A Powerlift Serial Number

[JD630MN]

Does anyone have an A with a Powerlift serial # near PL2599? If so, do you know what year yours is? I am trying to ballpark the date of my tractor due to an unreadable serial plate. Thanks.

 

[A GURU]

It just so happens there is a huge gap in my records from other folks on powerlift numbers, right in the vacinity of the one you seek. My own tractor 441965 has PL 31042, was built 10-7-36.
My initial guess is mid 36 model year if it is original to the tractor. What is the maincase heat code number? If you are unfamiliar, it is ahead of the clutch pulley, right next to the maincase part number A1140R, and it looks like a tag with numbers on it. Should be 1,2,or3 digit number followed by the year code, 36 in your case. For example, 78-36 or something similar.
If the powerlift is not original and tractor is something earlier or later then the heatcode may still be of help. Otherwise pictures, part number/serial number breaks and narrow it down.
Are there any numbers on the tag you can read? Magnifying glass, light at different angles, non-abrasive rubbing?
Let me know if I can help.

 

[JD630MN]

Hmmmm. My PL number might be wrong, the tag is cracked between PL and the numbers. Would PL 72599 be possible? It cannot be a 36, it is a slantdash. The case number is A2644R and right next to that is a 26, nothing following that.

I have tried getting a rubbing off the serial plate, but I could only get the third and fourth digits. It was suggested that I try to remove the tag and see if it is visible on the back side, but I don't see how it would be.

 

[A GURU]

PL 72599 is certainly possible and based on a few I have listed in the 70000's I would guess that yours might be in the Oct-Nov.1941 range for 42 model year. The heat code 26 would indicate something a little earlier than that possibly, maybe Aug-Sept 41.
The maincase A2644R started in the 41 model year (July 40).
Starting about May 38 they dropped the year code from the heat code and from then on it was just sequential numbers starting over each model year. If the year of tractor is known for sure, a heat code can be of some use in dating the tractor within that year. If year is not known, heat code is useless.
I have found that almost any tag is readable under the right light, magnification, etc. unless it's just smashed or torn or something. I'm going to guess that the serial number tag is steel??? The steel tags came right around the beginning of 42 model year.
The numbers can be read on the back of aluminum tags frequently, due to the softness, but not usually on steel to well.

 

[JD630MN]

Thanks. You certainly have a wealth of information! I could not tell you whether the tag is steel or not. As far as reading it, it is worn smooth right through the numbers. I will look it over again to see if I can pull anything more out of it.

I have noticed that most of the late 40's slant dash A's have the short crankcase breather/oil fill. Mine has a longer breather and a separate oil fill, all of which is cast in the crankcase cover. (I'd get the part number, but it's still dark out.) My theory was that this was used on the early 40's, but I haven't found another one that looks like mine. Any thoughts?

 

[JD630MN]

My mistake, having looked at it again, it is not one cast peice. I have crankcase cover A2232R and the oil fill A2233R, which bolts onto it. The cap screws onto the oil fill.

 

[A GURU]

A magnet will confirm whether it's steel or not. An aluminum tag will also draw the magnet due to the case underneath, but it is a lot weaker. Usually the steel are a little rusty and the aluminum ones are kind of white(metal white)in appearance, if clean.
The steel tags have often been sanded smooth by people trying to read them. I have found that if the tag has been sanded and the numbers appear to be gone, it is often the case that the numbers have been "filled in" by the metal filings, and a stiff brass brush will sometimes clean some of this away and make the number "reappear" enough to be read. If the tag is aluminum and worn smooth, there may not be a whole lot you can do, except maybe read the reverse side.
If the first couple of digits can be read, the tractor can be roughly dated.
The numbers you gave for the crankcase cover and breather are casting numbers. Casting numbers are also frequently the part number for the part, especially larger castings, but not always. Small parts frequently don't have the same casting number and part number. I couldn't find A2233R so that may be only the casting number.
Do you have a parts book(PC675 or an older one)that you can use to determine if you have some incorrect parts. Guess you don't really know for sure until you determine what year or serial number you have.
Let me know if I can help more. E-mail if you like. Thanks

 

[JD630MN]

Hey, thanks for the help. As of yet, I do not have a parts book, but I do plan to get one. I'll keep working at trying to date this thing, but I believe that the 41/42 ballpark is right. In the meantime, I'll just keep working at cleaning it up and hopefully next summer I can get it running. Thanks again!