John Deere B shutters

[Aaron Juhl]

Good evening. I have been restoring my grandfather's 1941 John Deere B. I am wondering if it would have originally had shutters. I do not remember it ever having shutters, but they could have been removed long before my time. Does anyone know whether or not shutters were "standard equipment" on the early styled Bs?
Any assistance is appreciated.

 

[BushogPapa]

"ALL" Early JDs had some way to make them get up to "Temp", for "All-Fuel" operation especially..

Most were (Like ours) removed ASAP because cleaning the chaff out of the shuttered radiator was just about Impossible...(especially in a mounted Corn Picker)..
So, they have been operated with no shutters for many, many years...
About all you get from running them "cold" is more frequent Plug fouling and good reflexes on the Choke when they "Flame-out" when starting a load..some increased engine wear and I am sure more Sludge in the oil...
Yous may have used a simple Curtain (?) the earliest ones did..they, along came Shutters and finally Thermostats..
Shutters are cool...you really need to keep an eye on the Temp gauge to keep them at 180..!!
They really DO run much better when run at 180 to 190 Degrees..
Ron..

 

[Aaron Juhl]

Thanks Ron for the good information. I have to chuckle a little thinking about the shutters being removed to make it easier to keep clean - given the massive amount of crud, dirt, grease, and mouse droppings I removed from the cavity in front of the radiator, keeping it clean didn't seem to be a priority later in my tractor's life.
Thanks again,
Aaron

 

[RandyB(MI)]

Additionally...I don't believe any "styled" tractors had the curtain system. With the styled grills there is no way for the curtain roll-up rod or slides to protrude to adjust it. A '41 would have shutters. My '50 B gasser came with shutters. My '37 A has curtain. Late '37 and '38 "A",s went to shutters allready.

 

[BushogPapa]

You always need to be extra careful when cleaning the bottom row or two or three...the debris has been left there for so long that the tubes are rusted thin at the bottom..
Careful Cleaning and a GOOD coat of Enamel paint will extend their life..

Ron..

 

[BushogPapa]

You always need to be extra careful when cleaning the bottom row or two or three...the debris has been left there for so long that the tubes are rusted thin at the bottom..
Careful Cleaning and a GOOD coat of Enamel paint will extend their life..in that area..

Ron..