cotton or other types of forage harvesting but not much else.
Do you have a 75 or 76 dump wagon? If so, be the first to get a photo of yourself and it to us and we will add one year to your subscription.
Gathering of the Green 2026: “An American Original”
We hope you’ve been enjoying the different events this year like the Classic Green Reunion—it was nice to meet some of you in person there.
The Gathering of the Green board and planning committee are putting together what promises to be a memorable event combining wellloved aspects of past Gatherings with exciting new additions, including the first-ever commemorative show toy.
You will not want to miss this staple John Deere collector and enthusiast convention, so mark your calendars for March 18-21, 2026 at the RiverCenter in Davenport, Iowa. Hotel booking is open now, and registration opens Oct. 1.
This year’s theme is “An American Original,” celebrating the United States’ 250th birthday and the originalpatina John Deere tractors and implements that are interwoven into the history of American agriculture.
The theme honors the venerable green and yellow tractors of the past often seen in their “working clothes,” still faithfully doing their jobs after many years of hard work.
Displays will feature a variety of John Deere machinery and artifacts in as-found condition in addition to lawn and garden and harvest equipment.
It’s been a quarter century since the first Gathering was put on by the four founding clubs—Deer Valley Collectors, Illinois Valley Two-Cylinder Club, North Eastern Illinois TwinCylinder Club, and Northwest Illinois Deer Collectors. Since then, Classic Green has joined as a fifth partner in the well-loved event.
Whether you’ve attended every Gathering or you’re considering 2026 as your first, this year’s event will be
one you won’t want to miss.
One of the new aspects of the event is the official show toy, a 1/32nd scale John Deere 4020 with cab and duals. The popular Gator raffle is happening again, with tickets available at the Gathering in addition to at registration this fall and at a number of shows our clubs will be attending this summer.
No matter what era or aspect of John Deere history you love most, you’ll be sure to find plenty to do and see at the Gathering. Catch up with friends and meet new ones at social opportunities including the welcome reception and Beer and Bull Gears.
Come to the banquet, which will feature keynote speaker David Jones, retired editor of The Furrow in addition to other roles at John Deere. Learn from expert speakers at the many workshops covering a wide array of technical and historical topics as well as general interest ones.
Explore the detailed “barn find” displays interspersed throughout the entire convention area. Find that illusive part, service manual, or piece of memorabilia from a vast number of vendor attendees. We’ve expanded toy, literature, and memorabilia space for 2026!
Bid on unique John Deere items at the fun auction and banquet auction. Take in historic footage (including John Deere Days) at the movie theater.
Venture to important factories and local historic sites relating to John Deere and agricultural history as part of a guided tour. And you never know what other surprises you might find at the Gathering.
So if you have one tractor or a dozen or just enjoy everything John Deere, the 2026 Gathering of the Green is an event you don’t want to miss. Put the dates on your calendar now.
Don’t forget to register beginning Oct. 1—you’ll want to book early as things like tours fill up fast. You can reserve your official show toy during registration, too. Hotel booking is open now, and you can find details on our website.
Go to www.gatheringofthegreen. com or our Facebook page for the latest information. Those with questions: call/text/email: 815-845-3298, thegatheringofthegreen@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all there!
The QR code at right will take you directly to the Gathering of the Green website.
Hundreds of tractors parted: Wide fronts, 3-point, carbs, starters, etc. • NOS parts MODELS A THROUGH 730
Need a Green Magazine back issue? Buy them by the SET
There are three sets available—buy one or all! Back issues can also be purchased individually. See the ad on page 71, call 402-643-6269 or go online to www.GreenMagazine.com for more information about back issues. Availability changes, depending upon supply. Green Magazine back issues—packed with good reading!
By J.R. Hobbs
Right: A styled “AR” and windrower sits waiting at the Bos Brothers’ show.
Kris Steinblack owns this 1929 “GP.”
Right: This 1955 John Deere 70 diesel was restored by its owner, Richard Garretson of Indianola, Nebraska.
Left: 11 year old Cody Page from North Branford, Connecticut is planting sweet corn for his vegetable stand with a 1957 John Deere 720 diesel and 7000 two row planter.
A 1950 “B,” 1952 “A,” 1960 630 and 1989 model 4555 dressed up to celebrate the Fourth of July in Onaga, Kansas.
Left: Best friends growing up in Dorchester County on the eastern shore of Maryland, sharing their love of John Deere in front of one of Clearview’s bean fields.
Just going through some more files and I happened across a few old contracts. Deere called them contracts or purchase orders, but they were basically the paper a customer signed when purchasing a piece of equipment. I thought we might take a look at a few.
1
Photo 1 is a blank purchase order. It is the one that was in use when we bought our dealership and the one I am most familiar with. This one is a bit later as it has the modern two legged deer logo, but it is similar to the one I used. Over the years, the wording varied due to changing laws, lawyers, and all the normal nonsense. There are lots of boxes on this form that Deere wanted us to utilize, such things as purchase type, market use and more. We usually breezed right by those. This was a multi-part form; each copy was meant to be sent to different people. For example, the dealer got one copy, the customer got another, and Deere got a few others.
is on the back of the customer’s copy of the purchase order. This picture is indelibly etched in my brain since I saw so many of them over the years.
This purchase order is dated
Photo 6 is a later purchase order with our dealer information preprinted on it. It did not save a lot of time, but it was handy.
Deere’s lawn and garden manual
Photo 2 is the back of a purchase order. It is from an older copy as it has the old two legged logo. It explains the warranty procedure to the customer— where to have warranty service performed, how the process works and the fact that more detailed information
2 3
4
September 1971. Earlier, Deere offered different purchase orders for Consumer Products or lawn and garden. It requires the same basic information to be entered on the form when purchasing a piece of equipment—name, address, place of delivery, salesman, and of course the financial part. The purchase order at this time was smaller, about half a page, but was still a multipage form (Photo 3).
Photo 4 covers the warranty, what is covered and when and also what is not covered. This is the back of the customer copy.
Photo 5 is the back of the form, the back of the dealer back copy. As with the larger, later purchase order, the warranty and how it works are covered here.
5
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had samples of purchase orders in the pages inside. This blank purchase order is dated August of 1971 (Photo 7).
Also included were sample transactions. The pricing is amusing considering today’s costs. This transaction illustrates when a trade-in is used. A new John Deere lawn tractor is listed as $920, and a new mower deck is $152. J.A. Day, the customer, traded in a used Wheel Horse tractor and mower for which he was allowed a trade-in value of $250. He also paid $82.06 as a down payment and financed the balance of $770. The interest rate was 14.4 percent so the total, with finance charge, is $890.72. He has opted for two payments, the first in seven months in the amount of $445.36 and final in 11 months for another $445.36, thereby paying off the total amount. The price of the lawn tractor and the interest rate is interesting. This is one sample transaction (Photo 8).
Photo 9 is another sample transaction. This time, the customer, A.B. Smith in this example, is adding an item to the equipment, He is not only purchasing the garden tractor at $950, the mower deck at $160 but also a snow thrower for $250. His total, with tax, is $1,400.80. He does not have a trade-in but has a cash down payment of $240.80. This leaves an amount financed of $1,160. The finance charge is $227.80 so the total payment is $1,628.60. He has chosen 30 monthly payments of $46.26 beginning March 1, 1971. The two sample transactions were typical of what the dealer would
normally be working with when selling lawn equipment.
Photo 10 is one of our purchase orders. This one is dated October 26, 1977. The customer was Don Heffernen, who ran a local used car lot and was a good customer in our early days as a dealer. Here, Don was buying a new TR-48 Sweepster in the amount of $742.50. Back freight charges added an additional $22.95 for a total of $765.45. There were no taxes charged as Don used his tax resale number.
Picture 11 is the dealer’s copy of the above purchase order. Note the space at the bottom for delivery acknowledgements. It has space for the customer to sign off that he has received the equipment, the operator’s manual, and that he has been instructed in the safe operation and servicing of the equipment. The dealer had space to sign that the equipment had been prepared for delivery, inspected, and adjusted according to factory recommendations before delivery to the customer.
Photo 12 is a purchase order for a new model 830 utility tractor, 143 loader and a 45 rear blade sold to our customer, Parker Road Greenhouses. The total price was $8,480.10. Converted from 1976 dollars to 2025 dollars today, this equipment would sell for $47,344.14. Wow, just wow to both amounts! I liked the 830 tractors. They were simple and we rarely had any problems with them at all, but if we did, they were quite easy to work on. And there is not a computer in sight
anywhere! The model 143 as well as the 145 loaders were also a solid design and again, little to no problems. And who can forget the model 45 rear blade? Another great performer. I myself sold quite a few of these loaders and lots of these rear blades. Today of course Deere farms out most of the rear blades to outside companies.
For fun, I looked up the address of Parker Road Greenhouses to see what is there today. Expecting a Starbucks or gas station or neighborhood, imagine my surprise when it turned
out it was still a greenhouse! It is now known as Tagawa Gardens and is family owned, and their website states they were founded in 1982, so I assume that is when they bought out Parker Road Greenhouses. Many of you maybe are not surprised that this property is still a greenhouse or nursery 49 years after we had sold them some equipment. If you are not, then I can tell you that you have no idea what this area is all about. Rampant and unchecked growth is how I would characterize it. Nearly every area or landmark I can think of that was around 50 years ago is now developed or knocked down and in the process of being developed. I know the same thing is happening to many of you, but it is certainly difficult for me to see it happen in the area I have spent most of my business and personal life in. I am officially an “old guy” so some of this resentment comes with that designation I suppose but it does not mean it is not happening. Progress is fine, necessary even, but not unchecked progress. Rant completed. Photo 13 is a purchase order dated April 20, 1977. It lists a new model 2040 utility tractor that was sold for $6,055.67. It is interesting that the specs are listed—for example, Roll-Gard, three-point hitch and more. The one that caught my eye was “two 55-amp batteries.” Most tractors at this time were offered with a single battery with the dual batteries being an upgrade. I think every tractor that had dual batteries available was how we ordered it. Since we were in Colorado and at a high altitude, we had found that diesel tractors would always benefit from two batteries if they were an option. The final spec was “horizontal muffler.” Now this is an odd one as almost every utility tractor we ever ordered and sold had vertical mufflers. I can not imagine why this one was ordered with a horizontal muffler. Horizontal mufflers were not a popular option at our dealership. We found that the exhaust, without tinkering, tended to stay under the tractor and would impact the customer. No one likes to breathe exhaust.
A quick aside, we had sold a
few tractors when DIA, Denver International Airport, was being built; they were to be used underground and inside. This type of use requires even more specialized equipment and custom exhaust scrubbers were required to reduce carbon monoxide emissions—all at an increased cost of course. I always found this interesting.
