The John Deere 50 Series was the most popular tractor of its genre, catapulting the leaping-deer brand into superstardom, and, ultimately, John Deere to market domination throughout Europe. Launched in 1986 to replace the 40 Series, the new range included a combination of three-, four- and six-cylinder tractors. Yet, it was the range’s trio of six-pot models, specifically the 3050 (92hp), the 3350 (105hp) and the range-topping 3650 (114hp) which made the greatest impact on farmers throughout Ireland and the UK.

The key to this trio’s success can be attributed to a number of factors. Power in all three models was provided by John Deere’s silky-smooth, bulletproof 5.9-litre engine, mated to the manufacturer’s well-proven, slick-shifting Power Synchron 16F/8R transmission, which incorporated a clutchless Hi-Lo ratio-splitter.

However, for many farmers and tractor drivers, it was John Deere’s SoundGard SG2 cab which offered the greatest appeal. Identified by its unique two-piece curved windscreen, which featured an integrated door, the SG2’s class-leading ergonomic refinement provided a level of air-conditioned comfort, hitherto unseen in a tractor of this size.

Manoeuvrable

Arable farmer and potato grower Richard Hemus farms 380ha just outside Nuneaton in Warwickshire. He purchased his two-wheel drive 3050 brand new in 1991, primarily to handle the farm’s 12t grain trailers and to perform front-line cultivation work. The convenience of the two-wheel drive, which made the tractor extremely manoeuvrable, meant the 3050 was also well-suited to jobs like potato planting and fertilising.

Unfortunately, it was quickly discovered that the tractor’s naturally aspirated engine lacked the power for heavy PTO work. This problem was soon resolved, however, by the installation of a dealer-fitted John Deere turbo kit.

The 3050 was never actually designed for turbo-charging. The more powerful turbocharged 3650 model featured an upgraded engine and transmission components, which were engineered to handle the forces produced by the forced induction. Despite this, Richard’s tractor has yet to suffer any mechanical failures as a result of being turbocharged.

“If I’m not mistaken, they used the turbocharger from a John Deere combine engine,” explains Richard. “At the time, I specifically remember that not all dealers approved of putting a turbo on a 3050. Honestly, the tractor was literally transformed. It could suddenly pull a fully loaded 12t grain trailer with ease, and it had no problem working with a 3.5m power harrow.

“Today, with almost 10,000 hours under its belt, the 3050 still handles around 70 acres of potato planting each season, and remains an indispensable tool for shunting work, towing the combine header during harvest and flat-rolling horse paddocks in the spring. It’s even still used for power harrowing from time to time.

“In hindsight, we should have ordered a four-wheel drive version,” admits Richard. “But even now, having a two-wheel drive tractor is often very useful. Yes, the cab is quite small by modern standards, but it’s still comfortable. Furthermore, for what it’s worth, today, there’s nothing I could buy to replace it.”

The perfect companion

The choice of Leicestershire farmer and contractor Ashley Davies, to keep his 25-year-old John Deere 3650 in service, remains a decision which requires no hesitation. Attached to a Keenan 100 diet feeder for most of the winter, the effortless power of this four-wheel drive classic, combined with the surprising agility offered by its cambered front axle, make this the perfect companion for the Keenan, which feeds around 370 beef cattle, seven days a week throughout the winter.

“I bought the tractor brand new in 1992,” says Ashley, who runs an immaculate fleet of John Deere nouveau-classics, including a 6920, 7710, 7810, 8420 and 8520T. “When it was new, the 3650 was a front-line tractor on our farm, and for years it was used on a 4m power-harrow combi-drill. Nowadays, it has a much easier life feeding the cattle twice a day and bedding down the yards, with some trailer work thrown in for good measure.”

John Deere 3650 tractors were all specified as high-lift models from the factory. This meant they were equipped with a larger hydraulic pump and had a higher linkage lift capacity. To cope with this improved specification, the 3650 used a heavy-duty transaxle casting, substantially reinforced engine chassis rails, and a stronger engine block casting. John Deere fitted front fenders as standard, on four-wheel drive models.

Later examples of the 3650, like Ashley Davies’ post-1991 tractor, featured a heavy-duty ZF front-axle, equipped with four-pinion reduction hubs. Four-wheel drive versions of the less powerful 3050 and 3350 models used a ZF axle with three-pinion reduction hubs. John Deere also fitted the 3650 with a six-paddle clutch, whereas the other models used a five-paddle unit.

Heavy workload

Following 20 years of outstanding service, during which time the tractor clocked more than 10,000 hours, coping with what Ashley today describes as ‘‘a shockingly heavy workload’’, the engine suddenly failed.

“The problem was identified as crank-bearing failure,” remembers Ashley. “When the engine blew up, I decided to source a replacement engine, rather than rebuild the original. I eventually found a low-hour unit which had been taken out of a combine.

“We put the engine in the tractor and within 100 hours, the same thing happened again,” he adds.

“It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Sometimes these things just happen. However, I decided there and then not to cut any more corners, and I purchased a new, completely reconditioned engine, which has worked beautifully ever since.”

Watching Ashley Davies’ tractor at work, is joy to both the eyes and ears. The tractor, which wants for nothing, literally purrs, pulling a 10t load of muck with relentless ease.

A reluctant confession on Ashley’s part, reveals the tractor has had the fuel pump tweaked and is now churning out around 130hp. That’s an increase of 16hp, from its original factory rating.

The John Deere 50 Series tractors represented the swansong era for the long-bonnet, Sound-Gard generation of tractors. Replaced by the modular-chassis 6000 Series, more than 158,000 50 Series tractors rolled out of Mannheim, before production ceased in late 1993, the last of which, a 3650, was delivered to Pembrokeshire in Wales, in January 1994.

“As an all-purpose tractor, the John Deere 50-Series still takes some beating,” concludes Ashley.

“With the exception of the 6920, our other tractors spend most of the winter in the shed. It’s the 3650 and the telehandlers which we rely on every day.”