John Deere 720 Diesel gets some exercise!

[@westsidesjvalley]

Nice collection there. Our local museum has a restored 730 diesel that was donated by a family that got it from Firebaugh and the same family donated a restored 830 Diesel standard / wheatland / rice from the Wheatland area of all places. When I was a kid we had quite a few single front wheel sets sitting in the bone pile for farmall’s and John Deere’s they used them for cultivating sugar beets, tomatoes and a lot of the spices that were grown in the area at the time. They sure turn much sharper which was needed when they were cultivating when there were irrigation vee ditches in and they wanted to do quick cultivation in between irrigations. Many times they had some really short runs with multiple ditches running across the field, so there was lots of turning. Now everything that is on on beds or rows is on drip so it’s not an issue and you can go right through and lots of room on the ends for turning.

[@FailureatRetirement]

Yes, that was always the best use of the single front. My dad and I, actually I probably did a lot more, used a lot of v ditches with siphon tubes. I never farmed with a single front myself and I always took the ditch out to cultivate. My dad always used his on the planter. We have lots of oak trees surrounding our fields and saving room on the ends was a big deal. Okay, if you can, I would like more information about the 830 and its original owners. I’m willing to come and look at it. There’s a strong possibility that I know the past owners and the tractor was probably originally sold from our local dealership. That would have been Marysville Tractor. My dad actually had reproduction dealer decals made for some of the tractors he restored. That hits really close to home.

[@westsidesjvalley]

⁠we always told people that it was a Wheatland from Wheatland, but looking through the notes that came with the collection. The original collector saw it for sale in California Farmer in the mid 90’s and picked it up from Nicolaus California where it was sitting in a barn. That’s all we have on it, it’s been sandblasted and repainted so any original dealer markings were removed. My grandfathers cousin had along with some others had a JD dealer in Gridley about that time. With many of those crops and our soil with direct seeding they would split up a field that had 1/2 mile long rows into 3 or 4 small sections as with direct seed there was a fine one between too wet and too dry, so shorter runs gave a better control. The only time they would remove the ditches was the first cultivation, later on you had to cultivate between the ditches as we have so much side fall you have to put in Taps or small dams every 20 - 30 rows to keep the water in the ditch high enough to run the siphon pipe. That and it takes a while to dry out enough to close a ditch due to the clay.

[@FailureatRetirement]

Okay , good info on the 830. In that case it’s hard to say if I would know the family or not. Also, in that area, it could have come from another dealer as well. Taking ditches out and then putting them back is a big job, especially with side fall. With our soil by the time the ditch is dry enough you only have a couple of days to cultivate and then get them back in. Opening the soil up with the cultivator dries the soil right out. I left the ditches in for spraying vegetables and sometimes round up ready corn. I would wiggle my 520 around at the ditch and return in the same tracks. I built my sprayer to cover about 25’ on one side with a separate section for the center. It worked good because that way you also didn’t have to fold at the low end for the trees. @@westsidesjvalley

[@lttl858]

Electric start, nice.

[@FailureatRetirement]

I was super excited about that when I found it. Not a big fan of pony motors. I’ve had a couple of direct start 730’s but this is my first 720 with it.

[@bethmotgomery2662]

You can say that again!! I'm with you on electric starters!

[@tractordan933]

I have a Hinson weather brake made for the 620 that would look good on the tractor parked next to the 720. Wish I had a 620 like that one.

[@FailureatRetirement]

I think those Hinson’s look cool but they really weren’t a thing in California. I have never seen one in person. I’m a big 620 fan myself. Thanks for watching 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@dieseldoctor25]

Oh yes reverse sear is way to FAST, nice 720!!

[@FailureatRetirement]

Thank you 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@HopeToProsper]

That's quite a collection of tractors. Looks like a fun hobby.

[@DavidGardner-m9g]

I believe that is the first 720 I have seen with an all green hood and yellow lettering. Any thoughts on that? And I also like them in working paint.

[@FailureatRetirement]

It’s original paint. In this area, at least, the yellow fades to white and over time that starts to go away to the green base. The better examples will still be pretty white but this 720 is mostly green. In person you can tell it isn’t all green but I’ll have to look at the video again because it may not come through that well. Original is definitely my preference at this point. I have repainted quite a few in the past and while I still enjoy them, I prefer my own to be original. Thanks for watching 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@reppfarms4493]

Very nice Failure! Those 720 D are beasts. Noticed your flywheel cover is missing- I had a 60 that I couldn’t keep one on either….those two cylinders are so neat. Got a 520 gasser myself. (Absolutely agree with your requirement of 3 point)

[@FailureatRetirement]

The 720 was missing the cover when I got it and I haven’t bothered to get a new one. You’re right that some tractors can’t hardly keep them on. If you use the tractor much, especially in the dust, you are better off to try to keep it on. The clutch will wear rapidly in dusty conditions.

[@lttl858]

That is the clutch cover that is missing.

[@FailureatRetirement]

I know Thanks for watching 👍🏼🇺🇸@@lttl858

[@bethmotgomery2662]

REPAINT EM WHY DON'T YOU!!!!!!????

[@FailureatRetirement]

I’ve repainted many of them over the years. The last one I did, It’s the 40 sitting way in the back. Had about five coats of paint and was really dented. These are all straight, original paint tractors that I used to use nearly every day. I’ve come to appreciate the original paint and their sweaty work clothes. I haven’t bought a tractor in quite a while but when I do I actually look for clean, original paint. Thanks for watching 👍🏼🇺🇸

[@bethmotgomery2662]

I personally don't like em that dirty and rusty thank you!!! I'd rather have them be painted like new if you don't mind.

[@FailureatRetirement]

@@bethmotgomery2662 I don’t mind what you think at all but they’re my tractors so I will keep them original.