A horizontal muffler was especially unusual when we look at who the customer was. In this case, the customer was Cummings Implement Company, our company. We had left the company name the same as it was when we bought it for a few years before changing it to Stephen Equipment Company. Why would the company buy a tractor? We did do it from time to time as we also had a farming operation so equipment would be purchased to use on the farm. However, in this case I do not ever remember using a 2040 tractor, so I think there is a different explanation. Dealerships, tractor as well as automotive and others, utilize what is known as retail floor planning to be able to order in new tractors and inventory. For most dealerships, inven-
tory can run into multiple millions of dollars and most dealerships lack the financial resources to be able to pay cash for inventory they have ordered. In Deere’s case, most dealers finance their new inventory, and some used, with Deere or an associate to be able to offer it. Of course, interest comes into play, so dealers are incentivized to sell inventory as fast as possible to reduce the interest that has to be paid. Terms are variable among companies and among items. For us, if we had a tractor that was “coming due,” it meant that the floor plan was ending, and the tractor would have to be paid for. Often, a dealer will buy the unit and finance to gain more time to be able to retail the tractor or equipment. I suspect that is what was happening with this unit. When it was sold, the note would be paid off and the sale completed. If a new unit has been sitting at your dealer for a very long time, I would imagine its floor plan has come to an end and other arrangements have had to be made.
Photo 14 is a purchase order that is a little different. The reason it is different is that it is a John Deere dealer selling a used International Harvester model “H” tractor. It is not often thought of but when a dealer takes a trade-in, even of different brands from the one he normally sells, they all have
to be sold eventually. In this case, the customer, Phillip Brown, bought this used International model “H” tractor for $750. He had a down payment of $160.25 and financed the balance for 18 months. The interest rate was 15.4 percent and the total payment, with the down payment, was $858.47. This was dated April 4, 1977. At one point we had one of the largest used equipment lots of any dealer in our area. We had hundreds of used tractors and combines, spreaders, balers, swathers, lawn equipment and more. And all brands too—IH, MM, Oliver, Cletrac, Ford, Zetor, Massey and more. We had many people come to us looking for a particular item as we were more likely to have it than other dealers. And this was not counting the growing antique tractor collection we had.
Photo 15 is the form UCC-3, which was required to be filed when an item was financed. It is for the International model “H” tractor sold to Phillip Brown.
This is another item sold to the company. This time it was a five bottom model 3100 plow for $2,367.94. I do remember this being used on the farm, so it was purchased for our use.
It is dated June 8, 1977 (Photo 16). This one is different as it was purchased by my father, Dean Stephen. On this purchase order, he was buying a used model 95 combine for $13,500. That seems like a ridiculous amount to use now for a model 95 but this was written on June 12, 1978, and things were different back then. This one I have sweat equity in as I operated that combine for a few days one year on the farm. Old and slow by today’s standards, it still did a surprisingly decent job for that time. Years later, it was brought back to the used equipment lot, and I believe it was there until the end. I choose not to discuss “the end” at this point as some people tend to lose their minds. We will at a future date so please prepare yourselves. You know who you are (Photo 17).
Photo 18 is a model 2040 tractor and a 145 loader for a total of $8,140.37. It is dated August 3, 1978, and it is another sold to the company. Possibly another floor plan sale or, and I think most people are aware of this happening, a unique or uncommon financing scenario. Dealers, at times, have to be quite creative to get a piece of equipment sold. It is nothing illegal, just different ways to get something sold and it has been done since sales began. For one thing, we had taken in very unusual items in trade over the years where a traditional dealership would not or could not. I remember trading in a vintage Coca Cola floor cooler, several pieces of equipment, a 1956 Ford Victoria, a 1968 Pontiac Firebird, flintlock muskets as well as other firearms, property in the mountains, motorcycles, tools, meals at restaurants, and more—whatever
it took to make the deal. The ultimate trade that was being worked on was a helicopter. I was glad that never came to pass. Helicopters required specialized maintenance and that would have been expensive. We were better off staying on the ground, I think.
My father was at it again, this time purchasing three model 9300 grain drills (Photo 19). The total for all three was $9,300 and the purchase order is dated October 23, 1978. I also remember these drills on the farm, and they are still around here somewhere, 47 years later. They were good drills.
Photo 20 is a purchase order for an AMT 626 utility vehicle. The AMT was the original Gator; it had four tires in the back and a single tire up front. They were decent units for the time. This is dated October 3, 1994, and was sold to a customer, Max Heacock. Max is still around doing well, and I imagine he might still have this AMT. The other thing is—the AMT was $4,800 in 1994. Today, this amount would be $10,288 in 2025 dollars. It is higher but nowhere near what a Gator UTV sells at today. From what I can tell, most start in the just under $20,000 range and go up from there. There are a few base machines but, from what I recall from the last dealer, I worked at— most people buy higher end models. I remember one being sold that was $38,000. Of course, it was a high end model and had lots of accessories, but
I remember thinking how ridiculous that was. Come to think of it, I still find it ridiculous.
Photo 21 is for a model 216 lawn tractor for $3,500, a 38 mower for $400 and a 50 dump cart for N/C or no charge. The no charge is interesting; I vaguely remember a promotion where if you bought a new lawn tractor, you received a free dump cart. I do not know if that is what this was or not. It is dated May 1, 1987. Today, the model 216 would cost $9,787 in 2025 dollars. The model tractor 216 was a popular model for us, outselling all of the other 200 series, although the model 214 was a close runner-up. I always attributed that to it being the largest horsepower tractor in the 200 series. They also had legendary performance, and I would not be surprised to learn that many of the ones that we sold are still in service today, over 40 years later. To me, the 2025 prices on these items are honestly about right, given the state of our world today where every single thing is driven by the pursuit of a dollar. That does not mean that I have to like it!
Photo 22 is a purchase order from another dealer; I used it in another article a few months ago. It is from the Paul Boyer dealership in Grantville, Pennsylvania and dates to July 15, 1964. I included it as it is an example of an earlier style of purchase order although many elements are basically the same. The customer, Henry H. Early, Sr. of Annville, Pennsylvania, was buying a new John Deere 24T baler with a model 2 bale ejector. The baler and ejector sold for $2,350 and Henry traded in a New Holland 68 Super baler for a trade-in value of $1,150. Henry had a balance difference of $1,200 to be financed and, with the finance charge of $341, the total price was $2,691. In my experience, the 24T was a good baler and one we used on our farm. Again, I had intimate experience with the 24T baler over the years.
Here is a purchase order that was actually sold by me (Photo 23). So, see, I did something productive from time to time. Here I sold a new model 37A snowthrower and a set of tire chains.
I sold these to a customer, Robert Ledford, on December 19, 1987. With tax, the total was $855.42 and the customer paid cash when we delivered it. I never found the 37A to be that great of a machine. Our Colorado snowstorms usually require something larger, like a model 47 dual stage snowblower mounted on a model 318 lawn tractor. Now those could move some snow!
Photo 24 is our final picture this time. It is a page from a sales catalog and in it is listed the DC-80 purchase order for Consumer Products (lawn and garden) and form DC-180 purchase order for agricultural products. All sorts of other interesting forms and other items are also listed on this page, and it is dated November 1, 1970. Most of the items on this page are now collectible.
The topic of purchase orders might not be the most glamorous or exciting for many of you, but believe me, they were vital to a dealer’s daily operations. Every single piece of equipment, new or used, big or small, almost always had a purchase order filled out when it was sold. It not only lined out the financial part of the deal, important topics such as warranty, legal issues, customer information and more were all on the purchase order. It was also a critical item for dealers to be able to keep track of their customers, both for warranty and future sales as well as service concerns. I know I filled out many of these over the years and I imagine long time salesmen probably had hundreds or even thousands filled out.
Over the years, I have come across countless invoices, contracts and more, all dealing with the business side of a dealership. It may not be fun all the time but there is a lot that can be learned from studying these vintage business records. The next time you run across something like this, take a minute and have a good look at it. You might just find something worthwhile. Until next time!
Write Greg Stephen at The Old Tractor Company, Box 89, Franktown, CO 80116; phone 231-846-8243 or email deeredr@hotmail.com
As most of you are well aware, the 2025 Classic Green Reunion took place from June 12-14 in West Bend, Wisconsin at the Washington County Fairgrounds. From my home, the drive takes about one hour and fifteen minutes. So, I drove down on both of the first two days. On Thursday (first day of the show), my son Phillip and I took the day off from work and made the drive. I really wanted him to get the chance to see so many John Deere items assembled in one spot, since every show he had been to included all brands and models. We had a really nice day looking at all of the displays and meeting new people. I had the chance to meet up with many people that I know, some of which I hadn’t seen in a few years. The venue was terrific, in my opinion, and the displays were great. I think
that the committee that organized the event did a fantastic job.
One of the buildings was used for what I would call toy displays. While there were many farm toys, there were also a few lawn and garden tractors, brochures, and bicycles. The first set of tables (Photo 1) that I stopped at were those of Rob Denson from Arkansas. He customizes 1/16th scale miniatures and adds the necessary electronics to make them radio controlled machines.
In Photo 1, you can see a couple of 9620 tractors, one with a disk and the other with twin scrapers. Rob actually made the scrapers from scratch using metal tubes, formed metal parts, and tiny pneumatic cylinders. Photo 2 provides a closer view of the front scraper and Photo 3 shows the tiny hoses and couplings used to operate it. While the hoses and fittings look like hydraulic components, they actually use air. The amount of detail added, and the actual operation of these “toys,” are simply incredible. Note the controller in the upper portion of Photo 3. Rob is a
member of Deep South Mini Truckers which is a club for people interested in radio controlled models of all types. I have shared some of the displays created by Kelly Mutschler in the past. He has been to the Gathering of the Green and the National Farm Toy Show with his creations, and always has fascinating displays. His creativity is amazing, and the fact that he can pack everything up at his home in Texas, drive to Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin with it in his truck, and then set it up for everyone to see, is also amazing. For the Classic Green Reunion, Kelly created something completely new, which was a World War II display that incorporated a farm scene. Photo 4 shows a table near one corner of the display which held several pieces of literature or “advertising” from the time, promoting John Deere’s participation in the war effort. At the center of the table is the “V is for Victory” sign that most people have seen at some point. The picture includes a woman plowing with a John Deere tractor, holding up her hand with a “V” as soldiers drive by in military vehicles. Kelly created a 1/16th scale display with this sign as the theme. On one side, there is a woman on a John Deere tractor and
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plow with her left arm raised and military vehicles driving by on the road next to the field (Photo 5). Also included are a farm with a machine shed and windmill (Photo 6), house, and garden. This farm happens to be right near the center of town where there is an intersection through which the military vehicles are driving and have traffic stopped. This is shown in Photo 7, along with a Texaco service station with a car at the gas pumps and another in the service garage. Kelly has a great imagination and the amount of detail that he adds to his displays is simply incredible. The more I looked at his work, the more things I could find. In fact, he had signs around the display challenging people to find various items throughout.
