The Model 70 John Deere
The 70 John Deere was made from 1953-1956 replacing the model G. The new numbered series the 50,60,70 were new and improved but continued the 2 cylinder design and continued the popularity with faithful two cylinder farmers.
The 70 gas came first and later the diesel. The diesel broke fuel efficiency records! Although it did have some problems with the flywheel loosening up. If you ask my dad he would not give you a raving report on the 70 diesel, as theirs suffered from the loosening flywheel problem.
Somewhere I have a picture of a 70 John Deere.. It was a 70 diesel standard that was owned by Arnold Stenberg. After talking to Don Stenberg I found out a few things about the 70. It was purchased from Rolandson Implement in Oklee and it had a three point hitch. I have not seen many standard tread tractors with three point hitch so I thought that was a bit unique. In the picture the 70 has a fully mounted 4 bottom 3 point plow. I also learned that was good at knocking down a fence post or two. When the plow is lifted out of the ground it hangs suspended from the back of the tractor and when you turn takes an extra swipe through the air behind you!! Even if there were a threat of taking out a fence post, i think I’d like to take the 70 Standard Diesel with a full mounted plow for a ride!
I have never owned or I don’t believe I have even driven a model 70, but a model 70 really led to me having the model R John Deere as my favorite tractor. Somewhere in the late 50s my grandfather and my dad traded off a U Minneapolis Moline at Hills Oliver(I believe in East Grand Forks, MN)for a model 70 John Deere Diesel tractor. Unfortunately the flywheel loosened up and wrecked the crankshaft. Dad and grandpa called the dealership and explained their woes about the 70. The dealer told them he would try help them out. They could trade the 70 back for an R John Deere they had on the lot or else 2-WD9 McCormick Deering tractors. Dad and grandpa were pretty much John Deere guys so they took the R John Deere home leaving the 2-WD9s on the lot!
Well, that R was the first tractor I ever drove and over the years the memory of that R has made the model R John Deere tractor my favorite! So you seed that is how a 70 John Deere which I never drove affected me!
I do have other fond memories of the model 70 tractor. When I grew up west of Oklee across the river from our farm lives a neighbor, Walter Pederson and his wife Emma. When I know Walter on the farm his main tractor was a 70 John Deere gas with a wide front. The unique thing about Walter’s 70 was that it did not have Power Trol(hydraulics). Most 70s came with this feature. Many times I would stop and watch Walter and the 70 “popping” across the field with a plow, disc, or cultivator. What fun!
So you see although I don’t have or have never had a 70, they still provide lots of memories to me.
How about a little tractor trivia!
1. What model did the 70 replace?
A) A B) B C) G D) R
2. What model replaced the 70?
A)700 B) 720 C) 730 D) 820
3. What years were the 70 made?
A)1952-1955 B) 1953-1956 C) 1954-1957
4. In 1955 the price of a 70 was ____________.
$2500 B) $2600 C) $2700 D) $2800
5. The 70 Diesel’s claim to fame was breaking the R John Deere’s ____________.
A)Horsepower Rating B) Fuel economy records C) Production run
answers: 1. C, The G 2. 720 3. B 53-56 4. D-$2800 5. B Fuel economy