John Deere oil field engines
Oil Field Engine News
October 2004
By Russell Farmer
 |
Yes, that's a blue-and-purple John Deere engine, based off a Model D tractor and built for the Pure Oil Co. of Noble, Ill.
|
My opinion has always been that the term “oil field engine” defines an engine that worked in the oil fields. This means any engine type, regardless of size or make, could be an oil field engine. The engine manufacturers that catered to the oil field industry are found almost exclusively in that setting. But one such manufacturer’s products are normally not associated with the oil field — John Deere. The venerable farm equipment company famous for the world’s first steel plow, tractors, and many other farm equipment products did indeed sell oil field engines, although in a limited capacity.
RELATED CONTENT
John Deere built at least 118 oil field engines for the Pure Oil Co. of Noble, Ill., but they weren’t painted in John Deere’s famous green and yellow: They were painted in Pure Oil Co.’s trademark blue, orange and white colors. Apparently, it was common for a customer to request special paint colors. The late Harry Homer once told me that Reid engines, which had green-and-white paint on them, were ordered by the Quaker State Oil Co., and other variations also existed. I’m certain that the supplying company was more than happy to oblige any color preferences when a large number of engines was ordered.
The oil field man’s John Deere engine of choice was the Model W. Basically a stationary version of the Model D tractor engine mounted on a steel skid, the whole package weighed 2,200 pounds and could be moved with a team of horses or a tractor. The Model W produced approximately 40 HP at 900 rpm, and also included an extra-heavy, 270-pound flywheel, a three-plate clutch, a pulley hub that would accept a larger pulley attached over the end and also a place to bolt a driveshaft to the hub if desired. The fuel system was set up to burn well-head gas, as was commonly utilized in the oil fields.