LOCKED UP- 84 Year Old John Deere, Will It Start. (1939 John Deere Model B)

[@annalorree]

Yep, restore the old girl, please.

[@floridagunrat1625]

Absolutely!

[@terrymiler2164]

You have went that far,carry on and make it useful,leave the paint alone that Ole girl earned all that patina.

[@Elizabethhermes2892]

I am 5 months late finding your channel but keep going on the old poppin Johnny

[@Elizabethhermes2892]

I learned to operate a 1929 John Deere model H single tire frontend hand crank flywheel

[@davids6533]

I love it when somebody cares enough to get an old tractor going again. It's like they open the pages of an old history book again. : )

[@Rusty_stuff]

That popper deserves to have another life. Please restore that tractor so our younger generations can see one of the tractors that made this country flourish. Thanks folks, wonderful video.

[@saxman1969]

I as a pre-teen in the fifties, I put 1000's of hours on a JD B. Our was made in 38 and had steel spokes in the wheels. I used it for everything from plowing to cultivating. One of the best tractor designs ever. We had many brands (Case, IH, Farmall, Ford, AC) but the "poppin' johnny" was my favorite. Did an in frame engine overhaul sometime in the 60's. Thanks for the memories!

[@cliffcollins4124]

Don't you find it frustrating watching these guys (not just this crew) they act like they have special knowledge of these tractors, but we did this as a normal run of the mill job in the 40s/50s

[@therealswarvey]

​@@cliffcollins4124 inferiority complex much?

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

​@@cliffcollins4124 well as old as it is they do have some special knowledge. At least enough to tear apart and get some results. Two guys like you and the other guy that I'm going to respond to know about these tractors and that special knowledge. Not everybody knows about these tractors. My opinion because I have one that I grew up with and vaguely remember my dad getting it in the early seventies. Unfortunately my mileage for how's work are in very limited. This is why I say that you must have some special knowledge because it was normal for you to do it. Same for the other guy that talked about the tractor he grew up with. These guys whatever they might know now it may not known before I took it apart but they've done more with their tractors and I've done with ours. A few months ago I was watching channel another one and they called in the old man who the specials at setting the dwell on the points because with all the computers and laptops they did not know how to do it. I laughed for a moment and then realized all that special knowledge that not everybody has. Because I just let everybody else know because I knew it. What do you think?

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-2025]

Sounds like you know these tractors. I have a b model Johnny poppers it's been in the family for 50-years I'm guessing. Honestly probably a little bit longer. I can't remember time when it was around. But she has set for a number of years with very little hours on it after being rebuilt by a John Deere dealership. I'd like to get it running again so my kid. Could have some memories with it. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Even if it's just tell me good sources to go to for inflammation. I'm glad you have a good memories and experience all the same regardless. I can remember many things about this tractor and I'll leave it on the comment for these guys

[@saxman1969]

@@cliffcollins4124 Yep, I started my early gearhead career all the way up to and including race cars (never dumb enough to drive one LOL). My first career (a speed shop and transmission shop) ended in 80 when I got my second degree in Computer science (my first was Ag of course LOL). I wound up starting one of the first ISP'a in my state and that lasted over 30 years. What a great time and way to grow up.

[@chuckj349]

Keep working on the old girl! She has earned it!

[@kennethjackson7574]

My father had a true “Johnny Popper” more than half a century ago. When warmed up and set back to idle it would “pop” a steady series of smoke rings from the exhaust!

[@davidjames513]

Must have been 4 or 5 in the early 50s my father would set me up on a JD just like this one in western Kentucky. I would steer it up and down corn rows pulling a large wooden wagon while he and my grandad picked corn. As we came to the end of a row my dad would jump up and turn the tractor around. Brings back memories, thanks.

