cast iron centers

[bob6940]

Quick question; can anyone tell me what the cast iron wheel center weighs on my 41B? Don't think the bathroom scale is gonna cut it....

 

[41B-boy]

Hey Bob,
if memory serves they are roughly 380#... I just did new rims/tires on my '41B and that's the weight that pops into my mind. No guarantee, I'm not even sure what day it is half the time.
Somebody please correct if I'm off.
If you don't get a definitive answer in a few hours I'll head out to the shop and consult the good book.

Fr. Bob

 

[bob6940]

I tried to look it up but really couldn't find it any place. thanks for the reply!

 

[41B-boy]

I'll check my book tomorrow after work.

Fr. Bob

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

My A manual says the cast wheels are 250 lbs heavier than the pressed steel wheels. Not sure if the B used the same wheel but 380 seems a bit much.

 

[bob6940]

Thanks Mike, the pressed steel are 100 lbs.I have a set and weighed them. So maybe they are about 350 or 375

 

[bob6940]

And thanks Fr. Bob!

 

[41B-boy]

Bob,

I searched high and low in my parts and OM manuals, as well as some books about B's in general. No actual mention of a cast hub weight.
However, I see written by me, in the inside of my B restoration book #380 .
No doubt I wrote it after being told by one of my old JD guru's that was the weight.

Mike mentioned a very reasonable speculation, and it's well within hand grenade range.

Fr. Bob

 

[bob6940]

That was a lot of trouble you went to and I really appreciate it. What I was trying to do was remove about 200 lbs. from my tractor. I have the cast iron centers on it now. It weighs 3850 with me on it, I'm 175, and I'm trying to get it closer to 3500 lbs. Its not easy changing tires on it as you know, so I only did one side on pressed steel, the other will stay cast iron. I hope that made sense.

 

[41B-boy]

... it does, and i'm confused why?
I hope one of the smart folk will chime in, but I'm uneasy about the weight differential from side to side. Might this arrangement make the tractor unstable on anything but dead flat ground?
I may be worried about nothing, but would like to hear your reasons, and some knowledgeable feedback.

Be safe,
Fr. Bob

 

[bob6940]

Well, actually I was going to ask you that next. I pulled with it a month ago for the first time. Becouse of the cast iron wheels I got dumped in the 4000lb. class with the Oliver 70s and so on. Tractors with double my HP aren't fun to play with. By removing one cast iron wheel I would go down a class and be much more competative. It makes sense to a novice. I would not try it without someone of more experiance knowing it is safe. In the origional operators manual it says 2 wheel weights can be placed on it on the same side with none on the opposite side. Your opinion would be of great value. Thank you, Bob

 

[41B-boy]

Serious novice here. I honestly can't offer an informed opinion. Was kind of hoping some more knowledgeable gents would chime in...
Never pulled. Intuitively, it seems more wheel weight would increase traction, but then you're in the higher weight class. Catch 22.

what is your B's SN?
Mine is 114144, build date of March '41 I believe. I'm second owner; have had sine '96.

Fr. Bob

 

[bob6940]

My serial number is 100541, not that much off of yours. I've had it about 6 years. It was rough and needed a gear in the trans, complete clutch assembly and some motor and carb work. I've done nothing to it cosmetically, but I did manage to get it running very well. The pulling thing happened because I got tired of just watching. The tractor was not bought for that purpose. I live in a residential neighborhood so the pulls are a good opertunity to use it in more than just a parade. You mentioned you restored yours and have owned it quite a while. The B is the largest I can get in my garage. I have a couple other tractors but I spend most of the time on the B, I'll bet you can understand why! Do you work yours? I'll bet its way prettier than my old girl.