Farmall Super M DOB

[Charliespride]

Can you fellas possibly help me with production date, where she was assembled and any other information this plate reveals

Thank you

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Looks like '53 with a Rockford clutch (J). Made at the Farmall plant in Rock Island.

Mike

 

[D Slater]

Assembled at farmall works in August 1952 and what other poster said.

 

[F-Dean]

Check the casting dates. They will also give you a clue.

 

[Charliespride]

Really great knowing some of the information on this classic. Next time I m to the farm I ll get the casting numbers.

What does the letters and numbers mean on this plate ?

 

[D Slater]

SM identifies it as a super M tractor. F identifies it as made at the farmall factory in Illinois. Numbers between the F and J
is the tractor chassis serial number. J identifies it was built with a Rockford CO. clutch assembly. No other suffix letters
after the serial number means it was built to use gasoline fuel. Serial number 12251 was the first one built in the month 8-52,
first in 9-52 was 14736. Your number falls between those so it was built in August. Unless a tractor is a Super MD the first SM
made in 53 was serial 21074. Serial number published lists for the most part are in disagreement with the information I posted.
One poster mentioned date codes on major castings. They are the date casting was made and can be from the same month tractor was
assembled to several months back. They have there uses but no way as good as a serial number. To read them find a month number a
day number and a letter for year on a SM. Example 9-24-W September 24- 1951. X = 1952, Y= 1953, Z= 1954. Example of a SM tractor
date codes built in 1954 serial number F-52255 J. Engine block 9-21-Y, Transmission top cover 7-24-Y, Transmission housing 8-24-
Y, Lt. axle housing 6-30-Y, Rt. axle housing 7-30-Y, Lt rear wheel 1-9-Z. RT. rear wheel 1-6-Z. Lower bolster 12-9-Y. Center
housing. 8-24-Y. To give you a idea of what to look for the transmission housing date code is most times located in the area
just ahead of the brake pedals but every now and then at another place on housing. Engine block above the tin plate on right
side and below head gasket. Housings also have a casting number. SM engine located above oil filter 356980R1 with engine size in
raised cast letters C-264. If you want to find the engine serial number look right above the tin cover on right side for numbers
stamped in. Can be below number 3 spark plug or number one area depending on when done.

 

[Charliespride]

Wow Thank you so much for this extensive information. I m going to have a much closer look next time I m with the tractor to try and find this information

My Late Father grew up with these tractors and was truly passionate restoring the 7 Farmalls he had. Tore the heart out of me to list them for sale especially for the pitiful prices they brought. I won t be selling this last remaining SM at giveaway price.

It ll at least leave me with a working SC to pull the discs around back around our woodlot.

Out of curiosity, is it common to see tractors fully restored as this one is ??

 

[DR. EVIL]

I would say your Super M is well above average in the quality of restoration. Matching tires, paint is
bright and shiny. Your Father took great care of that Super M and he did a great job of restoring it. I
would keep it if I was you. A small remembrance of your Father. I have my Dad's '51 M but it isn't as
nice as that Super M.

 

[Charliespride]

Thank you for the reply. Dad passed in 04 and left me to look after a driveshed full of equal quality restored farmalls as this SM. To this day I still get choked up knowing how passionate he was about his tractors and yet I simply could barely move without a tractor in the way. I ended up pretty much giving away a Cub, Super A, SW-4, SH, 400, and then the one that still haunts me is letting the original SH to our farm go....having that many tractors to maintain amongst everything else was simply overwhelming...and now I still have a working SC with hydros I can hook the 8 discs up and go back to the woodlot and keep the weeds knocked down a few times per year.

I keep thinking being I do nothing with the SM, other than walk around it and think i could use that space for something else within the limited space I have in the shed. It truly is a difficult decision because I also know once it s gone.... extremely difficult decision. Plus on top of the SM there s also a fully restored wooden 17 1957 Chris Craft that s part of this dilemma also... I hate to be the traitor because that s how I m feeling, But...