Hi everyone I have a John Deere B I'm starting to restore, it has 6spd tranny, electric start, powertrol, straight dash, battery under hood and an angle iron frame. I was told it was a 1941 but I cant read the tag, on the back of the tag I can read MODEL B TRACTOR....SERIAL No (either B or 8 looks more like an 8 than a B). I know the later tractors had the model letter stamped before the serial No. but I did not think the forty or forty one did. Also the tag is steel not aluminum which I can find no reference to. Any clue as to the year would be greatly appreciated. Thanks James
From what I've read a steel tag means a war-time tractor. But if it starts with an 8 this website says it would be a 1940. I'm not sure exactly when the steel tags started and stopped, but I have a 44 with a steel tag. Never could read the number but there are other clues like PTO shaft size, fuel tank fillers, etc. Two Cylinder had a good overview of styled B's several years ago. Not much, but hope it helps.
Nate
Nate
Thanks for the reply Nate. I have done a little more research and if I understand this right 41 was the first year for the 6spd trans which I have,steel tag (again I have) was war time Dec 7 1941, angle iron frame went to cast 330 units in to 1943 so I think odds are I have a 1942 just wish there was some way to be sure so on a reproduction tag I could stamp the year. Also what are some good books for restoring a B? Thanks again James
P.S. The stamp on the tag must have been a B not an 8 because everything I read said the steel tags were lightly stamped and I am reading this from the back as the front is too rusty (right center 1/3 of tag is compleatly rotted away).
P.S. The stamp on the tag must have been a B not an 8 because everything I read said the steel tags were lightly stamped and I am reading this from the back as the front is too rusty (right center 1/3 of tag is compleatly rotted away).
The earliest serial number I have recorded on B's with a steel tag is 121524, thanks to members on here. I believe the change was probably made at about 120000. If the serial number lists are to be believed, this would equate to very early 42 model year (July 41).
"Wartime tractors" is a loose term, and does not translate into the beginning and ending of the war necessarily. Some "wartime" shortages began even before our direct involvement in the war began, because of lend-lease. Aluminum was an early one.
Since your tag is so badly damaged, you could try some things that may make it possible to read. If you take some very fine sandpaper and sand it a little, you may find you can make out some of it. If the first two or three numbers can be read, you will have it pinned down much closer. Use a magnifying glass at different angles along with a flashlight at different angles and you will be amazed at how much you may be able to detect. The numbers are not stamped very deep into steel tags, and usually don't show up on the backside.
The powerlift is from a much later unit, maybe 47 or later.
Hope this helps. Let us know what you find out.
"Wartime tractors" is a loose term, and does not translate into the beginning and ending of the war necessarily. Some "wartime" shortages began even before our direct involvement in the war began, because of lend-lease. Aluminum was an early one.
Since your tag is so badly damaged, you could try some things that may make it possible to read. If you take some very fine sandpaper and sand it a little, you may find you can make out some of it. If the first two or three numbers can be read, you will have it pinned down much closer. Use a magnifying glass at different angles along with a flashlight at different angles and you will be amazed at how much you may be able to detect. The numbers are not stamped very deep into steel tags, and usually don't show up on the backside.
The powerlift is from a much later unit, maybe 47 or later.
Hope this helps. Let us know what you find out.
Thanks Guru that helps a lot. I was told it was a 41 when I bought it so maybe that was the manufacture year. I have tried every thing on the tag there just isn't enough of it left. The power lift has the lever not the pedal and two of the long dummy output plugs threaded on the right side below the lever, I always thought it was a powertrol any clue there and does it make a difference on the serial number.This is a stretch but if any of you remember Bill DeHoff (Marion Indiana)it is the B he had for most of his life.
Thanks James
Thanks James
Yeah, that tag is pretty well shot. Too bad you couldn't get at least the first two digits. You have a powerlift not a power-trol. Powerlifts start with PL-B and power-trol starts with PC-B. Your unit sounds like it has the "selective control" conversion, to make it work more like a power-trol.
Powerlift was optional equipment up to late styled (201000) and was standard equipment from then on. Power-trol first came out in 46 I think, but was always optional equipment. Power-trol became much more prevailant during the late styled era. Keep in mind that at PLB121561 it came from a later tractor, maybe late 46 or 47. If the powerlift on your tractor was original to the tractor (early 42) it would be more in the PLB60000/62000 range.
