John Deere 3255 Specs ( 1991-1993 )
Overview
The John Deere 3255 is a utility farm tractor produced in Mannheim, Germany, from 1991 to 1993. It is equipped with a 5.9L six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine and a TSS High-Low 16-speed two-speed power shift transmission. Performance testing confirmed a maximum PTO output of 104.5 hp and a rear hitch lift capacity of 6,960 lbs.
Ideal Applications
Nebraska Test Performance:
In professional testing, the tractor demonstrated a maximum pull of 16,905 lbs and reached a maximum PTO power of 104.5 hp at 2400 rated RPM.
Transmission and Drive Configuration:
The mechanical layout includes a four-wheel drive system and a power shift transmission offering 16 forward and 8 reverse gears with inboard planetary final drives.
Hydraulic and Hitch Specifications:
This model features a closed-center hydraulic system with a 22 gpm pump flow supporting a Type II rear hitch with lower-link draft sensing.
Production
| Description | Utility tractor / Built in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | John Deere |
| Original price | $50,000 |
Engine
| Engine type | John Deere 5.9L 6-cyl diesel |
|---|---|
| Bore/Stroke | 4.19x4.33 inches (106 x 110 mm) |
| Cab Coolant capacity | 20 qts (18.9 L) |
| Compression | 17.8:1 |
| Description | John Deere 6359 TL / turbocharged diesel / 6-cylinder / liquid-cooled inline |
| Displacement | 359 ci (5.9 L) |
| Exhaust valve clearance | 0.018 inches (0.457 mm) |
| Firing order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Idle RPM | 800-2550 |
| Intake valve clearance | 0.014 inches (0.356 mm) |
| Operating RPM | 1500-2400 |
| Rated RPM | 2400 |
| ROPS Coolant capacity | 18 qts (17.0 L) |
| Starter volts | 12 |
| Torque | 317 lb-ft (429.9 Nm) |
| Torque RPM | 1500 |
| Drawbar (tested) | 89.2 hp (66.5 kW) |
| PTO (claimed) | 100 hp (74.6 kW) |
| PTO (tested) | 104.5 hp (77.9 kW) |
Transmission
| Description | Four gears in two ranges, plus reverse range, with two-speed power shift. |
|---|---|
| Gears | 16 forward and 8 reverse |
| Transmission | TSS High-Low |
| Transmission type | 16-speed two-speed power shift |
| Type | two-speed power shift |
Mechanical
| Description | Power steering / Hydraulic wet disc brakes / Four-post ROPS. Sound-Gard body and cab optional. |
|---|---|
| Differential lock | rear lock standard, limited-slip front differential |
| Drive type | Four-wheel drive |
| Final drives | inboard planetary |
Capacity
| Fuel | 44.9 gal (169.9 L) |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic system | 13.2 gal (50.0 L) |
Hydraulics
| Capacity | 13.2 gal (50.0 L) |
|---|---|
| Pump flow | 22 gpm (83.3 lpm) |
| Type | closed center |
| Valves | 2 or 3 |
Hitch
| Control | lower-link draft sensing |
|---|---|
| Rear lift (at 24"/610mm) | 6960 lbs (3157 kg) |
| Rear Type | II |
PTO
| Engine RPM | 540@2400 |
|---|---|
| Rear PTO | independent |
| Rear PTO Type | 540/1000 (1.375) |
Electrical
| Batteries | 2 |
|---|---|
| Battery volts | 12 |
| Charging amps | 85 |
| Charging system | alternator |
| Ground | negative |
Dimensions & Tires
| Clearance (front axle) | 21 inches (53 cm) |
|---|---|
| Description | Flange rear axle / Rack-and-pinion rear axle |
| Front tread | 59.8 to 83.3 inches (151 to 211 cm) |
| Rear tread | 62.6 to 95 inches (159 to 241 cm) |
| Wheelbase | 101.7 inches (258 cm) |
| Front tire | 13.6-28 |
| Rear tire | 18.4-38 |
| Weight | 10222 to 11895 pounds |
| Wheelbase | 101.7 inches (258 cm) |
| Standard tires (ag) | Front: 13.6-28. Rear: 18.4-38 |
3255 Serial Numbers
| 1991 | 717916 |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 736726 |
| 1993 | 768895 |
| Description | FAQ: How to read a serial number table. |
| Location: | Serial number plate on the right side of the tractor's frame, above the front axle. |
John Deere 3255 Weight
| Cab Shipping | 10586 lbs (4801 kg) |
|---|---|
| Max Drawbar | 2695 lbs (standard) (1222 kg) |
| Operating | 11895 lbs (5395 kg) |
| ROPS Shipping | 10222 lbs (4636 kg) |
Nebraska Tractor Test 101
| Description | Diesel 16-speed 4WDOctober 1991 - 1991, Link: Nebraska Tractor Test 101 file / PTO performance / Drawbar performance / Gear 7 used for power test. / Gear 2 used for pull test. |
|---|---|
| Fuel use | 6.0 gal/hour (22.7 l/hour) / 6.1 gal/hour (23.1 l/hour) / 6.6 gal/hour (25.0 l/hour) |
| Max power | 104.5 hp (77.9 kW) / 89.2 hp (66.5 kW) |
| Max pull | 16905 lbs (7668 kg) |
| Power at rated engine speed | 102.6 hp (76.5 kW) |
References
| Description | Powerful Pickups published in 1990, by John Deere / Task Masters published in 1991, by John Deere / 40 to 100 HP Tractors Product Information Handbook published in 1991, by John Deere |
|---|
Speeds
| Description | With 18.4-38 rear tires. |
|---|
Nebraska Tractor Test Results
Test #OECD 1346 / Nebraska Summary 101
Test Date:
May to October, 1991
Location:
DLG Testing Station for Agricultural Machinery, Max-Eyth-Weg 1 D-6114 Grosz-Umstadt, Germany
This section is compiled from original Nebraska Tractor Test PDFs using AI-assisted extraction and human review. For full verification, download the source PDF above. Differences between reports, incomplete source data, and occasional extraction or data entry mistakes can occur.
Maximum Power & Fuel Consumption
Rated Engine Speed
102.60 hp
0.41 lb/hp·hr
Torque Statistics
| Maximum Torque | 305 lb-ft (413 Nm) @ 1402 RPM |
|---|---|
| Torque Rise | 35.9% |
PTO Power Curve
Varying Power & Fuel Consumption
Click column headers to sort
| Power | RPM | gal/hr | lb/hp·hr | hp·hr/gal | DEF gal/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102.60 | 2400 | 6.09 | 0.41 | 16.85 | N/A |
| 89.70 | 2470 | 5.59 | 0.43 | 16.04 | N/A |
| 68.00 | 2497 | 4.68 | 0.47 | 14.52 | N/A |
| 45.70 | 2517 | 3.77 | 0.57 | 12.13 | N/A |
| 23.10 | 2540 | 2.84 | 0.85 | 8.12 | N/A |
| N/A | 2561 | 1.99 | N/A | N/A | N/A |