Is an M a true “poppin johnny “?

[lennyzx11]

I’ve been watching for a popping Johnny though I know little about them to use as a 2nd tractor and a toy mostly to be honest.
A gentleman told me that an “M” was not a true popper but he didn’t know why.
You guys have an idea of what he may have got that from?

What would be the smallest popping Johnny with 3 point that I could find reasonably out there now?

Thank you,
Lenny

 

[Shaneard]

The M is a two cylinder which makes it a "poppin Johnny" BUT the H, A, B, G, etc. is what most think of when they say "poppin Johnny". The M has a hitch that only M equipment will fit and around here that equipment is scarce. The smallest 2 cylinder John Deere with a 3 point hitch would be the M's replacement, a John Deere 40. It's basically the same tractor but doesn't have the adjustable steering shaft and has better hydraulics and also the 3 point hitch.

 

[lennyzx11]

Thank you! I’ll let the M slide by. I am worried about the getting attachments for it based on your information.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The reason the JD fan boys don't include the M and L to their little dream, is because they have 2 cyl "vertical" engines instead of the "horizontal" design.

SR

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree a model M could be called a ""Poppin Johnny"" but the JD horizontal engine cylinders do not fire at 180° apart therefore they have a distinct sound when running.

 

[stuckmotor]

I agree a model M could be called a ""Poppin Johnny"" but the JD horizontal engine cylinders do not fire at 180° apart therefore they have a distinct sound when running.

Jim,
Thank you for explaining why the tractors don't sound the same. I thought the horizontal engines might be hit and miss.

 

[beenthere]

The rpm of the upright 2-cyl engines run higher than the horizontal which also gives a different sound. Working the old G ahead of a plow made an awesome sound.. many an hour in the field with that tractor when 13-15 years old.

 

[rScotty]

Re: Is an M a true 菟oppin johnny ?

We had an M and then later bought a 530.... which is the last of the "B" series JDs. The M is a much different tractor from what is normally called a poppin' Johnnie. The M is much more lightly built, has a completely different engine, no frame, and no 3pt hitch.

We didn't know it when we bought it, but in fact, the 30 series were perhaps the last of the real poppin' Johnnies. They were made in the late 1950s, and were the same basic tractor as the earlier two cylinders but could be had modern conveniences such as power steering, seat suspension, draft control, fully independent PTO, remote hydraulics.... lots of options, and ours has them all. It still runs good. Repairs have been that it needed a clutch (rusty, a $100) job and brakes - about twice the price of the clutch! plus the carb cleaned several times in the kast 30 years. Still starts and runs fine.
rScotty

 

[RJ in KY]

We have 2 John Deere Model M's One, my Dad bought in 1967 from his sister in laws father, who bought it new in 1951.
I plowed tobacco with it from the time I was 12 till I turned 20, when he stopped raising tobacco crops. We still work the garden with it.
Its still a fine little tractor for the garden, and odd jobs around the farm. We also take it to tractor shows from time to time. It has the cultivators, the plow, and the mowing machine still with it, along with the draw bar attachment.
The other one belonged to my Dads older brother, and I ended up buying it, i guess around 3 years ago. It has not ran since before
my Uncle passed away in 1994, and is a project tractor. It's one of those things I will get to eventually. It came with the cultivators, draw bar attachment, and a seed sower. It did have a tobacco setter, that they mounted on it every year when I was a kid, but I think they scrapped it years ago, before I got a chance to buy the tractor. It does have an MC or a 40 grill on it that the original was replaced with years ago, when he ran over something and messed up the original front grill.
Picture of Dads M

Picture of my Uncle's M

 

[Sonny580]

I have a 420-u that has the vertical motor in it and was told it was a Hercules motor---I dont think that is correct but who knows!--anyway it sounds like a B motor.