29 D gas tank hood puzzle ????

[Crazy Horse]

We are continuing to reassemble a '29 JD D for a nearby family, having started some months ago with a pile of parts. We are fitting the gas tank & hood (new one) and have run into a puzzle with regards to things that don't seem right nor do they fit properly.

When all is together, the hood is not elevated high enough to match the height of the radiator tank. The support brackets (which support and hold the tank in place from underneath) do not seem tall enough to get the tank up to a proper level. It's almost as if the tank we have (which seems correct in all ways) is perhaps a smaller tank in height and maybe a bit wider than what it should be, at least for the brackets that are supporting it. If the whole works (brackets and tank) were raised about one inch, then things would seem correct.

One other thing, the support brackets that we're using from the pile of parts when we arrived have the outer bolt holes (that are used when the anchor bolts pull the hood down onto the tank with the four pivoting hood clamps) are near the outside end of the support brackets, and not in about 2.5" like in a photo of a JD D that someone has supplied. We are even missing those four hood clamps, but with the brackets we have, even they wouldn't work properly. It almost seems as if the support brackets are either the wrong ones, or the tank is the wrong one for the brackets we have. Mind you, the tank seems perfect in length and in the location of the fuel fill holes, it just sits too low while supported by the brackets.

I'm wondering if somewhere along the line, some parts got mixed up or maybe there were two versions of the system used to support the tank and hold down the hood? I hope this isn't too confusing but it is definitely a head scratcher.
 

[Mark-Ia]

Rear and front bracket on a 20D


 

[Mark-Ia]

Meant to type a 29D
 

[Crazy Horse]

Great photos, thank you. That's what we have, the same brackets as in your photo. Because the "hold down clamps" (or whatever part they have for holding down the hood which holds the tank)are missing, all we have is a photo of another '29 D that uses sort of a bent iron clamp that bolts to the support bracket. As the bolt is tightened, the clamp pivots and pulls the hood down tight. But the ones in the photo we have bolt to the support bracket inwards about 2" or so, not on the outside like in your photo.

Can you post a picture of those clamps (or whatever system is used to anchor the hood downwards)? I suspect that somehow we might have either the wrong tank or the wrong brackets (and are missing the clamp parts).
 

[Mark-Ia]

This is a original hood from a 29D. It uses small slotted angle brackets to fasten to the tank mount brackets. Bolts through the hood brackets and then to the tank mounting bracket.


 

[Crazy Horse]

Ah, that's what I wanted to see, something is mixed up here on this end. I'm guessing that we have the wrong brackets for the tank and hood we have. As I mentioned, I think this tank is wider and shallower in height than yours, you didn't mention any measurements but that's what I'm guessing. There is definitely another system used for holding the hood down than yours, at least according to this other photo my friend has. Looking through a JD book here, the photos show the hood with the slots and hold down brackets sticking through (which I described).
 

[Mark-Ia]

That style hood with the holes in the side are for ser# 30400-68879. The hood pictured is ser# 91488, built 8-21-29 Shipped to Shelby Iowa.
 

[Mark-Ia]

Gas tank is 26" long x 23 3/8" wide and 11" tall
 

[Crazy Horse]

Not exactly sure of a measurement but this tank is quite a bit less than 11" in height. Obviously, when your tractor showed up on the scene, JD had increased the tank capacity with a deeper tank, and then had to drop the height of the brackets (lower) which supported it, and at the same time they simplified the hold down hardware of the hood tin and went with some L-brackets spot welded to the inside of the hood. I'm guessing that your hood tin has a greater side height than the earlier ones with the slots in the side.

So what we have here is a JD D with the newer support brackets and the older tank and hood. So we need the older supports and the hold down clamps that are used for the older hoods with the side holes.

Thanks for all the help.
 

[Mark-Ia]

If you're going to use the tank and hood that you have, it's not correct for a 1929 D. You need a different tank and hood to be correct..
 

[Crazy Horse]

So the changeover was done during the '28 production year then at s/n 68879. And yes, you're right about what we need here to make it "correct". Someone along the way with this tractor has obtained or ordered parts that didn't match up to what is supposed to be on the tractor. I've been told it is a '29 (I've got to check the serial number) with the correct support brackets but the wrong (older style) hood and smaller tank (like you say). Cheapest and easiest way would be to find a set of the older support brackets & hold downs and go with that even though it wouldn't be spot on for correctness for a 1929 (if it is a 29). Thanks again for all the help.