ISO Farmall 400 - 450 Cotton Picker

[Bear Lake]

Looking to purchase a Farmall 400 or 450 Cotton Picker. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[used red MN]

Sorry, but there is no such thing as a “Farmall” branded cotton picker. International was the name used on production model cotton pickers produced by International Harvester. I really know nothing about IH cotton pickers but I am just gleaning information off of the web. If you are looking for a picker that was produced on a Farmall 400 or 450 modified reverse drive tractor the model number would probably be one off these 414, 416, 420, 422. IH introduced a 400 multi-row cotton stripper in 1980. The 400 has a frame and carrying chassis designed as part of the machine with a hydrostatic drive. I am finding that this dedicated frame and propulsion system was part of IH pickers as far back as the 60’s.
I see you have a previous thread on here from July 2023 talking about a noisy final drive in a 400 cotton picker. Is this a reverse drive 400 tractor type machine?
A little more clarification of what you are looking for would help direct you to find what you’re searching for.
Here is a video of a guy talking about his IH cotton pickers. Guy and his cotton pickers As you can see the second one he talks about which I believe is built in the 60’s has an integral purpose built frame not a modified production tractor.

 

[Bear Lake]

Thank you for your replay ... very helpful. I currently don't have a picture of my working tractor, but here's a tractor which appeared on Yesterday's Tractors forum a number of years ago. This is a parts tractor, but I have a working version of this picture that I'm trying to duplicate. I've also been trying to make contact with the individual that posted this picture, but as of today's date, I haven't had a response to my direct messages.

This model pictured below is either a circa 1956 Farmall 400 or 450. What makes this desirable for me is the height offered due to the larger front wheel (20 inch) and the drop axels on the drive to the rear wheels. Some shops have called a Cotton Picker and that's why I've referred to it as such.

Anyway, if any info can be provided on whatever this model actually is, would be very helpful OR if anybody knows of one for sale. Thanks.

 

[used red MN]

I've also been trying to make contact with the individual that posted this picture, but as of today's date, I haven't had a response to my direct messages.

Not to be gruesome, but from what I read in his last thread here on YT from November of ‘25 his health prognosis was not to good. Link to kcm.mn’s Nov. ‘25 thread

This model pictured below is either a circa 1956 Farmall 400 or 450.

Yes, the tractor shown in his picture is a modified reverse drive cotton picker drive unit. Also you can see the picker drive unit coming up out of the top of the transmission where a belt pulley would normally be mounted. However, it based on a Farmall M tractor rather than a 400/450. The 400/450 have quite different sheet metal on them. Knowing how most manufacturers work when a new model is developed the styling is usually applied across all models offered that year no matter how financially painful it might be for a lower production machine like a cotton picker.
So what is your draw to the added clearance? What purpose will the final unit have? Farmalls were also produced in Hi-Clear(ance) models that utilized rear drop boxes as well but drove in the normal forward direction. If I have time later this evening or maybe even stretching into the upcoming week I will add some links to this thread showing the parts diagrams for these options.

 

[Bear Lake]

Once again, thank you for your response(s) and also the update on kcm.mn's. RIP.

My draw to a high clear tractor, and specifically a single wheel up front is not a traditional farming application. I back boats into a lake and the extra clearance a high clear offers has proven to be beneficial. Given these machines were not manufactured to get wet, a non-high clear doesn't offer enough clearance and presents general maintenance problems that a high clear escapes.

The single wheel up front offers a very tight turning radius that's helpful for maneuvering boats into tight areas.

 

[used red MN]

Once again, thank you for your response(s) and also the update on kcm.mn's. RIP.

My draw to a high clear tractor, and specifically a single wheel up front is not a traditional farming application. I back boats into a lake and the extra clearance a high clear offers has proven to be beneficial. Given these machines were not manufactured to get wet, a non-high clear doesn't offer enough clearance and presents general maintenance problems that a high clear escapes.

The single wheel up front offers a very tight turning radius that's helpful for maneuvering boats into tight areas.

Do you/ will you have a hitch on the front to hook the boats on or do you hook them as normal to the rear drawbar?

 

[Bear Lake]

I installed a 2 point hydraulic hitch to the rear so I can adjust the ball without getting off the tractor.

This tractor did not come any kind of a hitch but was accepting of an OEM Farmall 2 point.

Some of my neighbors use a front hitch but I don’t know what the advantage is ??