[@a0619951]

Yes please restore it, she deserves to live

[@russwabuda1556]

i have a soft spot for 1939 bs. my grandfather bought one new and we are still running in. i'm 65 and have run this tractor myself for more than 50 years. we are getting ready to harvest the hay. the b will do the same job again this year as she has as long as anyone can remember and longer. i must admit that to pull the new holland 77 baler i prefer the '39 f-20 because the draw bar is higher and the bull gears are less likely to touch the ground. once you and your b get to know each other it will work better. watch your choke and mixture screws as it is easy to over choke and run rich. best wishes my new brothers from across the cloud. may you have 50 good years too.

[@stevesundermeyer4139]

I grew up with that model tractor. It was my Grandpa's pride and joy. It cut hay, cultivated corn, and planted corn for many years.

[@toughluck]

Definitely with everyone saying restore it!

[@travisdean8794]

I’m not a Deere fan, but an old tractor fan. She deserves to be restored. I believe she earned it.

[@nicholas73018]

My father I and got our 1936 John Deere AR up and running about 15 years ago. It was the first new tractor our family had ever bought. We managed to keep it through the years but it hadn’t ran in over 20 years at the time. We were able to manufacture a part to get the oil pump to work which was why my father had quit using it. We went ahead and had it painted and even entered it in the local county fair. Since my father passed away back in 2012 I am so glad we were able to have those memories and I still have that tractor to cherish. Thank you guys for making this video.

[@randyc4959]

Sounds good ... normal, that is, to me. You now know it's worth putting more parts into it. When all is right, you should be able to start it with one hand. I got planted on one of those, unexpectedly, to rake hay. It was our tractor, but someone else was running it. He suddenly stopped, said "I've got to go to work, take over." I did, and managed to not make an absolute mess of it. I finished that field and started another, running until it was too dark to see. I had windrows in my dreams that night. 11 years old, couldn't be happier.

[@landontesar3070]

Great experience, Randy, thanks for sharing.

[@Nebulax123]

I want to compliment all of you for putting in the work BEFORE you tried to crank this old fella I have worked on small engines and old tractors since the early sixties and I can't tell you how many time they brought it to me AFTER they had screwed it up broke rings, scored cylinder walls, etc. This old guy will provide many more smiles because you took the time to do it right the first time. Nice work gentleman.

[@user-lo6cf3df1x]

Hell yeah, Take it all the way and bring it back. That's what it's all about, saving history.

[@normanbuchanan9710]

just totally love these old machine videos, such a joy to see Dad and son working together, very heartwarming.

[@shanekilgore7273]

I love the sound of the old "Johnny Popper's"

[@EddieHair-t5t]

I love seeing old antique machinery being brought back to life and even being used again. Something I inherited from my Father I guess.

[@jameshamilton2336]

Wow, that’s awesome, I love the John Deere model A tractors, I own a 1949 John Deere model A, I’m going to get it running again,

[@kirk467]

Restore the John Deere , would be great to see friends! I enjoy these videos! Thanks for sharing! Kirk from Louisiana! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🤜🏻🤛🏻👌🏻👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@billygerbilly1277]

I can't believe that you got that old Johnny Popper to run. My uncle bought a duplicate of this tractor (yes, a1939) in the late 1940s. He used it for farming and then took it to a school where he was the janitor. He bought a bucket to move snow at the school because he couldn't shovel it anymore. Unfortunately, he died at 62 years and the tractor was given to some people in that Minnesota town. My brother tried to buy it many years ago but the owner said it was his pride and joy; he wasn't selling. Good job on this.

[@earlmiller6093]

This is such good material to watch… really enjoyed it end to end

[@georgesmith5185]

Rebuilt a stuck 41 JD B last winter. Filled cylinders with ATF and let sit for a week. Starts easily and runs like new. They were overbuilt and made to last. Need to be run to maintain them.

[@Smokebag]

James has a real happy go lucky attitude!

[@smokengearsgarage]

Awsome to see a revival of an old 2 cylinder!! Good job guys!!

