Do you like the New Green or Old Green Tractors

[sweettractors]

I am defining old John Deere Tractors as : fifties, sixties, seventies and New as Eighties through todays production.
My favorite in the fifties was the JD 430W and for the Sixties the JD 4020 and from the eighties to date, I waiting to see how they hold up? What has been your experience with performance, features and resell value? Ken Sweet

 

[MBDiagMan]

I'm looking forward to following this thread. I have nothing of value to add to it. That said, I can't help but offer my comments that come from nothing but sentiment and nostalgia.

My Grand Dad got a new, BIG poppin' Johnny somewhere around '53 or '54. I don't remember what model number/letter it was. I barely remember the event and I would have been four or five years old at the time. He ran it quite a bit, baling about 120 acres of hay and planting/harvesting another 120 acres or so of Milo for feed. He did this every season through 1970 and died in early 1971. The tractor ran strong up 'til the end. I was in the Army when he died and did not get home before the family had liquidated everything and divy'd up the money. They said the tractor was in great shape and brought top dollar.

The other tractor he had was a John Deere A with a hand clutch. I started raking hay for him on it when I was eight. I couldn't operate the clutch so he got it started and I raked hay until I got to the center of the meadow and killed it. Maybe that was the biggest thrill of my life up until that point. I thought I was an adult after raking that meadow and getting a complement for doing a good job.

I knew a number of people that ran 3020's and 4020's and never heard a cross word about them outside of complaints about fuel usage. That might have simply been due to rising fuel prices of the time.

As I said I could offer nothing substantive to the thread, but the question sure did remind me of my Grand Dad and his respect for his poppin' Johnnies. I guess that's why I like green and yellow.

 

[s78wingrider]

This one- YouTube - Heavyweight John Deere 830 tractor pull

 

[brin]

I really like my JD 3020 and especially the deep throaty engine sound when I ask more of her and she really digs in with a plow in the ground or such but in the winter starting is a chore..have to have a charger on each battery and put them on fast start to get it fired up.

 

[sweettractors]

I really like my JD 3020 and especially the deep throaty engine sound when I ask more of her and she really digs in with a plow in the ground or such but in the winter starting is a chore..have to have a charger on each battery and put them on fast start to get it fired up.

That indicates the compression is still good. I had a JD 3020 for many years and that was the strongest 65 HP I have been in the seat of to date. Ken Sweet

 

[sweettractors]

This one- YouTube - Heavyweight John Deere 830 tractor pull

That tractor is a "Beast" :thumbsup: Ken Sweet

 

[oldnslo]

Hard tp beat the old twin johny poppers. Lots of seat time on several models and they just kept on going. have friends that still farm today and they are not as happy with the new. Takes a computer to diagnose which sensor is bad etc. Reliability and shade tree mechanic friendly just isn't the same.

Roy

 

[Will_C]

I came of age in the 1970's helping my cousins and a couple of local dairy farmers i have fond memories of riding on a variety of 10 and 20 series tractors as my cousins hauled oats to the local Agway-I was 6 or 7 years old, they would pick me up in front of the house and I would ride back and forth all day!!
Later on, the first tractors I ever really ran doing farm work were a 3020, 4020, and a 4520-what a beast. I also learned to love a 2510 tricycle tractor that I raked hay and hauled wagons with for a another farmer.
About the end of my part time farm work came as the 30 series came out. I had a spare night a few years ago and helped my cousin by raking hay with a 5510 I believe, great tractor, probably much more useful,but no 2510!!

Will

 

[MBDiagMan]

This one- YouTube - Heavyweight John Deere 830 tractor pull

What a GREAT video! It reminded me of something my Grand Dad used to tell about. I don't know when it would have been, maybe thirties or forty's, possibly earlier since he was born in the 1880's.

He told of a demonstration where the John Deere salesman came to town. They took several other equal size tractors and kept lowering a plow until it couldn't pull it any more. After they were done, they dropped the plow stalled at that position and hooked up the poppin' Johnny. It not only pulled the plow, but he finished plowing the field with it. It was impressive enough to make a lifetime Green and Yellow lover out of my Grand Dad.

He claimed that the impact was what allowed it to happen. The video was evidence of what he said. You could almost see those tires pulsing as they wrinkled.

Thanks for the link.

 

[grnspot110]

As of last Spring, I'm out of the two-cylinder business (sold my 58-520). Sold my 58-720 electric-start diesel two years ago, grew up on it, Dad bought it new. I'd have to say the 720D was my favorite!

As for the newer stuff, other than JD garden tractors, I've had little to do with anything but the 2004-790 I bought last Spring. Really like it! ~~ grnspot110