Joe Trout from Maryland brought a display of 1/16th scale John Deere lawn and garden tractors painted in a variety
of colors and some agricultural tractors customized to look like they had been hard at work for many years (Photo 8). At the back of the lawn and garden tractor display were some photos of actual tractors with unique color schemes that Deere considered for their “patio” tractors. Joe painted some of the miniatures to replicate those experimental models as well. Photo 9 provides a close-up view of a John Deere 7520 that was detailed to represent a well used machine. Note the mud on the tires, the grit and grime on most of the tractor, and the “rust” on the sides of the air conditioner on the cab roof. Another great example of a collector’s creativity.
Photos 10 and 11 show a portion of the display created by Darryl Cox from Tennessee. Darryl has also set up displays at several different shows, but this time he too had something completely different. He had taken many pieces of John Deere advertising material, framed it, and arranged it on walls as a backdrop to many highly detailed and customized John Deere miniatures. The intent was to somewhat replicate what was in the advertising with the miniatures. Darryl included much of his own customized work along with that of other custom builders. This was another display that I could have spent an hour or more looking at due to the large amount of content.
Angie Wibben shared what was called “Ice Cream Party” (Photo 12). Included here was a one-half scale model “E” John Deere gas engine attached to an ice cream maker. In addition, there were some artificial ice cream cones, a scoop, and a single-page brochure highlighting the features and capabilities of the model “E” engine.
Photo 13 shows a portion of the
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Photo 9, below
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harvesting display created by Harry Kirchhoff of Dacula, Georgia. He had some very highly detailed pieces including a baler, No. 8 forage harvester, and model 30 combine. Some of these items had been built by Everett Weber, who was renowned for his custom, hand made miniatures. The brochures and farm painting backdrop helped to make this a rather simple, but very well done, display.
A custom John Deere dealership in 1/16th scale was created by Philip Richards from Pennsylvania. Photo 14 shows the display floor with a 30 series New Generation tractor, a parts counter, brochure rack, parts shelves, and even a paint rack with tiny onegallon pails and spray cans of John Deere paint! There are some tiny toys on top of one of the shelves—belts, a battery, and parts box on the counter; and framed pictures hanging on the walls. Similarly, Philip had another “building” called P & J Lawn & Garden that had a display area (Photo 15) that also included brochures, parts, and lawn and garden tractors. Also included were John Deere battery and Firestone tire displays, Brinly allied equipment, and even a John Deere air compressor. This was another example of some amazing creativity.
Photo 16 shows a portion of what I would call a large scale display. This was identified as “From the collection of Tom Brunner, Verona, WI.” Included
were pedal tractors and horse-drawn equipment. He had a 420 crawler with front blade and two-bottom plow, a 620 tractor with two-row corn picker and flare-box wagon, and model 50 tractor with a mower-conditioner. For horsedrawn equipment, there was a sickle mower, dump rake, hay loader and wagon, and a manure spreader. I am not sure if these items were designed and built by Tom or someone else, but they were really neat, especially in this much larger scale.
Allen Bohman from Osgood, Ohio brought several JD bicycles manufactured from 1973 to 1975 (Photo 17). He had a bicycle rack with all of the bikes neatly arranged within. Included were several men’s and women’s versions in green, white, blue, and black, along with two kids’ “chopper” or “banana seat” style bikes in yellow. This was the first time I had seen so many JD bicycles together in one spot, and it was a really nice addition to the show.
The final item I have to share this month is shown in Photo 18. This was in a separate room in the same building as the toys. It was primarily a lawn and garden tractor display featuring the “patio” colored machines. Real tractors, pedal tractors, and toys were included, along with a
“go-cart” version of the John Deere stock car. For the toys, both the old original versions in a dealer display box and the newer Precision models were there. Unfortunately, there was no name or explanation around this display so I don’t know who owns the item or created the display. It was very interesting nonetheless.
So, I hope you have enjoyed this recap of the toy displays at the Classic Green Reunion. Many thanks to all who took the time and expended the energy and effort to show and share their creativity at this event. I was very happy to be able to attend, and was amazed at all of the John Deere items that were assembled. Perhaps some of what I have shared here will give other collectors the spark to create their own unique toy displays. Enjoy.
Contact Bill Proft at N1366 Woodland Dr., Greenville, WI 54942 or email billproft@sbcglobal.net
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Photo 18, below
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A few years ago, after acquiring a John Deere 955 tractor with a bad engine and writing an article or two about its rebuild, I made the comment “NEVER AGAIN”! They are too COMPACT to work on, too metric, too expensive. It was a “one and done” experience with the world of compacts for old Doc. Our 955 was hitched to a six-foot pull behind finish mower soon after the engine was rebuilt, and now it has well over 100 hours of run time. I don’t run it; my wife Jo Anne does, she likes it and I could care less about the tractor as long as she’s able to get the grass cut. But one cannot ignore the fact that the compact tractor world is very popular and growing in leaps and bounds; it seems that just about everyone owns or borrows one now. And, sure enough, the darned things are finding their way into my yard. Here are two of them (Photo 1) in front of my shop recently, waiting their turn for me to express my displeasure at them.
The neighbor’s Kubota has given up on charging the battery. Just last
winter, I had put a new starter in it that the owner needed to get from the dealership as I did not have one of THOSE on the shelf. He was a little set back when the dealership pushed the tiny little starter (Photo 2) across the counter and said, “That will be $525.” Luckily, I only had to charge him $50 to remove and replace it. NOW the alternator appears to be dead; I wonder how much that’s gonna cost?
And that leads me to the heart of this article—the cost of compacts. As you can see in Photo 3, sitting near the Kubota is a John Deere 4410 compact at my shop for some maintenance work or, as the owner stated, “Just change the oil and check it over a bit.” Now let’s back up the train a little and explain why this thing was here for an oil change. A few days back, Jo Anne and I were sitting outside early morning having coffee. That’s how we enjoy starting our day with our border collies…actually THEY let us know when it is TIME to start our day.
Anyway, we were watching the early morning traffic, with most headed to their day jobs.
But what’s this? Into our driveway enters a Winnebago county sheriff vehicle! As we cautiously approached the vehicle, I asked Jo Anne if she had snuck out of the house last night and gotten into a bar fight; she said that she was sure that he was here for me! Jo Anne quickly explained to the sheriff that “it wasn’t us; we were in bed at 9 p.m.” As it turns out, it was neither of us he needed to haul away in cuffs. He stated he is our neighbor just down the road and he has a tractor that should have some service work done to it. He had “found” it online and purchased it used a few years ago and had never changed the oils or filters; in fact, he said that he didn’t even know where they were. Here’s the deal—I’ve got better things to do other than changing oil in compact tractors, but I would be lying if I had said you don’t need an oil change and keep in mind that this guy lives in the neighborhood and he is a “cop.” Best I stay on his friendly
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side; I might need his service some day—who knows, right? But enough of that; let’s get to the business of the maintenance run on this 4410. Push the button on the front of the hood and it tips up (Photo 4). And now we can see the true meaning of the word COMPACT. Snap off some
of the side panels, left and right, and we see the oil filter at the bottom of the engine (Photo 5); it sort of looks to me like it has been neglected. The oil that came out of this engine was long overdue to be replaced. I will put in my shop oil—Kendall Super D 15W40 (Photo 6)…nothing but the best in my opinion. But let’s take a look at this
filter thing and to the part of it that I just do not understand.
In Photo 7, we see the new and old John Deere M806419 oil filter. The same numbers, but check out the size of the old filter compared to the new one. I would have to call this “oil filter shrinkflation.” Our 955 compact takes the same oil filter, so I ordered two of them; they are both the same smaller size. I will let you make your own conclusion regarding the importance of changing oil and filters on time. Let’s move on to the transmission and hydraulic filter.
Tucked under the left side foot platform is the canister filter (Photo 8). In real life, it looks like this from John Deere (Photo 9) with a part number LVA11522, and a price tag of $72. It is a larger size filter compared to our 955, with a price tag of $42 (Photo 10). Now let’s change that diesel fuel filter located on the right rear of the engine compartment (Photo 11); barely adequate in my opinion. It is something to keep an eye on for dirt and moisture to collect on the bottom of the see-through glass. You will need to refill the filter by actuating the primer pump (Photo 12).
Now let’s take a look at the ra-
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diator and the oil cooler that lives in front of it (Photo 13). What we see is a PLUGGED mess of dirt and grass (Photos 14 and 15). The radiator has a catch screen in front of it, but IT was plugged as well. The radiator is difficult to get at to keep it clean, but that does not mean that it won’t need maintenance. The air filter element was in good shape, and it just needed a light air blast to remove a little of its outer dust (Photo 16). Let’s take a quick check of the front axle’s oil level; note the dipstick (Photo 17). And last but
not least, a grease job for all loader and tractor fittings. Note that my grease of choice is Kendall 427 Super Blu (Photo 18). While in the shop, I noticed a mouse visitor crawling around the bottom of the seat. Looking inside of the support, I found a very large mouse nest with little mice…I got rid of it!
In conclusion;—a quick paint job of the tractor’s bucket (Photo 19), that for some reason was very rusty. A little bit more than what would be needed for a maintenance job, but sometimes the little EXTRAS make it easier for
the customer to pay the bill that in this case ended up to be “north” of $400 for parts and labor. My final thought is that these compact tractors need a lot of maintenance that is very EASY to overlook. They have a very small tolerance for lack of maintenance. Pricey will quickly become costly if it is ignored. At least for now, this 4410 is in good condition and I am in good standing with the sheriff’s department. Until we meet again, God bless. This column is written by Ron and Jo Anne O’Neill.
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Generation II tractors
This summer has been a whirlwind of tractor shows, visiting with grandkids and, yes, monkeying with tractors. I did haul home a 1942 “B”
John Deere that was purchased new by my grandfather at Rolandson Implement in Oklee, Minnesota. As I write this, I am in Iowa picking up a 50 John Deere that we purchased from my wife’s uncle. So the tractor fun never ends.
