1/8 - Scale Model D Actually Runs!
Jerry Kieffer's mini Model D Deere is no kid's toy. It's a working model that runs in forward and reverse at engine speeds between 600 and 800 rpm's and will rev as high as 2,000 rpm's. Kieffer did have to reduce the compression ratio from the normal 6 or 7:1 to 4:1. However, that is one of only two variations from exact duplication of his grandfather's Model D that Kieffer restored earlier.
"My grandfather bought the Model D new in 1936," says Kieffer. "I bought it from a neighbor's estate after he died, and I restored it. Then I decided to make a nice model of it."
Originally Kieffer had thought to make a model of everything that was on the farm where he grew up. If he did it all to the accuracy of the Model D, it might take several lifetimes. The 1997 winner of the Craftsmanship Museum Metalworking Craftsman of the Year award is a perfectionist.
"The tractor is scaled to 1/8 and everything functions, down to the check valve and the grease fittings," says Kieffer, who built a grease gun about the size of a quarter to grease the tractor. "The only thing out of scale is the spark plug, and it's only a little bigger. Electricity doesn't run to scale."
He machined the Model D with a bench top lathe and mill from Sherline Products, and assembled it with miniature tools he built for the job. He makes his own taps and dies to make micro nuts and bolts. When he started building models in the 1970's, finding less than full-size and full-cost metalworking tools was a problem.
"Until Sherline tools came along in the mid 70's, there wasn't a lot to pick from," says Kieffer. "I still can't find anything to outperform them for the type of work I like to do."
That work includes a 1/30-scale Corliss steam engine model with bolts that are 0.009-in. in diameter. Currently he is working on a 1/8-scale running model of a 1947 Harley Davidson "knucklehead" motorcycle.
On the Model D, even the 0.200-in. dia. glass fuel bowl is authentic. Kieffer machined, drilled, ground and polished it from solid glass, though it took him 7 tries over three weeks. He even made a Butternut coffee can to scale to put over the exhaust pipe, as his grandfather used.
Kieffer is neither an engineer nor a machinist by training. However, he grew up fixing equipment on the family farm. He also worked on computers in the Navy. Hobbies have included watch repair, clock making, gun repair and model engine construction. All his skills are self-taught through trial and error. There were no schools for micro-machinists, other than watch and clockmaker training, when he started working on projects. That's no longer true.
"I teach a weekend course four or five times a year at the School of Horology, Colombia, Penn.," says Kieffer. "It's sponsored by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, but the courses are open to everyone."
Kieffer encourages anyone interested in micro metalwork or similar detailed crafts to experiment. He believes craftsmanship is a matter of natural skill, equipment and experience or technique.
"You need to find the equipment and technique that you can master with your skills," says Kieffer. "What you'll accomplish is based 75 to 80 percent on equipment and technique."
Kieffer is meticulous with his technique and tries to be as close to perfect as he can in the models he makes. That's one reason he makes the things he does.
"The only way I can afford to have the best of a thing is to make it," he says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jerry Kieffer, 305 N. Cleveland Ave., De Forest, Wis. 53532 (ph 608 846-5243; jlkieffer@charter.net; www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/kieffer3.htm).
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1/8 - Scale Model D Actually Runs! AG WORLD Ag World Jerry Kieffer s mini Model D Deere is no kid s toy It s a working model that runs in forward and reverse at engine speeds between 600 and 800 rpm s and will rev as high as 2 000 rpm s Kieffer did have to reduce the compression ratio from the normal 6 or 7:1 to 4:1 However that is one of only two variations from exact duplication of his grandfather s Model D that Kieffer restored earlier My grandfather bought the Model D new in 1936 says Kieffer I bought it from a neighbor s estate after he died and I restored it Then I decided to make a nice model of it Originally Kieffer had thought to make a model of everything that was on the farm where he grew up If he did it all to the accuracy of the Model D it might take several lifetimes The 1997 winner of the Craftsmanship Museum Metalworking Craftsman of the Year award is a perfectionist The tractor is scaled to 1/8 and everything functions down to the check valve and the grease fittings says Kieffer who built a grease gun about the size of a quarter to grease the tractor The only thing out of scale is the spark plug and it s only a little bigger Electricity doesn t run to scale He machined the Model D with a bench top lathe and mill from Sherline Products and assembled it with miniature tools he built for the job He makes his own taps and dies to make micro nuts and bolts When he started building models in the 1970 s finding less than full-size and full-cost metalworking tools was a problem Until Sherline tools came along in the mid 70 s there wasn t a lot to pick from says Kieffer I still can t find anything to outperform them for the type of work I like to do That work includes a 1/30-scale Corliss steam engine model with bolts that are 0 009-in in diameter Currently he is working on a 1/8-scale running model of a 1947 Harley Davidson knucklehead motorcycle On the Model D even the 0 200-in dia glass fuel bowl is authentic Kieffer machined drilled ground and polished it from solid glass though it took him 7 tries over three weeks He even made a Butternut coffee can to scale to put over the exhaust pipe as his grandfather used Kieffer is neither an engineer nor a machinist by training However he grew up fixing equipment on the family farm He also worked on computers in the Navy Hobbies have included watch repair clock making gun repair and model engine construction All his skills are self-taught through trial and error There were no schools for micro-machinists other than watch and clockmaker training when he started working on projects That s no longer true I teach a weekend course four or five times a year at the School of Horology Colombia Penn says Kieffer It s sponsored by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors but the courses are open to everyone Kieffer encourages anyone interested in micro metalwork or similar detailed crafts to experiment He believes craftsmanship is a matter of natural skill equipment and experience or technique You need to find the equipment and technique that you can master with your skills says Kieffer What you ll accomplish is based 75 to 80 percent on equipment and technique Kieffer is meticulous with his technique and tries to be as close to perfect as he can in the models he makes That s one reason he makes the things he does The only way I can afford to have the best of a thing is to make it he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jerry Kieffer 305 N Cleveland Ave De Forest Wis 53532 ph 608 846-5243; jlkieffer@charter net; www craftsmanshipmuseum com/kieffer3 htm
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