Two Cylinder Magazine

New Generation Tractors
The Production Numbers

John Deere New Generation Tractors were built from 1960 to 1977. Those built in 1960 were 1961 models; production of a few industrial models continued into the 1980s. New Generation Tractors are identified by their appearance rather than by model year or model designation, and production overlapped that of Generation II Tractors, which began in 1972 as 1973 models.

In this issue of Two-Cylinder, all of the available production figures for New Generation Tractors are published. These tractors open an entire additional field of collecting and investment opportunities, and presenting the information at one time levels that field for everyone. From time to time, in future issues, we will be taking a closer look at the products.

Production figures are not available for every model, and this is noted where applicable. Also, it is unlikely that “hand counts” will ever be completed for some models, and determining production is simply not possible for others. Perhaps it will someday be possible to electronically scan and develop production numbers that are identifiable through the structure of information presented by their serial numbers, especially where build quantities are considered too extensive to currently make this a viable clerical project. And, there are models for which it appears unlikely that we will ever have production figures, as they were serial numbered together in consecutive fashion and do not have the distinctive information needed to separate them into specific identities.

This is essentially a “numbers-only” feature, and that means potentially boring. To spice it up a bit, the front covers of New Generation sales literature are interspersed throughout the article. To assist the reader in understanding serial numbers, a brief primer on that subject is provided on pages four and five. The production numbers begin on page six.

Serial Number Plate Identification

1010 Series Tractors
Serial number plate is located on RH side of the engine block. The model of the tractor is identified by a letter system with one to three letters identifying the type of tractor. The letter codes are as follows:
RS – Single Row-Crop
RU – Row-Crop Utility
RUS – Special Row Crop Utility
R – Row-Crop
O – Grove and Orchard
U – Utility
CA – Agricultural Crawler
C – Industrial Crawler
W – Industrial Wheel Tractor
H – Hi-Crop
The serial number of the tractor follows the letter code and ends with a “T”, signifying that the tractor was built at the Dubuque Tractor Works.

2010 Series Tractors
Serial number plate is located on the RH side of the engine block. The model of the tractor is identified by a letter system with one to three letters identifying the type of the tractor. The letter codes are as follows:
R – Row-Crop
RU – Row-Crop Utility
RUS – Special Row-Crop Utility
H – Hi-Crop
CA – Agricultural Crawler
C – Industrial Crawler
W –Industrial Wheel Tractor
F – Wheel Forklift Tractor
The serial number of the tractor follows the letter code and ends with a “T”, signifying that the tractor was built at the Dubuque Tractor Works.

3010 Series Tractors
(The number “1” as the first digit indicates a 3000 Series Tractor)
11 – Row-Crop
12 – Standard
14 – Row-Crop Utility
15 – Industrial
16 – Special Row-Crop Utility
17 – Lanz Standard
18 – Grove and Orchard
Fuel type can be determined from the first three digits of the engine serial number, as follows:
11E – Gasoline
12E – LP-Gas
13E – Diesel

4010 Series Tractors
(The number “2” as the first digit indicates 4000 Series Tractor)
21 – Row-Crop
22 – Standard
23 – Hi-Crop
25 – Industrial
26 – Special Standard
Fuel type can be determined from the first three digits of the engine serial number, as follows:
21E – Gasoline
22E – LP-Gas
23E – Diesel
Note: Some 3010 and 4010 Tractors equipped with LP-Gas engines do have the letters “LP” stamped into the serial number plate — and some do not. We have not been able to determine why this is so, as there seems to be no pattern regarding this practice.

5010 Series Tractors (1963–1964)
32 – Standard
37 – Offset Industrial
Note: All 5010 Tractors were equipped with diesel engines and Syncro-Range Transmissions.

5010 Series Tractors (1965)
Beginning with the 1965 Model Year, a three-digit code was adopted for identification, followed by a letter code indicating transmission type.
First Digit – 3 – indicates 5000 Series Tractor
Second Digit – Model/Chassis Type
Third Digit – Fuel Type
Second Digit Codes
2 – Standard • 5 – JD700 Industrial
7 – Offset Industrial (“5010” Industrial)
Third Digit Codes
3 – Diesel
Letter Code
R – Syncro-Range Transmission

2510/2520 Series Tractors
A three-digit code was used for tractor identification, followed by a letter code indicating transmission type.
First Digit – 7 – Indicates 2500 Series
Second Digit – Model/Chassis Type
Third Digit – Fuel Type
Letter Code – Transmission Type
Second Digit Codes
1 – Row-Crop • 3 – Hi-Crop
Third Digit Codes
1 – Gasoline • 3 – Diesel
Letter Code
R – Syncro-Range Transmission
P – Power Shift Transmission

3020 Series Tractors (1964 model year)
3020 Tractors used the same codes as their 3010 predecessors, with only the series and chassis type stamped into the serial number plate. However, the fuel information is recorded in the Serial Number Registers, and can be interpreted the same way as 3010 Tractors. 3020 Hi-Crops for the 1964 model year were stamped the same as a row-crop tractor, i.e. “11T”. However, a “B” suffix recorded only in the Serial Number Registers will identify a 1964 Model 3020 Hi-Crop.

