SC Steering Wheel

[Tiger Tex]

Have two SCs which hope to make one good one someday. One has a metal steering wheel. Appears to be made on the shaft somehow. Is this because it is a war time tractor? Is it worth any more with it?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Up thru 47 or 46 they used the twin spokes and then they switched to the single spoke. They aren't worth more. Just have the right one for the year you are doing to keep them more accurate.

 

[C. Amick]

There's no nut holding it on the shaft?

 

[Tiger Tex]

No Nut, will have to look at it closer, looks orginal. best I remember it is three spoke and serial nunber starts with 45, making it a 1941, Right? Could get photo, but don"t know how to post.

 

[C. Amick]

Yes, 1941 sounds correct. Wheel should look like the one on the link beow.
Steering Wheel on Ebay

 

[Tiger Tex]

Thanks for your answer, but I know what both 'correct'steering wheels look like, I have two 39 DCs and two 39 Ds. and too many newer D models to count. Guess this is something some one made, but sure don't look homemade. Also being an IH collector, I knew IH did lots of things to save rubber, like metal shift knobs on the H and M. But this tractor is too early. Most of that was around 1944 or 45.

 

[C. Amick]

Does the SC have the center exhaust? I believe 1941 was the first year for the tractor, so there could be some odd balls out there. I know that some of the 1944 SC"s had bronze brake pedals.

 

[Tiger Tex]

Exhaust is the same as the 1945. has an offset to get out from under the hood. Brakes look the same also. Steering wheel shaft looks bigger and wheel has roll pin holding it on. So would be hard to go to the normal steering wheel. Also discovered block on both are cracked. Knew the 45 was cracked and repaired, but the 1941 was good. Guess it caught enough rain water to freeze. So will be looking for another engine or block before restore. Do you know of one?

 

[C. Amick]

If there are no internal cracks, it may be repairable. Those blocks are bad about cracking behind the carburetor. External cracks can be repaired by grinding them out a little and adding some J.B. Weld. The excess J.B. Weld can be ground smooth after it hardens and no one will know. Even internal cracks on "top" of the block between cylinder sleeves won"t hurt anything. The head gasket will seal them off.