[@chrisanglin2126]

Oh yeah restore that thing for sure 👍, nothing could live another hundred years

[@jamessmith7691]

It's great to be working with your dad and to hear the old Johnny popper waking up. Yep I subscribed.

[@wademizelle3433]

I’d be really disappointed if you didn’t restore it. Great video

[@justinabernathy80]

Would love to see it restored.

[@sunilphalakdhari3869]

Your dad is a cool, patient, supportive and acknowledges your efforts, no matter how big or small the success is.....I think that is the most wonderful thing about these videos. Keep it up...

[@ابراهیمصالحی-ط4و]

This is great, I love bringing old machines back to life 💙💙💙💙

[@jeremiah-om7zl]

An old neighbor and friend had one just like it. I helped him rebuild and machine the engine out. There is nothing like the sound of a 2 cylinder j.d. ❤️

[@TheIronDuke502]

Always glad to hear a “Popping Johnny” come back to life. You guys have too much work involved to quit now. Hope to see future videos of this awesome tractor.

[@jeffmarken7493]

I'mloving this video. I have my dad's 1939 model B in NW Florida. It runs pretty well, but I'm giving it a lot of TLC. I spent a lot of time on it with a sickle bar mower back in the late 70's. I'm just happy I have it.

[@johnzdrazil2140]

Yes, get her running!!

[@mafia631]

Hands down the best will in start video on all of youtube!! good job boys.

[@johnmowrer1359]

Job well done guys! I once helped to rebuild / restore a 1928 Model D. Was a labor of love!

[@JCRobbinsGuitar]

John Deere worth $5k restored. Working with your dad on that project, priceless!

[@danbrainard9262]

Nice work! Those Johnny poppers have always had a soft in my heart!

[@kenwall8495]

We farmed with model D s for many years so nice to see these old units running. Thanks for the memories.

[@chillywilly3397]

Great job boys! Glad to see you bringing her back.

[@terrylawrence6772]

We remember that tractor on the row behind us at Flywheelers on a trailer for years ! Great job, keep going it makes us smile !

[@kenwoodfl]

Johnny popper deserves an overhaul!

[@randalllatvala9178]

I had one just like it with the milky oil! It turned out that the head has steel tunes running through it for the push rods to reach from the cam to the valve train! The tube actually rusted through and water could migrate to the crank case! I fabricated new tunes from copper tube and the new head gasket actually sealed against the tunes I made!

[@EricScotney]

It's really made my day finding this video, it brings back happy memories from about 60 plus years back sitting on my dad's lap even the sound of that twin seems just like yesterday, my dad's had a single wheel on the front, thanks for the memorys, good work.

[@brianclark2876]

Great video ! Vintage tractor, brought back to life !! Thanks for showing it !!!

[@EdwaardAdkins]

Love the old iron, and great respect for these men! Have worked on tractors setting for years locked up.when you free it up and put it back together and can make it run again, it's a major accomplishment!! Makes you feel great beyond belief!!!

[@bashfullbuzzard]

love see stuck iron start to breathe again good job

[@peterhoughton1589]

Yeah, I've subscribed to your channel so I can see a full restoration. 👍

[@glennpiller9417]

A little transmission fluid down each cylinder and clean the carb. Fresh gas turn the motor with a breaker bar with out the spark plugs it will free up and run make sure the points are rust free and you have spark. In the 80s I did one in Maine.

[@65f100352]

Man, I LOVE hearing old iron fire up after setting idle for years! I'd love to see more on this old girl. Great job!!

[@benscoles5085]

I was so tempted to fast forward to get to the running part, but glad I did not, the work you guys did , the methods you used, were spot on, the end result. I applauded. this was a VICTORY!!

[@philiplohr2868]

Again, you’re impressive. Enjoyable to watch

[@djdaphd]

Awesome job on getting this old John Deere B started I have one just like it sitting behind a barn covered with weeds. It’s up in Wisconsin and I live in Florida so I’m thinking about hauling it down here and starting just like you did to take the engine apart unseized the motor and see what I can find. Great job on the video. I’d love to see more. Thanks.

