1940s John Deere H

[Beavis]

Just curious: Is there an actual use for something this old and only 12hp, or would it be for parades/show only? It is not my intent to offend anyone with that question; I ask because I may have access to one of these at a good price, but want to know if there would be work for it besides LOOKING GOOD. Some have a PTO and some don't. This tractor and photo came from "tractorhouse"

thanks

 

[Egon]

old and only 12hp,

That is draw bar HP. It's rated to pull a single bottom 16 inch plow.

 

[Chuck_Lind]

I'd use it to ride around the farm instead of a four-wheeler. It's fun to drive and you can never beat that two-cylinder sound of an old John Deere.

That Putt-Putt sound will carry to the next county; the old folks would be enlightened to hear that!!!

 

[Soundguy]

it could be great as a parade machine, or as others mentioned, it can be a farm-go-cart.. it can pull small drawbar loads.. etc.. many small tractors, especially the rowcrops were good for cultivating.. if you can find the equipment.

soundguy

 

[TripleR]

I love the sound of those old Johnny Poppers.

 

[CumminsLuke]

It would pull a one bottom plow, a small old drag type disc, a small drag harrow, a small two row corn planter, a small pull type grain drill, a sickle mower, a hay rake, a hay wagon, a small pull type manure spreader. There are tons of uses.

 

[DanD78]

I have a 39 JD-B that has 14hp. Those small two-cylinder tractors will pull a lot more than you think. Starts with about 1/2 spin of the fly wheel.

Dan

 

[flusher]

Just curious: Is there an actual use for something this old and only 12hp, or would it be for parades/show only? It is not my intent to offend anyone with that question; I ask because I may have access to one of these at a good price, but want to know if there would be work for it besides LOOKING GOOD. Some have a PTO and some don't. This tractor and photo came from "tractorhouse"

thanks

Your H would look really spiffy pulling an old steel wheel grain drill like my Minneapolis Moline P3-6 (10 ft wide, 20 drops)



Right now I'm pulling it with my 2008 Mahindra 5525. But I'm restoring this 1951 MM BF tractor



The BF presently is completely disassembled and the parts are being painted. Hope to have it reassembled this summer. Then I'll use it in Oct to plant my oat hay crop with the P3-6 drill.

 

[neucam]

It was an early 40's tractor, I believe the "B" replaced it. But they were sold to do farm work on a small, less than a 80acres farm, or as a second tractor. They plowed, cultivated corn, (2 row), maybe not too fast, but they did it, pulled small farm implements of the day, 1 bottom plow would be about right, could it pull 2-12" plows I don't know. Of course an updated HP "H" could do better, and they had fairly big tires for traction. Some later compact tractors of more HP may have there hands full keeping up to an "H" but I am talking about a rebuilt "H" and maybe a higher compression "H" and maybe an overbored one. So it may not have only 12hp on the drawbar anymore. If it was rebuilt low compression and no overbore, then it may be lacking in power to do field work, just utility work as a second tractor.

 

[flusher]

It was an early 40's tractor, I believe the "B" replaced it. But they were sold to do farm work on a small, less than a 80acres farm, or as a second tractor. They plowed, cultivated corn, (2 row), maybe not too fast, but they did it, pulled small farm implements of the day, 1 bottom plow would be about right, could it pull 2-12" plows I don't know. Of course an updated HP "H" could do better, and they had fairly big tires for traction. Some later compact tractors of more HP may have there hands full keeping up to an "H" but I am talking about a rebuilt "H" and maybe a higher compression "H" and maybe an overbored one. So it may not have only 12hp on the drawbar anymore. If it was rebuilt low compression and no overbore, then it may be lacking in power to do field work, just utility work as a second tractor.

You put your finger on one important factor--the engines on these old tractors sometimes are pretty worn out and won't put out the advertised hp they had when new. The 4-cyl Hercules engine on my MM BF had to be completely rebuilt ($1600 parts and labor) because there was no compression in the cylinders.



