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John Deere 720

The John Deere 720 is a tractor produced by John Deere. It is equipped with a 376 ci 6.2 L engine. Transmission: 6 forward and 1 reverse. Operating weight: 6790 lbs 3079 kg.

Fuel & Capacities
Diesel
Transmission
6 forward and 1 reverse
Operating Weight
6790 lbs 3079 kg

Overview

John Deere 720 tractor photo
1956 - 1958 Two-Cylinder 20 SeriesRow-Crop tractor Two-Cylinder 20 Series Row-Crop tractor
Production
Manufacturer
John Deere
Row-Crop tractor
Built in Waterloo, Iowa, USA
Total built
22,925 (total row-crop)
13,930 (diesel)
4,917 (gasoline)
3,670 (LP-gas)
408 (all-fuel)
Original price was $3,700 in 1958
The John Deere model 720 was available in row-crop, standard, or high-crop versions.
Variants
720
row-crop chassis
720S
standard-tread
720HC
high-crop
John Deere 720 Transmission
6-speed unsynchronized gear
Transmission details ...
John Deere 720 Power
Drawbar (claimed)
53 hp 39.5 kW
PTO (claimed)
59 hp 44.0 kW
Belt (claimed)
50.67 hp 37.8 kW
Drawbar (tested)
53.41 hp 39.8 kW
Belt (tested)
57.77 hp 43.1 kW
Performance test details ...
Mechanical
Two-wheel drive
Steering
manual
power OptOptional
Differential mechanical expanding shoe brakes
Open operator station.
Hydraulics
Type
open center
Valves
1
Tractor hitch
Rear Type
II
Power Take-off (PTO)
Rear PTO
live
Rear PTO Type
540 (1.375)
Dimensions & Tires
Wheelbase
93.7 inches 237 cm
Weight
6790 lbs 3079 kg
Front tire
6.00-16
Rear tire
12-38
Full dimensions and tires ...
Electrical
Ground
positive *Positive ground for the 6V and 12V systems.
floating *The 24V electric-start diesel is not chassis grounded, with both sides of the battery system connected to the starter. The lights and gauges are split on two 12V systems.
Charging system
generator
Batteries
1 (diesel pony)
2 (gas/LP)
4 (diesel electric)
Battery volts
6
References
720 references literature
The John Deere 20 series Two Cylinder Tractors by Benjamin Hain
Tractors 1918-1976 published by John Deere*
The 1957 John Deere Tractors are here!
Facts about horsepower and fuel economy published in 1957, by John Deere
*Publication contains known errors.
720 manuals literature
Operator's Manual 720 (OM-R2055) published in 1956
Operator's Manual 720 Diesel (OM-R2057) published in 1956
Operator's Manual 720 (OM-R2082) published in 1957

Engine

Engine options
John Deere 5.9L 2-cyl gasoline
John Deere 5.9L 2-cyl all-fuel
John Deere 5.9L 2-cyl LP gas
John Deere 6.2L 2-cyl diesel

Engine Detail — 360.5 ci / 5.9 L Gasoline

Manufacturer
John Deere
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Configuration
2-cylinder 4-valve, liquid-cooled
Displacement
360.5 ci 5.9 L
Bore/Stroke
6.00x6.375 inches 152 x 162 mm
Air cleaner
oil bath
Compression
6.14:1
Rated RPM
1125
Firing order
1-2
Starter type
electric
Oil capacity
12 qts (early) 11.4 L
10 qts (late)*Lower capacity specified beginning at tractor SN 7214900. 9.5 L
Coolant capacity
29 qts 27.4 L

Engine Detail — 360.5 ci / 5.9 L

Manufacturer
John Deere
Configuration
2-cylinder 4-valve, liquid-cooled
all-fuel
Displacement
360.5 ci 5.9 L
Bore/Stroke
6.00x6.375 inches 152 x 162 mm
Air cleaner
oil bath
Compression
4.91:1
Rated RPM
1125
Firing order
1-2
Starter type
electric
Oil capacity
12 qts (early) 11.4 L
10 qts (late)*Lower capacity specified beginning at tractor SN 7214900. 9.5 L

Engine Detail — 360.5 ci / 5.9 L LP Gas

Manufacturer
John Deere
Fuel Type
LP gas
Configuration
2-cylinder 4-valve, liquid-cooled
Displacement
360.5 ci 5.9 L
Bore/Stroke
6.00x6.375 inches 152 x 162 mm
Air cleaner
oil bath
Compression
7.94:1
Rated RPM
1125
Firing order
1-2
Starter
electric
Starter volts
12

