the 730 JD

lots of talk about it today,,heres a good article to read
JD 730

Interesting !

"impact of the slight surging that the uneven power in the two cylinder engine caused. This would have reduced shock to the implement and tractor and would have improved the life of several parts in both machines"

That part of the article will break the heart of some of those who say it wasn't a problem. I tried to use one of those things as my main tractor. Not a good plan. They were pretty to look at and fun to listen too,but there was a good reason why they sold by the dozen at every sale in Archbold after the 10 and 20 series came out. Several good reasons for that matter.

We tried to power our sawmill with one when I was a boy. I loved the tractor but it did not run a steady speed.

We had a 720 gas when I was in my teens. My uncle had a MF85. The 85 would outshine the 720 on anything pto powered. But the 720 would plow circles around the 85 with more plow. Still have the 85 don't know why. Sold the 720 to get a 4320.

Great article, Larry. Thanks for posting.

I owned and restored one once. My 1959 730DWES is the only tractor that I've ever properly restored, though my 55 Ford 860 is close. To avoid it sitting in my barn unattended for three years, I sold it in 1999 when I went away to law school. A finder flew into CVG twice to see it before shipping it to CA to it's new owner. I needed to sell it and sold it too quickly but had no more time. Wish I still had it. I always received questions and compliments when I took it to events, and, OMG, the sound was wonderful.

Not being a real farmer, I never worked it in the field but did pull it three times. It was not set up for competitive pulling and heavy. A friend sold me a home made straight 2 cylinder pulling drawbar to correct hitch height (I still have it.). No fluid but 5 front and 4 rear weights and lots of options. Considering such and wanting to know how my 730 would pull, I arranged for "exhibition" pulls, i.e., just for fun and not eligible for trophy.

This was back in the day (early/mid 1990s) of so-called "farm stock" pulling when all tractors at least looked stock, though we all knew that most governors had been turned up. In the small county pulls that I pulled in, my 730 pulled in the so-called "unlimited" class, and was the heaviest tractor in the class. It always pulled through as the sled was set up, but would not have won, even if not "expedition" pulls due to weight. In two of these events, it out pulled the 830s that showed up. To be fair, the 830s were set up for percentage pulling and had been lightened accordingly. They were, no doubt, lighter as set up. I knew this, as did the other pullers, but most of the folks in the stands did not.

Glory days. Wish I still had the 730.

Dean

Back when they were used for heavy tillage it was neat to watch the diesels puffing out smoke.

I've had at lest one 730D since '69 and have heard all this neg. BS.