Art,
The GP was basically the second model tractor brought out by JD, after the D. It came out in 1928 and was built into 1935. Several significant changes occurred for the 1931 model year - bore increased from 5 3/4 to 6" (the "big bore" GPs), and the exhaust system was moved from the flywheel side to the pulley side. The air intake became a stack intake sticking up on the left hand side of the hood. If the air stack sticks up through the hood on the pulley side, it is most likely a 1930 small bore.What to look for - in addition to those things pointed out by Chris, if it has the original magneto (built by Fairbanks Morse and has John Deere Tractor Company cast into the front), the proper carburetor (depends on the year), if it has a "bean axle" - the bean front axle is wider than the normal axle, front spindles which have not been welded (the top splines did not wear well and the spindle tops became loose in the steering casting and were welded on the tops), if it has the correct muffler system (a circular can-looking device near the manifold and a straight pipe above this), ..... are some things to ask about. But for $3000 I would expect most of these answers to be negative - that is a good price for a running GP on steel. There will be a seminar on GPs at the Gathering of the Green in Moline in March, by the Ostranders who held the GP Rally last fall, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the GP. A tape of that event is available.
|
