John Deere A

[Anonymous-0]

I have a John Deere A with the pressed steel frame on it. I was wondering if the pressed steel and straight frames were interchangeable, or only fit certain years, thanks in advance.

 

[Paul from MI]

Pressed steel frame (so called "late styled A") was built from 1947 to 1952. Earlier A's had either angle iron or cast iron frames.
Paul

 

[Anonymous-0]

But will they work with each other, could you take the pressed steel frame off and put a straight frame on?

 

[RobMD]

No.. why would you wanna do that?

 

[PBrowning]

Far too many things were altered as this change was made. Even the way the radiator is mounted changed. Such a retrofit would be an engineering undertaking to say the least. (PatB)

 

[Anonymous-0]

You can do it .Its just a matter of your abilities.I've done it myself.Its a bit of modifying, but it is doable.

 

[Drew]

I'm with RobMD on this one....WHY?!?!?

 

[Anonymous-0]

because a straight frame is supposed to be lighter than a pressed frame...and it doesnt matter how everything mounts on the frame, i just want to know if the frame will bolt up

 

[Drew]

How light are you trying to go? If you are wanting to get really light, you need to set the late A aside and either get an early styled A, or a little lighter yet would be an unstyled chassis and put styled sheetmetal on it and call it a 1939 model. Though I havent weighed just the frames, I would think the frame weight wouldnt be enough different to mess with...its your late A main case that is heavier.

When set up similar, my early styled A was still a few hundred pounds lighter than my 1949 A. My early A can make 4000 with 18.4x38, and has in its lifetime pulled 3500. You will never get there with a late A. I think you are wasting your time trying to change the frame.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Well, I have a 1947 styled A, I have the radiator, the fan shaft, the fuel tank, and a light rear housing. Every plate cover is made of aluminum and we welded aluminum weight brackets up. So I was just going to see if it would be possible to change frames to make some more movable weight.

 

[Drew]

(quoted from post at 03:21:05 09/16/09) Well, I have a 1947 styled A, I have the radiator, the fan shaft, the fuel tank, and a light rear housing.

I'm confused. Are you saying you have removed the fanshaft, radiator, the fuel tank and have a light rear housing? Or are those parts still on the tractor? What are you calling a "light rear housing"? Mine weights 6lbs. There are 2lb fiberglass ones out there.

Then you need to look at your wheelie bars and drawbar. They need to be built strong, but you can also go overkill and add unnecessary weight. Then there is lighter rear wheels, weld on hubs, cut off axles, light seat frames.

What does your tractor weight w/ you on it, and how much are you wanting to lose?