Key Terms To Know: Engine Oils for Interim Tier 4 Equipment

This excerpt was originally posted on the John Deere, Straightforward Blog July 25, 2011. You can view the original post here.

Every month or so, we’ve tried to provide you with lists of key terms to know for discussing Interim Tier 4 engines. Engine oils are an important component in maintaining your IT4 engine and ensuring the highest level of performance. Keep these terms in your back pocket when looking for engine oils for your new John Deere IT4 machines:

• API – The American Petroleum Institute. This organization is responsible for classifying all engine oil types in the United States to make it easy for operators to find the right oil for their equipment.

• ACEA – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association.  Similar to the API, this organization is responsible for classifying all engine oil types in Europe.

• SAPS – Acronym for “sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur”, this term refers to the concentration of SAPS in different blends of engine oils. Interim Tier 4 engines require lower levels of SAPS to ensure maximum efficiency of the diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation catalysts.

• CJ-4 – The API oil classification type required for Interim Tier 4 engines. CJ-4 oil is backward compatible for use in Tier 3 and older generation engines. You can find a complete list of API licensed CJ-4 oil grades here. CJ-4 oils use certain new additives with rebalanced chemistry to reduce SAPS, and thus extend the service life of the diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation catalysts.

• E9 – The ACEA oil classification type required for Interim Tier 4 engines.

• CI-4 – The API oil classification type used for Tier 3 and older generation engines. Interim Tier 4 engines should not use CI-4 or previous oil grades, only CJ-4 oils.

 

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Moving Beyond the Engine: The Future of Emissions with Mike Osenga

This excerpt was originally posted on the John Deere, Straightforward Blog July 21, 2011. You can view the original post here.

How much do you spend for 1%? Mike Osenga, Publisher of Diesel Progress shares his thoughts on the future of emissions regulations in the off-road market. Specifically, what is the next step in emissions regulations after Tier 4 Final, when engines are already 99% cleaner than previous generations? Mike said the industry is beginning to approach engines as part of an integrated power system, with all aspects of the drivetrain and hydraulics playing a role in boosting fuel economy and reducing emissions.

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Lockout Had Marcell Dareus on a John Deere

What would you do if you were chosen third overall by the Buffalo Bills, but found yourself in the midst of the NFL lockout before you even started? If your name was Marcell Dareus, you hopped on a John Deere tractor and worked everyday in the blistering Alabama sun. If it weren’t for the NFL work stoppage, Dareus would have probably been making millions of dollars.  Instead, he relied on cutting grass with his godfather to make money until he could begin his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL.

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Dareus, a 300-pound NFL lineman, was appointed to keep nearly every lawn on his street in pristine condition. He worked under the supervision of his godfather, Lester “Sarge” Reasor, a retired drill sergeant who barely rises to Dareus’ giant forearms. Reasor worked Dareus hard, pointing to patches of grass and saying things like, “This could have been edged up a little better right here.” The very first thing Reasor had Dareus do each morning was clean off his John Deere tractor.

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The NFL lockout has now ended, with the player’s association executive board having approved a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on July 25, 2011.  With this news, Dareus is now back with the Buffalo Bills fulfilling his dreams, but he’s surely enjoyed the time he’s put in on his shiny green John Deere tractor.

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Mark Wall Explains How Customer Feedback Helped John Deere Design the New 250G Excavator

This excerpt was originally posted on the John Deere, Straightforward Blog June 15, 2011. You can view the original post here.

You spoke and John Deere listened. Refinements to the new 250G include a more comfortable, spacious cab and a refined LCD monitor with simplified navigation that lets an operator easily dial-in to a wealth of machine information and functionality. But that’s only the beginning; the new 250G can now move 8 percent more dirt than its predecessor thanks to higher horsepower and increased arm and bucket digging force. With faster hydraulics, increased swing torque, and more drawbar pull, you can get more done faster — saving valuable time and money. Increased production and John Deere’s legacy of rock solid construction and reliability is a formula for success.

Watch the following video where Mark Wall, Product Marketing Manager at John Deere Construction and Forestry explains how John Deere has listened to its customers and improved their excavators to exceed all expectations.

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Steve Stricker Three-peats at the 2011 John Deere Classic

The 2011 John Deere Classic wrapped up it’s final day last week at TPC at Deere Run in Moline, Illinois. The tournament began in 1971, and this was the 11th year being played at TPC Deere Run. Steve Stricker, known as the “nicest guy in golf,” was named the winner after sinking an unlikely 25-foot putt from the collar of the 18th green. This was Stricker’s 3rd John Deere Classic win in the same number of years. Here are some pictures to highlight this year’s tournament, as well as a few from years past.