Green Real Estate and Auction in Sac City, Iowa supplied us with the Jeff Mentzer Collection Auction. We’ll start with a 4030 narrow front, open station tractor, serial number 007390R. This
4030 has 16.9x38 rubber, three-point, two remotes, and 540 PTO. All it took was $11,500 to bring this one home. I like where this is going—now
we jump to a 4230 narrow front, open station with serial number 026617R. Again we have 16.9x38 rear rubber, three-point, two remotes and Syncro transmission. The tach showed 9,842 hours. You would have to dig a little deeper to buy this one. SOLD! $19,000.
Next step, you guessed it—a 4430 open station. The serial number is 009808R. Here we step up to like new 18.4x42 rear rubber, three-point, and two remotes. The 4430 has a Syncro transmission and it shows 0699 hours. It has a John Deere roll bar. What’ll you give me…$24,000.
If you have not recognized it yet, we have a pattern going here. What do you think is next? You guessed it—a 4630 open station, serial number 009494R, showing 1,461 hours. The 4630 has good 20.8x38 rear rubber, three-point, two remotes, and of course
1000 PTO. This one is also equipped with a roll bar. In 1977, a 4630 would have set you back about $27,000…I guess they hold their value because it took $25,000 to bring this one home. Finally, we’ll move up to the big daddy…a 6030! The 6030 has become quite a collector’s item. A total of 4,028 model 6030s were built. This one, as with all the previous ones mentioned, was an open station machine featuring a Syncro transmission, like new 20.8x38 tires with duals and also like
new 14L-16.1 SL front tires. Other features included three-point with quick hitch, two remotes and 1000 PTO. I would love to be able to bring home a 6030 but I’ll have to save my money! For this one, I would have had to have done better than the selling bid of $47,000!
Let’s work our way back. We started with Gen II tractors, now some simply New Generation tractors. We will start with the same auction from Green Real Estate and Auction from Sac City. The Mentzer sale also brought
us a model 2520 diesel, serial number 017662R. This wide front model has 15.5x38 rear rubber, Syncro transmission, three-point, one remote, and was listed in overall excellent condition. The gavel fell at $13,000!
I came across a couple more 20 series New Gen tractors at the Kevin Borud John Deere Collectible Tractor and Equipment Sale conducted by Steffes Auctions in Berthhold, North Dakota. First, a classic 4020 with 3,303 hours, wide front and factory ROPS with canopy. This one was a diesel model with side console, two remotes, and three-point. It also had 11L-15 fronts and 16.9x38 rears. What do you think? Final bid…$22,500!
Fun stuff coming next (if you ask
me!)—a 5020 diesel with 7,527 hours and factory ROPS with canopy. The big boy had two remotes, three-point with no top link, and front double stack weight bracket. Love the look of the big 24.5x32 rear tires and this one went down the road for $11,250!
Now we will do a 3020 comparison! First from the James H. “Jimmy” and Luella M. “Sis” Giles estate. The sale was conducted by Tharpe Auction Service in Monmouth, Illinois.This sale had a nice looking 1965 model 3020 diesel, serial number 113R074496R. The tractor was fully restored with a wide front, one set of rear weights and two slabs on the front. It also included 15.5x38 radials on the rear, two remotes and aftermarket steps. Simply a great looking tractor and pretty darn good price of $16,500! The next 3020 was from the Doug Fisk Tractor Collection by Pro Country Auction Services of Mondovi, Wisconsin. This one looks good and was an early in production
model, being the 1,047th 3020 made. The tractor has a wide front end from a 4230, three-point hitch, new front tires and new rear rims. There are front weights with a Cozy Cab. This one sold for $4,000! Someone came home happy with a good deal on a 3020!
The Giles sale, conducted by
Tharp Auction Service also gave us some fun two-cylinder tractors including a trio made up of a 50, 60, and 70, all with chrome stacks! The first one we will talk about is the 1953 model 50, serial number 5011996. The tractor is fully restored with Roll-O-Matic and clam shell fenders as well as nice tires. The tractor has certified a production record and a snazzy chrome stack. The 50 sold for $4,000.
Moving up, next was a 1955 model 60, serial number 6057197. This tractor was also fully restored with Roll-O-Matic and factory power steering. Let’s add an 801 hitch and clam shell fenders—it all adds up to a $5,300 tractor.
Now I guess it is kind of like triplets! The next one is a 1955 model 70, serial number 7020719, with factory power steering, clamshell fenders, and (you guessed it) a chrome stack. $8,600 was the top bid on this one!
Moving to the 30 series, we have
a 730 from the same sale. It was a 1959 model, serial number 7314212. This one is also fully restored, factory power steering, split pedestal front end, flat top fenders, new rubber, and threepoint missing the top link. The field or parade ready tractor has a custom built muffler built from a .50 caliber shell casing. $9,600 is what it took to bring home this nice 730!
The Jeff Mentzer collection not only gave us the nice Gen I and Gen II tractors mentioned earlier but also a nice 630 tractor! This John Deere 630 has power steering, 12 volt generator, Armstrong Titan 13.6x38 rear rubber, three-point with original third link. An original hydraulic ram comes with it. There are less than 60 hours on an engine overhaul. The wheels are set for 30 inch rows and fits nicely on a normal car trailer. This one is also ready for parades or whatever you want. SOLD for $4,500! I call it a bargain!
Back to the James H. “Jimmy” and Luella M. “Sis” Giles estate sale by Tharpe Auction Service for some of my favorite two-cylinder fun. Let’s go back to 1936 and an unstyled “A,” serial number 437626. The tractor was fully restored and on cut off spoke rears and has factory shutters. It ran when parked. There were many unstyled “A’s” at this sale but this ‘36 model brought the highest price at $3,600.
The sale also had many styled “A’s.” The highest bid went to this 1952 model with serial number 701248. Again this one is fully restored with a Roll-O-Matic front end, brand new rubber, fenders, and factory water pump. The winning bid on this one was $4,620.
We will continue with a similar scenario, only this time with “G”
tractors. Starting with the unstyled version—a 1938 “G,” serial number 2864 with new rubber, factory round spokes, flat top fenders, and a factory umbrella bracket. There were a couple of unstyled “Gs” on this sale but bringing $5,600 this was the top seller.
Next, a 1952 styled “G,” serial number 60791. The “G” has a factory water pump, clamshell fenders, flat head, and was in fully restored condi-
tion. Put it all together and we’ve got a $10,000 tractor.
Let’s throw in one more— a 1947 John Deere model “M,” serial number 12001. It was advertised as restored and ready to go… who’ll give me a $4,200 dollar bid? It’s SOLD!
Let’s finish up with a 1951 “MC” crawler sold by Steffes Auctions at the Dan Fiandaca Farm Retirement Auction.
The “MC” has a 72 inch blade and 12 inch tracks. The sweet little crawler sold for $3,900!
That about wraps up my month for now! Once again it was great fun. If you see anything coming up for sale, please let me know! Give me a shout at mickelsonauctions@gmail.com. I have my eye on a couple already. Happy auctioning!
Email Eric W. Mickelson at mickelsonauctions@gmail.com
It is hard to believe I am writing this article on the 28th of July and wondering where 2025 has gone. It just seems like yesterday that it was January 1st. I guess I have been busy and time flies when you are having fun. The winter weather has been about normal as other years in our area. I was recently talking to two friends from the southern part of the Australian continent. Both areas where they live have been suffering from drought condition. In the last several weeks, both areas have received a significant amount of rainfall to help save their winter crops of cereals, specifically barley and wheat.
My job as training instructor has been busy. My co-trainer decided to leave the company for another job opportunity in March 2025, so that left me as the only agricultural training instructor for our 21 dealerships that sell John Deere agricultural equipment. Some of the 21 shops sell the whole John Deere product line, which includes construction and forestry equipment. We have 29 dealerships in Australia; the other eight branches sell John Deere construction and Vermeer equipment lines. We have a construction trainer who looks after training in those branches.
I received certification in 2023 from John Deere, as a “Certified Dealer Instructor.” This certification allows me to deliver John Deere developed training courses. John Deere calls their training program “John Deere
University.” These courses are part of the service technicians’ certification. This training framework allows them to work towards Certified Service Technician status. If the technicians keep upskilling through John Deere University, this leads to Master Service Technician certification. I am proud to say that I reached Master Service Technician status in Canada before I immigrated here. In 2020, I also received my Master Service Technician certification in Australia.
The John Deere University training is divided into levels 1 to 4. For the technician to finish level 3, they need to attend one of my fiveday John Deere systems diagnostic courses and pass with a score of 80 percent in all three separate courses. These courses include Service Advisor, which is the computer-based manuals and diagnostic program; Electrical/ Electronics and Hydraulics/Hydrostatics diagnostics. There are four marked exercises included with the Service Advisor section of the course that include connecting to a machine “remotely.” This is a process where a piece of equipment is at a farm or a property that is a distance from the dealership. The customer gives permission for the service technician to connect to the machine from the dealership via satellite signal. The machine needs to be powered up by the customer, which means the key is turned on. Then the technician can connect their computer program to the
machine at the farm from the dealership to view any diagnostic trouble codes that the machine has set. What I do in the course to simulate this is have a new tractor parked outside the dealership building where my course is being held. Then I turn on the tractor’s ignition and unplug two sensors on the engine. This action will then trigger diagnostic trouble codes in the on-board tractor electronic system.
When the exercise starts, the service technicians in my course then connect their computers to the tractor parked outside remotely from the classroom to view the issues I have put into the tractor. After that exercise is completed, the service technicians must email the exercise activity to me. This is called “sharing the job.” I then check over the exercise on my computer to make sure they did it correctly.
The following three Service Advisor exercises that the service technicians are marked on are based when the technician is at the machine on site. They must connect their laptop computer to the tractor through a device called an “EDL,” which stands for Electronic Data Link. Then the technicians must view the tractor’s electronic system through their computer screen. They will be able to see any issues or diagnostic trouble codes that are currently “active “or “stored” in the on-board electronics.
Once the technicians are connected through the EDL to their computer, the next three exercises are completed.
These exercises include checking functions, doing onboard diagnostic tests and charting specific functions like active versus desired fuel rail pressures. These following exercises are also saved in their computers as “jobs” to simulate actual repair orders in the dealership. Then these “jobs” are then emailed to me so I can verify that they are done correctly. These exercises are marked, which goes towards the 80 percent passing mark goal. In next month’s article, I will touch on what activities are performed on the electrical and hydraulic systems during those courses.
I have covered in previous articles about the 1948 John Deere model “B” that I have here to be restored. This has been a long process as the tractor arrived four years ago in running condition, but in need of a lot of small repairs. Over the past four years, the carburetor, fuel system and magneto have been rebuilt. The rear wheels were removed to get the rims and centers sandblasted, and new tires installed. Both rear axles were removed to replace the axle seals. Both rear brakes were removed, rebuilt and reinstalled. I have been delayed on this project for many reasons. It was four years ago in August 2021 that we moved from our other property to our current property. A lot of other projects came and needed attention as well. Some of my tractors needed work completed to be functional. I try to juggle the other jobs in with the restoration work on the model “B.” I feel bad that the restoration is not finished yet, but juggling all my priorities in life has kept the model “B” down the list.
