John Deere A
1934 - 1952
Two-Cylinder Letter Series Row-Crop tractor
Series map:
B
A
17.8hp*
26.7hp*
*Estimated engine power for comparison only.
Production
Manufacturer John Deere
Row-Crop tractor
Built in Waterloo, Iowa, USA
Total built 300,000
The John Deere A design was changed in 1939 with the "styled" look. In 1940, with serial number 488000, the engine was increased from 309 ci to 321 ci. In 1941, with serial number 499000, the transmission was changed from four forward speeds to six. The "slant dash" A was produced between 1939 and 1947. It was an A with the electric start option; a special hood piece was used to cover the battery.
Variants
AR A-Regular with standard front axle
AO Orchard
AW Adjustable wide-front
AN Single front wheel
AWH High-crop, adjustable wide-front
ANH High-crop, single-front wheel
John Deere A Engines
John Deere 5.1L 2-cyl all fuel
John Deere 5.3L 2-cyl all fuel
John Deere 5.3L 2-cyl gasoline
Fuel tank 14 gal53.0 L
  18 gal (gas engine)68.1 L
Aux. fuel 1 gal3.8 L
Engine details ...
John Deere A Power
Drawbar (claimed) 18 hp (early)13.4 kW
  34 hp (late)25.4 kW
Belt (claimed) 24 hp (early)17.9 kW
  38 hp (late)28.3 kW
Plows 2 (14-inch)
Drawbar (tested) 26.20 hp19.5 kW
Belt (tested) 29.59 hp22.1 kW
Performance test details ...
Mechanical
Two-wheel drive
Manual steering
Differential mechanical expanding shoe brakes
Open operator station with steel pan seat.
Power Take-off (PTO)
Rear PTO transmission
Rear PTO Type 540
A Serial Number Location
Serial number plate on right side of tractor, near the belt pulley.
A Serial Numbers
1934 410000
1935 412866
1936 424025
1937 442151
1938 466787
1939 477000
1940 488000
1941 499000
1942 510239
1943 520004
1944 524423
1945 542700
1946 555334
1947 569610
1948 587349
1949 611921
1950 640246
1951 666307
1952 682602
Final 703384
FAQ: How to read a serial number table.
Electrical
Ground positive
Battery volts 6
References
The John Deere Styled "Letter" Series by J.R. Hobbs
Instructions for General Purpose Tractor Model A (DIR 205) published in 1938
Tractors 1918-1976 published by John Deere*
General-Purpose Tractors published in 1938, by John Deere
General-Purpose Tractors published in 1940, by John Deere
General Catalog published in 1940, by John Deere
*Publication contains known errors.
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Updated on July 20, 2023
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