3020 Series Tractors (1965 and up)
A three-digit code was used for tractor identification, followed by a letter code to indicate transmission type.
First Digit –1 – 3000 Series
Second Digit – Model/Chassis Type
Third Digit – Fuel Type
Letter Code – Transmission Type
Second Digit Codes
1 – Row-Crop • 2 – Standard • 3 – Hi-Crop
4 – Row-Crop Utility • 5 – Industrial (JD500)
6 – Special Row-Crop Utility • 7 – Lanz Standard
8 – Grove and Orchard
Third Digit Codes
1 – Gasoline • 2 – LP-Gas • 3 – Diesel
Letter Code
R – Syncro-Range Transmission
P – Power Shift Transmission
Beginning with the 1969 model year, only the chassis codes 1, 3, and 5 were used. Standard tractors were still available, but were not recorded as a separate chassis type.

4020 Series Tractors (1964 model year)
4020 Tractors for 1964 only used the same codes as their “4010” predecessors, with just the series and chassis type stamped into the serial number plate. However, the fuel information is recorded in the Serial Number Registers, and can be interpreted the same way as for 4010 Tractors. 4020 Hi-Crops for the 1964 model year were stamped the same as a row-crop tractor, i.e. “21T”. However, a “B” suffix recorded only in the Serial Number Registers will identify a 1964 Model 4020 Hi-Crop.

4020 Series Tractors (1965 and up)
A three-digit code was used for tractor identification, followed by a letter code to indicate transmission type.
First Digit –1 – 4000 Series
Second Digit – Model/Chassis Type
Third Digit – Fuel Type
Letter Code – Transmission Type
Second Digit Codes
1 – Row-Crop • 2 – Standard • 3 – Hi-Crop
5 – Industrial (JD600) • 6 – Special Standard
Third Digit Codes
1 – Gasoline • 2 – LP-Gas • 3 – Diesel
4020 Series Tractors (1965 and up) continued
Letter Code
R – Syncro-Range Transmission
P – Power Shift Transmission
Beginning with the 1969 model year, only the chassis codes 1, 3, and 5 were used. Standard tractors were still available, but were not recorded as a separate chassis type.

4000 Tractors
These tractors were serial numbered in sequence with the “4020” Tractors. A 4000 Tractor can be easily identified by the “B” prefix preceding the three-digit code in the serial number plate. Example: B211P212309R.

4320/4520/4620 Tractors
4320 Tractors all used the 3-digit code of 613. All 4320 Tractors had diesel engines and Syncro-Range Transmissions.
4520 Tractors all used the 3-digit code 813. All 4520 Tractors were powered by diesel engines, but there was a transmission option. The code 813R would signify a 4520 Tractor with Synchro-Range Transmission, while the code 813P would signify a 4520 Tractor with Power Shift Transmission.
4620 Tractors used the same serial number code (813) as the 4520 Tractor.

5020 Tractors
(Applies to serial numbers below 25000)
First digit – 3 – indicates 5000 Series Tractor
Second Digit – Model/Chassis Type
Third Digit – Fuel Type
Second Digit Codes
1 – Row Crop • 2 – Standard
5 – JD700A Industrial
7 – JD760/JD760A (Offset Scraper Tractor)
Third Digit Codes
3 – Diesel
Letter Code
R – Syncro-Range Transmission
Beginning in January, 1969, the Standard chassis type was no longer recorded in the Serial Number Registers, beginning with serial number 25000. All 5020 Agricultural Tractors had a code of 313 and used diesel engines and Syncro-Range Transmissions.

6030 Tractors
6030 Tractors were coded using the same method as late-Model 5020 Tractors – all 6030 Tractors used the 313 code.

All 7020 Tractors
7020 Tractors had a code of 773. All were diesel; all had Syncro-Range Transmissions.

All 7520 Tractors
7520 Tractors had a code of 923. All were equipped with diesel engines and Syncro-Range Transmissions.

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