Nice tractors!! The only thing is you really shouldn't set the main engine throttle to idle before the pony motor has spun it over long enough to get oil pressure up. It should always be in the Engine Stop position or there is a danger especially if starting the engine hot that it could fire on the first compression stroke and start backwards. I've seen that happen on a 70 diesel and it dropped a valve on the pony & did a lot of damage.
@ford9572 Here in Australia the main motor was always started with the pony motor and the pony motor was started with a 12 volt battery. There was no 24 volt on the Model R here. However the later models may have been.
Sorry old man but it seems you don't have a model R. If you look at the comments below you will see they agree with what we know after over 50 years. We ought to know after doing it for 50 years without problems, so we'll continue to do what we know works well.
Very strange comments! I didn't say you were old?? Surely you realise that is a common term meaning "Dear Sir" or the like. As far as starting the R - Well you do it your way and we'll do it the way our dealers told us. You said we did nothing correct over here, well I beg to differ, our way always worked in the last 50+ years. If you have a chip on your shoulder I'm sorry I can't help that so please have a good day.
I had to park the old "R" yesterday that I use to drive back in the 80'sand for the life of me I could not remember where to check the diesel crankcase oil level. I thought it may have been on the right side of the crankcase. Did You have to turn out a plug and if oil came out the level was OK?
The neighbor had one of these back in 1957. Used to hear him running it far into the night. I sure wanted to drive it - loved those 2 cyl John Deeres. Had to settle for IH WD9.
Yes I also loved the 2 cylinder JD's. There was a few around here especially Model D's. We had a TD6 which was like the WD9, a gasoline start diesel, and this was unique in itself. The left side of the engine looked diesel with the injector pump etc. and the right hand side looked like a petrol (Gasoline) engine with the carburettor and magneto etc. They were good too. Thanks for the comment.
Very nice video and a good explanation of the starting procedure. I noticed that the tractor you used for the instrument panel photo is missing the pull-cord for the gasoline motor's recoil starter (for use if the electric start failed). It should be in the hole at the top left of the gasoline motor controls. My grandfather had a collection of JD tractors - including an "R" - which will be auctioned on June 3rd.
Our 48 and 49 g's have electric starts. and the same amount of cubes as the r's (412.5 CI). they are gasoline but just pointing out they did have electric starts.
Here in Australia all Model R's had a pony motor. The gasoline ones of course didn't need a pony motor because of the lower compression. I am told that some Model R's in America had 24 volt electric start.
Good explanation of how it works. I am from Chile and my granpa had one which I drove many times and still do, but not often enough, maybe every 2 years. Use to harvest wheat with it with a harvester that was actioned by belts, didn't move just standing. Engine is still standard. The solid built of theat tractor is just astonishing. Every time that I make run the R's engine... brings memories and the engine noise is unforgetable. I congratulate the person that this video as was very interesting.
This brings back memories! I've spent many hours working with my grandfather's R, which was just exactly like these in your video. Throttle up to idle or a little more depending on temperature, pull the choke and mixture a bit, starter on, fiddle with choke and mixture until it sings, pull and hold compression release, pull starter lever, turn over a few times, release compression release, remember you forgot to take the coffee can off the stack as it flies into the air. Those were the days! :)
Very interesting video. I've worked on most 2 cylinder John Deeres, but never an R. They sure sound mean! My dad has an old 1940-something Cat D4 dozer, it has the pony motor. I love listening to that thing fire up.
Some were electric start in USA I'm told but not here in Australia they say. The pony motor is JD twin cylinder horizontally opposed 4 stroke motor running at 4000 RPM. Later & larger tractors used a V4 JD pony motor.
According to my dad whose a big Johnny Popper fanatic (owning a Model A and 720) I don't think Electric start came out until the 80 or maybe even later on the 830. I could be totally wrong. Then again the R isn't all that different from the later tractors, so an electric start retrofit is possible.
Thanks for the comments. Yes I think Caterpillar was first to use the pony motor before John Deere ever made a diesel tractor. We also had International TD & WD series tractors with the petrol start diesel motors. They had a very complicated cylinder head with an extra valve to open up a larger combustion chamber.
