My grandpa had a '49 Model A and a '50 Model B. The Model A was the first motorized vehicle I ever operated. Thanks to my grandpa's patience, confidence and faith in my abilities. I was 13 then. I'm now 56. Such great memories. Thanks for the video!

Seeing an old Deere in a residential neighborhood is wild!

Thanks, my dad has had an A my whole life and he goes so fast telling me how to start and drive it, I needed this video!!

I use the back tank as a get home tank now. I've been using and fixing these tractors since I was 10 years old. Great video.

Great memories! My granddaddy had two of these. When I was a little runt I used to stand next to the seat while he plowed. When I finally was allowed to drive he taught me on this. Good times. Thanks!

You are so correct warning people about side starting. These old poppers sure bring back a flood of memories. Ours had an umbrella that was much appreciated while raking hay in the summertime.

Good video. Likely the best starting video available. Most people have horrible camera angles, and skip steps.

Perfect for taking the kids to soccer practice.

Just bought a model A. Since I know very little about tractors, this was very helpful.

Very interesting. I had not seen a "late styled" A that was an All Fuel. Most of the John Deeres made after World War II were regular gas (1 fuel tank) instead of All Fuel. We had a 1936 A, 1941 B, two 1942 B's, and a 1945 B All Fuels. Also, 1939 H, 1952 A, 1955 60, 1959 630 that were regular gas. Also 1960 diesel electric start 730. Thanks for sharing.

I remember bein a kid in the 70's my dad had one of those model A's

Thank you for this demo. My father, who passed away in 2005, used a Model A farming in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I was born in 69 so I grew up on it. Although he added other JD's to his collection which took over heavier jobs (730 diesel, 70 diesel, etc), the Model A continued to faithfully perform lighter jobs like raking and pulling wagons for feeding, and reminds me of growing up around farming more than any other tractor. Your A is pretty close to the one we had, but I'm guessing we had a slightly later model because I don't recall two tanks or the fuel selector switch. Otherwise it is very close. I spent MANY hours in fields on that tractor between the ages of around 8 to 18. I can still clearly recall the power steering (meaning all the power I had to steer it as my cousin would say). Hearing that electric starter grind over and fire off that engine brings back very warm memories for me. Thank you again.

Thanks for the walk through and safey reminder. I learned a thing or two about old model A's from this video.

Good instructions, newbies should not go wrong.

Thanks for your time ,We Imherited my farther-in laws 1946 John A and this helped out, cause o know very little about it.

I personally love your video!!! Very explanatory on safety love it

Beautiful tractor, with the side auxiliary pulley running. Excellent video.

Your video editing is on point. Very impressed. Great job!

Yes, it helped. Cool video. Thanks for sharing.

Much enjoyed. I grew up on a 1948 Model A..

Thank you...I have an A and your vidio will greatly help me.....thanks

Sounds excellent

Great video. I will say that the original fuel valve at the fuel bowl is not opened by turning clockwise or counterclockwise. It is on when the handle is vertical and off when horizontal, a John Deere thing. Also, it is a good practice to open the petcocks before starting.

Nice Video, I just started helping out a old farmer 89 who quit farming a bit ago, and he wanted a few old tractors started,to sell, one was this type, but no key( any tricks with no key) , a hole for it , and it has a generator , I used to work on cars/trucks back in the day alot, but no clue on these , thanks, oh this one the gears for the steering above the radiator are goofed up and taken apart, so that will be my next venture

Thankyou very informative!

Good deal thanks for doing it.

Enjoyed the video. Grew up farming with these tractors in the 50s and 60s. You made no mention of it, but I could see you had it taken care of was the brakes latched. It's a safe option to have the brakes latched, even on level ground. Clutch engaged or disengaged really only a major issue in cold, frigid temperatures, causing lot of extra drag because transmission oil tends to be much thicker at low temperatures. Thanks. Love that sound.

first tractor I ever drove was a '50 John Deere A. try starting that by hand some time. with the petcocks closed.

Good stuff! Thanks man!

Those tractors are an odd design, but they're a good design! Excellent video!

I have a JD B and I have to crank a fly wheel to start it and in winter I have to open the pressure valve to make it easier to start great tractor

This brings back some fond memories of my uncles A s. But I still preferred my dads Oliver’s.

Very nice

So cool 👍🏻

This is AWESOME!!! This may sound very weird considering I'm only 18..... But My dream is to own a John Deere Model A. And I've found many being sold for only 3,500!!! Some even in FULLY RESTORED CONDITION!!! I always thought an old tractor like one of these would be like 10's of thousands of dollars. But 3,500??? That's a deal!!! And best part? My mom is completely supporting me getting one!!!! I asked her if she would be ok with me buying a Model A, and she said YES!!!!!!!!!! So I'm going to start saving up for a Model A once I get a job. We're going to park it in our front yard under some trees, so when it's not being used, it'll be yard art!!! And my whole neighborhood knows me well, as I ride my ATV and minibikes around the neighborhood a lot, and I also help my neighbors with their engine problems, like fixing their mowers and weedwackers, and everyone's very laid back, so no need to worry about people complaining. My entire side of the street I live on has a HUGE FIELD that connects all our backyards. One of my neighbors usually mows it all with his John Deere zero turn mower. And I sometimes help him alongside, using my 2007 John Deere LA150. But I've seen old tractors of this size that have tow behind mowers, and I want to get one of those tow behind mower attachments, and then I'll be able to very quickly mow all my neighbors' backyard field grass for them. I also love old tractors because they're like a work of art. And I love their huge engines, and how they work, and how they sound. What things should I look for when I go to buy a Model A, and what should I know to be able to find attachments that fit this tractor, like tow-behind attachments, or front attachments like maybe a snowplow? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

I have a 1951 A, pretty much nailed it! BTW, some 1950 gasoline A tractors also had both tanks before they got the larger 18gal gas tank...

