Dan W - still using my White Outdoor Products GT-1810 built 1987. running now on its 3rd motor but that old heavy frame is still good. yep, kept that older well built John Deere of yours on the job.
I served on a carrier during Vietnam, released from active in 70 when this unit was built. Couple of problems w/ using this on a carrier 1) not heavy enough to move an aircraft around. Tugs on the carrier are extremely heavy & are made of 1/2 & 3/4" plate steel.2). Fuel would be a problem. They only have JP (jet propulsion) fuel & high octane aircraft fuel available (115-145 AV gas) for the piston driven aircraft. 69 & 70 the navy was using a combination tug, GPU (ground power unit, for electricity), & a huffer (compressed air to start engines). All 3 units were in one vehicle & they ran on JP-5 which is nearly identical to kerosene & will burn just fine in a diesel engine. The turbine engine used as a huffer ran on JP also. I doubt that the little John Deere could be used for much of anything on a carrier deck. Too light to tow anything on a slick & pitching flight deck. On an NAS (Naval Air Station) they could have used it for a number of things. We had tugs that used a slant 6 for power, trailers that could be towed by a tug, a flat bed van like thing (feature an old 60s era Dodge van w/ everything cut off but the dash & 1 seat for the driver. Had a slant 6 & auto trans that was locked in 1st gear so that it wouldn't go very fast. The trailers & the flat bed van were used to haul wheel chocks, drop tanks, rocket launchers, MERs (multiple ejector racks, for hauling bombs), and an assortment of other items used on the flight line. The little JD could do that just fine. Seriously doubt that it saw any duty on a carrier but could have happened.
I was lucky enough a few years back to get one of John Deere's first lawn tractors the 110 series that came out in 1963 mine is number 37 off the line of 1001 made.
When my father was in the navy in those days.. They would have a wheel horse, a deere, or any tractor that had hydraulics.. They had pintle hitches on all of them, so they could be locked in place in the belly of the ship so it would not slide around in rough seas, some having duals so they can't roll over. The hydraulics of these tractors were the main purpose they were on board a navy carrier.. If the deck elevator system went down or was bombed.. They could connect the garden tractor and hydraulic oil caddy tank to a secondary system and still raise and lower planes on the elevator. My dad also said they could sometimes have up to 4-5 of these little tractors on board as backups. End of war, many were shoved off the deck and no longer needed. Sometimes on a ship you could have a deere, a case, and several other brands onboard... Whatever was available.
I bought a John Deere 430 with the 3 cylinder Yanmar Diesel about a year ago. I started restoring it right away and finding parts was a challenge, But I am at the end. It was missing the rear PTO and 3 point hitch. It is sitting on jack stands waiting for the wheels to get back from powder coat and new tires and then its done. I have the fever now, not sure what I started...
I retired as a civilian after 35 years working for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. I have minimal knowledge of carrier ops, but as a professional engineer their use on a carrier to tow aircraft makes no sense whatsoever - they only have rear wheel brakes and not nearly enough weight to control a combat aircraft on a pitching carrier deck. I have seen them used at Navy and Marine Corps Reserve centers for lawn mowing and snow removal, however.
Years ago I watched the WW2 in color series, i saw a very interesting half front end loader(engine half) and front made of tubular steel vehicle designed to lift planes on a aircraft carrier. If there's any chance of catching a glimpse of one of these its on those archival films. But, I don't believe I've ever seen then bottom deck on an old WW2 carrier in any of the clips that have been published, and I'm thinking that's where they'd be
retired?? its just getting started. he did a full perfect resto on it. it should be good for 3 more generations at least. if taken car of. which it most likely will be considering how rare it is.
It's not a tug. They had tugs for that, and that would be significantly over any JD tow rating. If this thing was pulling around anything cool like a fighter jet, this guy would be trying to brag about it! Boy our military would be sad if we could build multi million dollar jets but had to tow them with a sub thousand dollar "garden tractor". Even the USSR wasn't that pathetic.
@@corbinmurphy4708 You have no evidence what so ever to support that. Just because it has a pintle hitch does not mean it was ever a tug. The Americans invented fighter jets, and aircraft carriers, do you think they just said "let's pull all this multi million dollar stuff around with a lawnmower!". NO. They had purpose built tugs for this. Devices called "tugs", not "lawn tractors". It would be incredibly stupid to try and haul around a big plane with that, it is too light and could never provide sufficient braking. This is why a real tug is many thousands of pounds. This owner obviously thinks he is an expert in this tractor even though he knows very little...if they were using this device to move around something cool like jets you can bet he would have been bragging about it!
@@SchnelleKat My opinion is every bit as important, and a lot more correct than a lot of morons posting here. Nobody cares what you think, you aren't even a part of this discussion. If anybody can provide even the most remote evidence of these being used as a tug I would LOVE to see it. They were not. "It has a pintle hitch and it was on an aircraft carrier, so it must be a tug" is a stupid conclusion to make. Obviously many here don't understand what a tug needs to be capable of doing - things that a light weight garden tractor cannot possibly do.
