Unstyled JD A Brakes

[Charlie T.]

I am working on a redhead A, and had one brake off to free up the dogs and adjusting screw. I have another project A (37 or so) with the brakes missing. I had an extra two-hole mount brake (most likely from the '37) in my shed, which I compared to the redhead brake, and the shafts had different styles of splines. Were the shafts different between early and later unstyled A brakes? Also, wish me luck. I am going to try and start the redhead (after a 10 year retirement), and pray that the oil pump picks up oil. I used it off and on years ago, and sometimes had to take off the pump cover and pack it with grease. If it ever picked up oil, it would keep the plunger up even when it worked hard (pulling an AC 66 drag type combine), etc. Unstyled A's had a beautiful sound. Thinking about it makes me feel young again.

 

[35A]

The later brakes will work on the older As and they are different internally. I run 15 W 40 Shell R T in my 35 and the pump picks it up better than 5W or 10W oils. Detwilers sell new pump gears for them. John Deere may also have them. My A could use some new gears. After an oil change it can be hard to get the oil presure to come up. After that it does OK. My A is on U-Tube plowing back in early Oct. of 07.

 

[George S. in the real NY]

For $.02, I"d call Detwilers and get a set of new gears and then you will be able to run that old A and not fear that the oil pressure is too low and some damage may result. Also, then you can run multi viscosity oil, which will be a lot easier on the starter, that"s you!