The model “B” has a bit of history that I know about. Peter Sands owned the tractor, and it was at his property in 2011 when the flash flood came through, causing massive damage to the property and tractors. The model “B” tractor, along with others in his collection, were sold off after the flood. Peter then used those funds to buy restored tractors from the USA and had them imported. Bruce Kirkby, who I have written about before, purchased
this model “B.” He took the tractor home and disassembled components to clean out all the mud and water that had entered the internal areas of the tractor and got it running. The rear axle housing was removed and gasket between the housing and the main case was replaced. Then Bruce decided to sell the model “B” to a man named Derek at Mungindi, NSW. Derek was the man who found my 1965 model 3020 standard in 2019 that was being sent to the scrap yard due to a failed engine. The 3020 was saved from the scrap man for $400. Derek picked up the 3020 and transported it to his place. Derek and I discussed the model “B” and 3020 in 2021, and it was decided to truck them both to my place.
The last weekend in July, I decided it was time to give the “B” some attention again. The clutch, pulley and reduction cover had been removed from the tractor several months ago. I needed to start here and remove
Tool pushing out the clutch pivot pin.
Below: Removal tool and its special push bolts are shown with the pivot pin at the bottom.
the clutch lever pivot pin from the reduction cover lever mount. Over the years, people have broken this cast iron mount off the cover, trying to remove the pivot pin. Back in 2021 when the model “B” arrived, I purchased some special tools fabricated by Sunsdahl’s Restoration Tooling. One of these tools is the “hand clutch pivot pin tool.” I used it to remove the pivot pin. The tool worked perfectly! The tool is a C shaped device that has a steel block welded on with a hole bored through that is slightly a larger diameter than the head of the pivot pin. This block fits over the head of the pivot pin, and the pusher bolt pushed the pivot pin out of the cast pivot housing. I then installed the reduction cover with a new gasket. This was a challenge, as the reduction gear needed to be installed at the same time as the cover. I worked it out after, that if I would have pulled the pulley dust shield that was bolted to the reduction cover, I probably could have fitted the cover over the already installed reduction gear.
I have decided that all gaskets
Reduction cover back on and in place.
Below: Inspection of shift rails and components.
should be replaced and resealed on the tractor to limit leaks once it is sandblasted and painted. So, the next steps were to remove the hood and fuel tank assembly, the steering support, the crankcase cover, and then the governor and fan shaft. This got me down to the upper water pipe and manifold. The upper water pipe is a steel pipe that is brazed into the cast iron elbow, which
bolts to the cylinder block. The current upper water pipe had been replaced at some point. It had some ugly bends and kinks in the pipe to align with the radiator pipe. I drained the rust filled water from the tractor and then removed the hose and upper water pipe. There was a considerable rusty deposit in the bottom of the water pipe. While the inside cooling jacket area of the cylinder block was still wet, I used a water hose to rinse out the rusty goo from that area. I inspected the radiator core and decided that a new core was in order. The bottom area of the core looked poor, and the old core will be somewhat plugged internally with rusty deposits.
The next battle would be to remove the manifold. The intake/ exhaust manifold gasket was not leaking, but it looked old and brittle. The manifold was held down to the cylinder head with four 7/16 inch studs and nuts. With some torch heat, I was able to remove the four nuts from the studs. The longer front studs and shorter rear studs looked to be welded into the manifold bolt holes due to rust buildup. I took 60 minutes with the oxygen/propane cutting torch to heat the manifold, studs and holes several times. Finally, with the help of a prybar and hammer, the manifold lifted off the studs. The gasket below the manifold was a brittle, perished mess.
The next problem was to remove the studs from the cylinder head. These four studs also looked to be welded into the cylinder head. I had heard about a procedure to remove the studs, so I gave it a try. The process was to heat the studs and then melt a candle into the seized stud thread. The melted wax will wick down the heated threads and then help with the movement of the seized threads out of the hole. I heated the first stud and the area around with the torch to a red color. Then I held the pieces of a cut up candle with some pliers against the heated studs to melt the wax. I kept doing this until there was a pool of melted wax around the stud. Once the area cooled, I clamped on a Vise-Grip and tried to turn the stud. To my surprise, the stud started to move! After some back and forth movement with the Vise-Grip, the first stud came out! I repeated this procedure for the other three studs and they all came out! What an unbelievable feat that was! Next task was to remove the flywheel. I have known the flywheel was cracked from the day I got it, as Bruce told me he disclosed the issue to Derek when he bought the tractor. I figured I would remove the flywheel to inspect the crankshaft splines and then replace the gasket and seal on the crankshaft. The flywheel did not want to move on the splines right away. The
New upper water pipe compared to old kinked pipe.
Below: Rust deposits in old kinked upper water pipe.
Manifold before fan shaft and manifold nuts are removed.
All manifold studs looked welded into their threads.
Current condition after the weekend repairs.
flywheel was rocking sideways on the crankshaft, which means there is wear in that area, certainly not a good sign. I ended up rotating the flywheel and hitting it with the sledgehammer to slowly work the flywheel out the splines and then off the crankshaft. I set the flywheel down and then inspected the crankshaft. To my dismay, there were two crankshaft splines cracked and broken out. This meant a better flywheel and crankshaft needed to be sourced. I have had a flywheel on order from a parts supplier in the USA since 2021. I will need to order a crankshaft now as well. I have discussed these issues with Derek, and he is in favor of doing all the repairs. I will update the progress as I go.
That is all for this month. Stay
tuned for more tractor repairs and Australia adventures. I am hoping all our North American farming readers are in line to have a great harvest season! Until next time, cheers, mates! Contact Ken Nicklas by email at kenanicklas@gmail.com
All four manifold studs removed.
Right:
Broken flywheel cracked splines.
Flywheel cracks marked.
What Brought More? This month, the contest is between an empty can of enamel thinner and an old bullet pencil. The can of enamel thinner is a one gallon can dating from the 1950s. It is in remarkably good condition for its age. There are only a few light scratches in the paint and very little corrosion on the top or bottom. It should come as no surprise that the can is empty, but this one is for display, not for its contents. In that regard, it looks great. The green and yellow paint and Deere’s logo are quite striking.
length. The case is a bit faded and has a few light stains or marks on it, and the outer layer appears to be separating slightly at the seam. Do you think the pencil could bring more than the thinner can? Find out at the end of the article in What Brought More? Three brochures advertising the 8010/8020 tractor sold on eBay this month. Deere had a difficult time selling these beasts. It took years for Deere to rid themselves of their inventory after making just 100 tractors. A lot of advertising was done in an attempt
The bullet pencil is one of the oldest that has been shown in this article. It dates from sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The pencil case is off-white with “John Deere Plow Co. Kansas City. Denver” printed on one side and “Quality is remembered when price is forgotten” on the other. The pencil is a wide, flat wooden pencil with a metal end for fitting into the case. Everything about it seems to be original and in good condition. The pencil is likely near its original full
to find buyers. I wonder if this model had the highest brochure-to-tractor ratio of any of Deere’s machines. The first of the brochures is from 1959 and was released before the tractor was actually available to purchase. The brochure is in very good condition. It looks bright and clean with just a bit of wrinkling evident on the cover pages. It is 16 pages long, printed in black, white, and green. It sold for $130.50. The second brochure is identical to the first, but the condition appeared
to be a little worse. There was some wear at the corners and some slightly darkened lines, probably just from time in storage. It brought a higher price, however, selling for $202.50. The final brochure is from five years later. By this point, the tractor had been updated and renamed the 8020. This 24-page brochure was in black, white, and red. There are significantly more photos of an 8020 at work in the field in this brochure. The first had more studio shots and diagrams. It was in about as good of shape as the
first one mentioned above. I would guess that this might be a rarer piece of literature, because it sold for $492.
The Deere Spreader Works produced a calendar for 1945 that had everyone’s safety in mind. On the front side, it was a normal monthly wall calendar with paintings of people doing rather ordinary things. The back side of each page had a cartoonish drawing of a location full of people who were behaving unsafely. People could write to the National Safety Council with a list of all of the unsafe things that they found in the image, write a few words about safety, and possibly win prizes of up to a $100 government bond. This particular calendar had two pages missing and one that was torn in half. There was also a tear at the top where it maybe once was hung on a wall. It sold for $99.
This item may serve as a bit of a hint for What Brought More? It is an old enamel thinner can. It is just like the previously mentioned one in terms of age and style, but this one is a smaller quart can. This can is not in as good condition, however. It has a little more paint loss and rust on all surfaces, a bit of a dent in one side, and somebody scratched “2,4-D” into the paint on the sides. The can isn’t in bad shape, but it’s not anywhere near mint, either. It sold for $80.
The John Deere factory in Ottumwa, Iowa is on the site that was originally Dain Manu-
facturing in 1900. Deere purchased that company and the factory in 1911. It eventually became Deere’s location for producing haymaking equipment such as balers and windrowers. Up for sale on eBay this month was a simple apron. It had a pair of pockets on the front and “John Deere Ottumwa” prominently printed upon it. I certainly can’t begin to guess what this apron might have been used for. It had a couple of small paint stains on the front but was in good shape otherwise. It sold for $49.99.
and highlight a single model of tractor in the forefront of the image, with the suggestion of some snow surrounding it. Two of the oldest ornaments sold on eBay this month. The first is from 1997. This ornament includes a model “L” pulling a hay rack, a couple of horses waiting to be fed hay by a man on the rack, a tree with ornaments and snow in the background, and two kids having a snowball fight in the foreground. It was in like-new condition with the velvet bag that it came in, and sold for $425.
Deere and Company has been producing Christmas ornaments for nearly 30 years now. The first ones were made in 1996. Each year, they have been round pewter ornaments with a John Deere tractor on them, with the details within the image painted. The first couple of decades the images were of wintry scenes and often included people, Christmas trees, and other things. More recently they have been simplified
The second ornament that sold this month was an inaugural 1996 edition. This one has always been the most valuable. It depicts a model “D” pulling a wagon, with a man and two children loading a snowy and freshly cut tree into the wagon. Also in perfect condition, this ornament sold for $2,045. Eat your heart out, Hallmark! We’ll finish up by finally giving the answer to What Brought More? The good-looking can of enamel thinner sold first. It was a good size and in great shape for its age. Twenty bids were made, finishing at $260. The bullet pencil was not in quite as good of shape and, due to its small size, would have a hard time drawing a crowd. What it did have going for it, though, was its age. It was also surprising to find a bullet pencil with what looked to be an intact and complete pencil inside. The pencil brought just 11 bids, but the price ended up at $530, winning the contest.