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Steve Stricker won this year’s tournament.  This is Stricker’s 3rd consecutive win of the John Deere Classic.

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TPC at Deere Run has played home to the John Deere Classic for the past 11 years.

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Next year’s John Deere Classic is scheduled to take place July 9-15, 2012 at TPC at Deere Run.  For details, you can check out the official John Deere Classic website, Twitter and Facebook.

 

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John Deer Monster Treads Small Scale Yellow Dump Truck

John Deer Monster Treads Small Scale Yellow Dump Truck Rating: bright yellow color SUPER BOUNCY TIRES Sale Price: $11.98

John Deer Monster Treads Small Scale Yellow Dump Truck John Deer Monster Treads Small Scale Yellow Dump Truck

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Strong Bond to his JD 4010 Tractor

Proud owners of a restored 1963 JD 4010 gas tractor that has been in the family since 1965

Kelly Richards prize 1963 JD 4010 gas tractor. The Donnellson, IA man doesn't actively farm, but has a strong emotional connection to this tractor his father Lloyd Richards brought back in 1965

Kelly Richards doesn’t farm. He’s been a truck driver for Walmart for many years.

But the Donnellson, IA man’s prize posession? The 1963 JD 4010 gas tractor his dad Lloyd Richards bought back in 1965. Kelly was six years old when his dad brought the 4010 home to the farm.

I met Kelly and his wife Valorie last week on the Three Rivers Tractor Club’s annual Tractor Ride from Donnellson, IA to Keokuk, IA and back. After lunch at Rand Park in Keokuk overlooking the beautiful Mississippi River, the 65 tractors on the ride rolled out on the winding route home 21 miles to Donnellson. The tractor brigade stopped for a little rest in the quaint rivertown of Montrose, IA. It was there I met Kelly and Valorie, new members of the Three Rivers Tractor Club.

Kelly was driving a JD 2510 in the tractor ride, while Valorie drove their JD 2010. It was Valories first ever tractor ride. Kelly mentioned his real treasure was back home, the 1963 JD 4010 gas tractor. I mentioned it would be fun to see sometime, could he email me some pics?

Kelly & Valorie went one better. After the tractor ride rolled back into Donnellson, they scuried home and drove the 4010 into town and parked it across the street from the local Community Center, where we would be having dinner at 5 PM. I was in the Community Center getting my Powerpoint slideshow set up for an after dinner tractor talk when Kelly popped his head in the door….”We’ve got it outside. Come take a look.”

What a beautiful JD 4010.

I’ve been covering the used farm equipment market and farm machinery auctions for nearly 22 years now. As the years have rolled by it’s become increasingly apparent to me…the bond between man and tractor is very strong and very, very emotional.

Kelly is a perfect example. He hasn’t actively farmed for decades. But when his father Lloyd was getting out of farming and considering selling their 1963 JD 4010 tractor, Kelly just couldn’t live with the thought. So he bought it and then had it restored. Now he rides in tractor rides and takes his 4010 to tractor shows and parades.

“My dad always said it was the best tractor he ever owned,“ said Kelly.

I think it’s quite apparent his son agrees 100%.

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1998 John Deere 9200 4WD Tractors Sold for $98,000

“LIVE” COMMENTARY ON 2 AUCTIONS

I had a little fun here this afternoon (July 13th) and did some “live” running commentary on our Machinery Pete Facebook page on a pair of nice farm auctions going on today: one in west-central Minnesota by Zielsdorf Auction & Real Estate, the other farm auction in Hillsboro, North Dakota by Steffes Auctioneers. Check out my comment trial by clicking on our Facebook feed on the right side of our homepage here.

As I write this (1:30 PM CST), auctioneer Bob Zielsdorf is now selling a sweet 1982 JD 4040 tractor with only 2892 hours. I peeked in our “auction results” database and saw the highest auction price I’ve ever seen on a JD 4040 was $37,000 on a February 2009 farm sale in south-central Minnesota, but that 4040 had only 1458 hours. Average Auction Price on JD 4040 tractors so far this year coming into today = $15,340. So what did the 4040 sell for today? See below:

JULY 13, 2011 FARM AUCTION: WEST-CENTRAL MINNESOTA

• 1982 JD 4040 tractor with 2892 hours: $24,000
• 1983 JD 4450 2WD tractor with 7000 hours: $32,750
• 1998 JD 9200 4WD tractor with 2737 hours: $98,000
• 1998 JD 9510 combine with 2378 engine hours: $55,000
• 2000 JD 893 corn head: $12,500
• 1999 JD 925 flex head, new poly 400 acres ago: $8,700
• Unverferth header trailer, 4 wheel: $2,600
• JD 455 drill, 25′, 7.5″ spacings: $17,700
• 1995 JD 1750 8R-30 planter, dry fertilizier: $21,000

