Nothing runs like a Deere

Sherardp

Finally on my last stretch of my business trip in the USA. I picked up a huge government contract working with Deere and the US gov. So I spent the last three weeks working, operating, and learning everything Deere. Amazing facilities, the assembly line of these huge machines are world class. I got to work on the line and spent countless hours in sandpits digging, loading, etc to become a qualified tech/operator. Awesome trip, and I wanted to share some of the heavy machines I got to play with. Some pics I cant post due to security purposes. Enjoy..............On my way back to Japan as I post.

Polkitup2

Deere has a huge plant in Bloomington, MN where I grew up. When I was a kid the area was just being built up and we would climb around in the neighboring buildings.

audiobliss

That's awesome! Good to hear their plants are as nice as I'd want them to be.

There's a Deere/Hitachi plant in my hometown.

Conradicles

There is a nice Deer in my Garage:) Made in the USA...with pride.

I-SIG

Bobcat and Caterpillar having proving grounds in my neck of he woods. I'm sure Deere has one in the area too.

Wes

Sherardp

Yeah the plants are huge. One of them alone was 1.5 miles long and took up 93 acres. I was amazed at the parts distribution plant as well which was 53 acres. We're talking massive machines. When I return back to Japan, I'll share some of my Boom lift, telehandlers, scissors pics. I actually work for JLG industries, imagine being to operate a 125 feet boom lift at that height, awesome. Im sure allot of you guys have seen machines from both companies. Just awesome gear.

Systems

You should hop on one of their combines, now thats a machine....

MikeC78

Are those pics taken in Davenport, IA? Just curious, the area looks familiar...

nadams

I just wish they still made their consumer lawn/garden tractors like they used to. Of course, it's all in the name of being competitive when you're already one of the pricier machines on the market, but the all-plastic body makes me cringe. My dad has an LX-176 that's been running for about 12 years now, and has mowed a LOT of grass and pulled loads way heavier than the tractor was intended for.

The engine's getting a little tired, and the hood is shot because it's all plastic. But the main fenders, for all their dents, scrapes, and abuse, are still holding up. Put one of the newer "Sabre" tractors through what this thing goes through... I don't think it'd last 2 years, much less 12.

She still cleans up nice after 12 years and many thousands of hours (wish we'd installed an hour meter)



Original air-cooled 14 horse single-cylinder engine... Kawisaki made, I believe. Hydrostatic drive has never had a single thing done to it... It blew out the muffler a few months ago with a backfire, which my dad replaced. Still has the original tires on it, too

audiobliss

Ditto on that one, nadams. I forgot the model number, but we had an older John Deere riding mower for FOREVER that was a bit larger than yours. Right about the same age, too, and it was built very well, held up very well, almost looked new, and never gave any real troubles.

We replaced it about two years ago with a comparable new John Deere riding mower, and though it's nice and works very well, it doesn't have nearly the same feel to it.

Sherardp

Yeah the area is in Davenport/Moline/Dubuque