Nice piece of ground ya got there.

A couple comments - these tractors would not run on diesel. They were started on regular gas, and then you could switch them over to either kerosene or distillate (not diesel). As I understand it, the difference between kerosene and distillate is that kerosene was made from coal, and distillate was the same product but made from petroleum. What I have been told is that you might describe kerosene and distillate to be fuels that are about "halfway between regular gas and diesel" (in regards to octane and cetane). I was always told that diesel would be too heavy of a fuel for a tractor like this to run on. An engine has to have a compression ratio of about 16 to 1 to run on diesel, and a tractor like this would only have a compression ratio of about 8 to 1. The other thing, I have always thought these 2 cylinder John Deeres turned over a little easier with the clutch engaged (and out of gear), not disengaged. Sorry for being critical. Otherwise, I thought your video was very well done, and accurate, and I enjoyed it very much. Thanks!

Most of the old A's that I have seen have a regular push/pull switch instead of a key. My father's '48 Model A didn't have the All Fuel tank but the manual included it. My younger brother has the farm and still has the John Deere.

In the 50s dad purchased an A Deere but it was old, do not remember the year. I was 9. It had flywheel to start. Had relief valves, one on each cylinder. Had a mag no battery. No no grill and steering shift from wheel forward to steering pedestal in open. 2 tanks. No gear shift pattern. At 9 I started it and used a mower cutting hay. We lived on a dirt road when it rained the clay was a mess and had to pull cars out. Dad had a newer tractor he used. Guess he thought if I could start it that I could operate it. When grown and after Vietnam and an aircraft mechanic dad was clearing out unused equipment he had this tractor and a 40 and 47 Ford pickup was giving them to me but where I lived there wasn't a place for. I kicked myself so many times. Not because of monetary value but sentimental reasons. I learned to drive with 40 pickup and those times in this rural area farm kids were driving and the sheriff knew everyone and he would just wave.

Great tractor what you need now is a three bottom plow and fifty acres give it some exercise.

Where is the brake peddle? The clutch is a brake when the handle is pulled all the way back, but there is a foot brake that locks on, on some models as I remember. It's hard to remember as I was 12 years old the first time I drove my uncles popping Johnny, while moving a hay wagon from the field to the barn in 1952.

Got myself a 1946 A and B I’m restoring. Both are multifuel, however I do not have the full flywheel cover. Comes in handy when the battery is dead. I will point out that having the clutch disengaged to start is hard on the clutch. I’ve nearly burnt my clutch doing that. Never knew the later ones had an ignition key. Al fuel tractors around here commonly ran on tractor fuel. It’s a blend of gasoline and Kerosine or diesel from what I’ve been told.

I drove a tractor like this to bail hay on my grandfathers dairy farm in upstate NY

Thank you.....I have a A

Great Demo and nice tractor. I have a restored 1947 A. with a Magneto. Curious what spark plugs work best for your tractor . I have tried D21 Champion, 386 Autolite . Wasn't happy. Saw a sight were 3116 Autolite was recommended. Tried them and tractor runs best ever.

My dad restored a 1937 John Deere A when I was a young man. I have a lot of fond memories running it in parades, a tractor pull or two, and the annual plow day. The electric on yours sure looks nice! His 37 had petcocks that you had to open when starting it. Did this go away on the late model A with electric start?

My father had one and I started it by hand

Memories

I feel confident that if I needed to start that tractor, I could. Also, you are going to need another chip can for the exhaust. May I suggest cheddar and sour cream.

So, what do the neighbors think of you firing up a 70-year-old farm tractor parked in your driveway? Have you been visited by the Home Owners Association yet? :)

I have always wondered what the spinning wheel on the side of tractors like this Model A is, could you enlighten me? Is it some sort of flywheel?

We always got on the tractor, never started it like this

I learnes the hard way of shutting these down nevee shut it off at the key unless of a emergency always shut it off at the sediment bowl reason is on the tractors your gas will fill the carb and actually go into your oil contaminating your oil

I can tell you something that diesel oil will take that crap out of there keep your eyes on oil pressure great video I have 5 As 720 diesel just lets say I have 14 tractors 😂😂

I always start mine while seated on the tractor

Love old vintage tractors,,,I grew up and used them frequently...you forgotten to mention opening the pet cocks for cold weather starting..their underneath engine belly about equal spark plug distance. Flip levers (one for each cylinder) before starting (CAREFUL HOT EXHAUST PRESSURE), Use gloves. This eases pressure for starting in colder conditions. Maybe all models have it.

I see you still have the ole generator on there, sadly I think mine on my 46 A is going out

They were all fuel earlier than 1950. They used both tanks because they had them left over. But the 1950 was an all gas tractor 🚜

Did I miss you showing us the start button or foot control?. Last I saw you where sitting on it and it started

Do the lights work on that tractor? I can tell you from express the lights on those old tractors were not that good.

Do you use ethanol free fuel in yours

When I seen the title of this video I figured it would've been about an older John Deere than this one I figured it would be about the ones that you had to open the pet-cocks and spin the flywheel

The sediment bowl get it right!

Electric start, how quaint. I had to roll over the fly wheel on ours.

Hi. I have an old John Deere 49 B that was left behind by my dad. A friend is trying to help me get it going. Dad winterized it before he passed. How do I get an owners booklet?

I grew up on one of these. We started it up on gas and after it warmed up we changed it over to what we called tractor fuel which I guess it was kerosene.

Johnny Popper

Won't take long to cut the front yard.

Breh why do JD tractors have to be so complicated, i have a 1949 Farmall and starting it is not this complicated lol

Not Diesel.