And there's a slight crack in the water jacket on the block that needs to be sealed with some of that magic stuff you put in the coolant.

Unless the engine on that H has been rebuilt, I'd doubt it'll do 12 hp on the drawbar.

 

[Baucom]

The JD H was built from 1939-1946. The B was a larger model entirely, built from 1935-1952. The H and L/LA series were both replaced by the JD M in 1947. They will do more drawbar work than their hp figures would suggest these days.

It was an early 40's tractor, I believe the "B" replaced it.

I remember when Dad bought an Athens bog harrow at an auction probably 20 yrs ago. He pulled it home with his Kubota L2850, went down to the garden and thew it in full disc, and the Kubota wouldn't pull it in 2wd. He engaged 4wd and it would pull it in 1st gear spinning all 4 wheels. Then he hooked it to his 36 JD B and it just chugged across the garden with it in 1st gear.

The hp figures for those old tractors might not be too impressive, but they were geared to pull. Still, I wouldn't want one as my only/main chore tractor, but they are fun to use sometimes.

 

[Beavis]

Thanks guys.......don't know that I need it, but will keep looking into it.

 

[LRTX1]

That would make an excellent tractor for a large garden 1 to 30 acres if you had all the attachments, plows, planters, cultivators etc. I would take one of those over any CUT on the market today for that intended purpose.

Does it have anything else that would come with it?

 

[davkir]

This is my neighbors H and it stills works for a living.

 

[LRTX1]

This is my neighbors H and it stills works for a living.

Wow, is that a private road? Sure doesnt seem like much right-of-way for a paved county/state road.

 

[Beavis]

I'd use it to ride around the farm instead of a four-wheeler. It's fun to drive and you can never beat that two-cylinder sound of an old John Deere.

That Putt-Putt sound will carry to the next county; the old folks would be enlightened to hear that!!!

Is that a Gas or Diesel sound? I remember we had an old John Deere (looked like an R or D) but I can't remember much about it except for the sound.

 

[Diamondpilot]

If you like that look try to find a A. They had about 30 HP. Do some research. There were square and round axle models also spoke and solid wheeled and styled and un-styled.

Chris

 

[Scotty370]

Here's some data: TractorData.com John Deere H tractor information
I just recently bought an "M"! Why? I don't know! I don't need it! But love the John Deere line, and heritage. I also remember that distinctive 'pop', of them under load when I was 10, and growing up on summer farms. It's "cool"! (Can a 62yo guy still say that word?) I paid $1600- for it. Complete, running, straight sheet metal, etc. When I went to the seller, I said "Why am I doing this?" I don't need it!" He replied, "If you only ever bought whatever you really needed, It would be a pretty boring life. Wouldn't it?" Well it's in my yard! If I can help with resources on parts manuals, etc, PM me! ~Scotty

PS- Doggone! I just read through those 'specs'!!! Kerosene fuel w/ spark plugs! Wow! PM me. If you don't buy it, I might! ~S

 

[dave1949]

Thanks guys.......don't know that I need it, but will keep looking into it.

Like Scotty370 said - what's 'need' got to do with it. Looks like a sweet old tractor.

I have no idea what model it was, but in the early 1950's the field next to our house was always worked with JD. Very mesmerizing for a youngster.
Dave.

 

[Wayne_H]

If it looks half as good as the one in the picture jump on it if the price is right. The engine could be worn out, but Deere sold these two cylinders machines as being more simple... Two pistons to replace instead of four like the red competition.

My B is rated only rated at 28 or so HP on the pulley, but it will outpull my 35 HP 4400 any day while running at 900 RPM. And, it does not have a water pump or thermostat. They understood the concept of keeping it simple.

I use it now to cut grass. It pulls a 15 foot wide gang mower all day long in fifth gear.

Attached is also the power test for the late modeled B's. Similar data is available for all the old machines. Remember, the two cylinders are like BMW and Harley motorcycles, lots of low end torque.

Wayne