History of Diesel Engines in John Deere Tractors
The John Deere tractor is a familiar sight in agricultural areas. Since John Deere's first piece of riding equipment, a horse-drawn cultivator, was introduced in 1863, the Deere company chose to paint everything they produced with only yellow and green.
Production of the first tractor offered by John Deere began in 1912 with a chain-drive gasoline-powered model. The company offered only gasoline-powered tractors until the first diesel-powered tractor, the Model R, was introduced in 1949.
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The First John Deere Diesel
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In 1949, The John Deere company began producing its first diesel-powered tractor, the Model R. This tractor also was the first to offer a steel cab option and a live power take off (PTO) with its own clutch. A hydraulic system for the lifting of implements was driven by the PTO.
The two-cylinder diesel engine produced 51 horsepower. An interesting feature of the Model R was the method of starting the diesel engine. The designers found that an electric starter and batteries would have been very heavy and complex and instead designed the tractor with two engines; a two-cylinder gasoline engine was coupled to the diesel engine to start it. The gasoline engine was started using an electric starter. The cooling system was shared by the two engines, allowing the gasoline engine to warm the coolant, which also warmed the diesel engine block, making the diesel easier to start.
Over the next 5 1/2 years, farmers purchased 21,294 Model R tractors.
Model 8010
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In the fall of 1959 the Deere company introduced a large diesel tractor with a new motor. The company produced the last two-cylinder model in 1958 and now switched to engines with four or six cylinders. The 8010 had a six-cylinder motor purchased from General Motors that produced 150 horsepower at the drawbar. This tractor weighed more than 19,000 lbs. and sold for more than $30,000. The company did not sell many of these tractors due to the high price.
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The 8020
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The Model 8020 replaced the 8010. Actually, most 8010 models were rebuilt and designated as 8020 models when transmission problems caused a reliability issue. The 8010 was only produced in 1960.
The 8020, like its predecessor the 8010, was an articulated four-wheel drive tractor, weighing 19,700 lbs. Power was provided by a Detroit Diesel six-cylinder engine, which also produced 150 horsepower at the drawbar.
The 8020 was built from 1961 to 1963. During this period a total of 77 8020 tractors were produced.
The 4020
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A smaller and more affordable model, the 4020 carried a price tag of $10,345 in 1972. This model was available as a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive. Production ran from 1963 to 1972. Due to its much lower price a total of 168,311 diesel models found new owners. This model could also be purchased with either a gasoline- or LP-fueled engine.
4030 and 4230 Models
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The last John Deere tractor models to offer the tricycle front end, the small 4030 and 4230 models were powered by a 86 horsepower six-cylinder diesel engine. Production ran from 1973 to 1977.
Other Models
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Since 1977 John Deere has produced a large number of different model tractors, all available with either gasoline or diesel engines. From the smallest, the model 330 diesel-powered lawn tractor, to the biggest, the model 8850 John Deere eight-wheel articulated tractor, this company continues what it started in 1949.
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- Photo Credit Tractor image by Arne Bramsen from Fotolia.com