Yes it was a W6 I think, it may have been a WD6 but it was not a W9. We have quite a few of both here in the museum as well as private owners bring them in at special events.
Why does the commentator say to immediately cut the pony motor off after the diesel starts? I'd let it run awhile and get to the proper operating temperature before shutdown, like one would do with any engine he wanted to take care of properly.
I'm told the reason is because the pony motor is governed at 4000 RPM and cannot be idled back or slowed down without making modifications to the way it was manifactured. If it is left running it just runs at 4000 RPM on no load at all, and of course that doesn't do it much good either. The pony motor does share the same coolant water as the main engine and as a result any subsequent warm starts are at operating temparature.
I have seen and heard folks talk about these quiet a bit with the pony motor. They always said that you had to be careful not to mix the diesle fuel with the gasoline. Also I think that instead of diesel fuel they used another type of cheaper grade fuel back then. Go to my you tube site to see a fantastic John Deere and other tractor collection in north east Wisconsin, USA
hallo can you give me yoir Video i`am John deere fnatict and i have a john derre model r in the turkey and have a video about all videos in search karacadag.
I think the flag next to a Hungarian flag could be done because that is where John Deere was born and lived for a long time.
Sameszful 1 year ago
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Nice tractors!! The only thing is you really shouldn't set the main engine throttle to idle before the pony motor has spun it over long enough to get oil pressure up. It should always be in the Engine Stop position or there is a danger especially if starting the engine hot that it could fire on the first compression stroke and start backwards. I've seen that happen on a 70 diesel and it dropped a valve on the pony & did a lot of damage.
mrfarmerjimbob 1 year ago
Comment removed
mrfarmerjimbob 1 year ago
I also have a john Deere model R.But I think you have the pony motors gas tank the wrong color. It should be red.
dirtbiker4lfe 1 year ago
OK on that, well I guess that is one of the differences between USA & Australia. The little fuel tank for the pony motor was always green here.
vk3og 1 year ago
@vk3og
Nice video, Same hobby Green Tracktors end HAM radio , 73" PA7AVS qrz.com
jst245 1 year ago
It was a 24 volt starter.
ford9572 1 year ago
@ford9572 Here in Australia the main motor was always started with the pony motor and the pony motor was started with a 12 volt battery. There was no 24 volt on the Model R here. However the later models may have been.
vk3og 1 year ago
@vk3og
You say in the video that the pony was a 6 volt ? does it then have a 12 volt battery ?
kennjohnsen 8 months ago
I read that Deere did offer a 12 or 24 volt electric start on some of their 2 cylinder diesels, I think 80 was the first.
ford9572 2 years ago
@ford9572 actually it was late 720sand they were 24volts
dalekrueger 1 year ago
Runs great!!!
ford9572 2 years ago
thanks for sharing
05clenharth 2 years ago
ya i have a wd9 it run batter than some of the john deeres we have
farmboy8001 2 years ago
My Dad owns a 1951 John Deere R
TTFordGT 2 years ago
Comment removed
dawooda3 2 years ago
Sorry old man but it seems you don't have a model R. If you look at the comments below you will see they agree with what we know after over 50 years. We ought to know after doing it for 50 years without problems, so we'll continue to do what we know works well.
vk3og 2 years ago
Comment removed
dawooda3 2 years ago
Very strange comments! I didn't say you were old?? Surely you realise that is a common term meaning "Dear Sir" or the like. As far as starting the R - Well you do it your way and we'll do it the way our dealers told us. You said we did nothing correct over here, well I beg to differ, our way always worked in the last 50+ years. If you have a chip on your shoulder I'm sorry I can't help that so please have a good day.
vk3og 2 years ago
I had to park the old "R" yesterday that I use to drive back in the 80'sand for the life of me I could not remember where to check the diesel crankcase oil level. I thought it may have been on the right side of the crankcase. Did You have to turn out a plug and if oil came out the level was OK?
