What is a "Johnny-Popper" motor? Is that just a special name for a regular Jonh Deere gas motor?

What are the advanatges or disadvantages compared to a diesel? I'm looking at a used John Deere tractor, and the only thing that concerns me and not knowing ANYTHING about the "Johnny Popper" motor it has.

Thanks for any help!

 

its just the big two cyl JD Gas motor

 

Any concerns with this motor? Power issues (lack of)? Reliability? Parts available? I searched the internet, but I didn't really find out much about these motors.

Thanks again for your help.

 

They were and are very good motors. The last old JD that I owned was a 1953 “50” the only thing I ever had to do to the motor was plugs and points. They are a pretty simple motor to work on and repair depending on what’s needed. If your looking at buying the tractor and it is a tricycle, be very careful they will turn over easy. You can do a lot with them but it takes time and you must think ahead, DO NOT try to drive on a side slope. The last I checked you can still get factory parts for most, what year and model are you looking at?

 

I am no antique John Deere expert, but I am fairly certain that the old "poppin' John" two-cylinder engines are "opposed piston" design, where the cylinders lay horizontal, one pointed each way fore and aft, with the crank in the middle.

However they are built, one thing I do know for certain is they will lug down to 1/2-RPM and pull the handle out of a seasoned maul.

You can probably learn more here :

http://ytforums.ytmag.com/index.php

 

They are not opposed. they run side by side and lay flat, horizontal. ytmag is a good site for info. I pull antique and classic pulls anytime there is one within 50 or 60 miles. Depending what you want a tractor for will say how much power you will need. They letter series had unstyled and styled tractors, Model A is a mid size, B is what I would call small, and G is the bigger one. They will lug all day long at darn near 0 rpm BK. There was also johnny popper diesels. 830 was one of the biggest I believe and had lots of power. If you find one and have any ??? please ask. There were and still are lots of parts to make these old 2 cyl pull very good. I am working on a styled 44 A now that will have a 9 inch stroke and 6 1/2 bore. Stock was 6 stroke 5 1/2 bore. Its not cheap but worth it in the end!!!! All of these had a hand clutch also. Some where hand crank only with a mag and did not even use a battery, you could get them with power steering but its somewhat rare.

 

Also the most distinctive sounding tractors around, can't believe that hasn't been mentioned yet.

 

Great info, thanks! The one I'm looking at is a 440I with a loader and backhoe. The owner is asking $4 and says everything works well and has no leaks. It looks nice inthe pictures too. He's about 200 miles away though. So I don't want to make the drive out there if this tractor won't fit my needs. I want a tractor for clearing away snow and finishing land scaping jobs I've started years ago. And also, I think tractors are realllllly cool. That's really why I want one.

 

They sound like diesels (youtube videos). It's also funny how they seem to barely idle and still pull easily.

 

It's a 440I (loader and backhoe). The owner isn't sure of the year, but said these were LAST made in 1960. So it's an older unit. But many of the tractors between the late 50's and mid 80's look the same to me.

I think I may have to take a road trip to look at it and maybe buy it.

thanks for the info. It sounds like these old motors are A-OK.

 

WOW!!I havent heard that model in a long time...THey were only made for 3 years, 58, 59 and 60. They were factory all yellow. They really look nothing like a tractor of that era but are very handy!! For most the biggest thing would be they do not have 3 pt hitches or PTO's. According to my serial number list there was a total of 2341 of them built with the gas engine!! about 115 cubic inches. My uncle is somewhat of a "Johnny popper" collector, he had a 440id, same model except diesel. He worked it pretty hard and now it sits restored in his barn with the rest of them!! Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
Danny

 

Yup, it's yellow. Looks like an International, Ford, etc. haha. I'll will post if I buy it.

Does $4k sounds reasonable? I really can't comment on it's condition except from what the owner said, which is no leaks and everything works. It looks good in the pictures too.

 

And to the best of my knowledge all the 440's were wide front or had tracks. The I means it is rubber tired. Bigfoot is absolutely correct, I have been on narrow front tractors all my life and still get that shaky feeling when on uneven ground.

 

The front wheels seem to have the same stance as the rear, unlike the old "farm-type" tractors. Looks like this:

http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=jd&th=316112

 

I thought the "I" meant "industrial", hence the yellow paint and lack of PTO and 3-point hitch.