The John Deere Model H was a row-crop tractor produced from 1939 to 1947. Introduced as a much-scaled-down version of the Model G, it was intended for smaller farms and became one of the firm’s more numerous letter-series tractors.
John Deere Model H at a glance
| Maker | John Deere, Waterloo, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Production | 1939–1947 |
| Type | general purpose row-crop tractor |
| Based on | a scaled-down John Deere Model G |
| Engine | two-cylinder side-by-side, 99.7 cu in (1,634 cc) |
| Drive | engine output through the camshaft |
| Fuel | kerosene only |
| Gearbox | three speeds |
| Rear track | adjustable to the row spacing |
| Front axles | wide, narrow, high-crop or single front wheel |
| Built | 58,584 |
| Indirect successor | John Deere Model M |
This page is based on a single source, the English Wikipedia article on the John Deere Model H.
History of the John Deere Model H
The H was introduced in 1939 as a much-scaled-down version of the John Deere Model G. It was a general-purpose row-crop tractor intended for smaller farms. As with most row-crop tractors, the spacing between the rear wheels could be adjusted to suit row spacings, and the front wheels were offered in wide and narrow arrangements, as well as high-crop and single front wheel versions.
Engine and running gear
The tractor had a two-cylinder side-by-side engine of 99.7 cubic inches (1,634 cc). A cost-saving peculiarity of the H was that the engine output was taken through the camshaft rather than through the crankshaft. A three-speed transmission was provided. The H was produced for kerosene fuel only.
Place in the range
Production ended in 1947. The Model M was an indirect follow-on product. In all, 58,584 Model Hs were built at the John Deere factory in Waterloo, Iowa, a figure that put the small tractor among the more numerous of the letter series even though it was never the largest of them.
Design and features
- Small-farm tractor: a scaled-down Model G for smaller holdings.
- Camshaft drive: the engine took its output through the camshaft to save cost.
- Kerosene only: a single fuel was offered.
- Adjustable track: rear wheels set to the crop rows.
- Front-end choice: wide, narrow, high-crop or single front wheel.
John Deere Model H versions
- Standard H: the row-crop tractor of 1939.
- High-crop H: extra clearance for tall crops.
- Single front wheel H: the tricycle arrangement.
- Wide and narrow front: two front axle widths.
The H was the small relative of the John Deere Model G, and its line was continued indirectly by the John Deere tractors that followed. Its two-cylinder contemporaries were the Model A and Model B. More tractors are in the John Deere collection.
Video: 1940 John Deere model H Cold Start
Video by tractorman129 on YouTube.
Sources
- John Deere Model H, English Wikipedia: production, engine, fuel, versions
