John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA
Built: 1914 · Series: WATERLOO BOY
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
John Deere Waterloo Boy – forerunner of the company's own tractor range: two-cylinders from Waterloo, Iowa, 1914 to 1924, here with the L/LA, N and R, 11.2 to 18.6 kW, kerosene operation throughout
From 1914 the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company built the Waterloo Boy in Waterloo, Iowa, one of the first series-produced farm tractors with a horizontal two-cylinder engine; in 1918 John Deere took over the company and continued the range under its own name until 1924, when the newly developed Model D replaced it. The early Model L/LA still had a single gear, the following and most numerous Model N introduced a two-speed gearbox, and the Model R was the last version sold under the Waterloo Boy name after Deere's takeover.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 3 versions with 11.2 to 18.6 kW output at a uniform 750 rpm, from horizontal two-cylinders of 5,451 to 7,613 cm³. Unladen weights range from 1,361 to 2,812 kg, lengths from 3,353 to 3,607 mm, with a uniform width of 1,829 mm and height of 1,600 mm; all three models ran on kerosene.
The Waterloo Boy was the first tractor to pass Nebraska's official tractor test in 1920, laying the technical groundwork for John Deere's later rise to the world's largest farm-equipment maker; its simple, rugged two-cylinder became the model for the following Letters series.
On a used purchase, the condition of cylinder liners, crankshaft and water pump counts, the operation of the kerosene carburettor with its cold-start preheating, the gears and bearings of the one- or two-speed gearbox, and rust on the radiator and sheet metal; parts now run mainly through vintage-tractor specialists and collector clubs for early Deere tractors.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere Waterloo Boy, John Deere (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Kerosincorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 15.2 hp (11.2 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 750 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 5,451 cm³correct |
| Bore | 139.7 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 177.8 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 3.91correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,607 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,829 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,600 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,361 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 1 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 1correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 28" x 6"correct |
| Rear tyres | 52" x 10"correct |
| Top speed | 4 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 9 (LA: 20)correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 8.2 kW/t (11 kW / 1.4 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 4% 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 Waterloo Boy L/LA have?
The John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA delivers 15.2 hp.
How much does the John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,361 kg.
What engine does the John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA have?
2 cylinders, 5,451 cm³ displacement, Kerosin.
What are the dimensions of the John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA?
3,607 mm × 1,829 mm × 1,600 mm.
When was the John Deere Waterloo Boy L/LA built?
Production years: 1914.
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.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 24 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.