I need some help. I bought a styled A with a 4 speed, no quadrant trans. I was thinking it was a 39, but in looking at the serial, it is a 40. Serial is 491450. I thought by 1940 they all had shifting quadrants, even if they came on steel and were only given four speeds. Was 1940 a transition year? Also, if anyone has a registry book and can tell me anything about the history of this tractor, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
old popper
Well-known Member
I grew up running a 1940 A at home, ours had no shifting quadrant either. Ours had a Behlen overdrive to provide 5th & 6th gear. Loved that old tractor though.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I had a 1940 "A" and the way I understood it was that 1939 and 1940 were the first of the styled tractors with the unstyled transmissions and engines. My 1940 was a flywheel start and it was an ok tractor good for parades and maybe a small hayride or a sunday go to meeting tractor. Not much power but they weren't back then. Hope this helps!
Mark, Here's a little added info regarding 1939-1940 A's. The '39's were an unstyled tractor mechanically, but the '40's did change to the "styled" engine, still with the 4-speed transmission. This included parts like the 6.75" stroke crankshaft, A2324R block, and A2325R head. The 1941's had the same engine as the 40's, but changed to the 6-speed tranny. Mike
In short the maincase A2300R is 40 only. The unstyled maincase used also in the 39 model year was A1140R.
The head and block got used until 47.
If you go back to page ten in the forum you will see a post from "confused a" about "need help bought jd a" and there is more detail there. Towards the end of the post is where I got out a parts book and gave better details. Hope this helps some.
The head and block got used until 47.
If you go back to page ten in the forum you will see a post from "confused a" about "need help bought jd a" and there is more detail there. Towards the end of the post is where I got out a parts book and gave better details. Hope this helps some.
Thanks for the help. I always thought that the A's switched from the 4 speed trans to the 6 speed trans in the 1940 model year. I realize now that is not the case. Just to clarify what you posted for Confused A, 1939 would be the old head and 1940 would have had a new head? Is that correct? Thanks again!
That is correct. 1939 was all unstyled as far as maincase A1140R, block A732R, head A587R, manifold A36R, axle housing A1866R(this part continued until late 47). Basically a 39 is all unstyled except for the sheetmetal, front frame, air cleaner, muffler, anything that is attached to the radiator. Those items are 39 only.
1940 was new maincase A2300R(used in 40 only), new head A2325R(used until late 47), new block A2324R(used until late 47), new manifold A2383R(used until late 47). There may have been other small parts shared with 39 and 41 but most of a 40 is just like a 41 through late 47 except the maincase which is 40 only.
I have yet to see any pics of "confused a's" tractor but it sounds like he may have something odd with his A.
I can give you a little info on your tractor. I haven't gotten into styled A's as deeply as unstyled and as such can't guesstimate build dates for them as well but I'm going to say that your tractor was probably built about the last week of December 39 as was 491480. Only the research document from Two-Cylinder is going to tell the details on your tractor. There is no production register for unstyled or styled A tractors.
Thorn in my side for years.
I have been compiling info on unstyled A's for some time now and am starting to gain some info on styled A's and B's.
Let me know if I can be of help.
1940 was new maincase A2300R(used in 40 only), new head A2325R(used until late 47), new block A2324R(used until late 47), new manifold A2383R(used until late 47). There may have been other small parts shared with 39 and 41 but most of a 40 is just like a 41 through late 47 except the maincase which is 40 only.
I have yet to see any pics of "confused a's" tractor but it sounds like he may have something odd with his A.
I can give you a little info on your tractor. I haven't gotten into styled A's as deeply as unstyled and as such can't guesstimate build dates for them as well but I'm going to say that your tractor was probably built about the last week of December 39 as was 491480. Only the research document from Two-Cylinder is going to tell the details on your tractor. There is no production register for unstyled or styled A tractors.
Thorn in my side for years.
I have been compiling info on unstyled A's for some time now and am starting to gain some info on styled A's and B's.
Let me know if I can be of help.
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