I recently took over stewardship of a 1963 AC D15. Factory 3 point with power steering. I've had at least one AC enthusiast tell me it was "the finest tractor ever built". He is a devotee.
By comparison, I was around 3 or 4 years old when a delivery truck unloaded a brand new 1958 JD 620. Can still remember them backing it off the truck onto a road bank. That was the first new tractor I think my dad bought and it replaced a JD B. There was no comparison. The 620 was light years better than the B. With the hand clutch to push and flat operators platform to stand on while steering, idled down in 1st gear, I was able to help drive it through gates to help feed hogs and cattle...at age 5 or 6. By age 8, I was raking hay with it.
Both the JD 620 and D 15 are in the low to mid 40's HP range and would have competed in some markets head on. I'd take the 620 every time, even as a 2 cylinder Johnny popper.
Even in 1958, the 620 had power steering, full Cat II 3 point hitch, with robust center top link with clip and flexible end links on the lower links to help hook up implements. One hydraulic double action remote with separate control by the seat. Rear wheels were cast iron, so no need for wheel weights. They were integral to the design. Flat operator platform. Hand clutch with only 6 gears, but most of them in a usable range. Control levers were robust. Dad kept and used it the next 30 years until he retired and sold out. Can't remember a time when it failed to start or run, nor a time when it was in the shop.
The D15, while having a smoother running engine, is flimsy by comparison. Cat I 3 point hitch, which appears to have a nasty habit of working loose and falling apart. The 3 point and rear single action remote are operated by the same lever. I'm told it was the expectation that a guy would use one or the other, but never both at the same time. Seriously? And this from a tractor made 5 years AFTER the 620. I have found it curious that when I show folks pictures of the D15, one of the first things they notice and mention is "it has wheel weights". Apparently it didn't come with them.....something I never gave a 2nd thought to as they came integral on the 620 and other JD models.
Don't know how the 620 stacked up against others at the time. I know a lot of JD folks were quick to replace the 2 cylinder gas tractors with 4 cylinder diesels, but from the clutch back, it seemed to me they were pretty similar. But I've never had one apart. I've only sat in the seat and ran em.
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Today's Featured Article - Seeing an Old Friend - by Joe Evans. Dad had a concrete contracting business starting in 1960. One of his first pieces of equipment was a Ferguson TO-35 with a Davis loader. Dad replaced the TO-35 with a MF 202 Workbull, essentially an industrialized Ferguson 35 I am told. Dad bought the 202 new in 1962, and I recall quite clearly going to the dealer with him to sign for it.
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