What the hell would they have needed that for on an aircraft carrier?! It's obviously not a tug...and I'm pretty sure they don't grow grass on the boat. If they just wanted a mule to ride around on there are also better choices. This guy seems to think he's an expert but actually has no idea what this was used for...
Ryan Roberts they actually were used as tugs. The 140s actually had quiet a bit of pulling power and would have done just fine pulling smaller aircrafts. The 140 isn’t just a mower it’s a true tractor.
@@corbinmurphy4708 It's a "garden tractor". It simply does not weigh enough to move aircraft safely. Small tugs were usually smaller but still full farm sized tractors with multi cylinder engines and extra weights, like Ford 9n size. Otherwise they had specially built small and larger size tugs. Again they are meant to be very, very heavy with strong brakes. They have to be the brakes for the aircraft and they have to hold it if there is a gust of wind. A 140 can't do that with any military plane unless they keep little Cessnas on the aircraft carrier. It's simple weight and physics, the 140 is too small, and too cheap. They didn't buy "garden tractors" with an extra wheel bolted on when they could afford a fleet of custom built vehicles for the task...which the ship was equipped with.
Now that’s pretty cool. Thank you JD 140 for your service to our country! Thanks for sharing, CTF! 🇺🇸🚜👍
A friend of ours went to the ARMY after high school. Spent his 3yrs mowing yards and a golf course at a Military Retirement community.
I wish someone made solid little tractors like this now .
I mow my lawn with my mighty 110 John Deere. 46 years old and still cutting.
Same
Dan W - still using my White Outdoor Products GT-1810 built 1987. running now on its 3rd motor but that old heavy frame is still good. yep, kept that older well built John Deere of yours on the job.
@@SoybeanFarmer3300 the new john Deere sucks plastic and parts made in China
Worked for the Navy & retired to Florida. Sounds like a good life to me! Great video!
I served on a carrier during Vietnam, released from active in 70 when this unit was built. Couple of problems w/ using this on a carrier 1) not heavy enough to move an aircraft around. Tugs on the carrier are extremely heavy & are made of 1/2 & 3/4" plate steel.2). Fuel would be a problem. They only have JP (jet propulsion) fuel & high octane aircraft fuel available (115-145 AV gas) for the piston driven aircraft. 69 & 70 the navy was using a combination tug, GPU (ground power unit, for electricity), & a huffer (compressed air to start engines). All 3 units were in one vehicle & they ran on JP-5 which is nearly identical to kerosene & will burn just fine in a diesel engine. The turbine engine used as a huffer ran on JP also. I doubt that the little John Deere could be used for much of anything on a carrier deck. Too light to tow anything on a slick & pitching flight deck. On an NAS (Naval Air Station) they could have used it for a number of things. We had tugs that used a slant 6 for power, trailers that could be towed by a tug, a flat bed van like thing (feature an old 60s era Dodge van w/ everything cut off but the dash & 1 seat for the driver. Had a slant 6 & auto trans that was locked in 1st gear so that it wouldn't go very fast. The trailers & the flat bed van were used to haul wheel chocks, drop tanks, rocket launchers, MERs (multiple ejector racks, for hauling bombs), and an assortment of other items used on the flight line. The little JD could do that just fine. Seriously doubt that it saw any duty on a carrier but could have happened.
I was lucky enough a few years back to get one of John Deere's first lawn tractors the 110 series that came out in 1963 mine is number 37 off the line of 1001 made.
That's really nice tractor
When my father was in the navy in those days.. They would have a wheel horse, a deere, or any tractor that had hydraulics.. They had pintle hitches on all of them, so they could be locked in place in the belly of the ship so it would not slide around in rough seas, some having duals so they can't roll over. The hydraulics of these tractors were the main purpose they were on board a navy carrier.. If the deck elevator system went down or was bombed.. They could connect the garden tractor and hydraulic oil caddy tank to a secondary system and still raise and lower planes on the elevator. My dad also said they could sometimes have up to 4-5 of these little tractors on board as backups. End of war, many were shoved off the deck and no longer needed. Sometimes on a ship you could have a deere, a case, and several other brands onboard... Whatever was available.
Wow! Another fine video of a lawn tractor driving around. Don't waste our time with any technical stuff.
I bet this is a very rare and scarce JD Lawn And Garden piece...
Imagine just taking a diving trip and finding a 140 in the ocean
She sure is a beauty!
I bought a John Deere 430 with the 3 cylinder Yanmar Diesel about a year ago. I started restoring it right away and finding parts was a challenge, But I am at the end. It was missing the rear PTO and 3 point hitch. It is sitting on jack stands waiting for the wheels to get back from powder coat and new tires and then its done. I have the fever now, not sure what I started...
