Home >> Collecting >> Other Collecting

How to Distinguish Antique John Deere Tractors

Collecting antique John Deere tractors can be a satisfying hobby for anyone interested in North America's rich agricultural history. The more you learn about the company and its vehicles, the more you start to appreciate the subtleties in body shape and engineering that make them tangible pieces of history. Collecting and restoring these machines is challenging however, as differentiating the models from each other can be difficult. Because collecting antique tractors is such a niche hobby, the information you need to determine how old your tractor is can be hard to find.

Instructions

- 1
  Look for grills and a hood placed in front of and blending into the radiator. These mean the tractor is styled and was manufactured some time after the early 1940s. An absence of these parts, or any sheet metal parts save the engine hood, dates the tractor in the early 20th century.
- 2
  Examine the steering post for position and style. Model A tractors, built in April 1934, have a smooth steering post which unbolts in the back. The Model B, created two months later, uses two bolts to attach to the front. The Model G, constructed three years later, is easy to recognize by its entirely removable plate and four prominent bolts on the steering post.
- 3
  Closely examine your vehicle and make a list of all part numbers in both the engine and on the body itself. Because online antique tractor merchants arrange parts according to model number, once you find the right part you'll have found the correct model number as well.
- 4
  Locate your tractor's distinct serial number. In unstyled earlier models, find it on the left or flywheel side on the transmission case. On all other antique tractors, look for the number on a small metal plate on the top of the transmission case or on the right side of the machine below the distributor.

Other Collecting