44' JD A-Correct Rims

[Young Popper]

Question,

44" Should have what style of rims? Spoke or Solid 4 Gaps? Also, I need your guys opinion whether or not to paint this "Barn Fresh Beauty"

Thanks!

 

[Husker44A]

Those are the correct wheels you have on your 44 A. My 44A has the same wheels. As for paint. No, IMO leave it alone. Spray it with WD-40.

 

[A GURU]

Nice straight looking tractor. Like husker said, the cast wheels are correct for the tractor, as would be steel disc wheels.
I wonder if it's a 44 though, due to the angle frame? Cast frame was from 522600-542699.

 

[Young Popper]

A Guru- Are you thinking it s older or? I was told its a 44'. Plate is not 100% readable. I have not spent a lot of time trying to read it either. Old flywheel start. Carries great oil pressure and starts in 2 or 3 pulls.

No to painting though?

 

[Anonymous-0]

DO NOT PAINT THAT TRACTOR, you will not find another tractor in the USA just like that one. If you paint it it will be no different to the all the other painted tractors. MJ

 

[Carlyle hoffman]

Whats all the HYPE about the ORIG tractor,.The hoods been cut so why not PAINT it, as if he were to find a used uncut hood the shad i am sure would not MATCH. There are untouched ORIGs and there are those that are near! BIG DIFFERENCE. And $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Greenday]

I would paint it because there is no paint left on it. If it had the original paint but only faded that would be a differant story.

 

[A GURU]

I think the tractor looks fine like it is, and would be super sharp if it was carefully restored. If it was mine I would probably leave it like it is.............until and if I ever had the money and ambition to restore it. In other words it's fine either way. It's not totally original, they almost never are. The cut hood thing is very common, as are non-original seats, powerlifts, mags, carbs, on and on. It just not being at a scrap yard is what counts to me.
I don't know if it's before or after cast frame. It's 41 or above due to the shift quadrant. If the tag is there, it can probably be read one way or another. If you can read it, I could give you a rough build date estimate, if you like.
Steel tags came sometime before and lasted a while after cast frame, so if tag is steel it would narrow it some. The steel tags can be quite a bit more difficult to read, due to very shallow penetration of the stamp.
See if you can read the tag. A magnifying glass, flashlight at different angles, does wonders. If it can't be read it can still be narrowed down some from other things on the tractor.
Enjoy your tractor.

 

[semper_deere]

The Cast Frame ran until Serial Number 583999 or approximately mid production 1947.

 

[taylordeere62]

The front wheel looks to be correct. But your rear wheels are not.The rear wheel on a war time A tractor were pressed steel (AA3861R) with a 11-38 tire. They were not shipped with cast centers . Stop the rust and save the tractor Paint it.

 

[Will P]

No...522600 to 542699

 

[Mark-Ia]

That tractor could be a 45-early 47 model. The cast wheels would be correct for those years.

 

[Husker44A]

Here is my JD 44 A. It was dad"s that he got back in 80-81. Gave $100.00, mag needed fixed previous owner fixed the mag. Dad fixed the clutch. I acquired it last year and painted it myself.

 

[semper_deere]

YES! If you take the time to look at the diagram AA 2222 R has a break for A 2825 R from 522600-542699 then AA 2222 R is used AGAIN 542700- wait for it........ 583999! That is why I took the time to post the picture. My tractor has a CAST frame AA 2222 R and it is serial number 553xxx. Yes the frame is original.

 

[FactoryFarmer]

Those wheels are correct as everyone else has said, it could has also has pressed steel wheels as well.

I would just paint it, you will be very happy with it. There's really nothing special about keeping a ball of rust around.

 

[Mike N Mo]

semper_deere, I believe Will P has the correct info on this. The A2222R frame would be the welded angle iron frame, used from 488,000-522,599, and 542,700-583,999. The A2825R frame would be the cast iron frame used from 522,600-542,699. If your tractor s/n 553xxx really has a cast frame (NOT welded angle iron), then it has been changed. Mike

 

[A GURU]

Will's got it right. You don't have a cast frame if your number is 553XXX. If you do have a cast frame, it's been changed. The casting number A2825R is right up under the chin of the cast frame, right under the radiator. The angle frame AA2222R is before and after the cast frame and I believe has no numbers on it.

 

[FactoryFarmer]

I really wish I could remember what sn my A was with a cast frame, at first I thought someone swapped frames with a 60!

 

[A GURU]

Very nice husker, and that's a cast frame : )
I've got an old junker 44 sitting out in my field. Belongs to someone I haven't heard from in 3+ years. Gives me an example tractor when I need to look at a certain detail or something.

 

[A GURU]

You've gotten a lot of answers on the wheels. The wheels are correct for a 44 (which yours may not be), and some others.
The cast wheels were always available through the war as an A2366R casting number and AA2228R part number. They are the cast wheels with the splined hub as a solid part of the entire cast disc. In late 45 (I believe) they came out with the demountable hubs for the cast wheels, and others. I would have to dig for the details but if I remember right, they went from the non-reversible/slotted wheel to the reversible solid front wheel (JD1268R) in mid 43, but maybe 44 could have either.

