D2 5J Sidetank model ?

[gauntjoh]

Hi, Does anyone know if a D2 5J model is or has been made by anyone. I have a fellow club member who is very keen to have such a model.
Thanks.

[Chapter 3]

We could certainly look at producing one to go with the line of D2/R2 models we already have made.

[gauntjoh]

Thanks for the prompt reply Jim.
The request is from a fellow club member who lives in the next village to me and already has the full set of ACMOC D2 models, but would really like a sidetank model. Would it be a major (= expensive) change to the tooling produce such a model ?
Far and away the vast majority of D2s in the UK are sidetank models.
John.

[drujinin]

I'd be interested also but it HAS to be a D2-5J side tank model, not a U series!

[ag-mike]

why are there no d4 j's or u's??? they were the most popular and best selling tractors, weren't they?

[gauntjoh]

why are there no d4 j's or u's??? they were the most popular and best selling tractors, weren't they?

From my database of tractors preserved by (ex) Chapter 2 members in the UK which is far from complete, we have:

D2 3J/5J: 71 machines
D2 4U/5U: 21 machines
D2 Unknown: 15 machines
D2 total: 107

D4 RD4 4G/6G: 6 machines
D4 7J/2T/3T/5T: 42 machines
D4 6U/7U: 26 machines
D4 Unknown: 7 machines
D4 Total: 81 machines

Many of the D2 and D4 (non-U models) would have come to the UK under the 'Lease/Lend' scheme, (for which we in the UK are eternally grateful to our American friends who helped us in our hour of greatest need !).
After WW2, the UK was more or less bankrupt due to the cost of the war effort and the cost of imported post WW2 'U' series tractors was prohibitive and limited imports.
Therefore the non- U series tractors are more common.
The D2 3J/5J tractors have a very special place for many collectors in the UK as they helped us 'win the war on the land'. Many are still in use on farms today.
Incidentally as most of the 'able bodied men were away fighting, many of these tractors would have been driven by the "Women's land Army".
My own D2 (5J2720SP) is still used occasionally for rolling barley in the spring.

[cojhl2]

John's intake manifold does not seem to have the starter motor exhaust going thru it. Also the pic seems to show the exhaust coming out under the hood just in front of the starter motor.

My ser is quite close to John's 5j but i have the exhaust coming out thru the diesel intake.

Why is this different? Was there an engineering change/

[Roland]

John's intake manifold does not seem to have the starter motor exhaust going thru it. Also the pic seems to show the exhaust coming out under the hood just in front of the starter motor.

My ser is quite close to John's 5j but i have the exhaust coming out thru the diesel intake.

Why is this different? Was there an engineering change/

Yes there was a change.. first ones had the exhaust straight out, the fan had
more tapered blades, rad grill different shape,mushroom shape pre cleaner
stearing levers futher apart and some other changes around 1940...

[Chapter 3]

Thanks for the prompt reply Jim.
The request is from a fellow club member who lives in the next village to me and already has the full set of ACMOC D2 models, but would really like a sidetank model. Would it be a major (= expensive) change to the tooling produce such a model ?
Far and away the vast majority of D2s in the UK are sidetank models.
John.

The tooling for this D2 would be a little more expensive than the last several in the D2 series, but the final amount should allow for a reasonable retail price. The D2 models have been very popular, with the exception of the Orchard model.

The R2 has been selling a little slower than some of the previous models as well. I think the poor economy along with the price being a little higher than previous models have both contributed to that result. Price is not the only issue, however. The orchard model has been reduced to $40 US and we still have a few in stock.

[MARTYN WILLIAMS]

Hello John
Yes it woud be great to have a fender tank model D2.
Always liked the D2 crawlers,had mine 15 years now.As you know got the full history of this machine including the bill of sale in August 1938.
Picture show the son of the original owner on my D2 he travelled hundreds of miles to be reunited with his old workhorse.
I started it up for him,he recorded everything on his tape recorder,he also shed a tear as the machine brought back many happy memories for him.
I would have thought you would have liked a 983 model John.
Photo shows John on Russ Saywells 983 at one of the many interesting events held in the UK.
Martyn