John Deere LI SHORTENED?? Please read SOLD for $15,100

JDChris

Member
I have been around John Deere L, LA, LI tractors for some time and know abit about them! Aumann Auctions had a 1941 John Deere LI {14th one made serial # 50014} that they say it was SHORTENED 16 inches at the factory? And weight added to the front end from the factory? I have never seen or heard of such a thing! Also the bars that they added to the frontend does not look factory to me AT ALL! Just looking for others imput on this and if it is the real deal or not??? I look forward to reading this post! Thanks for any info Chris and yes it sold for $15,100 ?????

http://www.aumannauctions.com/gen_inc_ind.php?moinf=1&pid=34526&cid=28898&itm=1520603&ts=2013111920:53:14
 
I don't really follow the John Deeres except for the fact I always enjoyed hearing those old Johnny Poppers working in the fields . But that shortened version of the LI is so cute . Its more like a toy instead of a worker . I wonder if it was built as a shop mule from the factory ? Thanks for sharing . Happy Thanksgiving & God bless , Ken
 
Wow! I don't remember ever reading anything about a shortened frame L series of any type. It looks like it was fairly well done but I would agree it does not necessarily look like it was done at the factory. I suppose it would make sense to have a shorter wheel base tractor to plow sidewalks with and one of the winged plows or V plows you could get for the L series. Without having any additional info I would have to say I think it did not come from the factory that way but it was a well done adaption at a dealer.
 
It is cute, and it was the owners discretion to make it, if that is what happened,, and it was the buyers discretion to pay that much for it...just like this 1/3 scale 60 that I am drawing on now,,just fun stuff, to me things like this is way better than playing golf or setting out in a cold bleacher watching a football game..but if what ever a person does, and they do it with thought and care, paying attention to details,,it"s worth while...
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Wow I wouldn't want to hit any kind of a bump with that short wheelbase! It makes me think of the "lowered" road vehicles one sees. Not my favorite but to each his own. Hey Tim how about a 60 crawler "H"???
 
Funny that you mention an "H",,that is what I'm going to use as a power unit for my 1/3 scale 60...20 years ago I was scheming to tandem hitch 2 "H's" together,,but it never got off the drawing board, I still have one of the H's here, and I have been eyeing it for a donor tractor,, but it's just too nice for that,, I am looking at a couple with bad sheet metal now, since I won't need any of that...I have been so darn busy here in the shop that I haven't had time for any fun stuff,,getting an 8640 ready to load and deliver right now, 6 units setting here now to repair,, like the old timers would say "Never say whoa in a horse race" and fixing tractors help me enjoy the luxury's of sleeping indoors and eating regularly...
 
Reminds me of a non-styled L I bought 40 years ago. Part of the deal was the seller would truck it to my place. After I looked it over, he agreed to come the next day and deliver it to my place that was 80 miles away. Well ? He DID show up with the L in two pieces in the back of his pickup. He torched it in two. He told me that since it was a tube frame tractor - it was "no big deal" to cut in half and then weld back together. I must admit, I wasn't real happy about his method of transport.
 
they shortened them at the factory and they were used as tow motors. The l series has a tight turning radius and by shortening the frames it would make the turn even shorter. Also making them shorter for maneuvering around the plant. They added the weight to the front too.
 
I know they did that with "A" Farmals, they would put the final drives up against the trans case and clock them forward a set of holes and called them shop mules, back then they used little tractors like that a lot to pull parts carts around the plant.
 
I read an article (maybe Green Magazine or Two Cylinder?) a few years back about a "shortened" L. Seems like I remember them being used in mining operations. I'll see if I can find it. When I saw the picture in Auman's flier, I immediately thought of this article. Maybe someone else remembers?
 

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