8010 converted to 8020

[Anonymous-0]

I was looking at the new 2013 JD dealer calendar with rarities and oddities on the months pages. They speak of only one known 8010 that hasn't been converted to a 8020. What were the things that were converted? Denny

 

[FactoryFarmer]

(quoted from post at 17:48:17 12/22/12) I was looking at the new 2013 JD dealer calendar with rarities and oddities on the months pages. They speak of only one known 8010 that hasn't been converted to a 8020. What were the things that were converted? Denny

I call bs on that, I know of at least 2 just in IL......

 

[buickanddeere]

According to the stories I heard. One 8010 stayed as an 8010 out in the JD shipping yard. It had a massive set of forklift prongs fitted the 3pt hitch and was used to load tractors etc onto rail cars.
The other 8010 was miss-placed at a shop that went bankrupt . The 8010 was mistakenly understood as an asset of the shop and was sold out from under Deere.

 

[jd_adict]

MOST 8010s were converted to 8020s at the john deere factory and it almost broke JD for the recall, the transmissions were changed, seats changed, and all 4 tires changed then repainted and redecaled 8020s with a new serial number tag. there was only one hundred made and less than half that with three point hitch. Sure it is possible that one or 2 could have been missed. this tractor was a financial disaster right from the start in late 58 to 59 designing and engineering. the program almost broke deere and company. they wanted a 4 cylinder 4wd tractor and things got out of proportion and they ended up with a tractor 10 years ahead of its time. thats why they are so sought after by collectors today. I sent a picture of 4 my dad and I owned at one time, we have 2 left. one has the original 8 furrow 3 point hitch plow. you have to remember the biggest john deere at the time was a 830. B and D is right about one being used at the factory with big forks to move smaller tractors with no tires out to the compound until new tires were available, it kept the production line of new generation tractors to continue and the rubber was put on later.

 

[leon]

The calendar also says that the 8010 was Deere's first four-wheel drive, articulating tractor. I wonder what they called the WA-14 and WA-17? I know, they were made by Wagner, but they sure were green and carried the John Deere name. It's interesting also to see the calendar very publicly recognizing the "Hanson" tractor (Dec.'13 picture) as a John Deere.

 

[bob15]

Words are cheap, have pictures to back-up what you're saying? Or is what your saying BS?

 

[larryanderson]

One of my close friends has an 8020 and it is an original but was updated.He actually had two but traded one for a rare MM.He took it to The 50 Years of Progress where they had a Reunion of them.I read about Wagner tractors I think in Heritage Iron and they were built by Wagner for JD.They were based on the same concept as Steiger and Vesatile with truck components which turned out to be a much better design.

 

[jd_adict]

leon, the Wagner was john deeres second 4 wheel drive production tractor and it wasnt introduced untill 1969. ten years after the 8020. they only made a combined 60 units of the wa14 and wa17. Like the waterloo boy company JD bought the Wagner company made a few tractors with their name on it and taged, then came out with a model of their own a couple years later... the 7020 in 1971
Deere also finally admits that the DAIN was john deeres first designed production tractor

 

[4010 puller]

This past summer (July or August) I was on Ohio Turnpike (I-80) and saw an old GMC cabover in real nice condition with a lowboy on, he was hauling a restored 8010 west bound from Cleveland. I thought that sure was neat. Not sure where he was coming from or going, But is that the only 8010 still in existance?

 

[silverado]

The kellers have the 8010 unconverted to 8020

 

[JimEvans]

If you look on the back of the calendar, you will find a lot of well known experts were consulted on the facts. The guys that work for Deere also know what they are talking about. Deere tried to convert every 8010 to an 8020, so they should have some idea on how many were missed back in the day.
I would tend to believe that there are truly only 2 documented 8010s that missed the 8020 rebuilds.
Like a lot of rare things, like Dodge Hemis, SS Chevys, I am sure that there are more today than were ever built originally.

Deere has admitted to the Dain for several years now. The tractor on the calendar is also owned by Deere (formally Hansen's tractor).

 

[wijim]

Yes Kellers have one of the 8010s. I think Bruce Keller had said at one of our two cylinder meetings that the one he has is the only one. Jim

 

[Jake Winn]

That tractor and truck are owned by a gentleman in Idaho. He travels all around the country with it.
GMC and 8020

 

[Jake Winn]

Heres pic of Kellers 8010.