[FairmontROC]

Hello All,

Hoping someone with some experience can help with a little mystery that’s driving me up the wall regarding my ‘41 Farmall.

Got the tractor from a relative in 2012. Decent shape and ran with a new battery and a fresh tank of fuel. Rough but ran well enough to sprint around the block and take part in 2 small parades.

2014 we dragged her out of the shop and hosed some sawdust off for its first tractor show the next day. Brought the trailer and she fought tooth and nail until we gave up and pushed her back in. Obviously we got something wet that we shouldn’t have.

limited free time meant she sat in the shop for another year or two until I tried tuning the engine and carburetor. She started after my face was as red as her paint, and gave me a carbon bath when she came to life. Shut it off and decided to open her up And do some cleaning.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and I now have time to do a complete overhaul. Half of the engine is off and I’ve found some interesting factors. Antifreeze in the oil pan was the main worry. Got new gaskets in the mail, but I’m pulling the block to clean the junk out of it thoroughly to see what else is going on.

Which brings me to the main point of the post. I’m in the process of doing research on this old gal and have bought several manuals and other reading material. The thing that strikes me as odd is the design of the rear end. I’ve found that my serial numbers and part numbers all match up to a “B” series that turned 80 years old last week.

For the front at least.

the rear end has me scratching my head. It was built in late ‘40. We figure it’s a product of leftovers from the previous year. Thing is, based on all of the resources I’ve found so far, I have yet to find another like this one. Traditionally a B has an offset seat and pedal arrangement, and the wheels tend to be offset as well. This one however sits direct center with a more narrow rear wheel arrangement, like a H or M. Left brake pedal sits on the left hand side, the clutch and right brake sit on the right hand side. Transmission lever sits between the knees. PTO lever sits under the seat.

If pictures will post, can someone help identify what this tractors story is?

Many Thanks!
David from NC

 

[Kubota Ronin]

Welcome aboard... that's a nice looking tractor.

Glad to have you at MTF.

 

[DJ54]

A picture directly from the back would be a big help. That being said, I'd say someone took final drive(s) from a Farmall A, and put on the left side, possibly on both sides, not being able to see the right side.

I'd have to guess somewhere along the line, a PO had a belly mower on it, and narrowed the rear end, to keep the rear tires wihin the 5' cut of the deck, allowing to trim up close to whatever, and not mashing grass down, ahead of the next round. I've readwhere there was a fellow, and I'm sure more than just him, took B's & BN's,and made this modification. back when belly mowers were the "in" thing.

Might be interesting if you know the history of previous owners of the tractor, and trace it back to the modification. .

 

[Bebop]

Wonder if those are more rare , being a smaller tractor , I think most wanted As so there are more of them , I have a B john deere

 

[DJ54]

B's were more common than BN's (B narrow) I'm thinking the B's were like 8" wider on the rear end. Being tricycle, they were mounted with 2 row cultivators. Getting twice the amount of work done, with basically the same tractor. But, the B's, & BN's were probably moredesigned for row crop farming, where the Cub's & A's with one row cultivator were more suited for vegetable, or tobacco farming.

There's probably more out there converted like this, that we may never see. Probably done back in the late 60's early 70's when the Woods brand belly mowers were popular. Those tractors with no hydraulics sold cheap. Everyone was going for the Ford N series, for the convenience of 3 pt. In that era, around here, a real nice 8N alone was fetching $3000.-$3500, bought by folks moving out into the country, and buying 5 acres of so. They'd normally get a 3 pt. finish mower, or rotary cutter, 3 pt. plow, and 3 pt.disk for gardening.

I bought my '47 BN in the Fall of '77 for $270.00, complete with cultivators. OH'd, and painted it in approx. '82. Still have it, and still use it occasionally. It really needs to be repainted, but still runs great.

 

[Bebop]

I have a 1929 regular which is the great grandfather of all the Farmall's .

 

[FairmontROC]

Welcome aboard... that's a nice looking tractor.

Glad to have you at MTF.

Many Thanks!

 

[Kubota Ronin]

Many Thanks!

My girlfriend's dad in my youth had one very similar... brings back some great memories. Good gal, good family, some good hay farming and cows and lots of steak fry nights.

We'd be married today, but I still had too many wild oats to sow (read: stoopid)... time marched on.

Little bit of lacquer thinner on the corner of a rag will clean up that data plate real nice.

 

[FairmontROC]

A picture directly from the back would be a big help. That being said, I'd say someone took final drive(s) from a Farmall A, and put on the left side, possibly on both sides, not being able to see the right side.

I'd have to guess somewhere along the line, a PO had a belly mower on it, and narrowed the rear end, to keep the rear tires wihin the 5' cut of the deck, allowing to trim up close to whatever, and not mashing grass down, ahead of the next round. I've readwhere there was a fellow, and I'm sure more than just him, took B's & BN's,and made this modification. back when belly mowers were the "in" thing.

Might be interesting if you know the history of previous owners of the tractor, and trace it back to the modification. .

I’ll try to get a decent picture of the rear up soon after I get her pulled away from the shop corner.

You bring up a good idea though. As far as I can tell at first glance, both drives look pretty identical. Was wondering that myself but wasn’t sure if that could be done or not. I haven’t heard of the belly mower modifications, but it would make sense the way you describe it. Just wish I had the attachments of whatever went on it before. PO’s are a dead end as the relative I got it from passed in ‘14. From what I’ve heard, he never used it on his farm when he got it from another owner. He had a good sized collection and this was one he had in the mix.

 

[FairmontROC]

B's were more common than BN's (B narrow) I'm thinking the B's were like 8" wider on the rear end. Being tricycle, they were mounted with 2 row cultivators. Getting twice the amount of work done, with basically the same tractor. But, the B's, & BN's were probably moredesigned for row crop farming, where the Cub's & A's with one row cultivator were more suited for vegetable, or tobacco farming.

There's probably more out there converted like this, that we may never see. Probably done back in the late 60's early 70's when the Woods brand belly mowers were popular. Those tractors with no hydraulics sold cheap. Everyone was going for the Ford N series, for the convenience of 3 pt. In that era, around here, a real nice 8N alone was fetching $3000.-$3500, bought by folks moving out into the country, and buying 5 acres of so. They'd normally get a 3 pt. finish mower, or rotary cutter, 3 pt. plow, and 3 pt.disk for gardening.

I bought my '47 BN in the Fall of '77 for $270.00, complete with cultivators. OH'd, and painted it in approx. '82. Still have it, and still use it occasionally. It really needs to be repainted, but still runs great.

I’m sitting here thinking about how much I just spent on a new 42’ JD zero turn last year...

As long as that 47 runs well and at this point only needs repainting, I’d say you came out on top of that deal!

 

[FairmontROC]

I have a 1929 regular which is the great grandfather of all the Farmall's .

Looking at reference pictures, that is without a doubt a cool design!

 

[DJ54]

I’m sitting here thinking about how much I just spent on a new 42’ JD zero turn last year...

As long as that 47 runs well and at this point only needs repainting, I’d say you came out on top of that deal!

Yes, it still runs very well. Mostly used for powering a couple flat belt things I have. Here's apicture of it on the buzzsaw I have, cutting slab wood for the shop. Running just under half throttle, I cut 3 cords of wood, using maybe 4 gallons of gas. They are very economical on fuel, doing gin jobs.

I don't believe it ever left that little farm I bought it from, during the time it was there. Those are the original Goodyear tires on the back Made from real gum rubber, and no checking that I knowof, but it is kept inside 90% of the time.

It lasted that Farmer a lifetime, and will more than likely last me mine. She's a good'n....