John Deere · Letter Series series

John Deere Model H

Name: John Deere Model H
Brand: John Deere

Row-crop tractor · 1939–1947 · Distillate

The John Deere Model H, built from 1939 to 1947, was a small, economical two-cylinder row-crop tractor designed as a scaled-down Model G for smaller farms and light row-crop work. Its compact 99.7-cubic-inch engine, unusually geared to take power output through the camshaft rather than the crankshaft, was renowned for remarkable fuel economy and set records when tested at Nebraska. Nearly 59,000 were built, and its adjustable rear tread and choice of front-end configurations let one small tractor cover a variety of row spacings.

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Photo: H. Michael Miley. License: CC BY-SA 2.0.

belt power: 14.8 hp
Weight: 2,080 lb (943 kg)
Displacement: 99.7 ci (1.6 L)
Total built: 58,584

Overview
Type	Row-crop
Series	Letter Series
Production	1939–1947
Factory	Waterloo, Iowa, USA
Total built	58,584
Original price	$650 (1947 USD)

Engine
Make	John Deere
Fuel	Distillate
Cylinders	2
Displacement	99.7 ci (1.6 L)
Bore × stroke	3.56x5.00 in
Rated speed	1,400 rpm
Compression	4.75:1
Cooling	liquid-cooled
Aspiration	Naturally aspirated

Power
Drawbar power	12.5 hp (9.31 kW)
Belt power	14.8 hp (11.1 kW)
Nebraska test	Nebraska Test 312

Transmission
Transmission	sliding-gear, unsynchronized — 3 forward, 1 reverse
Chassis	4x2 2WD
Steering	manual

Hydraulics & hitch
Rear PTO	transmission
PTO speed	540 rpm

Dimensions & capacities
Weight	2,080 lb (943 kg)
Wheelbase	76 in (193 cm)
Length	111 in (283 cm)
Width	79 in (201 cm)
Height	52 in (132 cm)
Fuel capacity	7.5 gal (28.4 L)
Coolant	22 qt (20.8 L)
Crankcase	4.5 qt (4.26 L)
Front tires	4.00-15
Rear tires	7.50-32

History

Introduced in 1939, the Model H was Deere's answer to the growing demand for an affordable, lightweight tractor that a small-acreage farmer could buy and operate economically during the lean years following the Great Depression. Positioned below the Models A and B in the Letter Series lineup, it was essentially a miniaturized general-purpose row-crop tractor, complete with the streamlined Henry Dreyfuss styling that Deere had adopted across its range.

The H was mechanically unusual: its two-cylinder engine delivered power to the drivetrain through the camshaft rather than directly off the crankshaft, and it used a three-speed transmission. When tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (Test 312), the little tractor became famous for its outstanding fuel efficiency, a quality that made it especially attractive to budget-conscious buyers. It was offered in several configurations, including the HN single-front-wheel, HWH wide-front high-clearance, and HNH narrow high-clearance variants, though these specialized models were built in small numbers.

Production ended in 1947, and the Model H was effectively succeeded by the Model M as Deere modernized its small-tractor offerings. Today the H is prized by collectors for its diminutive size, its distinctive high-revving "Johnny Popper" exhaust note, and its place as one of the smallest and most charming of Deere's classic two-cylinder tractors.

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