dppstruble 2 years ago
Are you say 9 a 49 to 9 a 54, I don't understand.
kevykev38 2 years ago
I'm not sure what you mean here but the Model R was produced from 1949 to 1954.Hope this is what you are looking for.
vk3og 2 years ago
The neighbor had one of these back in 1957. Used to hear him running it far into the night. I sure wanted to drive it - loved those 2 cyl John Deeres. Had to settle for IH WD9.
bodryn 2 years ago
Yes I also loved the 2 cylinder JD's. There was a few around here especially Model D's. We had a TD6 which was like the WD9, a gasoline start diesel, and this was unique in itself. The left side of the engine looked diesel with the injector pump etc. and the right hand side looked like a petrol (Gasoline) engine with the carburettor and magneto etc. They were good too. Thanks for the comment.
vk3og 2 years ago
Very nice video and a good explanation of the starting procedure. I noticed that the tractor you used for the instrument panel photo is missing the pull-cord for the gasoline motor's recoil starter (for use if the electric start failed). It should be in the hole at the top left of the gasoline motor controls. My grandfather had a collection of JD tractors - including an "R" - which will be auctioned on June 3rd.
jamesbooty 2 years ago
how many MPH did these John Deere R types go when in high fifth gear? Great explanation. Really interesting.
angamoos 2 years ago
I don't really know, having only driven one a couple times. I think it would be about 12 or 15 MPH but I'm not really sure.
vk3og 2 years ago
I have 4 like this tractor it these 1952
Tiftikci42 3 years ago
6:07 look to the right of the tractor.
crazyjow89 3 years ago
I'm not quite sure what you mean????
vk3og 3 years ago
Maybe you mean the dog running past. He got so excited that day we couldn't stop him going mad.
vk3og 3 years ago
yeah the dog. He was running fast.
crazyjow89 3 years ago
the R was made from 40 to 55 the early ones were called mx they looked like a case la
sornbergerfarms 3 years ago
I have a 1954 John Deere Model 80 that has a pony motor to. They are a bitch to keep running tough
osh301 3 years ago
Our 48 and 49 g's have electric starts. and the same amount of cubes as the r's (412.5 CI). they are gasoline but just pointing out they did have electric starts.
GoldsLifter 3 years ago
Here in Australia all Model R's had a pony motor. The gasoline ones of course didn't need a pony motor because of the lower compression. I am told that some Model R's in America had 24 volt electric start.
vk3og 3 years ago
As far as I know the electric start wasn't an option until the 830.
taylortownmayor 3 years ago
great video
Patman5678 3 years ago 2
Hey anyone I'm a John Deere fanatic. I have a question, when you get those Rs' started, do you shut down the small engine?
bigrobmjca 3 years ago
Certainly, it has no further use, it is only used for starting the big engine.
vk3og 3 years ago
Thanks.
bigrobmjca 3 years ago
Good explanation of how it works. I am from Chile and my granpa had one which I drove many times and still do, but not often enough, maybe every 2 years. Use to harvest wheat with it with a harvester that was actioned by belts, didn't move just standing. Engine is still standard. The solid built of theat tractor is just astonishing. Every time that I make run the R's engine... brings memories and the engine noise is unforgetable. I congratulate the person that this video as was very interesting.
andresreidel 3 years ago
My Uncle Has one, They are fun to drive.
darkmp40 3 years ago
This brings back memories! I've spent many hours working with my grandfather's R, which was just exactly like these in your video. Throttle up to idle or a little more depending on temperature, pull the choke and mixture a bit, starter on, fiddle with choke and mixture until it sings, pull and hold compression release, pull starter lever, turn over a few times, release compression release, remember you forgot to take the coffee can off the stack as it flies into the air. Those were the days! :)
ccoraxfan 3 years ago
I plan to get a R someday. Very nicely done and very nicely explained got to love old school!
jamasonusa 3 years ago
Thanks for the comment. Yes I like the old stuff too. Did you see the T Model Ford I cut in half 50 years ago?
vk3og 3 years ago
My grandfather's estate auction on Jun 3 '09 includes a model R in good original condition.
