John Deere 1520
Built: 1968–1973 · Series: 20
More machines from model year 1968
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John Deere 1520 to 7020 – the second generation of New Generation tractors from Waterloo, Iowa: 1520 and 2520 as three-cylinders, 4520 and 5020 as big six-cylinders, 7020 as the first four-wheel drive, 36 to 104 kW
With the 20 series, John Deere replaced the first New Generation range (1010 to 4010) in the mid-1960s and carried the modular principle forward: Deere's own diesel engines, staggered by cylinder count, built in the same Waterloo, Iowa plant. The model number grew with the engine size – the 1520 was the small three-cylinder for part-time farms, the 2520 its larger version, the 4520 the turbocharged six-cylinder for arable farms, the 5020 the range's strongest conventional two-axle tractor. With the 7020, Deere brought its first articulated four-wheel-drive tractor to market in 1971, topping off the 20 series and opening the way to the later 30 and 40 series.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 5 versions with engines of 2,690 to 8,701 cm³, 3 to 6 cylinders, outputs of 36 to 104 kW and operating weights of 2,086 to 7,800 kg at 2,200 to 2,500 rpm, mostly diesel, with one model also offered with a petrol engine.
The 20 series marks Deere's transition from the pure two-axle tractor to the articulated big tractor and remains, to this day, the reference for the sturdy first generation of the company's own six-cylinder diesels.
On used tractors, oil consumption and engine compression, the condition of hydraulic pump and PTO, rust on wings and sheet metal, and on the 7020 play in the articulation joint count; engine parts are well supplied through Deere's own dealer network.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere 20-Baureihe, John Deere (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 49 hp (36 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | 2,690 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Wheelbase | 1,870 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Unladen weight | 2,086 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8V/4Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 8correct |
| Reverse gears | 4correct |
| Top speed | 26 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 17.3 kW/t (36 kW / 2.1 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 33% 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 1520 have?
The John Deere 1520 delivers 49 hp.
How much does the John Deere 1520 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,086 kg.
What engine does the John Deere 1520 have?
3 cylinders, 2,690 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the John Deere 1520 go?
Top speed is 26 km/h.
When was the John Deere 1520 built?
Production years: 1968–1973.
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.
- 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 16 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 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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