TWO-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE TO BE CELEBRATED

PICTURED ABOVE: John Deere 830

This year the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show will celebrate 75 years of the John Deere two-cylinder diesel engine, marking a milestone in agricultural history.  
 
Visitors at Newark Showground on 9-10 November will have the chance to see a range of engines from the series on display and learn more about their history.
 
Introduced in 1949 with the Model R, John Deere’s first diesel tractor, the show's organisers say the engine stood out from the predominantly petrol-powered models of its time. Known for its simple yet robust design, exceptional pulling power, durability, and fuel efficiency, it has since become an iconic piece of engineering cherished by tractor enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
 
Mark James, product sales specialist at John Deere, says: "The John Deere two-cylinder diesel engine wasn’t just about horsepower; it was about delivering enormous torque, pulling power, and reliability.
 
"At the time, tractors with this kind of torque were unheard of. The two-cylinder engines would literally pull down to their last breath, continuing to work even under extreme loads."
 
Not only did the Model R tractor pave the way for the next generation of powerful diesel engines, but it also introduced innovative features like the live power take-off (PTO), which allowed it to run independently of the transmission and made tasks like baling hay much easier.
 
Visitors to the event will see restored tractors, including an original Model R and its successors, the 70, 720, 730, 80, 820, and 830. The tractors, many originally imported from North America, have been meticulously restored and maintained by private collectors.
 
A John Deere 830, used by Mr James for vintage working events and producing an estimated 100 horsepower from just two cylinders, will also be on display. Imported from Canada around 20 years ago, the tractor has received rebuilds to both the main and starter engines, though it’s has not been cosmetically restored.
 
It’s used regularly to work a 5-furrow John Deere hydraulic-lift plough at local events. “It’s a very impressive machine”, says Mark. “We also have a 1964 John Deere 4020 with a six-cylinder engine and powershift transmission and it too handles a five-furrow plough, but the two-cylinder 830 clearly outperforms it - and does so using a lot less fuel."
  
Mark concluded, “The two-cylinder engine represents more than just a piece of machinery. It is a symbol of agricultural progress. Vintage tractors are all about nostalgia and people love to see and own the tractors they grew up driving. These John Deere models hold a special place in farming history.”