[@swampyankee72]

We had three poppin' johnnies on our Connecticut Dairy Farm. I've spent My many an hour being a shade tree mechanic on them. This brought back a lot of found memories with me and My Uncle Bud.

[@jaypreddy8185]

You’ve gone this far, why not?

[@Scott-ms3ug]

Congratulations guys, another piece of history saved!

[@ThirtyOught6]

PLEASE restore this wonderful tractor!!!

[@j81851]

These are priceless times spent together. This is how it is supposed to be. A good man, father and husband sharing skills, time and fellowship with his son. This is what YT was about to begin with (i think/hope) and it is refreshing to see more content like this. When dad goes on in years to come, the son can watch these clips with a warm heart as he and dad shared these precious times of joy and comradery together. This is what God wants, this is why our country was founded in the beginning and why there is hope for our great country!

[@fredking3748]

That was the best !!! I would love to see it running the right way

[@war7334]

Such a piece of Americana.Glad to see you guys are looking after these important part of history,

[@marvinjames2766]

It's good to see that poppen Johnny run good job.

[@Jonathan-ls3ge]

yes part of growing america save that tractor history

[@christophermarshall5765]

At the time this was built, most vehicles had a copper head gasket. These could be used several times before needing replacement. One good sealant you can use on them is Hylomar. Very good sealant. Finger prints on mating surfaces won't hurt. Regarding the cylinder head, that is a cast iron head. Wire brushes won't hurt them that much. It was good to hear it run.

[@perustc9158]

I get tears every time you get a Deere running. My summers as a youth were spent in the West Virginia back country and the first time I saw a "B" I was about 7 years old (I'm 68) and I have been a fan ever since! I am also a drummer and the beat of similar engine sounds just give me "Tinglers". Thank you for the fuzzies. great job!

[@KStewart-th4sk]

I grew up running these many decades ago. We had hand cranked Model Br. and Ar., plus an electric start G. They ran on distillate which is a mixture of gas and diesel fuel. Two tanks, one for gas which is what you started them on, then once warmed up you switched to the other tank of distillate. Ours were all wide front end, not the tricycle type. I don't know why my Dad quit using the Ar. but it sat for about 7 years and was seized up. We got it unseized and running. The threads on the water drain bung were not good. My Dad did a "farmer fix", put the damn thing in with a rag on the threads. Then of course it fell out one day, lost all the water, and he cracked the head! It was running great and i remember being pretty disappointed about what happened. My Grandpa had an electric start JD D and a WD45 gas Allis Chalmers.

[@farmerthatflies]

When I was a little seven year old stick boy I was on a tractor identical to that one day after day every summer and a lot in winter. The first thing it teaches you is keep your hands on the outside of the steering wheel. Ours had a one way hydraulic loader on it with a manual bucket trip so I was always elected to clean out barns and whatever else needed doing. I suppose because I was too small to push the clutch down in our 2 ton cab over grain truck. So I did the loading. People nowadays would call that child abuse or some such, but it was just another day to me. Didn’t know any better

[@MikeOrazzi]

Very cool. We have one of these that has been sitting for 45 years or more. Perhaps it may live again.

[@christopherdickenson374]

The B has always had a place in my fond memories.

[@cliffordhaug6170]

my old bjd to hand start open compression releases, full choke full throttle,, turn over til you get witie vapor out of compression releases, partulay close compression releases pull over first compression briskley, pull over second compression as hard as you can, uslaly fire right off, never had any luck getting to fire and run off 1st compression stroke

[@alexbetteridge8200]

More of this please!👍

[@educa922]

Restoration os bealtiful tractor

[@therealswarvey]

First video of yours I've seen. Absolutely loved every minute of it. It was very satisfying seeing the old rig come to life. You've got another new subscriber!

