Hawkeye Motor Patrol
One of the first self-propelled graders made (as far as I know!)


Click to enlarge, and get a description
See some more pictures of Hawkeyes, here!

The Hawkeye Motor Patrol was a grader based on the John Deere Model D. It was an idea from the Hawkeye Maintainer Company of Waterloo Illinios.

A document from May 27, 1927, says that rubber tires for a one man grader had been adopted by this time. The tire sizes were 32x5 (front) and 50x10 (rear).

The first tractor that Deere provided to the Hawkeye Maintainer Company was Model D #72074. It was shipped on either November 11, 1928(Forty-Twenty.com) or November 12 (Green Magazine).

According to a decision made on January 7, 1929 the Model D would be fitted with special parts for use on the Hawkeye Maintainer...
  • Fuel Tank 10 inches longer, with a capacity of 30 gallons
  • With use of a pipe and elbow, oil filler is located on pulley side of tractor
  • Brake extensions, to bring emergency brake within easy reach of operator
  • Hard rubber tired wheels, instead of steel
In 1928 through 1929 a total of 13 model Ds were modified for use with the Hawkeye Motor Patrol.

Serial Number Ship Date
72074 11/12/28
72140 11/19/28
74610 01/11/29
74611 01/11/29
74836 01/16/29
74837 01/16/29
75032 01/21/29
75033 01/21/29
75347 02/07/29
77895 03/05/29
77896 02/21/29
79148 03/07/29
82890 04/26/29
The above information is from Two-Cylinder Magazine

In July 1931, a group of 11 Model D tractors were shipped to Royer Manufacturing Company of Janesville, Iowa on July 18, 1931. These were serial numbers 115222-115232. They were equipped with 32x6 (front) and dual 42x9 (rear) high pressure pneumatic tires. They were made into Motor Patrols, and shipped to the Nebraska Road Department.