Question...........

Goose · Sep 14, 2012

What year did John Deere start making diesel farm tractors?

Reason I asked, is I just read a book by John Grisham entitled "A Painted House". The scene is on a cotton farm in Arkansas in 1952. He mentions the family tractor as being a John Deere diesel. But the way he describes the family, they certainly wouldn't have been able to afford a new, or even newer, tractor.

I've caught Grisham in factual errors in his books before. I keep saying he's not my favorite author, and I still keep getting hooked on his books.

DeltaRed · Sep 14, 2012

I believe it was '49 with the 'R'.

Bill(Wis) · Sep 14, 2012

DeltaRed is correct. "After years of testing" John Deere released its first diesel tractor in 1949, the Model R.It had a live independent PTO, live hydraulics (PowrTrol) and was the most fuel efficient tractor tested up to that date at Nebraska. It had a lot of problems in spite of "years of testing". The engine was basically an upgraded Model D conversion with thermo-siphon cooling (no water pump) which resulted in overheating and cylinder head cracks. It had no center main bearing on the crank and would vibrate when used as a stationary power plant. This was caused by crankshaft flexing and subsequent failure if used in that role a lot. The 2 45degree bevel grears on the PTO were too small and would fail. "The tractor was, however, very good at being a tractor" and was used extensively for pulling large pieces of equipment. Most of its problems were resolved in the following models 80, 820 and 830. Also, reportedly, the R engine had a habit of running backward which was later corrected with a cam mod.

FBH44 · Sep 14, 2012

I think I read Grisham"s book describing Parchman Farm in MIssissippi, describing how tractors during the middle of the cotton growing season or middle of the soybean seasno, running across the fields with plows. May be, but I thought it was a little late for plowing.

johndeereman · Sep 14, 2012

Going out on a limb here but could he be getting confused by an all fuel tractor?

NWMO Poppers · Sep 14, 2012

Both Bill(WS) and Delta Red are correct in the first diesel John Deere, the R, in 1949. The R was a standard tractor, not a row crop tractor. The first John Deere row crop tractor was the 70 diesel, first produced in late 1954 (1955 model year, depending on who you ask).

Mark6005 · Sep 14, 2012

Goose I can"t answer the Deere question but a painted house was one I couldn"t put down. Totally different than most Grisham books and i read every one of his books. I"ll have to dig it out to read it again about the Deere .
Too intrigued with the kids story. They actually made a movie of that book. Rented it years ago at family video. The book was better

Mark6005 · Sep 14, 2012

Goose I can"t answer the Deere question but a painted house was one I couldn"t put down. Totally different than most Grisham books and i read every one of his books. I"ll have to dig it out to read it again about the Deere .
Too intrigued with the kids story. They actually made a movie of that book. Rented it years ago at family video. The book was better

PopinJohn · Sep 14, 2012

We watched the TV movie version on CBS Hallmark Hall of fame in 2003. The tractor used in the scenes was a late styled JD B if I remember right. Eli "Pappy" Chandler the farmer was played by Scott Glen, who also portrayed the submarine captain in "Hunt for Red Oktober". The house used in the movie is located at Lepanto, Arkansas, just south of RickDeere. We enjoyed the movie because of a fairly accurate portrayal of life in Northeast Arkansas where I was born and raised. John Grisham was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas not far from Lepanto.

Question...........

Goose

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DeltaRed

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Bill(Wis)

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FBH44

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johndeereman

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NWMO Poppers

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Mark6005

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Mark6005

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PopinJohn

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