[@stephennickles7389]

You guys have got heart! Gotta love these old tractors that fed America

[@shawnaburns5158]

Hi as a John Deere girl it breaks my heart and makes me sad to see old John Deere tractors get neglected you guys cheered me up and made my day please restore her back to her beauty and enjoy her

[@jamescaldwell2095]

Its always nice to see another old machine restored. Even partially so its easily draivable but still looks old and well used.

[@JasonSmith-vd1sz]

Oh that’s awesome! Looking forward to the complete restoration!

[@derrellmeeks9373]

Nice work guys. You got to love those old motors.

[@sk1pp3r65]

I drove one of these as a teenager... so awesome!

[@BaronVonWhosit]

I like a lot of these kind of videos, I find them very fun to watch, that being said this one gave me a huge smile on my face that lasted. Excellent editing and honest to goodness enjoyment by you three made it a gem....subscribed.

[@TestECull]

Don't touch that gorgeous patina, but make it farm ready again. Those old johnny poppers sound so good and they're built better than anything sold today!

[@neiljenkins5213]

It needs restoring such a l9vely old machine

[@jayyoung5423]

Great job! Cherish the old iron, no one else will, well done!

[@kennycriswell141]

Just a FYI the head will come out with the manifold on it. Take generator and bracket off and take bolts out of fanshaft support and take it out the side

[@kennethstanton5407]

From the time I was about 2 years old, I would spend all day sitting on the platform of our 1949 B and our 60 with my father pulling a seed drill, or light tillage equipment. By the time I was about 3, I graduated to standing up on the platform and driving the B. Before I was 4, I was allowed to move the B solo. By age 5, I ran the B all spring pulling a few sections of drag harrows and a roller. I know they'd arrest you for letting your kids do that today, but as kids, we loved driving these machines. Within about ten years, tractors had greatly increased in size and the B wasn't really big enough to do much anymore. We had sent its starter in to be rebuilt and unfortunately, the starter rebuilder's shop burned to the ground with our starter in it. Even though the engine was in good shape, hand cranking it was positively hateful, so we usually parked it on a hill if we had any need of using it. Or, we towed it to start it. Didn't seem to need it badly enough to replace the starter. Made me smile to hear this old girl start up and run, rough or not.

[@awful3]

That is absolutely awesome. Good job guys.

[@gsftom]

Love it. Thanks for posting this!

[@johnwalter4729]

Awesome video I think the information in it might help me get my grandfather's 1945 Model A running again. Thanks so much

[@RCALivingStereo]

Nice work guys Love to see this old made in the USA 🇺🇸 equipment running again Nice work 😊

[@edkennard72]

Watching you three work on that tractor you know it is awesome those are memories that you will have when you go into your '60s and your '70s with your dad you'll laugh like heck with all the things that happen congratulations on trying getting that running because that is a piece of equipment to hold on to and use it it was meant to work not just to sit around

[@josephgolden1868]

Always liked doing stuff like that when growing up.

[@anythinggoesgarage5943]

I love this type of videos! Bringing things back to life!

[@GlenOosterman]

My brother and I got our Dads 1952 B running last fall ,It was sitting three years engine got stuck,we got it freed up . We freed up the carb put a new to use goveror re time it , got it to start tractor runs great it out pulls JD A at tractor pulls . keep the vidioes going.

[@walterbeaver6365]

Great job. Keep up the good work.

[@alancummings5008]

New to your channel. Have a 1940 b setting in the back lot. Not stuck, but havent had ot running yet. Like your effort. Love that old R-120 international in the backround too. We had a R-160 and an R-130, both 1954's, on our farm years ago. Those trucks were tanks. Tough as nails.

[@ronmurphy9819]

I ran an model a , actually 2 different ones for my dad when I grew up. My dad and brother would come get me to start them when they wanted to use them. I played on them so much I knew their quirks. Dad would give me a job running the a’s and I considered it fun. I loved it.