How To Buy That First Homestead Tractor
(Page 2 of 5)
September/October 1971
By J.V. DORNER
The S engine holds five quarts of good quality detergent oil, its cooling system (radiator and water jacket) has a capacity of four gallons, the fuel tank holds 14 gallons and the auxiliary tank (part of an optional kit that allows the tractor to burn lower cost fuel) has a capacity of 1-1/4 gallons. It takes about 10.75 gallons of No. 90 oil to fill the transmission and differential.
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Standard tire sizes vary with the particular model as do speeds, which range from 2.51 to 10.52 m.p.h. All models in the S series have one reverse and four forward gears which are engaged by a hand-operated disc-type clutch. The power take-off (PTO) has its own shift which is engaged and disengaged by the main hand clutch.
The Case S has a battery and starter and lights for night operation. It also has a magneto, which means that the tractor can be hand started with a crank. This is an important feature (a dead battery need never keep a magneto-equipped tractor in the barn) so, if you purchase an S, be sure to get the crank that goes with it. If the crank's been lost, you'll find it to your advantage to have a new one made.
A slightly larger tractor is the John Deere A. The A has a watercooled, two-cylinder engine mounted at right angles to the center line of the machine. Pistons are a huge 5-1/2 inches across and travel 6-3/4 inches in their bore. Even at a relatively slow 1100 r.p.m., this Deere engine develops about 38 horsepower at the flywheel. The A will pull two 16-inch plows or three 14-bottoms and I know of at least one that will turn 12 acres of ground every eight hours.
The A's crankcase holds 11 quarts of heavy duty detergent oil (SAE No. 30 in summer and No. 10 in winter), the capacity of the cooling system is 8-3/4 gallons and the transmission takes an even seven gallons of SAE No. 90 oil.
Some A's will run on either straight gasoline or start on gas and operate on fuel oil (as will the Case S when equipped with the optional kit I mentioned earlier) after they warm up. Other A's are gasoline-only models. Fuel tank capacity of the series is 14-18 gallons.
The standard tire size for this tractor is 5.50 X 16s for the front and 11 X 38s (6 ply) on the rear. Forward speeds range from 1-1/2 m.p.h. in low gear to 11 m.p.h. in sixth. The machine has a hand-operated clutch and a separate shift for PTO.
A pair of six volt batteries (connected in series and mounted under the seat) delivers 12 volts to the lights and starter on the A and—like the Case S—this tractor is equipped with a magneto and can be started by hand with, of all things, the steering wheel.
To do this, loosen the nut which normally holds the steering wheel in place, pull the wheel off and carry it around to the left side of the tractor. Remove the crankshaft end cover, insert the ratchet-type stub shaft (if one isn't in the tool box on the tractor when you buy it, get a replacement from the local John Deere dealer), slip the steering wheel on the outer end of the shaft and "turn `er over". The flywheel can also be used for cranking an A, so there's no danger of losing the emergency "starter" on this one.
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