John Deere A Questions

[nh8260]

A buddy of mine bought this JD model A in the pictures below, there is no serial number tag on it and he wants to know about what year it was, I told him between a 1947-1952, is there a way to narrow down to a year model??? Also what kind of power steering unit is on this tractor? I didn't know if it was factory or aftermarket add on. Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[Rich'sToys]

It appears to have the single stick 6 speed transmission, so that would make it a later one. Pretty sure the power steering is an add-on also. I see it's been converted to an alternator also.

Just curious--does it run?

 

[nh8260]

Not right now, it was last run about 2-3 years ago, he's gotta do some work on it before we try to start it. It might be slightly stuck, we tried to turn the flywheel by hand but it wouldn't budge, no more than its sat she should loosen up pretty easy. What does the other lever do that is below the throttle lever, both of them look the same.

 

[rustred]

It’s the newer model from 47-52 as I say with the stamped frame, if the serial number tag is gone which should be on the right side of trans housing. Maybe can get a number code or block number and check that. That Charlyn p.s. is add on also and so is the alt.

 

[nh8260]

The number on the governor is A3267R if that helps any.

 

[Baseball Fan]

Not right now, it was last run about 2-3 years ago, he's gotta do some work on it before we try to start it. It might be slightly stuck, we tried to turn the flywheel by hand but it wouldn't budge, no more than its sat she should loosen up pretty easy. What does the other lever do that is below the throttle lever, both of them look the same.

That second lever would have been for the radiator shutters.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

this one might be super easy do I see a water pump peeking out down below that alternator? It’s hard to tell
My 52 doesn’t have one only the last 300 or so in 52 had that before it changed to the 60.

If so it’s an incredibly desirable tractor when I bought mine the guy said he had been asked by 4 or 5 other people if it had the water pump. For operating and ease of maintenance I like mine without just something to go wrong. And compared to the b I have no overheating issues with the bigger radiator

The power steering is for sure aftermarket I believe a char Lynn there should be a name cast into it some where

There is actually a book called original John Deere model A by Brian rukes and Andy kraushaar that I would love to have something like it for the Bs as grandpas is missing the tag as well goes through each John Deere decision number and lists what parts were changed.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I'm wondering about those decals. Did they make a late change?

 

[matthies]

I'm wondering about those decals. Did they make a late change?

The decals were just some laying around, as the A looks like from a chopper head. The JD is what they found on the shelf.

 

[Steven Allen]

Before digging in too deep, get yourself an operator's manual--they are available new and used--so that you know what is what. You want one for SN 648000 and up.

As others have noted, the PS is aftermarket, and the alternator is a conversion. The tractor was originally 12 v but Positive Ground.

If there was no can on that (mistreated) exhaust stack, it may be more stuck than you hope. Pull the tappet cover off to ensure no valves are stuck before trying to muscle it loose, and put some penetrant in the cylinders. You'll only treat the bottom of the bores with it, but it might help.

It looks to have been set up for cultivating, which helps to explain the PS.

I can't tell from the pic whether that is a WICO mag or a WICO distributor. It is not a Delco distributor.

Make sure the tranny is not in gear when you try to roll it over to separate potential engine from potential tranny problems--or clutch.

 

[Mark-Ia]

With that alternator it will now be negative ground.

 

[LamarsA]

The water pump observation seems to track. My '52 has a water pump (Serial Number 701144). The John Deere folks always told us it was the only A in the area that had a water pump on it. Dad had ordered it last minute before the 60's came out, perhaps June or July 1952.

 

[rustred]

The number on the governor is A3267R if that helps any.

Need the block number.

 

[mijohn]

The single stick shift lever started in late 1950, the round holes in the cast wheels were brought out in 1951-1952 model years. you sometimes see earlier year tractors with that stile wheels but I think they might of switched from flat pressed steel wheel-rims for weight. the pressed steel wheels were put on during the war years, and after because they were a little cheaper. john

 

[nh8260]

Need the block number.

Where exactly is the block number located? I'll have to go over there and look for it, its not my tractor I'm just helping a friend with it since I've had one since 2001.

 

[nh8260]

Before digging in too deep, get yourself an operator's manual--they are available new and used--so that you know what is what. You want one for SN 648000 and up.

As others have noted, the PS is aftermarket, and the alternator is a conversion. The tractor was originally 12 v but Positive Ground.

If there was no can on that (mistreated) exhaust stack, it may be more stuck than you hope. Pull the tappet cover off to ensure no valves are stuck before trying to muscle it loose, and put some penetrant in the cylinders. You'll only treat the bottom of the bores with it, but it might help.

It looks to have been set up for cultivating, which helps to explain the PS.

I can't tell from the pic whether that is a WICO mag or a WICO distributor. It is not a Delco distributor.

Make sure the tranny is not in gear when you try to roll it over to separate potential engine from potential tranny problems--or clutch.

Luckily someone had put a rain cap on the exhaust, it does have a WICO mag, looked to be an X but I might be wrong.

 

[old bones]

this one might be super easy do I see a water pump peeking out down below that alternator? It’s hard to tell
My 52 doesn’t have one only the last 300 or so in 52 had that before it changed to the 60.

If so it’s an incredibly desirable tractor when I bought mine the guy said he had been asked by 4 or 5 other people if it had the water pump. For operating and ease of maintenance I like mine without just something to go wrong. And compared to the b I have no overheating issues with the bigger radiator

The power steering is for sure aftermarket I believe a char Lynn there should be a name cast into it some where

There is actually a book called original John Deere model A by Brian rukes and Andy kraushaar that I would love to have something like it for the Bs as grandpas is missing the tag as well goes through each John Deere decision number and lists what parts were changed.

My 1949 A had a water pump like that.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I

My 1949 A had a water pump like that.

I’m sure you could put one on an earlier one but if it left the factory that way it’s a 1952

 

[JIM MN]

Power steer add on - Char Lynn good unit? No water pump. Would be a late model A 1947-1950? One lever six speed transmission. At one time had a model 200 JD front mount quick-tach cultivator. Good lookin tractor?

 

[Baseball Fan]

Fixingfarmer is correct about a factory water pump on the A's as 1952 model (I believe it was late '52 serial numbers specifically) The 'John Deere' decal location was center on the hoods from '47-'49. The '50-'52 A's had the main 'John Deere' decal closer to the A side.