Got a serial number yet............before everyone guesses your tractor to death : )

 

[Will P]

You know, I really hate answering questions here. You know why? It is because of people like you. I ALWAYS have people jumping down my a$$ all the time and I am sick of it. Thanks to some others that have brains I might stay here. There is one thing I know pretty good, not all....is the war tractors. Have a nice day.

Will

 

[Young Popper]

The plate is steel. I have not tried the different angles yet. What started this "wheel" discussion was I had a 45 B that had the solid wheels. I figured these needed to be the same and not what I have. I will try to take the time to read the plate tomorrow and get back with you.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[A GURU]

If it has a steel tag but not a cast frame, the serial number would likely be in the range of 511000-522599 or 542700-546000. This is early 42 through mid 43 or start of 45 through early/mid 45 model years. The upper and lower limit of steel tags is not known for sure, but that should be close.
So you have the solid center wheels, or the type with demountable hubs? I can't tell from the pic.
If the post gets old, e-mail if you like. No hurry.

 

[Young Popper]

Finally read the # of the plate!!!! Some WD-40 and 2000 grit sand paper got the rust off to be ledgible. Its a late 44 judging by the run of numbers. Its 544755!

A-Guru, I have the solid cast centers that the "rim ring" attaches to. If these wheels are correct, that is awesome. I just want this thing as close to "correct" as possible.

Thanks again for all your help!!! I really appreciate it

 

[Tom in Mo.]

Here's the 1943(?) model A that came home with me this past weekend from a sale. Serial # 524843. It has the cast frame and the cast wheels. Note the difference in width of your steel frame where it hits the nose compared to this one.

The steel tag was illegible until I got my wife involved. She sanded lightly and cleaned with a mild cleaner and with the LED flashlight at a flat angle and a magnifier we were able to read the number. She is a forensics educator and knows about serial number restoration.

 

[Tom in Mo.]

Young Popper - My opinion only on the paint issue is, if it were mine, I would not paint it. Mine has already been repainted 20 years ago so it doesn't matter on it but yours hasn't been touched except for the rims and the water pipe so very tempting to keep it original.
It's YOUR tractor so do what will make you happy.

 

[Young Popper]

Tom,

That is a good looking A. The width of the frame are you talking about how much narrower yours is at the grills? Whats your plans with that thing?

 

[Tom in Mo.]

(quoted from post at 16:05:01 06/19/12) Tom,

That is a good looking A. The width of the frame are you talking about how much narrower yours is at the grills? Whats your plans with that thing?

There is a difference in height of the side rails next to the engine. Where it joins the nose at the radiator it shows a difference in height due to the angle iron across under the radiator. . When you look underneath the cast frame there are rounded edges whereas the welded frame has sharp edges right to the welded joint. Look at the parts diagram posted by Semper-Deere and the picture shows the angle iron welded across the front of the angle iron frame.

I'm keeping this tractor at the Shelter for Homeless Tractors after servicing and making it run again.

 

[A GURU]

It's actually a 45 model. The list here is incorrect for the styled A's. They are basing it on an Oct-Nov model year, which it was not for the A and many others.
Your tractor was likely built somehwere around 8/18/44 as a 45 model year tractor. It's just an estimate, but if it was just built in the normal order of things, It'll be pretty close.
The wheels are exactly correct for the tractor, as were steel disc wheels, steel wheels, etc. I believe the fronts are correct as well if they are a JD1268R, it's stamped on the rim somewhere.
Of course the tractor may have been shipped from the factory with some other wheel setup, but what you have is correct for the serial number. If you have it researched by Two-Cylinder ($42) the document will tell you the build and ship dates, wheel equipment, destination sometimes.
I would be interested in some details from your tractor, if you don't mind sharing. I am looking for the powerlift serial number (if it's not torn off) and the maincase heat code number. The heat code is 1 to 3 digits long number located next to the maincase part number, A2644R. It's located just ahead of the clutch pulley on the maincase and looks like a tag. I compile data on lettered series Waterloo built tractors, but my primary focus is model A.
Info on serial numbers that have been researched are of particular interest to me.
E-mail is always open if you prefer.

Tom in Mo. If your interested, and not to step on your toes, but your tractor is actually a very early 44 model. It was likely built about 7/9/43, as a 44 model.

 

[Tom in Mo.]

Thanks for this info. I thought it was a 44 model but like you said the serials on this site said 43. My A has no lift, no generator, nothing but a magneto. It does have a PTO and the drawbar assembly.

 

[Young Popper]

My tractor has a powertrol on the back, not a powerlift. I was told its suppose to be a lift not a trol?

Do you want those #'s?

 

[A GURU]

Even though you have a Power-Trol valve body, you likely still have the original lift (rockshaft) housing. I sent you an e-mail back, with the details. The post is getting kind of old, and I'm forgetting to check back : )

 

[Young Popper]

I checked my frame. Its all angle iron sides, no castings. I see the difference though. So the earlier had cast, then went to angle, then to pressed?