See something interesting on eBay? Forward it to sawitonebay@ yahoo.com
New, used & reproduction
Crawler parts: Lavoy Wilcox
JD CRAWLER PARTS
Steering clutch parts, brake bands, bearings, final drive gears, engine kits, carb kits, radiators, fans, water pumps, battery sheet metal, seat cushions, gauges, light switches and more www.jdcrawlers.com
Lavoy Wilcox • Horace, ND
Phone 701-361-1006 • 8-5 CST No Sunday Calls
For Sale
John Deere 6404T engine, complete but apart, for parts or rebuilding. Spun a rod bearing. $1500. Ph. 518-319-2912. NY
Parting out JD M-MT-40-420-430 and A-B50-60-70 tractors. Call us for new, used and reproduction/replacement 2 cylinder parts. John Shepard, 715-265-4988. WI
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LUNDELL TRACTOR
6583 310th Street • Kiron, iA 51448
Daytime: 712-675-4341
Evenings: 712-675-4339 Fax: 712-675-4301
1955 JD 80, power steering, PTO, nice, $13,000. 1936 unstyled A, pulling tractor, 6" bore, 8" stroke, $11,000. 1948 JD G gas manifold. JD L, good tires, $2000. JD 70 gas pulling tractor. 6-1/2" bore, 8" stroke, all tractors are in running condition. Ph. 717-799-4417. PA
720 diesel with pony motor, complete but for parts. Engine stuck. Ph. 402-3403182. NE
N.W.
John Deere 730 diesel, electric start, SN 7323488, 3-point, fenders, front weights, new tires, needs batteries. John Deere 50, SN 501103, fenders, new tires, needs a carburetor cleaned. John Deere 1936 A, SN 434156, spoke wheels, needs rear tires. Ph. 309-668-2769. IL
John Deere 530, repainted, on good tires, with deluxe fenders, starts and runs good, $7900. Ph. 616-836-5837. MI
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1961 JD 3010G (gas) wheel tractor (tractor, loader, backhoe), one of 192, running and working, $15,000 or reasonable offer considered. Phone only, leave message, 734-269-6414. MI
Antique corn binder in working order, $1000. Ph. 269-832-6058. MI E3X
1959 JD 630, excellent tires, power steering, flat top fenders, complete 3-point hitch, new paint and gauges, weights front and back. $10,000. Ph. 605-641-7472. SD
2024 John Deere 5075E tractor. 98 hours. MFWD. Power reverse. 520 M self-leveling loader with bucket and joy stick. Threepoint with premium cab and tires. Like new. $55,000. Ph. 605-228-6230, no text please. SD
1959 730 wide front, gas. Very nice older full restoration. Factory front weights, P/S, live PTO, 3-point with Quik-Tatch. New tires and seat. Parade, show or work ready. $14,500 OBO. Ph. 270-253-2615. KY
Two JD 720s. Pony start diesel, WF and 3-point. Gas, wheatland, dual hydraulic and rare 3-point. Both tractors have excellent paint and tires. Ph. 715-676-2220 evenings, please leave a message. WI
1965 JD 4020 w/ Power Shift, 18.4x38" rubber, with 80% tread, twin remotes, many improvements, entry ladders on both sides, canopy with insulated spray to reduce noise, converted to 12-volt system, clip on fuel filters. With or without McCee front mount snowblower, $20,000. Ph. 315323-0251. NY
Anderson County Flywheelers
Gas Engine & Tractor Show
Oct. 3-4, 2025 at Lake Garnett • Garnett, Kansas
Featuring John Deere gas engines and tractors
• NO entry or vendor FEES
• Tractor Parade both days
• Education Day for students
• Antique Tractor Pull Saturday afternoon
Full schedule of interactive exhibits
http://www.acflywheelers.com 785-893-0004 or 785-448-8745
JD 530 WF, 3-pt., FT fenders, nice paint, $9500. JD 50, WF, 3-pt., power steering, front weights, $5250. JD 530 LP, WF, 3-pt., spin-out wheels, dual hydraulics, original paint, $9500. Two 630 LPs $3500 and $4500. JD 4020 late 1971, new rear tires 18.4-39.4 with 725 loader, $21,000. Ph. 586-5304657. MI
JD 4 bottom 14" 3-point plow, has new points, rest of plow is excellent, $500. Jim, phone 810-513-4730. MI
Styled JD A and B selling as pair. Indoor storage for last 20 years. The A was running when placed in indoor storage. Have owned for last 50 years and planned to restore them but can no longer do so. Electric start on both, original paint. The A turns over. $5500 for both. You pick up. Ph. 414-704-3315. WI
Parts for 80 - 820 - 830: New drawbar, $300; clean fuel tank, $100; crankcase air breather unit, $165; slide in tool box, $65; pair of 34"x16 rear rims, $375; 23.1x26 tires on 24" wide rims, $575; 830 hood, $450; 830 cowl, $350; flywheel cover, $85; 16.9x34 duals, $125; 18.4x34 duals, $175; pair new front tires on 20" rims, $250. Ph. 260-352-2849 (no answer, please call back) IN
Estate 1949 JD M
tractor for sale
Original title, original brochures, service manuals, tractor has Woods belly mower, sickle bar, two-bottom plow, cultivators, snowplow (never used), all attachments hardware, front and rear wheel weights, new tires, very clean, always garaged, low hours, $9500. Ph. 201-417-7557 (NH)
Recovering original tractor steering wheels for 14, 15 and 17” three spoke flat or round wheels, $95; 19” four spoke wheels, $110. Please send your core or call for information. EverGreen Restoration, W7619 Walnut Dr., Spooner, WI 54801. Ph. 715-520-7876. Made in USA. WI F3X
Buddy seat! For 20 and 30 series two cylinders. Will fit float ride seat or bat box. Looks like the original buddy seat! $495 plus S/H, includes cushions. Ph. 260-901-3076. Callaway Restorations, IN. H3X
1937 John Deere A, all new tires, few hours on engine overhaul, new paint and decals, SN449107, $5000. 1946 John Deere GM, all new tires, few hours on engine overhaul, good paint and decals, high compression all-fuel head, SN 17358, $5000. 1950 John Deere A, few hours on engine overhaul, good tin and paint, $2500. 1946 A, good paint and decals, runs good with new front tires, SN 567511, $2500. John Deere 227 corn picker for parts $50. Tractors located in northwest Iowa. Call Brad, 712-584-6816. No texts.
1970 JD 300 corn husker, SN 00917, w/2 row 244 head, $1500. Call, no text, ph. 308-765-8371. NE
Early styled tractors (pan seated models) A, B hand start • A, B long hood • G, GM & H
New parts include battery box, seat, metal belly pans, light brackets and more The Ridenours Trenton, OH Ph. 513-988-0390 Visit our website: www.antiquejohndeere.com
$35.00 plus S/H
John Reed Antique Tractor Parts
RADIATOR BOLT SETS
Unstyled tractors: $45.00
Styled A, B, G and H + 50, 60 & 70: $40.00 520-up: $30.00 • plus S/H
We specialize in JD model H tractor parts— new, used and reproduction THOUSANDS of model H parts!
Estate parts sale, mostly B and A parts. Gears sheet metal, miscellaneous. Ph. 402340-3182. NE
Carr’s Repair: JD R and 730/830D overbore piston kits. Ph. 807-487-2548. International Falls, MN. No Sunday calls. Website: www. carrsrepairvintageparts.com (I3X)
Used John Deere two-cylinder tractor parts. Wide variety. Also, some New Generation parts. 30 years’ experience. Call or text Darwin Gingerich, 620-386-0071. KS
Reproduced aluminum WARNING PLATES for 3-pt. Quick Hitches. Motorola alternator and amp regulator plates, 35-55-72 amp. Hydraulic cylinder stop pins with chains, spring steel clip, like original, three sizes – 3/8,” 7/16” and ½.” Ph. 712-660-8447 cell. IA H3X
We have clutch covers, grill screens, manifolds, battery boxes, water pumps, steering wheels and more, plus a yard full of used 2 cylinder parts tractors. Over 25 years of experience. We also have battery boxes, grills, steering wheels and other parts for New Generation tractors. Call Shepard's Tractor Parts, 715-928-1039 (cell) or 715265-4988. WI
THREE PIECE FRONT WEIGHTS for JD 520-730. Good reproduction. U.S. made. $1000. Also numbers 4, 5 and 6 are available, $350 each. Detwiler Tractor Parts, Spencer, WI. Call 715-659-4174, 715-6594252 or 715-659-4525 (office) 9-5 M-F. H6X
Parting out A, B, G, H, 50, 60, 70, 520-820, 530-730, 2510, 3010, 4010, 3020 and 4020. John Brawner, ph. 270-799-1883. KY. I3X
ELECTRIC STARTER KIT for R, includes 12 volt starter, bracket with battery box, breather, water manifold, water pipe. Alternator with top and bottom brackets, mounting hardware and battery cables. $1625. Free shipping. Ph. 717-445-9465. PA G3X
Berry Cam Service: For your 2, 4 and 6 cylinder camshafts, stock or antique pullers. Ph. 320-395-2377. Location: 2466 Gabler Ave SE, Buffalo, MN 55313. G12X
• Two Cylinder diesels—our speCialTy
• CompleTe Two Cylinder diesel
• Fuel injeCTion repair and CalibraTion
• Cylinder bloCk boring up To 8”
We also have good sources for aftermarket products for two cylinder John Deeres including Taper-Lock flywheels, engine parts, grilles, battery boxes, manifolds, mufflers, pony motor ignition parts, etc.
