22251 Pillsbury Avenue Lakeville, Minnesota 55044
April 1992.
This story would not be possible if it weren’t for my three
friends Dale, Gordy, and Roger. Dale provided the means for me to
depart with most of my future earnings. Gordy and Roger pro vided
the push for me to enter into the ownership of a ’41 AR John
Deere, in need of some repair.
The tractor was in Dale’s yard for a while before Gordy
tried to get me interested in it. Seems like one of his famous
comments was: ‘It won’t take much to get it running.’
I’ve heard that one before!
Anyway, against my better judgment, I traded a 4 HP Associated
engine for this potential prize. As you can see from the before
picture, this tractor needed help! I’ll bet the engine
hadn’t turned over in twenty years. Before I could move it, I
had to rebuild the left rear rim and replace the tire.
My wife must be getting used to having rusty iron in the yard,
as we didn’t get an adverse reaction when it was dropped off
the trailer at my place.
Nick, my ten year old son, and I were talking about getting him
a B John Deere, when he said, ‘I would rather have the AR.’
So the ownership of this unrestored tractor went to Nick. He saw
some potential in this rusty old hulk.
Well, after I replaced the block, head, gaskets, and rebuilt or
replaced several other critical parts, we had a running tractor.
Replacement fenders were ordered and installed. Many hours of
cleaning rust and grease, then paint and decals finished off this
year-and-one-half project.
This tractor is the last AR built in 1941 with serial #261557
and has electric start. Now I need to find a John Deere for myself,
but I’m sure my ‘friends’ will help me in the right
direction.
Friends always seem to get us into trouble, and it’s no
different for Ron Larson, 22251 Pillsbury Avenue, Lakeville,
Minnesota 55044- For his story on this John Deere AR, serial number
261557, look for ‘Nick’s John Deere’ inside this
issue.
