The John Deere Model G tractor was a large three-plow

row-crop tractor A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most common ...

produced by

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from 1937 to 1953, with successor models produced until 1961.It was followed by the updated 70, 720 and 730 models.

Description and production

The G was first produced in 1937. It was a general-purpose row-crop tractor, with sufficient pulling power to manage three plows. As with most row-crop tractors, the spacing between the rear wheels could be adjusted to suit row spacings. On later models the front wheels were offered with wide and narrow wheel arrangements. The tractor was equipped with a two-cylinder side-by-side engine, of displacement. Both gasoline and kerosene-fueled versions were available. About 64,000 Model Gs were built at the John Deere factory in

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. Sale price was about $2,600.MacMillan, p. 69 The G was originally to be the Model F, since A, B, C (the GP), D and E (for stationary engines) had all been used, but Deere wished to avoid confusion with the

Farmall F-20 The Farmall F-20 is a medium-sized two-plow row crop tractor produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1932 to 1939, with approximately 148,000 produced. It replaced the Farmall Regular The Farmall Regular, or just the ...

and moved to G, retaining the F-prefix for part numbers. Early Gs tended to overheat, so a larger radiator was substituted. The G received

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styling in 1942 and was designated the GM, as it was considered modernized. The plain G designation was reinstated in 1947, and GN (single front wheel) and GW (wide front wheels) models were produced.

John Deere 70

From 1953 the G was replaced by the John Deere 70. with updated styling. The 70 could be ordered for gasoline,

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and diesel fuels. Engine power was increased, and the 70 could pull four or five plows. The gasoline starting engine for the diesel engines was updated from a two-cylinder side-by-side to a V-4. The diesel was found to be particularly powerful, and sold well.MacMillan, p. 76-77 About 43,000 70s were built at Waterloo, at a sales price of about $2,800.MacMillan, p. 97

John Deere 720

From 1956 the 70 was replaced by the John Deere 720. with new styling. The 720 was the largest two-cylinder tractor to be offered by Deere and the most powerful row-crop tractor of the time. The 720's gasoline engine developed .MacMillan, p. 85

John Deere 730

In 1958 the John Deere 730 was introduced. It maintained the same powertrain as the 720. An electric start in lieu of the gasoline starting engine was offered for diesel models. Production in the United States ran through 1961, when the tooling was relocated to a plant in

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, where production continued until 1968.MacMillan, p. 90 720s and 730s were produced at the Waterloo plant. 22,925 were manufactured, at a sales price of about $3,700.MacMillan, p. 97

References

External links

Test 295: John Deere G
at the

Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory The Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL) is a program operated by the University of Nebraska in accordance with Nebraska law to test the performance of agricultural equipment that is to be sold in the United States for compliance with OECD stan ...

(NTTL)
Test 383: John Deere G
at the NTTL
Test 514: John Deere 70 LPG
at the NTTL
Test 506: John Deere 70 All-Fuel
at the NTTL
Test 528: John Deere 70 Diesel
at the NTTL
Test 604: John Deere 620/630 All-Fuel
at the NTTL
Test 605: John Deere 720/730
at the NTTL
Test 606: John Deere 720/730 All-Fuel
at the NTTL {{John Deere John Deere tractors