I caught mine with my John deer gn. It's not running yet but only 1500 we're made so it's worth it.
cool
I retired as a civilian after 35 years working for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. I have minimal knowledge of carrier ops, but as a professional engineer their use on a carrier to tow aircraft makes no sense whatsoever - they only have rear wheel brakes and not nearly enough weight to control a combat aircraft on a pitching carrier deck. I have seen them used at Navy and Marine Corps Reserve centers for lawn mowing and snow removal, however.
Years ago I watched the WW2 in color series, i saw a very interesting half front end loader(engine half) and front made of tubular steel vehicle designed to lift planes on a aircraft carrier. If there's any chance of catching a glimpse of one of these its on those archival films.
But, I don't believe I've ever seen then bottom deck on an old WW2 carrier in any of the clips that have been published, and I'm thinking that's where they'd be
Bello 👍
I also was on a carrier for 4 years and I can see no way that would work.
Dual wheels should make it pretty stable moving on a hill. Nice looking unit.
retired?? its just getting started. he did a full perfect resto on it. it should be good for 3 more generations at least. if taken car of. which it most likely will be considering how rare it is.
Doubt if the original seat looked like that modern JD yellow seat ?
That early-style cushion is correct for a 140, I doubt Deere would have produced a unique seat for Navy tractors.
nice
I have a JD 420 with a navy tag. I think 126 were made.
Carl Johnson is the 420 for sale?
My grandpa had a 420
@@jdgpwt32 I don't know!! Don't really want to, but I suppose I could be tempted.
@Carl Johnson. Where are you located?
@@jdgpwt32 Ohio
Can you tell me when I live in Oklahoma
Back when jd made a good product I'm jealous my D 110 only lasted 100 hours doing work
Probably couldn't buy a 140 from Lowes though... If you want a quality John Deere mower you got to buy an X300 at least
@@Ethan-ck6iz don't worry I got a 5400 for about a month now great decision
So it was an airplane tug onboard an aircraft carrier?
Most likely, that or moving missiles and other supplies for airplanes to get to quick maintenance for them
Im one of them
If you want you can sell it across the Atlantic Ocean but do you know what is sinks
Power kings better
With that pintle hitch and dual rear wheels, it probably was a tug of SOME type. Good looker.
It's not a tug. They had tugs for that, and that would be significantly over any JD tow rating. If this thing was pulling around anything cool like a fighter jet, this guy would be trying to brag about it! Boy our military would be sad if we could build multi million dollar jets but had to tow them with a sub thousand dollar "garden tractor". Even the USSR wasn't that pathetic.
jbj27406 actually it was indeed used as a tug.
@@corbinmurphy4708 You have no evidence what so ever to support that. Just because it has a pintle hitch does not mean it was ever a tug. The Americans invented fighter jets, and aircraft carriers, do you think they just said "let's pull all this multi million dollar stuff around with a lawnmower!". NO. They had purpose built tugs for this. Devices called "tugs", not "lawn tractors". It would be incredibly stupid to try and haul around a big plane with that, it is too light and could never provide sufficient braking. This is why a real tug is many thousands of pounds.
This owner obviously thinks he is an expert in this tractor even though he knows very little...if they were using this device to move around something cool like jets you can bet he would have been bragging about it!
@@ryanroberts1104 Nobody cares about your "Expert" opinions.
@@SchnelleKat My opinion is every bit as important, and a lot more correct than a lot of morons posting here. Nobody cares what you think, you aren't even a part of this discussion. If anybody can provide even the most remote evidence of these being used as a tug I would LOVE to see it. They were not. "It has a pintle hitch and it was on an aircraft carrier, so it must be a tug" is a stupid conclusion to make. Obviously many here don't understand what a tug needs to be capable of doing - things that a light weight garden tractor cannot possibly do.
I bet they never saw service....
I could see it used to pull a 3gang reel mower at Jack's navel base.
Power kings better and sicker
What the hell would they have needed that for on an aircraft carrier?! It's obviously not a tug...and I'm pretty sure they don't grow grass on the boat. If they just wanted a mule to ride around on there are also better choices. This guy seems to think he's an expert but actually has no idea what this was used for...
Ryan Roberts they actually were used as tugs. The 140s actually had quiet a bit of pulling power and would have done just fine pulling smaller aircrafts. The 140 isn’t just a mower it’s a true tractor.
@@corbinmurphy4708 It's a "garden tractor". It simply does not weigh enough to move aircraft safely. Small tugs were usually smaller but still full farm sized tractors with multi cylinder engines and extra weights, like Ford 9n size. Otherwise they had specially built small and larger size tugs. Again they are meant to be very, very heavy with strong brakes. They have to be the brakes for the aircraft and they have to hold it if there is a gust of wind. A 140 can't do that with any military plane unless they keep little Cessnas on the aircraft carrier. It's simple weight and physics, the 140 is too small, and too cheap. They didn't buy "garden tractors" with an extra wheel bolted on when they could afford a fleet of custom built vehicles for the task...which the ship was equipped with.