John Deere experimental 1917 Bathtub "D"

A close look at the 106 year old prototype for the John Deere "D".While at the Classic Green Reunion I got to get a very close, hands on look at this fantastic piece of tractor history.

[@philleggitt3005]

You were given something that can never be taken away....You both were winners, giver & reciever...

[@frankallen9419]

Thank you Bill 😂made my night before bedtime. May God bless you always in Jesus name Amen 🙏 ✨️

[@coreytrout3857]

I bet that was a real treat getting to drive a piece of history. Thanks for recording I was about 15 min late getting to see it run when I got there.

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

Man, I can't believe we had so many near misses. It was a real kick to drive it.

[@frankwurth5375]

We have followed the rebirth of this relic since it was doug up in the yard of the old Deere works. One has to keep in mind that back when this was built by Louis Witry as an experimental up grade to the Waterloo Boy, shortly before or at the same time, Deere got involved! Deere never sold their experiments, just recycled the componnents into the next step of the design improvement. Deere dismantled the original down to the core and used the keeper parts over and were supposed to scrap the left overs. Well for some reason the remains were simply buried on site, and that was what was dug up nearly 90 years later. It has been meticlously resurrected from known photos of it back in the day and the field notes from Mr Witry himself, using replacement Waterloo Boy parts, same as original. They had it at our local show several years back, truly a marvel!

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

Wow Frank, thanks for taking the time to tell us some interesting details about the back history surrounding this tractor!

[@Mopar-Pioneer]

I am willing to bet that there are thousands of people who wish JD had kept that starting handle in play !!!!! Me being one of them !!!! Thank you for a wonderful view of a bit of history !! Alex

[@tractortalkwithgary1271]

That is fascinating.

[@iowa2cylinders198]

Another great video buddy that tractor is awesome I love taking our 31 GP out for a ride. Slow but so much fun.

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

😃👍

[@georgedeppner418]

That D looks pretty good on you, Bill

[@kevinhoffman8214]

all i can think is green acres is the place for me !

[@georgedeppner418]

Farm livin is the life for me !

[@Kagaines]

Hoyt Clagwell. They only made one.

[@larrykrise3609]

i would love to drive it.that is truley a awsome tractor.

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

It sure is!

[@mikevanbeek524]

Love it.

[@williamspates1015]

That's awesome you got to drive that real question is do you and your boys have enough parts to make a replica.

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

HaHa, I hadn't thought about attempting that. We'd have to dig pretty deep to scrounge enough parts to get close to building something like that!

[@robwhite3241]

Very similar looking motor to a Hart Parr. Wonder what the story behind that is, and who exactly copied who. Great vid!

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

Thanks for watching!

[@johngulbunny8652]

Every jd I've owned while starting the flywheel turns counter clockwise,this guy turned this tractor clockwise,does it run backwards from all other models ??,

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

Good observation, thanks for the question. In the Waterloo Boy production tractors the engine was turned around with the head facing the operator. In that configuration the flywheel was on the right hand side of the tractor thus the crankshaft and belt pulley would be spinning forward, which was the standard on tractors of that era. In the experimental "Bathtub" D, the engine was turned head forward, and rotated in what we would consider to be backwards. When John Deere finalized the D design, the utilized chain drive to the rear axels instead of gear drive which kept the drivetrain simple, and allowed the engine rotation to be "forward", the more acceptable direction for belt work.

[@johngulbunny8652]

@@so.md.dirtfarmer2226 I see the waterloo boys crankshaft rotated in the same direction as all other deeres,even tho cylinders are at the rear,flywheel and belt pulley are the same as all letter series too..... This experimental d has flywheel and clutch in same position as waterloo boy and all others,but turns in opposite direction.there has to be 1 extra idler gear to make tractor go forward with a reverse rotation crankshaft.cylinder location is irrelevant, it's crank rotation.

[@Kagaines]

That belt looks like a bad design.

[@so.md.dirtfarmer2226]

I guess the engineers at Deere thought so too, when the production D came out they didn't use that design.