Replacement Serial ID Plates

[PBrowning]

In my discussion with John Deere on replacement serial ID plates is that Deere will indeed help. The tractor must still bear a tag or part of a tag from which there is discernable enough of the serial number such that along with other identifying features the actual serial number can be determined. At this point in time and as transportable as these old tractors are, any other means of determination are all but lost. My dealer won't even consider other data.

Deere technicians come out to the tractor, make an inspection and take photographs. And if enough evidence exists for them to go forth, they submit an order to John Deere who fabricates a new serial plate. And when the big day comes, technicians from John Deere perform the removal and reinstallation. Deere WILL NOT just hand you the tag!

Bottom line is that such tags are rarely issued, and when they are, they are as good as the original tag - no informed person dare question such a tag, and if a question does arise, the one asking should try to acquire a replacement tag from his John Deere dealer!

He truth be known, more of us should indeed seek replacement tags, and do it while the ones we have are still readable. In my humble opinion, there should be no stigma attached to replacement serial plate, despite the appearance of a bar code. And as for what is in the bar code, the code contains the make, model and serial number of the tractor. Bar codes is the current way Deere tracks and/or accounts for tractors in the current era.

At present, according to my dealer -- there is no charge for the service from John Deere. And this would be consistent with Deere's continued stress on accuracy and fidelity in tractor identification. If one were to analyze this procedure to any degree, there is implied a rule is that to install a serial plate that came off of a different tractor is a violation of John Deere policy on tractor identification, i.e., on serial plate usage. (PatB)

 

[Anonymous-0]

After contacting the service manager at the local JD dealer, I was sent a form to fill out asking what happened to the tag and for any identification of the tractor, in this case a 430. It has a number stamped onto the block. From that number, they were able to determine the serial number and made a new tag as you described. The service manager and territorial rep came out and installed the new tag at no cost. I believe just the Dubuque models used the stamped numbers along with the serial number tag.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Where are these ID plates typically located? My family has a mid 1950s JD that I'm trying to learn more about. Thanks.

 

[PBrowning]

That kind of depends on the model. For Models A, B, G & H tractors, for instance, the tag will be on the forward part of what is called the main case (main case holds crankcase & trnsmission), on either the flywheel side, or near the belt pulley. I am not familiar enough with all of the tractors to cite the general case any better.

Now -- if you have the model (like 50, 60, 70, etc), bring it back and someone on the forum will tell you straight out where it is.

Alternately, take a picture or two of the tractor to a John Deere Ag dealer and they should be able to help as well. (PatB)

 

[Rusty Junk TX]

Patrick,
We have 2 war time B"s (1944) that Tractor City did for us. One is barn kept and the other is still on the fence row. It was 2 or 3 of there representatives that were present to put it on. There is a form that you get from Deere and do this. It can be gotten at the local dealer. There is no charge. May take a month or 2. It was 5+ years ago we did this.

Marcus
NBTX

 

[PBrowning]

Hi Brother Marcus - good to hear form you -- I think that if more collectors would begin to acquire certified replacement plates (as needed of course - not just on a whim), any stigma such as some have sensed would go away. Knowledge of the basic process tends to breath some fresh air into serial plate purpose. All the fuss abut the new tags containing a bar code is a bit silly anyway -- you can't even buy a half-gallon of milk or a can of beer but what there is a bar code on the container! If external_link has his way, we too will bear a barcode -- think on that one some! Have a Great one! (PatB)

 

[JDBert]

I have one on my 70- I had the orginal tag but it was broke in half from stuff that had gotten wedged under it ect.

Took the tag to my local deere shop- talked to the shop forman- he had never done one so he called his area person from deere and she told him where a form could be downloaded.
Downloaded a form for me to fill out- the shop foreman had to fill a form out as well, it came in the mail to the deere dealer ship- I picked it up- end of story.
They are black- with a bar code on them and then under that it says model 70 serial number xxxxxx.
they look nice- not orginal but nice alot nicer then the broken one would of looked!!!
My G has the same issue and will be getting one to.

OHHH and it FREE!!!!!

 

[djt14]

Does Deere still offer this service? I went to my local dealer the other day (They are a chain dealer) to see If I can get a plate for my Model R and they told me it can't be done.