jamesbooty 2 years ago
You should see us start ours at -20 C. It sounds like the world is coming to an end. It will start that cold.
bretttory 4 years ago
Very interesting video. I've worked on most 2 cylinder John Deeres, but never an R. They sure sound mean! My dad has an old 1940-something Cat D4 dozer, it has the pony motor. I love listening to that thing fire up.
jbenteman 4 years ago
What kind of engine was the pony? Looks like either a flathead 4-stroke or a two-stroke.
douro20 4 years ago
Some were electric start in USA I'm told but not here in Australia they say. The pony motor is JD twin cylinder horizontally opposed 4 stroke motor running at 4000 RPM. Later & larger tractors used a V4 JD pony motor.
vk3og 4 years ago
According to my dad whose a big Johnny Popper fanatic (owning a Model A and 720) I don't think Electric start came out until the 80 or maybe even later on the 830. I could be totally wrong. Then again the R isn't all that different from the later tractors, so an electric start retrofit is possible.
mr3vil 3 years ago
I've seen ones converted to electric
douro20 4 years ago
Interesting video!
Very thoroughly researched too.
Caterpillar also used a "pony engine" start on their early diesels.
Complicated starting system when compared with the
"Gas Start DIESEL" system used by International Harvester.
The IH system used a diesel engine equipped with a magneto, spark-plugs and a small carb.
The engine was started on gasoline (petrol) warmed up and then switched to a full diesel operation.
P.S. Great to hear an Aussie accent on YouTube!
OzzInter 4 years ago
Thanks for the comments. Yes I think Caterpillar was first to use the pony motor before John Deere ever made a diesel tractor. We also had International TD & WD series tractors with the petrol start diesel motors. They had a very complicated cylinder head with an extra valve to open up a larger combustion chamber.
vk3og 4 years ago
JD R is awesome
Modlendingen 4 years ago
very nice movie!!! A+++++
deeresnapper 4 years ago
Man very very nice video! complicated controls lol!
fordwillkillyou 4 years ago
I love John Deere R's and this was an amazing video and very educational!
great job!
SomeBlueEyedGurl 4 years ago
amazing! i just love old working constructions!
Bergettoken 4 years ago 2
Stationary Engine*
i dunno how i got message?
MikeWishesForBagels 4 years ago
Cool
it looked liek ours but better
ours came from out west in British Columbia, Canada
alng with my stationary message
Awesome video by the way, very well done
MikeWishesForBagels 4 years ago
When he pulled out onto the road what kind of tractor was the red one?
it looked like a IHC McCormic w-6
we have one
MikeWishesForBagels 4 years ago
Yes it was a W6 I think, it may have been a WD6 but it was not a W9. We have quite a few of both here in the museum as well as private owners bring them in at special events.
vk3og 4 years ago
What a monster... Awesome
uscar17 4 years ago
Amazing video!
MikeWishesForBagels 4 years ago
Why does the commentator say to immediately cut the pony motor off after the diesel starts? I'd let it run awhile and get to the proper operating temperature before shutdown, like one would do with any engine he wanted to take care of properly.
shoopdj 4 years ago
I'm told the reason is because the pony motor is governed at 4000 RPM and cannot be idled back or slowed down without making modifications to the way it was manifactured. If it is left running it just runs at 4000 RPM on no load at all, and of course that doesn't do it much good either. The pony motor does share the same coolant water as the main engine and as a result any subsequent warm starts are at operating temparature.
vk3og 4 years ago
I have seen and heard folks talk about these quiet a bit with the pony motor. They always said that you had to be careful not to mix the diesle fuel with the gasoline. Also I think that instead of diesel fuel they used another type of cheaper grade fuel back then. Go to my you tube site to see a fantastic John Deere and other tractor collection in north east Wisconsin, USA
dearjon 4 years ago
Great Video !
miller7345 4 years ago
hallo can you give me yoir Video i`am John deere fnatict and i have a john derre model r in the turkey and have a video about all videos in search karacadag.
Serti007 4 years ago