1938 Unstyled B

[treeman53]

Anybody have a diagram showing how the canvas curtain attaches to the radiator screen? Thought it would be intuitive, but I was wrong....

 

[Lon in NE]

I'm pretty sure all '38 A's and B's had shutters, not curtains.

 

[treeman53]

That may be true, but I have the screen and curtain, and I just don't know how to assemble the unit. Also, I was thinking of my B when I posted, but it is actually going on my '36 BR.

 

[UnstyledB]

That may be true, but I have the screen and curtain, and I just don't know how to assemble the unit. Also, I was thinking of my B when I posted, but it is actually going on my '36 BR.

There's not a good way yo describe this without pictures but I will try. There should be 2 pockets sewn into the curtain. The smaller pocket is for the rod and goes to the top. With the assembly off and laying screen side down on a workbench ( be mindful of top, bottom, pulley side, and flywheel side), lay the curtain inside the screen assembly with the seams facing the radiator (up toward you) and insert the rod from the flywheel side and through the curtain and out the other side. On the pulley side he rod will be held in by a cotter pin, washer and spring On he flywheel side there should be a cotter pin. Locate the holes in the curtain through the rod and mark them and punch through with an awl or something sharp. Original curtains were secured to the rod with brass pins but most people use small machine screws to go all the way through to the other side and secure with a washer and a nut. Alternatively you could use a small hex head sheet metal screw. If you do that just make sure the screw heads are on the back side of the screen so they won't show when the screen is down. Once secure at the top you should have a spring and a couple of clips for the bottom. The spring goes in the screen pocket at the bottom and the end of he clips with a small bend hook onto the spring on each side (this is harder than it sounds because you have to fish around on the inside of the pocket to get things hooked up). The end of the clip with the big bend in it rides along side the screen frame itself with each clip being held on by the spring tension. The whole assembly attaches to the radiator sides with machine screws and spacers. I hope this helps you out. Let me know if you need more details or pictures and I can try to get you some.

 

[treeman53]

Thanks, I appreciate the help! I will check it out today and see if I understand correctly. One question for now, how does the curtain move down?

 

[UnstyledB]

Thanks, I appreciate the help! I will check it out today and see if I understand correctly. One question for now, how does the curtain move down?

You unroll the curtain by turning the rod on top and by pulling down on the clips at the bottom to pull it tight. It's a bit of a 2 step process....unroll a turn or 2 then bull down.....then repeat.

 

[treeman53]

I really appreciate your help, I was certainly puzzled. Everything is clear now, I didn't realize that the clips rode on the outside of the frame. I thought it would be nice to have the curtain, still not sure. I may use it, and just leave it in the up position, or I may use the screen without the curtain. Now, thanks to you, I understand how it works. Thanks again.

 

[JIM MN]

For your 1936 BR, serial number 325000-326654, in the parts book, your tractor for that year could be either curtain or shutter by SN. You are OK?

 

[kj-32]

Just curious, but how many people actually ever use the curtain? Sorry if that's a dumb question, but I figured for what most people use the tractors for these days, it's just for show. I've only owned my B for a year and a half, and I had to kind of rig the curtain to get it on the rod. It looks fine with only about two inches showing, but it would probably fall off the rod if I pulled it all the way down.

 

[620 John]

Just curious, but how many people actually ever use the curtain? Sorry if that's a dumb question, but I figured for what most people use the tractors for these days, it's just for show. I've owned my B for a little a year and a half, and I had to kind of rig the curtain to get it on the rod. It looks fine with only about two inches showing, but it would probably fall off the rod if I pulled it all the way down.

I used the curtain on my unstyled A for plowing last fall. I'm amazed at how many tractors at shows I go to that they've got the curtain rolled all the way up on them. Mine stays all the way down unless I'm plowing. Even then I only raise it maybe half way at the most. I've actually got a "new" curtain for it when I got it on an estate auction. The guy's wife sowed it up to eventually replace the original one that's on there.

 

[kj-32]

I used the curtain on my unstyled A for plowing last fall. I'm amazed at how many tractors at shows I go to that they've got the curtain rolled all the way up on them. Mine stays all the way down unless I'm plowing. Even then I only raise it maybe half way at the most. I've actually got a "new" curtain for it when I got it on an estate auction. The guy's wife sowed it up to eventually replace the original one that's on there.

Good that yours runs that cool even when plowing. I've noticed quite a few tractors that don't even have the guard on them, much less the curtain.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I used the curtain on my unstyled A for plowing last fall. I'm amazed at how many tractors at shows I go to that they've got the curtain rolled all the way up on them. Mine stays all the way down unless I'm plowing. Even then I only raise it maybe half way at the most. I've actually got a "new" curtain for it when I got it on an estate auction. The guy's wife sowed it up to eventually replace the original one that's on there.

Your A has a bigger radiator so it won’t get hot as fast as Bs most of them it’s not worth pulling the curtain down to be honest that’s why a lot of them don’t bother being replaced.

It is night and day difference on an A or a G even thermosiphon ones mowing for example vs the B. About 2 hours of fairly hard work in 85 degree or hotter weather and you need to think about taking a break with an unstyled B. The A if everything is clean radiator wise 100 degrees doesn’t bother it and I pause because I want a break not the tractor.

 

[620 John]

Your A has a bigger radiator so it won’t get hot as fast as Bs most of them it’s not worth pulling the curtain down to be honest that’s why a lot of them don’t bother being replaced.

It is night and day difference on an A or a G even thermosiphon ones mowing for example vs the B. About 2 hours of fairly hard work in 85 degree or hotter weather and you need to think about taking a break with an unstyled B. The A if everything is clean radiator wise 100 degrees doesn’t bother it and I pause because I want a break not the tractor.

I'm usually plowing on a cold windy day in late Nov. I suppose that really helps with cooling as well.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Yep you are right air temp especially on the thermosiphon ones plays a way bigger roll than on a modern tractor with a thermostat. That is the caveat to what I said before I operate mine all summer so I’m used to wanting it to stay cooler. If I was crazy enough to attempt to start the hand start b in a winter ice storm to generate I’d probably want my curtain or a piece of cardboard at least on the front to warm it up.

The 52 A it is entirely possible it might be used to generate it has enough ponies so that does give me a reminder to come up with a way to block the radiator a bit

 

[620 John]

Latter B's probably have a bigger radiator. Haven't worked it hard in the summer but in the spring and fall I can work it pretty hard and only need the shutters halfway open at most. I actually kinda like having the ability to control the temp. I can adjust it to where I want to and when heading home, open it up all the way so it cools off before I park the tractor.