How many Spokers ?

[Anonymous-0]

Does anybody have any ideas on how many were made ? Do we have an idea of how many are accounted for and how many might still be ALIVE out there ?

 

[Mike M]

I'm wondering if there may be a good chance there are more out there than was built ? Alot of the solid flywheel models were changed to look alikes with cast top covers and spoke fylwheels being reproduced.

 

[john deere harvesters]

Well you can turn a later D into a spoker but you won't fool someone who really knows his early D's.Alot of parts will interchange on those early D's but there if you know what to look for you can spot a fake. Beware if you see a spoker at a consignment sale look at the main case and see if the bolt holes are right for the year that its supposed to be. I've heard of aleast one case where a man bought a D at a consignment sale thinking he was buying a spoker and what he really got was a 27 D with a spoke flywheel and a serial tag for a spoker.

 

[Anonymous-0]

There were approximately 5723 total Spoker D's built. There are three different categories of spokers, the first 50 made were serial numbers 30401-30450 they had 26" flywheels, ladder side radiators and fabricated front axles and one piece steering rods and were made in late 1923. The next category are the 26" flywheel models these were built in 1924 from serial numbers 30451-31279. Believe it or not there were about 100 Waterloo Boys built during this same time in 1924 and used the same serial numbering sequence as the D's did so there were approx. 779 of the 26" models built in 1924. They also had 26" flywheels and one piece steering rods along with many other differences such as radiator sides, transmission case, steering wheel, wheels, the list goes on and on. The next group had 24" spoked flywheels and were serial numbered 31280 through 36248 so there were about 5032 of them made in 1925 and part of 1926. As far as how many have survived there was a list put together over 20 years ago and through several sources has been kept updated to some extent. I am currently making an attempt to further update this list and make it a current account of all spokers still in existence but I am most interested in the 26" variety. My current list includes 9 of the first 50 tractors with 26" flywheels (30401-30450) still existance. 77 of the next group (30451-31279) with 26" flywheels accounted for and finally 252 of the 24" flywheel spokers (31280-36248) are known, for a total of 338 known spokers. I am sure there are quite a few that are not on this list and I would like to add any tractors out there that someone may know of. Feel free to contact me. Thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

How bad was the design flaw in the flywheel iv'e never seen a spoker in person ? Was it just a matter of the owner not checking the tightness of the flywheel ? Where were they cracking and breaking at in the clamp area ?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have heard different stories about why spoker flywheels broke. The 26" flywheels could break when the operator turned the steering wheel hard to the left and the front axle was up from a furrow or whatever. This condition would allow the wheel to contact the flywheel and cause breakage. Uneven clamping would be another reason as well as some forging defects?. They do tend to break and crack in the clamp area where the spokes meet the hub. These early tractors from what I have seen do not have as good of castings as Deere was producing a short time later on the GP's and early A's. The 1924 D's have some pretty rough casings on them, maybe the material properties of the castings were suspect also? I don't know for sure but I do know they fascinate me. Where are you located Two Cylinders save gas?

 

[Anonymous-0]

The Buckeyes state , Logan county .

 

[Anonymous-0]

Come to the Eastern National Two cylinder Expo on June 26th, 27th, 28th of 2008 in Springfield, Ohio and you will see at least two spoker D's probably more. Or e-mail me if you want to see one sooner.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I missed out on going to that a couple years ago in springfeild ,maybe i'll bring a peice to display in 08 ! Can't wait to see the legendary spokers either .

 

[green48]

two cylinders saves gas,

I"m just south of you in Athens county. I don"t see too many yellow and green tractors here and I haven"t had much luck with parts from the local JD dealer. Have you ever bought parts from the dealer in Lancaster?

Also, didn't you mention a club a week or so ago (you were looking for decal info as I recall). Is there a two-cylinder club in the Logan area?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Our local club is The Logan County antique power association.Lots of the green and yellow up here lol ! Iv'e never been to that dealer and iv'e got most of my parts for my restorations from around the country from scrap yards and from e-bay .