• 2 cyl. & later JD air cleaner conversions, Lindeman through 430C trunion bushings • 70-830 diesel piston kits in stock, STD, .045, .090, .125 os
Renaissance Tractor
John Deere 330, like new and has been stored for 10 or more years. Full 3-point, weights, and excellent tires, no dents, excellent paint. $16,000. Please call. Do not text. Ph. 330-806-0145. OH
New Generation fuel gauges for 10 and early 20 series tractors, negative or positive ground, comes with new fuel tank sending unit, $160 for set. All our New Generation gauges fit in dash without modifications to the clamp bracket. Also have temperature and pressure gauges for same tractors. EverGreen Restoration, 715-520-7876; website www. evergreengauges.com. WI F3X
Piston ring sets: A, B, D, G, GP, H. D 6-1/2” std., .045, .090. D 6-3/4” std., .045, .090, .125. G 6-1/8” std., .045, .090, .125. Piston kits for most two cylinder JD. ALSO AVAILABLE: Two cylinder tractor parts; valves, guides and valve springs; 2 and 4 cylinder pony motor parts; injector tubes OEM, AF3190R; brass push rod tubes, $28; oversized wrist pins. H&J Machining, 701-652-3289 (NDE3X alt), www.handjmachining.com or racinghenry@hotmail.com
1959 730 JD diesel, electric start, wide front, flat top fenders, excellent tires, complete 3-point. $14,000. Ph. 605641-7472. SD
1943 JD B, war tractor, all original, one owner, has complete set of cultivators. Call Jim for pics and info, located in Kirkville, NY. Ph. 315-656-7568. NY G3X
New and used John Deere small square baler parts. Knotter rebuilding service. Our free catalog makes it easy to figure out what your baler needs. Call Finger Lakes Equipment, 585-526-6705. NY C12X
Reproduction front eye bolts for JD models AO/AR, BO/BR, $68. Ph. 717-314-5249. PA I2X
Crankshaft for late 4020 gas cast #R40730, $600. Parting out 3010 diesel, 70 diesel and 620. Ph. 641-228-4282. IA F6X
Scott’s Tractor Restoration, 14025 Haumesser Road, Shabbona, IL 60550. We offer complete restoration and mechanical repair on all makes and models of tractors. Showroom quality. Ph. 815-762-0851, website: www.scottstractorrestoration. com or email: twocylindersh@aol.com. A12X
Electric starter kit for 70/720/730. Includes 12 volt starter, bracket, alternator and brackets, engine cover, breather standpipe, plug and caps for water ports, $1325. Kit for 80/820/830, $1395. Battery box now available. Free shipping. Also battery cable kit now available. Ph. 717445-9465. PA G3X
New parts for L, LA and LI. Bases, propeller shaft guards and shield assemblies. Leave message and phone number, will call you back. Ron Brungart, cell 570-6604573. PA G3X
Carburetor, water pump, distributor rebuilding. Farmers Service Incorporated. Ph. 330-482-4180, www.farmersserviceinc. com OH F6X
Many magnetos and carburetors ready to go! Many makes and models. We will also fix yours! Just call EZ Tractor Shop, ask for Eldon, phone 785-332-5482. KS I3X
1938 JD A, unstyled, very good condition. New rear tires. Ph. 845-361-2480. NY H3X
DUBUQUE TRACTOR PARTS - top links, hood bolts, wheel bolts, front and rear, PTO shields, tie rods. Ph. 217-502-4504, email shinola@royell.org IL F3X
John Deere tractor repairs and restoration. Specializing in John Deere 2 cylinder, New Gen and Gen II tractors, all models welcome. New and used parts for JD 2 cylinder tractors. Ph. 717-940-1303. Christiana, PA. F6X
WIRING HARNESSES, battery cables and spark plug wires made to order for restoration or repair. Covering models from the 1930s to the 1980s. Electrical parts including: switches, regulators, lights, relays, alternators. Wiring harness repair/ rebuild service. Worldwide shipping. See our display ad in this issue. Call or email for a free catalog. Agri-Services, 13899 North Road, Alden, NY 14004. Ph. Website: www. wiringharnesses.com. Email: agriserv@ rochester.rr.com. G3X
973 Corley Rd. • Manns Choice, PA 15550 814-733-4397 www.dillnerstractors.com
New Generation seat extended brackets, 4 inches longer than stock, not painted, 4 piece set, $125. ALSO: Axle wedge removal tool, 530-4620, three sizes, $270 each. Brett, 402429-5311. NE I3X
Currently parting out styled and unstyled A, AR, styled and unstyled B, styled and unstyled D, G,H, R, 40, 50, 60, 70 gas, 80, 420, 720, 820, 840, 1010, 2010, 3010, 4010, 3020, 4020 and 2030. Countryside Tractor, 618-731-6625. IL H3X
Fuel gauges for John Deere 2 cylinders with original face. Six or 12 volt positive and negative ground comes with new fuel tank sending unit. $135 for the set. See our ¼ page display ad for other gauges. EverGreen Restoration, 715-520-7876; www.evergreengauges.com WI D3X
Automatic release brake locks for two cylinders. Parts: 420W, 50 and 630 RC; 520-630 LP and A-730: air stacks, 3-points. Hose and breakaway kits for dual hydraulics 520-730; also Behlen overdrives, round spokes and lugs. 800/801 hitches and parts. Aftermarket parts. 3-16s 825 rollover plow; 820, 825 rollover plows and plow parts. Marlin Smith, Pine Valley Farm Equipment. Ph. 712-579-9922. IA G3X
PARTS AND DECKS for older Deeres. 110, 140, 200s, 300s, 400s and over 150 lawn tractors for sale. Ph. 219-942-2242, website: tractorsalesandparts.com. IN H6X
We have parts for your 45 combine! www.45combineparts.com. Ph. 417-2592520. MO A6X
6-3/4” standard sized block for a JD D, #D962R, fits a ‘28, ‘29, and ‘30 D, pressure washed, pressure tested and honed. Call Dale. Ph 785-821-2600. KS I3X
New and used parts for JD two cylinder tractors and crawlers and some NOS parts. Models A, B, D, G, H, LA, M, 40, 50, 60, 70, 70D, 440, 520, 620, 720D, 530, 630, 730, etc. A&L Parts, 315-536-0543. NY C12X
1938 JD A, complete tractor, flat back, call for pics and info after 5 PM. Near Burnsville MS. Call Jim, phone 865-607-1190. MS G3X
Six cylinder gas engine, 340 cubic inch, low hour, running take out. From 1964 John Deere 4020. With 4226 hours. $2500 OBO or trade. Ph. 660-458-6747. MO D6X
New and used JD two cylinder parts. Specializing in H, M, MT, 40, 420, 430, GP, 800 and 801 3-points and parts. Also: See my eBay store for specials and NOS parts. Some NOS parts, many reproduction parts. Dave Cook Tractor Parts, 715-373-2092. Morning calls are BEST. WI H6X
1950 styled AR, many unstyled G parts. 70 diesel just fresh in! Parting out: 70 gas burner, 630, good tin; styled G, also H. Parts for unstyled A, B, GP, D. Styled A, B, D, G, 50, 60, 520 and 620. Some R parts. Call Larry Frederick, 308-520-7416. NE L6X
Canopies for JD 3020, 4020, etc. Powder coated yellow. $1135. Quantity discounts. Ships truck freight. Nelson Horning, 585526-6705. NY C12X
Taper-Loc flywheels. We manufacture and sell the original Allen Machine Works flywheels and supply hubs for the same. Also rebuild options available. Ph. 717445-9465. PA G3X
FOR SALE: Hubs for taper-lock JD flywheels. Also new old stock JD tractors and machinery bearings and high-speed gears for tractor rides. Ph. 701-942-3102. ND I3X
SUPER RARE
John Deere 530, flat top fenders. PS, LPTO, 3-pt, deluxe seat, excellent tires, no dents, excellent paint. $8500. Please call. Do not text. Ph. 330-806-0145. OH
Large inventory of good used two cylinder parts. Call for parts needed - casting numbers and/or parts numbers appreciated when you call. Detwiler Tractor Parts, Spencer, WI. Ph. 715-659-4174 or 715-6594252 weekdays 9-5. I3X
Have lots of JD model R and model D parts. And some other models as well, all John Deere. Call Dale. Ph. 785-8212600. KS I3X
tractor was built as a Model A, serial number 410449, but was scrapped on June 22, 1934, and assigned Experimental GX69 and shipped to the Syracuse branch that same day. It was returned on October 31, 1934, and shipped to Phoenix, Arizona on January 14, 1935. It was then rebuilt into an
251459, and then returned on March 19 and sent to Dubuque, Iowa on March 26, 1936. Tractor sells with a John Deere #16
Toys, Books, Manuals & Videos
Three John Deere A manuals: service manual, parts manual and operator’s manual. $50 for all three. Ph. 217-979-1912. IL
TRACTOR MANUALS AND LITERATURE, large selection, ag, industrial, L&G. Jim Robinett, 5141 Kimball Road, Ontario, OR 97914. Ph. 206-713-3441, send email: tractrmnul@aol.com. OR C12X
It’s easy to place an ad in Green Magazine. For more information, see page 60 of this issue, call 402-643-6269 or email info@ greenmagazine.com
Wanted & Announcements
Wanted: JD LA tractor, solid, running, electric start, clean, Midwest area preferred. Ph. 316-204-7059. KS
Wanted: I need the following parts for a 1933 D: AD894R top muffler flange. AD890R complete radiator curtain assembly. D 2030R drawbar. Front steel wheels and guide bands. Call Richard at the Green Magazine offices, 402-643-6269, 8:30 to 4 CDT. NE
Wanted: JD 5020 diesel w/3-pt hitch and PTO. Not restored. Farm use. Email: specificneed@gmail.com
Wanted: Looking for information on a 1964 4020, SN 87008, possibly to buy. Will give finder’s fee. Ph. 815-266-4630 IL H3X
Wanted: Small and large tractor collections. John Deere tractor parts. Vintage farm primitives. Guaranteed funds. No hassle. We do all the work from start to finish. Ph. 605-464-4683. SD D6X
Wanted: 1969 to 1972 4020, propane or diesel, Power Shift. Ph. 620-923-3364. KS I4X
2-Cylinder Plus Tractor Salvage, 26
2026/1959 Green Magazine calendar, 3
Agri-Services, 27
A&L Parts, 36
Auction: Frank Rochowiak, 13
Auction: George Helbig, 17
Auction: Glen Mayes Estate, 13
Auction: Jon Kinzenbaw, 16
Auction: Late Craig Holmes, 9
Auction: Ramon Waltz, 8
Book: A Specialized Look Into The Unstyled Model A, 66
Book: A Specialized Look Into The Unstyled Model B, 67
Book bundle: Green Magazine, 2
Book: Mr. Thinker’s John Deere Almanac, Fourth Edition, 68
Book: The Green Experience, 18
Book: The John Deere Hi-Crop Book, 74
Book: The John Deere Unstyled Letter Series, 36
Brillman Company, 69
Central Fuel Injection Service, 17
Countryside Tractor, 27
Crawler parts: Lavoy Wilcox, 60
Decals: QuipCal.com, 64
Dennis Polk, 18
Dillner's Tractors, 64
EverGreen Restoration, 26
Fabricated parts - Dave Haala, 26
Fisk Carburetor and Ignition, 8
For Sale: 1949 JD M, 62
For Sale: Super rare 1934 JD AR Experimental, 65
Garry Power, 64
GreenLight Products, 27
Green Magazine back issues, 71
Green Magazine Bookstore, 70 Iron Bull Mfg., 13
John Reed Antique Tractor Parts, 62
Jorde’s Decals, 27
K&K, 13 & 19
L and LA parts - Ron Brungart, 63
Lind Bros Tractor and Parts, 9
Lundell Tractor, 60
Martin Parts & Repair, 12
Martin Repair, 67
McDonald Carb & Ignition, 67
M&D Reproduction Parts, 65
Obsolete parts - The Old Tractor Company, 26
Paul's Rod & Bearing, 60
Plow parts: Tyler Buccheit, 19
Renaissance Tractor, 63
Ridenours - L parts, 62
Scenic View Engine, 26
Show: Anderson County Flywheelers Gas Engine & Tractor Show, 61
Show: Classic Green Reunion 2027, 18
Show: Gathering of the Green, 37
Show: Georgia National Antique Ag Show 2025, 61
SMV emblem support bracketK&K Antique Tractors, 19
Steiner Tractor, 75 Wapsi Innovations, 17
A Specialized Look Into The Unstyled Model B: The Handbook of the John Deere Model B 1934-1938 This book should be on the “must read” list of any unstyled “B” owner. Offers the same type of info as the unstyled “A” book (at right). Written by experts who have collected and restored the unstyled version of Deere’s most popular tractor, 84 pages, 11x8-1/2,” soft cover. GM8B - $39.95 US, $47.95 C, $52.95 F
Bookstore
The place to go for accurate and informative books
A Specialized Look Into The Unstyled Model A: The Handbook of the John Deere A 1934-1938 Now in its fourth printing, no other book goes into so much detail on a single model of tractor. Shows illustrations of nearly every change made in the parts that make up the unstyled “A.”
