John Deere Unstyled D Specs ( 1923-1953 )
Overview
The John Deere Unstyled D is a landmark standard-tread farm tractor that holds the record for the longest production run in the company's history, spanning from 1923 to 1953. It features a powerful 2-cylinder all-fuel engine that delivers a tested 41.59 belt horsepower and a maximum pull of 4,037 pounds.
Ideal Applications
Heavy Tillage:
Capable of pulling three 14-inch plows with a tested drawbar performance of 29.90 horsepower, this tractor is built for essential field preparation tasks.
Stationary Belt Work:
The dedicated 13.25-inch belt pulley operates at 900 RPM, making it an efficient power source for stationary farm equipment requiring up to 41.59 horsepower.
Fuel-Flexible Operations:
Equipped with an all-fuel engine and a dual-tank system including an 18-gallon main tank, this tractor allows for flexible operation using kerosene or distillate fuels.
Production
| Description | Standard-tread tractor / Built in Waterloo, Iowa, USA / Original price was $1,000 in 1924 / The D had the longest run of any model of John Deere tractor, the styled and unstyled versions ran from March 1, 1923 until July 3, 1953. Serial numbers 31321 through 31412 are not model Ds, but are Waterloo Boy Ns which were built after model D production had begun. |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | John Deere |
| Total built | 160,000 |
Engine
| Bore/Stroke | 6.50x7.00 inches (165 x 178 mm) / 6.75x7.00 inches (171 x 178 mm) |
|---|---|
| Compression | 3.91:1 / 3.91:1 |
| Coolant capacity | 52 qts (49.2 L) / 52 qts (early) (49.2 L) |
| Description | John Deere / all fuel / 2-cylinder / liquid-cooled / Used from beginning until 1927, S/N 53388 / John Deere / all fuel / 2-cylinder / liquid-cooled / The larger 501 cubic inch engine was introduced in 1927, replacing the 465.. |
| Displacement | 465 ci (7.6 L) / 501 ci (8.2 L) |
| Firing order | 1-2 / 1-2 |
| Oil capacity | 13 qts (12.3 L) |
| Rated RPM | 800 / 900 |
| Engine type | John Deere 7.6L 2-cyl all fuel / John Deere 8.2L 2-cyl all fuel |
| Aux. fuel | 2.5 gal (early) (9.5 L) |
| Engine type | John Deere 7.6L 2-cyl all fuel / John Deere 8.2L 2-cyl all fuel |
| Fuel tank | 18 gal (early) (68.1 L) |
| Belt (claimed) | 27 hp (20.1 kW) |
| Belt (tested) | 41.59 hp (31.0 kW) |
| Drawbar (claimed) | 15 hp (11.2 kW) |
| Drawbar (tested) | 29.90 hp (22.3 kW) |
| Plows | 3 (14-inch) |
Transmission
| Description | Original transmission, used from 1923 to 1935 / Three-speed transmission was introduced in 1935 |
|---|---|
| Gears | 2 forward and 1 reverse / 3 forward and 1 reverse |
| Type | unsynchronized gear / unsynchronized gear |
| Transmission type | 2-speed unsynchronized gear / 3-speed unsynchronized gear |
| Transmission type | 2-speed unsynchronized gear / 3-speed unsynchronized gear |
Mechanical
| Cab | Open operator station with steel pan seat. |
|---|---|
| Description | Manual steering |
| Drive type | Two-wheel drive |
PTO
| Rear PTO | optional |
|---|---|
| Rear PTO Type | 525 |
Dimensions & Tires
| Length | 109 inches (prior to 1930) (276 cm) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4090 lbs (early) (1855 kg) |
| Width | 56 inches (142 cm) |
| Front tire | 28x5 |
| Rear tire | 46x12 |
| Weight | 4090 to 5880 pounds |
| Ag front | 28x5 (steel) |
| Ag rear | 46x12 (steel) |
Belt Pulley
| Diameter | 13.25 inches (33 cm) |
|---|---|
| RPM | 900 |
| Speed | 3122 ft/min (951.59 meters/min) |
| Width | 8.5 inches (21 cm) |
D Serial Number Location
| Description | Serial number plate on the tractor's operator platform, ahead of seat mount. |
|---|
D Serial Numbers
| 1924 | 30401 (model years) |
|---|---|
| 1925 | 31280 |
| 1926 | 35309 |
| 1927 | 43410 |
| 1928 | 53388 |
| 1929 | 71645 |
| 1930 | 95367 |
| 1931 | 109944 |
| 1932 | 115509 |
| 1933 | 115665 |
| 1934 | 116273 |
| 1935 | 119100 |
| 1936 | 125079 |
| 1937 | 130700 |
| 1938 | 138413 |
| 1939 | 142300 |
| Description | FAQ: How to read a serial number table. |
| Final | 143799 |
John Deere D Height
| Hood | 56 inches (prior to 1930) (142 cm) |
|---|
Nebraska Tractor Test 102
| Belt fuel use (max) | 3.9 gal/hour (14.8 l/hour) |
|---|---|
| Belt power (max) | 30.40 hp (22.7 kW) |
| Description | 465ci kerosene 2-speed 2WDApril 11 - 17, 1924Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 102 file / Drawbar performance |
| Max power | 22.53 hp (16.8 kW) |
| Max pull | 3,277 lbs (1486 kg) |
Nebraska Tractor Test 236
| Belt fuel use (max) | 4.3 gal/hour (16.3 l/hour) |
|---|---|
| Belt power (max) | 41.59 hp (31.0 kW) |
| Description | 501ci distillate 3-speed 2WDJune 26 - July 2, 1935Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 236 file / Drawbar performance / Gear 2 used for power test. |
| Max power | 29.90 hp (22.3 kW) |
| Max pull | 4,037 lbs (1831 kg) |
References
| Description | The John Deere Unstyled Letter Series by J.R. Hobbs / Tractors 1918-1976 published by John Deere* / Quality Equipment for Your Farming Operations published in 1929, by John Deere / 15-27 Farm Tractor published in 1927, by John Deere / Two-Cylinder Model D Tractor published in 1937, by John Deere / Instructions for Model D (DIR-3C) published in 1930 / *Publication contains known errors. |
|---|
Tractor Tests
| Description | NTTL 102: 465ci kerosene 2-speed 2WD / NTTL 236: 501ci distillate 3-speed 2WD |
|---|