Note that sale price of $98,000 for the 1998 JD 9200 4WD tractor with 2737 hours….that is the 3rd highest auction price I’ve seen in the the U.S. on a JD 9200 and continues a trend I’ve been watching now since last November….used 4WD tractors in very nice condition have been bringing much more $$ on sales. Color doesn’t seem to matter, I’ve seen HIGH prices on NH, CaseIH, AC, MF and JD.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM FUN TRACTOR RIDE IN IOWA LAST WEEK

The Three Rivers Tractor Club in Donnellson, IA (southeast Iowa) invited me down to speak at the dinner following their annual Tractor Ride last Thursday (July 7th). What a fun day! I got down to Donnellson early and started shooting video as the nearly 70 great-looking antique tractors rolled out from the Lee County Fairgrounds. The Tractor Ride took a beautiful winding route to Keokuk, IA some 20+ miles away and then a spot of lunch and home again to Donnellson. Here’s a Youtube video I put together, highlights from this fun day with my new friends in the Three Rivers Tractor Club:

About Machinery Pete: Greg “Machinery Pete” Peterson has been working in the agricultural industry for 21 years and details agricultural equipment prices and trends at his website, Machinerypete.com. Greg also writes columns for Successful Farming magazine, Implement & Tractor magazine, Agriculture.com web site and also appears on the Machinery Show on RFD-TV.

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John Deere Monster Treads Shake 'n Sounds Tractor

John Deere Monster Treads Shake 'n Sounds Tractor Rating: Super bouncy tires All terrain steering Shake and sounds action Sale Price: $19.99

John Deere Monster Treads Shake 'n Sounds Tractor John Deere combines forces with awesome monster truck styling to create the ultimate in off-road action. Super bouncy tires. All terrain steering. Shake and sounds action.

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1937 Deere Tractor for Pawn Stars

Pawn Stars, The History Channel’s most popular show and one of the highest rated shows on television today has seen its fair share of odd, old and interesting objects. Owned by Rick Harrison and opened by his Father “Old Man” in the late 80s, the two have a successful business with help from Corey Harrison, Rick’s son, and his friend Chumlee. From a shrunken Amazonian head (which turned out to be a fake), a lottery ticket signed by George Washington himself and Russian missile launch keys, it’s no wonder that everyone can find something they like about Pawn Stars. And John Deere is no exception.

Corey, Rick and the Old Man from Pawn Stars.

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Recently, in season three, a man named Paris brought in a 1937 Model A tractor. John Deere manufactured the popular two-cylinder Model A tractor from 1934 to 1953. Knowing that anything John Deere is highly collectible, especially a classic unit built in the 1930’s, Paris was looking to receive $5000 for the tractor.Although the tractor was in decent shape for its age, it wasn’t operable and would have to be restored and the cost of that could easily pile up.

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Rick, Chumlee and The Old Man had an interest in Paris’ Model A and decided to take a look at it. “Although it was no longer running, the original factory spoke wheels were still in place as well as all the original parts. Despite the tractor being in good shape with original parts and features, Rick, the Old Man and Chumlee balked at Paris’ $5000 offer. Since the tractor wasn’t operable and knowing that the tractor would have to be restored either by a collector or the shop, Rick offered Paris $2000 for the tractor.  Reconditioning the tractor could cost up to $8000 to make it a valuable collector’s item.

Paris passed on Rick’s offer of $2000 and decided to keep the tractor.  Rick might have been able to make a profit of a couple  thousand dollars after buying the tractor and having it restored.  Do you think the offer of $2000 was fair for the Model A based on its condition or should it have been another amount?  What if the tractor was already restored and in excellent condition?  Let us know in the comments below!

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ALL-NEW 2011 7R Series Tractors

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Versatility, power, and comfort.  Those are the three words that best describe the all-new 2011 7R Series Tractors.  The 7R Series redefines the row-crop tractor by offering 200 to 280 engine hp, two new engines, two new transmissions, plus the technologically advanced CommandView™ II Cab.

The 7R Series tractors can do much more than just row-crop applications.  Due to their improved stability and maneuverability, they are actually nimble enough to be used in livestock and dairy operations as well.  A shorter length from the cab to the front grille and a longer wheelbase allows for a new structural frame design that allows the tractor to be more versatile in it’s uses.  The largest two models have a hitch-lift capacity of up to 17,300 pounds, and a new integrated front hitch and PTO makes the 7R Series a more versatile performer in front-implement applications as well.

