Farmall B wide back and front?

[gdo2444]

I've read several times that Farmall Bs were made only with the engine in the center, and with tricycle wheels. But I have 2 tractors I was told are Bs, one with a wide front end, and the other with a wide front end, and an extremely long left-hand axle. I haven't checked the serial numbers yet, but did someone sell me a bill of goods , or do I have rare Bs? (BTW, I won't be crushed if they are actually As, because I'll just part them out anyway.)

 

[Red Dave]

All Farmall B's came from the factory with a narrow front. Some had a single wheel, some had a double wheel front, but all were tricycle configuration with a narrow front and wide rear.

It is easy to interchange the front off of an A on to a B or BN, because they are based on the same engine/transmission, final drives etc.

What your tractors started out as, Who knows?

 

[CNKS]

As Dave says there were NO factory wide front B's so they are not rare.

 

[Curt in Minnesota]

The serial number is the same for the A and B lines. When I was first starting to have an interest in old farmalls, I found a B with a weathered A sticker over an older B sticker so there was some confusion many years ago also. I would not part them out just because they were an A. The A would have more value in my area maybe more people seem to like wide front tractors. Where I live there seems to be more B's then A's. Hopefully an A is my next project. You can find a narrow front for them easily or bring them to Minnesota and sell them as an A.

 

[CNKS]

I don't want to start the WF vs NF argument again, as to safety. But, with that offset engine, I don't think I would feel safe with a NF, regardless of the heavier right rear wheel.
The first 8000+ BN's had FAA as the serial prefix according to Guy Fay.

 

[tn terry t]

i have a 40 A with no implements for it ive been using it for a back up raking tractor only problem is most of my ground is real hilly my backside kinda draws up on some of those hills. i was thinking about puting a wide axle on the left side to strecher out a little. what all would i need to put the left side of a B on there? would the axle and the tube be all i need ?will the A "dog leg" fit the B axle and housing? or would i need the entire left side from a B?

thanks terry t

 

[gdo2444]

Misspoke. Wide back wheels, tricycle front. Got it mixed up with an A next to it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

CNKS, on the B the engine isn't offset at all. Only the seat and steering wheel are. Send me an email and I will send you a picture of a BV Hi clearence with a wide front end on it. It was modified in the 40s for a ginseng farm in Wisconsin I think.

 

[Curt in Minnesota]

I would agree that safety is a concern with A and BN and that narrow front tractor may be more likely to roll when compared to wide front tractors. However with a normal B its has a pretty wide stance. I would guess that a normal B would be more stable than a A with a wide front. In my option, on flat ground a narrow front is a much better mowing tractor then a wide front.

 

[Anonymous-0]

why dont you just adjust the wheels so the rear is wider. yes you can replace the rear left side with one from a B you will alos need a Bdrawbar and have to cut 4in out of it to fit. I would just move the wheel out as by bolting the center reversed and then moving the rims from the other side you will be almost as wide as if you changed the axel assy.

 

[JohnG(TX)]

Not exactly true. There was at least one B with a factory wide front end. I saw an IHC photo of a display they had somewhere that had an early B with a wide front end. I have never seen another one in any other photo. I wish I could remember where that photo was, it was very interesting.