the new "old" john deere

beenthere · Sep 8, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

I remember, and liked, the older Model A and G Deere's, especially the hand clutch. Could hop on the drawbar, hang on to the seat, and shove the clutch ahead and away you'd go. As moving, swing up into the seat and shove the throttle ahead. Stand up to drive when tired of sitting, as the platform and steering wheel allowed for plenty of room. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif No ROPS, no seatbelt, no fenders, and narrow front ends. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
No question I did like them. Also liked the 8N Ford and the Fergusons, as well as the Case, the Oliver, the Massey Harris, the Farmall's, and the Graham Bradley my Uncle had. Can't forget the hand clutch system on the Allis Chalmers either, as it was real smooooth. Never had a chance to drive a Minneapolis Moline.
Then came the big farm tractors, with 200 to 300 HP, and the big equipment pulled behind, with Cabs and A/C for comfort. Even a few trips around the field in the big 8 row corn picking combine running at 7.5 mph down through the fields and not dropping a kernel of corn. Real comfort compared to the two-row mounted picker on the old A John Deere with no power steering and sitting in a dust bowl while picking corn (but better than picking corn by hand, and trying to keep two ears in the air at all times, while the team kept moving the wagon along, only slowing down when they didn't hear the ears hitting the bang board anymore /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Handled a few teams when I was a boy and helped with threshing crews bringing in oat bundles from the fields and throwing them carefully in the infeed end of the threshing machine. Lots of good memories and looking back, a wide variety of experiences.
But I really do enjoy my HST 4wd FEL tractor the best of any of them. But, I won't be overhauling it anytime soon either. Have had to find the wires for the rear utility lights, adjust the throttle friction disk, remove the hyd screen in the 3pt hydraulics, change the filters and the tranny oil, put fluid in the tires, replace the brittle overflow tubing for the radiator, and a few minor jobs with no problems.

RoyJackson · Sep 8, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

I also prefer the simplicity of the 790.
There are less things to go wrong...I can do any of the maintenance or repairs I feel competent to do.

In 10-15 years, I've little doubt I can get the parts I'll need for my Deere....not so sure about the electronic "bells n' whistles" parts.

Of course, I'm 55...I guess we older guys yearn for simpler times...just a fact of getting older.

Of course, I do have all those "bells n' whistles" in my Explorer!

For those professional farmers and other users...any type of option or comfort item (cabs and AC) is a necessity. That cab is as much an office to them as my desk is to me. Those hours are their living.

unreconstructed · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

Didn't mean to knock your technology--I think it is all great and am glad Deere has a choice for all of us to choose from.

Everything is a matter of degree--I love electricity and indoor plumbing and I love the internal combustion engine. Maybe I just associate the "simpler" machinery with my growing up years and my Dad whom I miss.

I think with technology, for those of us who aren't that interested in new gadgetry, we embrace what we like and leave what we don't. I still like a wood stock and a nice blue job, but don't care for the new plastic stocks and stainless steel on my guns for example.

Have a good one. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

deerefan · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

i see i started something here....i did not intend to offend anyone, just wanted to bring up a good point. It was just my preference. I feel the new technology is great and CUTs are AWESOME in tight spots, just hoping these tractors do not get too saavy to work on.

unreconstructed · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

Hey Beenthere:

Missed the hand clutches but my first tractor to operate was a UB Minneapolis Moline. Daddy had it on LP, no power steering, no shade, was a tricyle. Started when I was 9. He put a rope around it and said, "If you start to fall off, grab hold of the rope". Guess that would have got him locked up these days, but he grew up a lot harder than a tractor with no power steering. Later on, in 1960, he bought an M-5 Moline. Had power steering and an ampli-torque which gave it an extra speed in each of the five gears. A real cadillac compared to the old UB. Wish he had kept the UB--a real smoothy it was unless one lost control of the steering wheel bouncing over the beds. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Oh yeah, the M-5 ran on LP too.

The 1850 Oliver was next--his first diesel--I am planning to restore it as I get time and money. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The 1086 International was his first one with hydro and cab with air conditioning. My oldest boy rode many a round with Daddy in that one--he missed the fun with the UB in that hot West Texas sun.

Enough of my blather.
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

755inNY · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

 Some of these compact tractors are so "car-like" it is getting difficult to differentiate.

Same thing has happed to pick-up trucks.

andrewj · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

Deerefan, I'm with you. 5103. when these guys are replacing their sillynoids, gizmahoos, whirlybys, gazmocentrifiers, hydro-aromafiers, neato-mometers, and that fancygrabazzy beneather their seat, you and me will still be on our gear tractors showing our grandkids how to use them.

beenthere · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

( ..i see i started something here....i did not intend to offend anyone, )

And I don't think anyone was offended, but just enjoyed the discussion. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
You did seem to imply that only the 'simpler' tractors needed to be manufactured. That is where we might agree to disagree. Most seem to be saying, "good that you can buy the simple ones you like, and good that others can buy the 'less-simple' ones that they like". No more, no less. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Enjoy /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

beenthere · Sep 9, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

Seems I recall that some early Minny's had the hand clutch too, but a bit different from the Deere models. As a kid of 9, I learned to drive the A JD and had to stand up to operate the hand clutch (while pulling a wagon and picking up bales of hay) and the brakes at the same time as steering. Great fun for a 9 year old. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

hobbyfarm · Sep 11, 2005

Re: the new \"old\" john deere

( Some of these compact tractors are so "car-like" it is getting difficult to differentiate.

Same thing has happed to pick-up trucks. )

Remember the plain painted metal dash? They all had a metal dash. Not any more. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Now, everything's all fluffy and junk.
Look how they've ruined the venerable Jeep. Who the heck NEEDS an airbag in an off-road vehicle?
Sometimes progress(?) stinks.