John Deere fans, so many?

[Soundguy]

My only JD is a 1950 B..

soundguy

Not that I am biased in any way ,but if you are not driving a "Johnny Popper" you are just driving another import painted green.

For a REAL John Deere check out johnnypopper.com


Anyway, I've got to go spin the flywheel on the old A!

Alden

 

[wolc123]

The 2 cylinders are ok from a novelty standpoint but I think they are overated when it comes to actual usefullness compared to other machines. There has only ever been 2 new tractors on my farm. One was the JD M my grandad replaced a team of horses with back in 1950, and the other was the 4120 I bought a couple years back. My dad still uses that M to plow and cultivate his garden and it has held up well all these years. It was the tractor I first learned on and I spent many many hours running it. I will tell you that while it was very dependaple, the rumble of that 2-cylinder would wear you down after a few hours of seat time. I think JD stuck with the 2-cyls a little longer than they should have which is part of the reason there were no JD's on our farm in the 50 or so years between these two. I really cant say enough about the new 4120. Contrary to what many like Soundguy think, when I shopped around, it was actually tied with NH, and cheaper than Kubota for a comparably equipped model, and it was even American made with American power. The quality of it is such that I would not be supprised if my grandkids are still running it in 50 or so years like we do with that old M today. It has not given me any trouble whatsoever in the 3 years I have had it. How we ever got along all those years without 4wd I will never know. That, more than any other feature is what makes this tractor such a pleasure to operate. JD built some good tractors in the old days, but in my opinion, they still build them better than anyone else today.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

We've got a few tractors on our farm. My dad has three Fords, an 8N, a 9N, and a Jubilee with a loader and backhoe, a John Deere 850, and a Belarus 525 (70hp). In the last couple years I bought a TYM 233 and a Massey 1540.

The Fords are pretty much retired now, they just sit in the shed. The JD 850 (built by Yanmar) is still going strong 28 years later. We just put new rear wheels and tires on it due to the calcium corrosion. It's a heck of a little tractor that certainly doesn't owe us anything. Believe it or not, two weeks ago, we swapped out the original fan belt. 28 years on a fan belt ain't bad. It doesn't have power steering, but we've managed with it. For a bare-bones puller, this is one fantastic little farm tractor.

The Belarus was an experiment. In some areas it's built like a tank, in others (FEL), it's pretty cheesy. We've worked it hard over the 20 years we've had it, but having said that we haven't abused it. The hydraulics could rip the loader right off the tractor if you aren't careful. The bucket is huge, we use it for sawdust and carrying wood. It's loud and uncomfortable, but hey, it was cheap, and this tractor doesn't owe us a dime, either.

My TYM is a little working machine. Outstanding little tractor. IMO, perhaps the best tractor of its size.

The Massey 1540 is a very nice tractor all around. Initially, I had my heart set on a green JD 4000 Twenty series (4120 or so), but the dealer was such a prick I could not justify giving him my business. The next closest JD dealer was much further away so I went to a nearby MF dealer. After using the 1540 around the farm for seven months now, I do not feel shorted by getting the red tractor. It isn't in the same league as the 4000 Twenty series, but then again neither was the price. It really is a nice tractor. Quiet, comfortable, with good features, and the loader is actually made in the USA!

My dream tractor would be a 4520 with a 400cx loader, R4s, and e-Hydro.

With all the work we do on the farm (40 acres of hayfield, hauling wood on pallets for the outdoor wood furnace, random other chores), a 4520 would be sweet.

I don't see us getting rid of the Massey 1540, though. It's a high-quality tractor.

 

[EhM8]

Here is a curiosity for you - John Deere history in Australia

John Deere : History

Lot of Aussie farmers seem to have the Green paint bug too. I am not sure how the reasoning goes, that because John Deere bought Chamberlain and kept it running for a couple of years, that green is the same as orange and so it is Australian to buy a Deere. Buying a tractor doesn't have to be based on rational thinking, I guess.