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Five models are available in the 7R Series with 200 to 280 engine hp.  The 7200R and 7215R have the new John Deere PowerTech™ PSX 6.8L Engine, while the 7230R, 7260R and 7280R feature the new PowerTech PVX 9.0L Engine. Both engines meet Interim Tier 4 (IT4) emissions standards using cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) for controlling oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and a smart exhaust filter for reducing particulate matter (PM).

The 7R Series is built with the CommandView™ II Cab found on the 8R/8RT Series, providing a spacious and comfortable cabin.  One of the benefits of the CommandView™ II Cab is a new cab suspension option that automatically makes adjustments based on operator commands and terrain, giving the operator a much more comfortable ride.  Even steering in made more comfortable in the 7R Series due to the optional ActiveCommand Steering (ACS™) System.

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The 7R Series tractors provide unprecedented power and versatility.  They’ve been in production since May and shipping strong ever since.  Read more about the all-new 7R Series or see your John Deere dealer for a test drive.

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John Deere Monster Treads Lights And Sounds Vehicle - Gator

John Deere Monster Treads Lights And Sounds Vehicle - Gator Rating: Unique vehicles with monster truck styling for loads of imaginative play This off-road vehicle features 3 function lights and sound action These miniature John Deere farm toys are replicas of the real machines Batteries included Recommended for ages 3 years and up Sale Price: $9.99

John Deere Monster Treads Lights And Sounds Vehicle - Gator Produced by Ertl and officially licensed by John Deere, these off-road monster vehicles are ready to tackle any obstacle that lies in their path. These off-road vehicle features 3 function lights and sound action with LED lights. Other features include all terrain steering and super bouncy tires. Batteries included. Age grade 3 and up.

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John Deere and Special Life Moments

Many people are huge fans of John Deere, and we truly love and thank them for it. But some people are so loyal to the green and yellow that they include John Deere tractors and gear in every part of their lives. There’s the girl who got her dream of riding a John Deere tractor to prom, John Deere birthday cakes, and even couples who use John Deere as a picturesque backdrop for their wedding photos.  John Deere has been a special part of life’s happy moments for decades, and we hope it continues for decades to come.  Check out the pictures below to see how truly devoted fans share their life moments with John Deere.

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Agritourism Makes the Dollar

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Many small farms can’t support themselves without obtaining income from another job off the farm.  To try and counter-act this, many farms around the country are turning to non-traditional ways of using their land to raise money.  It’s known as agritourism, and farmers are finding many unique and creative ways to use their land for more than just crops.

Agritourism is when farmers open up their farms to the public, and guests can pay to enjoy a variety of provided activities.  The available activities vary from farm to farm, but farmers get creative and people are starting to see these as destinations altogether.  A day at the farm might include picking fresh peaches off the tree, petting animals, navigating through a corn maze, riding horses, learning to make your own jams, or even hunting.  The income from guests can often be a big help to farmers.  In some cases the income is enough to cover the entire cost of animal feed, one of the largest expenses for some farms.

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Some farmers go beyond just providing daily activities for guests and provide multi-day experiences, turning their farms into bed-and-breakfast type lodges.  Guests spend a few days on the farm, doing typical farm work and learning what it would be like to live on a farm full time.  The guests are often from a nearby city, curious about where their food comes from and what a somewhat opposite life would be like.  A farm’s owners will either run the entire operation or hire people to do it for them.  In addition to teaching how a farm works, they cook the guest’s meals and provide amenities you would expect from a standard bed-and-breakfast.

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Agritourism has been on the rise over the past several years.  In 2007, approximately 23,000 farms took part in agritourism, with each one bringing in around $24,300.  Compared to 2002, when agritourism brought in $7,200 per farm, this is a huge increase.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that farm work will only account for 13% of the average farm income this year.

With agritourism growing so fast, one wonders if it will continue to grow and continue having a customer base.  If every farm offered activities for guests, something would have to differentiate them to keep people interested.  Many offer the same activities, just with slight variations.  To continue providing family fun for years to come, farms need to continue innovating and finding creative new ways to use their land.  What kind of fun would you like to have on a farm?

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JD 4020 Tractor Sold for $50,000 at Auction

Wow, what an auction.

I’m talking about the June 18, 2011 estate sale in Steen, MN (southwest Minnesota) for Bill DeYager by Polk Auction Company. Bill was known as having one of the most extensive collections of Deere tractors. He sold his prize two cylinder Deere tractors at auction back in August 2009.

This June 18, 2011 auction featured Bill’s amazing line of “Next Generation” Deere tractors, so 10 and 20 Series models. Check out the YouTube video I made highlighting the tractors on this auction, including a 1971 JD 2520 “high crop” sold for $74,750 and also a new record high auction sale price of $50,000 on very rare JD 4020.

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