John Deere 515
Built: 1966–1969 · Series: 10
More machines from model year 1966
John Deere 10 (New Generation of Power, 1960-1965) - the break with the two-cylinder: 1010 to 5010, three- to six-cylinder engines, 27 to 160 kW, the 8010 as John Deere's first four-wheel-drive tractor
With the New Generation of Power, John Deere in 1960 began moving away from decades of two-cylinder design: the new 1010 to 5010 series received modern multi-cylinder overhead-valve engines, developed in secrecy to defend market leadership against International Harvester and Ford. The type logic orders the power class in the tens digit, rising from the smallest, the 1010, to the largest standard tractor of the first generation, the 5010; the 8010 was John Deere's first articulated four-wheel-drive tractor, built in small numbers in 1959/60 before the revised 8020 followed.
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The register lists 6 versions with 27 to 160 kW from three- to six-cylinder engines of 2,367 to 8,701 cm³, kerb weights of 1,680 to 8,935 kg, lift capacities of 1,300 to 1,800 kg, lengths of 2,200 to 5,970 mm, widths of 1,580 to 2,430 mm, heights of 2,245 to 2,500 mm and torque of 136 to 459 Nm at around 2,500 rpm; most models run on diesel, one optionally on petrol.
The New Generation series made John Deere the technologically leading US tractor maker of the 1960s and laid the foundation for every generation since, through to today's model range. On launch, the 5010 was one of the first series-production tractors with more than 100 horsepower, aimed at the large arable farms of the prairies.
On a used example of these direct-injection diesels, check the injection pump and turbocharger (on the larger models), the Syncro-Range or Power-Shift transmission, the hydraulic pump and cylinders, and on the 8010/8020 also the articulation joint and four-wheel steering; parts for engine and driveline are well supplied through John Deere and the independent market.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere 10
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 40 hp (29 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,400 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 137 Nmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,490 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,400 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,580 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,245 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,072 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 445 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,130 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 10/3-manual gearbox gearboxcorrect |
| Forward gears | 10correct |
| Reverse gears | 3correct |
| Front tyres | 6.5 R16correct |
| Rear tyres | 12.4 R32correct |
| Top speed | 25 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Lifting capacity | 1,300 kgcorrect |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank capacity | 70 lcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Other data
| PTO speed | 540/1000 rpmcorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 13.6 kW/t (29 kW / 2.1 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 24% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the John Deere 515 have?
The John Deere 515 delivers 40 hp.
How much does the John Deere 515 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,130 kg.
What engine does the John Deere 515 have?
3 cylinders, 2,490 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the John Deere 515 go?
Top speed is 25 km/h.
How much does the rear linkage of the John Deere 515 lift?
The rear linkage lifts 1,300 kg.
What are the dimensions of the John Deere 515?
3,400 mm × 1,580 mm × 2,245 mm.
When was the John Deere 515 built?
Production years: 1966–1969.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 25 individual figures for this model. They come from 3 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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