Hope this helps.
Powerlift was optional equipment up to late styled (201000) and was standard equipment from then on. Power-trol first came out in 46 I think, but was always optional equipment. Power-trol became much more prevailant during the late styled era. Keep in mind that at PLB121561 it came from a later tractor, maybe late 46 or 47. If the powerlift on your tractor was original to the tractor (early 42) it would be more in the PLB60000/62000 range.
Hope this helps.
OK so the crankcase is 41ish and the lift is 46-47 I can live with that. The flywheel cover it came with is the big fully enclosed one that has the starter kickout on it so thats not right either also the seat assembly is different, I found a picture on this sites archive that says its on a 46. I will add the URL maybe you can identify it. Starting to think this tractor used to be two different tractors. Thanks again for all your help. James https://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/contents/adpic10932.htm
Well, steel tags did continue for some unknown time after they went back to angle iron frames in 45. My guess is that they went back to aluminum tags somewhere around maybe 170000.
Seats were all the pan type until late styled, pressed frame tractors.
Sounds like you need to get a parts book and start picking your tractor apart to determine just what you may have.
Seats were all the pan type until late styled, pressed frame tractors.
Sounds like you need to get a parts book and start picking your tractor apart to determine just what you may have.
I finally have a parts book. The power lift no. i gave you was between the lift arms on an aluminum tag (PLB 121561). It does have power trol tag no. (PC-V 12325), the draw bar is the serial no. B186134 and later type. The crank case breather has the hand size threaded cap with the 3 inch tall flattened breather tube beside it(Book doesn't say when or why the change). the Wico mag is spec XH but the serial no. is XC 128164 I cant read the numbers after the spec XH. And here is a pic of the seat assembly it's not in the book but I have seen it on other tractors don't if it is aftermarket or off a different model or what. Thanks for your help James.
Looks like you may have somewhat of a frankentractor.
The seat is a "monroe" replacement or similar brand.
The rockshaft housing is from a powerlift and the valve housing is from a power-trol, based on the numbers you gave. The whole powerlift/power-trol thing is about as clear as mud during the time that both were being used. The parts book can be kind of confusing on that subject. A couple of things that were changed during the 43/44 period are the bushing in the governor housing and the powershaft oil seal housing. Look in your parts book on those and see what you have.
The mag probably reads XH1042.
The breather housing you mention I think ended at 167010.
I'm not the B GURU so take whatever I say with a grain of salt : )
The seat is a "monroe" replacement or similar brand.
The rockshaft housing is from a powerlift and the valve housing is from a power-trol, based on the numbers you gave. The whole powerlift/power-trol thing is about as clear as mud during the time that both were being used. The parts book can be kind of confusing on that subject. A couple of things that were changed during the 43/44 period are the bushing in the governor housing and the powershaft oil seal housing. Look in your parts book on those and see what you have.
The mag probably reads XH1042.
The breather housing you mention I think ended at 167010.
I'm not the B GURU so take whatever I say with a grain of salt : )
I think it's a Massy 44 lol. OK steel tag, bushing in gov. housing, early pto seal, angle iron frame, straight dash. I think I am safe at 41, the lift doesn't bother me as it was an option and the hitch is heavier(rake hay and pull wagons). So with the right flywheel guard and seat assembly I will be pretty well correct. If the bore is ok I'll just rering it if not do you know if there is enough material in the bore for the 4 11/16" pistons and will I have cooling issues with the higher compression gas only pistons. Thanks for all your help this turned in to way more computer time than I expected. James
That seems out of place. I would love to see that. Has the tag ever been replaced with a dealer sponsored replacement tag that you are aware of? I have seen tags up to about 118000 that are all aluminum.
I would think yours was built maybe around Dec 1940 or so.
Interesting.
Is there anyone else out there with B tags that are steel, and below 120000?
I would think yours was built maybe around Dec 1940 or so.
Interesting.
Is there anyone else out there with B tags that are steel, and below 120000?
Not sure if it has ever been replaced. I have a replacement for it that i bought. Havent had it stamped yet. The new one is aluminum. I dont have much info on the tractor. Bought it back in 2009 off a farmer in Waterloo, IA for 300 bucks. She was a mess when i brought it home. Prob should have been parted out and the rest scraped. But I couldnt let it happen. It has been a long road and an expensive one but its coming along. Not finished yet but hope to get there one day.
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