jdfan - Both the H1 and H3 are virtually the same tractor. Yes, the H1 will only have two hydraulic couplers on the right-hand side on the front to be used for a 2-way 54 front blade or to raise and lower the 49 front snow thrower. Per the Operator’s Manual (OM-M46861 Issue L2) “Tractors with a single hydraulic control lever are factory equipped with a center-mounted rockshaft for raising and lowering center and rear-mounted equipment. However, to raise and lower front-mounted equipment such as a snow thrower or blade it is necessary to install a BM15672 Front Hydraulic Line and Coupler Kit…. Rear hydraulic couplers cannot be installed.
Tractors with three hydraulic control levers are factory equipped with a center-mounted rockshaft and front hydraulic couplers.” Rear hydraulic couplers where an option on the H3 that could be installed later.
In my opinion the H1 series 140's were targeted towards consumers who primarily wanted a riding mower. If at some point they wanted to add a 33 rotary tiller or utilize an integral sleeve hitch using rear Brinly-Hardy attachments they could. Lights, both front and rear, must have been an option on the H1 series because I've seen H1s with and without lights. The OM shows the H1 without lights. So in order to keep the purchase price down John Deere must have offered the H1 without lights.
No there was never an H2 model produced for the consumer market.
Kenneth