Written by Wes Malcolm, 95 pages, 11x81/2,” soft cover. GM7A - $39.95 US, $47.95 C, $52.95 F
THE GREEN EXPERIENCE
The John Deere Unstyled Letter Series Covers the JD unstyled GP, D, B, A, L, G, AR, AO, AI, BO, BR, BI, BO Lindeman, DI, 62, Y, W, AOS, Waterloo Boys and predecessors. Production numbers, year/SN breaks, original prices, matched working equipment, magnetos, carbs, wheels, history. 8-1/2 x 11,” soft cover, 160 pages. GM10: $24.00 US/C, $31.00 F NOW ON SALE! $18.00 US, $30.00 C/F
Articles first seen in Green Magazine 1984-2000
Mr. Thinker’s John Deere Almanac, Fourth Edition All the same info found in earlier editions plus now Dan Brotzman’s New Gen and Gen II SN guide. For all models built from 1918 to 1972: history, SN/year breaks, accurate production numbers (no 820 three cylinder, 1020, 1520, 2020), notes on some significant changes, charts on tractor fluid capacities, cubic inches, compression ratios, torque specs, list of plow beam numbers. Info on proper colors of mufflers, axles, horse drawn equipment, fuels/lubricants, E/W stationary engines, L&G tractors. Chart on heights, weights and top speeds; SN/year charts for models 45 through 105 combines; tractor/loader application chart; SN/year charts for all tractors built from 1973 to 1990; and production numbers for models 4030 and 4230. 8-1/2”x5-1/2,” soft cover, black/white. MRT4 - $19.95 US, $28.00 C, $36.00 F
Approximately 96 pages of the best articles taken from Green Magazine’s first 15 years. Every member of the family will enjoy this book of restorations gone awry, trips that didn’t go as planned, cherished memories and sometimes profound situations. Not a technical or historical book, but a book about the lives and experiences of those who enjoy John Deere tractors. 11”x8-1/2,” about 96 pages, soft cover. GREX - $20.00 US, $30.00 Canada, $40.00 Foreign
The John Deere Hi-Crop Book This book provides serial number lists for JD models A, G, 60, 70, 620, 720, 430, 630, 730, 2010, 2510, 4010, 2520, 3020 and 4020. Verify Hi-Crop serial numbers, build dates and shipping locations in a pocket-sized book that’s easy to carry anywhere. Production summaries of two cylinder Hi-Crop tractors provided, as well as Hi-Crop totals by state and more. 72 pages, 5.5 x 8.5,” paperback, limited quantity. Order GMHC - $19.95 US, $26.95 C/F
A Tractor Goes Farming Author Roy Harrington (co-author of John Deere Tractors & Equipment, Vol. 2) has put together a book that places the child in the driver's seat of a variety of tractor makes and models. Short sentences that kids will be able to read alone or with help and full color photos to please everyone. 32 pages, 7 x 8-1/2, hardbound. AS6T - $10.95 US, $16.95 C/F
Grandpa’s John Deere Tractors This book for kids tells the history of Deere and Company starting with John Deere and his steel plow. Then in 48 pages with 50 color photos, it talks about how farming and JD tractors have changed. Best for kids 5 to 10 years. 7 x 8-1/2, hardbound, written by Roy Harrington. AS8K - $13.95 US, $19.95 C/F
How John Deere Tractors and Implements
Work Kids are always asking questions, especially about big machines. This book will give kids the answers they crave as they step into the field with impressive John Deere tractors and implements. Ages 8 to adult. 8-1/2 x 11, hardbound, 48 pages. AS9H - $14.95 US, $21.95 C/F
Hi Mr. Thinker,
I just finished Ben’s article about the “AR” and “AO” and had a question about a statement of when the 1942 model year started. Was November 1941 also the start of the 1942 model year for the row crop “A” as well? My dad has a slant dash “A” that was built in the first few days of July 1941, and I was wondering what model year it should be referred to.
S.P., Ohio
Other than a few cases where a new model was introduced in June or some other odd time, yes, model years changed in the October/November time frame. A tractor built in July of 1941 would still be a 1941 model. MT
Mr. Thinker,
We have a couple 4010 wheel tractors; are there production numbers on how many of the 10 gas jobs built that came with three-point?
K.P., Wisconsin
A clarification first—by “wheel tractor,” K.P. is referring to 4010 industrials. Deere used the term “wheel tractor” for industrial tractors that were not on tracks. And since Deere never built a 4010 industrial crawler; the term is kind of superfluous in this instance. Sorry, but there are no records that tell us how many had three-points. Likely not many as Mr. Thinker has seen a few that didn’t even have remote hydraulics. The fellow in the photo above didn’t need hydraulics to pull the compactor. MT
Mister Thinker,
There I was, minding my own business at my favorite yard (I happened to be pulling an empty trailer), walking past that 50 I’ve walked past a hundred times, when this time I noticed that extra gas cap! Imagine finding a single induction 50 all-fuel in a yard in northern Wisconsin! Several questions. Has anyone ever tabulated how many of the 2,097 model 50 all-fuels were single induction? And, in a perfect world, how many were NOT exported? Also, can you confirm that a DLTX 10 is the appropriate carb? On this carb, the DLTX 10 is cast in, not stamped on a pad. Does that tell you anything about this carb?
Many thanks.
P.J.N., Wisconsin
The 50 all-fuels started being equipped with the duplex carburetor at serial number 5015951. That would be midyear 1954. Since 396 all-fuel 50s were built in the 1954 model year, we will just guess about 200 were built that year, add to that the 998 built in the 1953 model year, and you get roughly 1,200. All-fuel 50s were originally equipped with DLTX-83 carbs. The DLTX-10 is essentially an unstyled “B” carb, though yes, they were also used on a few early styled. MT
Mr. Thinker,
I recently acquired a John Deere “MC.” It runs very unevenly at slow idle. It runs good at fast idle and under load, I can throttle it down and it runs smooth and gives good power but as soon as I push in the clutch, it runs uneven again. New plugs, points and condensor. Cleaned and adjusted carburetor but nothing helps.
M.T., Ohio
Sounds like an obstruction of some kind in the idle circuit or a small vacuum leak that only reveals itself under idle conditions. With the tractor running, take a can of ether and spray around the gasket surfaces of the carburetor and intake system. If the tractor increases speed, you have found the vacuum leak. If no change, you will likely need to clean the carburetor. MT
Mr. Thinker,
Can you tell me what the purpose was for this clutch
lever with a hole drilled in the end ball? It appears to be factory.
L.E., Illinois
The only thing that Mr. Thinker can think of would be the assembly that allowed a driver to operate a model “D” from the seat of a binder. MT
Hey Mr. Thinker,
I was wondering if you could put light in a tunnel for me. I just bought a John Deere 930 NH3 tool bar and was wondering if you have any info on these old toolbars.
P.J., Indiana
Introduced in the mid-1950s, if equipped with three spring standards, the total weight was 1,500 pounds. The tank capacity was 154 gallons. Anhydrous ammonia weighs 5.15 pounds per gallon, which means that the contents of a full tank weigh just under 800 pounds. With today’s agricultural practices, that’s enough to fertilize
maybe three or four acres. A variety of optional equipment was also available, including opening coulters, closing knives and discs and press wheels. MT
Mr. Thinker,
I’ve been thinking about specializing in orchard tractors. In doing some background research, I have found these two variations on what are supposed to be 1020 orchards. Can you explain to me the difference?
T.B., Pennsylvania
Early 1020 parts books show the type of fenders shown in the color photo. Later books show the type in the black and white photo, which was taken from Deere literature. Notice that the tractor in the black and white photo also has guards for the radiator and fuel caps, a two-piece hood, and a lower seating position. The tractor in the color photo appears to be a regular “LU” type with orchard fenders. Either one or both would be a nice addition to your potential collection. MT
The John Deere Hi-Crop Book
This book provides serial number lists for models A, G, 60, 70, 620, 720, 430, 630, 730, 2010, 2510, 4010, 2520, 3020 and 4020.
Book: The John Deere Hi-Crop Book
Verify Hi-Crop serial numbers, build dates and shipping locations in a pocket-sized book that’s easy to carry anywhere. Production summaries of two cylinder Hi-Crop tractors provided, as well as Hi-Crop totals by state—and more.
$26.95 Canada/Foreign (all other countries • US funds only, please)
Available ONLY from Green Magazine • PO Box 95, Bee, NE 68314-0095
Phone 402-643-6269 • Email info@greenmagazine.com
Website for online orders: www.greenmagazine.com
PLEASE give the Green Magazine office staff and your postman a break! Please don’t call about delivery of your Green Magazine until AFTER the 20th of the month. Although Green Magazine is always mailed by the 1st of the month, delivery date can vary from month to month.
Hans Knutson’s spoker “D” sits closest to the camera at the Bos Brothers’ show in August 2025. In the background is Dan Thomas’ Waterloo Boy and Jack Beck’s “GP.”