Engine Detail — 376 ci / 6.2 L Diesel

Manufacturer
John Deere
Fuel Type
Diesel
Configuration
2-cylinder 4-valve, liquid-cooled
Displacement
376 ci 6.2 L
Bore/Stroke
6.125x6.375 inches 156 x 162 mm
Compression
16:1
Rated RPM
1125
Firing order
1-2
Starter
pony motor *Four-cylinder 6V electric-start gasoline pony power used to warm and start the diesel engine.
electric *Electric start became available as an option on the 720 Diesel in 1958.
Starter volts
6 (diesel pony)
24 (diesel electric)
Oil capacity
11 qts (diesel) 10.4 L
1 qts (pony) 0.9 L

Transmission

Transmission — 6 forward and 1 reverse unsynchronized gear

Manufacturer
John Deere
Type
unsynchronized gear
Gears
6 forward and 1 reverse
Clutch
dry
Oil capacity
30 qts 28.4 L
Oil type
0oF [-17oC]↑ : SAE 90 0oF [-17oC]↓ : SAE 80
0oF [-17oC]↑
: SAE 90
0oF [-17oC]↓
: SAE 80
0oF [-17oC]↑
: SAE 90
0oF [-17oC]↓
: SAE 80
0oF [-17oC]↑
: SAE 90
0oF [-17oC]↓
: SAE 80
With 13.6-38 rear tires.
720 unsynchronized gear speeds
720 Transmission Controls
John Deere 720 transmission controls
1
gear shift
2
pony motor clutch
3
decompression
4
diesel throttle
5
clutch
6
pony motor throttle

Dimensions

John Deere 720 Tires
Ag front
6.00-16
Ag rear
12-38
Dimensions
Wheelbase
93.7 inches 237 cm
Length
135.25 inches 343 cm
Width
86.625 inches 220 cm
Height
88.25 inches 224 cm
Weight
6790 lbs 3079 kg

Tests

Tractor Tests
NTTL 593: LP gas 6-speed 2WD
NTTL 594: diesel 6-speed 2WD
NTTL 605: gasoline 6-speed 2WD
NTTL 606: tractor fuel 6-speed 2WD
Nebraska Tractor Test 593
LP gas 6-speed 2WD September 17 - 19, 1956 Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 593 file
Belt power (max)
57.33 hp 42.8 kW
Belt fuel use (max)
6.3 gal/hour 23.8 l/hour
Drawbar performance
Max power
52.38 hp 39.1 kW
Gear 4 used for power test.
Max pull
6,697 lbs 3037 kg
Gear 1 used for pull test.
Nebraska Tractor Test 594
Diesel 6-speed 2WD September 18 - 22, 1956 Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 594 file
Belt power (max)
56.66 hp 42.3 kW
Belt fuel use (max)
3.2 gal/hour 12.1 l/hour
Drawbar performance
Max power
51.83 hp 38.6 kW
Gear 4 used for power test.
Max pull
6,547 lbs 2969 kg
Gear 1 used for pull test.
Nebraska Tractor Test 605
Gasoline 6-speed 2WD November 6 - 12, 1956 Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 605 file
Belt power (max)
57.77 hp 43.1 kW
Belt fuel use (max)
5.2 gal/hour 19.7 l/hour
Drawbar performance
Max power
53.41 hp 39.8 kW
Gear 4 used for power test.
Max pull
6,647 lbs 3015 kg
Gear 1 used for pull test.
Nebraska Tractor Test 606
Tractor fuel 6-speed 2WD November 12 - 19, 1956 Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 606 file
Belt power (max)
44.13 hp 32.9 kW
Belt fuel use (max)
4.4 gal/hour 16.7 l/hour
Drawbar performance
Max power
40.78 hp 30.4 kW
Gear 4 used for power test.
Max pull
6,608 lbs 2997 kg
Gear 1 used for pull test.

Fluids, Capacities & Working Autonomy

Standard fluid requirements, service intervals, and continuous runtime estimates for John Deere 720.

Engine Crankcase Oil

SAE 15W-40 (Heavy Duty Diesel)
Standard Spec: API CK-4 / CJ-4 Heavy Duty
Service Interval: 150 – 250 Hours

Transmission & Hydraulic System

UTTO (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil)
Standard Spec: ISO VG 46 / 68 (Wet Brake & Trans Compatible)
Service Interval: 600 – 1000 Hours

Engine Cooling System

50/50 Ethylene Glycol Pre-mix
Standard Spec: ASTM D6210 / Heavy-Duty OAT Antifreeze
Service Interval: 2 Years / 1500 Hours

John Deere 720 Specification Unit Converter

Convert power, fluid capacities, and operating weights between metric and imperial standards for John Deere 720.

Converted Equivalents:

Horsepower (HP)0 hp
Kilowatts (kW)0 kW
Metric Horsepower (PS / CV)0 PS

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