 

[jwcinpk]

It has so much to do with history and America. Although lots of units aren't made in the US anymore we all still consider the brand american. A few are still made here. Doesn't hurt that the profits seem to end up here too regardless of where they're made. Deere has a cult following everywhere. I wanted green, but just couldn't deal with their dealer. Deere has hands down the best marketing in the business today!

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I'm a Deere Man...Got the Deere Grille, Tractors, Hats, Clothing, etc...
What I bought my 3520, what I was REALLY buying was Stability....I KNOW without a doubt that 20 years from now, Deere will be around to service my needs.
I'm not saying Deere makes the best tractor...My Dad has a Bolens/Iseki G152 and while its one of the toughest tractors I've ever seen, Parts & Service is Non-Existant...Same for alot of the Contract Tractors we saw here in the 80's (White/Massey/Allis/CaseIH/etc) when whatever situation happened to each company and the eventual dropping of those tractors, it left alot of people with "Scrap Iron" and a sour tase in their mouths....its no wonder really why people will pay a premium for JD Green machinery as at least there's still dealers around and most if not all parts are still available. Wasnt their catchline during all the Ag Mergers in the late 90's "Solid, Stable, Still John Deere"?

As far as the where its made debate....seriously speaking how much of ANY product its truly American made these days? The only thing that comes to mind would be my SnapOn Sockets and stuff like that. Everything from your favorite Cordless drill to your fuel transfer pump is made overseas somewhere...so dont single out JD for it....

 

[froggy]

Parts & Service is Non-Existant...Same for alot of the Contract Tractors we saw here in the 80's (White/Massey/Allis/CaseIH/etc) when whatever situation happened to each company and the eventual dropping of those tractors, it left alot of people with "Scrap Iron" and a sour tase in their mouths....

I had a 40 year IH tractor that I could still get parts for at the local Case dealer until I sold it in 2004.

 

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. I can still get parts for fords as far back as 1939 from CIH??

soundguy

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I had a 40 year IH tractor that I could still get parts for at the local Case dealer until I sold it in 2004.

Hmm.. I can still get parts for fords as far back as 1939 from CIH??

What I was referring to was the Contracted Compacts that were sold under the CIH and such names...We all know they really were not a CIH Product...
I have a friend who HAD a mid/late 80's CaseIH (Think it was a Mitsubushi) Compact who couldnt get any repair parts for it...Its back home now..scrapped it and I'm sure it went overseas for melt down...

As far as the "REAL" IH Products, we have no problem getting parts for the '75 1066 we have either... and I know select parts are available even for the Letter series IH tractors.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I'm not saying Deere makes the best tractor...My Dad has a Bolens/Iseki G152 and while its one of the toughest tractors I've ever seen, Parts & Service is Non-Existant...Same for alot of the Contract Tractors we saw here in the 80's (White/Massey/Allis/CaseIH/etc) when whatever situation happened to each company and the eventual dropping of those tractors, it left alot of people with "Scrap Iron" and a sour tase in their mouths....its no wonder really why people will pay a premium for JD Green machinery as at least there's still dealers around and most if not all parts are still available. Wasnt their catchline during all the Ag Mergers in the late 90's "Solid, Stable, Still John Deere"?

Ridiculous is the first word that comes to mind when I hear comments like that. Scrap iron? Come on now! You actually believe that bunk? Someone has fed you a line and you swallowed it, hook, line, and sinker. CaseIH (CaseNH), Massey Ferguson or ANYTHING AGCO for that matter, parts are just a phone call away.

I currently own several Deere tractors, some new, some old, several Massey Fergusons, both new and old, and have owned Fords, IH, Oliver, Allis Chalmers, and a host of others. Never had any of them to be "scrap iron". CaseIH and AGCO still have parts for just about everything they've built or bought out. You can walk into any CaseNH dealer in America and get parts for the oldest IH tractors. Same with AGCO. Want parts for an old Ferguson? Any AGCO dealer can whip out the trusty "Heritage Parts" catalog and find what you want.

Deere just eats it up when the lemmings march off the great advertising hype cliff at their command. That's what Deere does best, hype their products.