Steel wheels

[Charlie M]

When did IH stop offering steel wheels for tractors. Were they available for the 300/400 series? I knew the original owner of my 43 H which he bought new. he said it came through on steel and he refused delivery until they could put rubber on it. I suspect rubber was in short supply during the war so I'm guessing getting a hold of rubber tires took some patience until the war finished.
 

[WayneLee]

I seen a pic of a new 806 on steel. Thinking it was for export.
 

[gene bender]

If he refused delivery he just didnt get the tractor. Just to get a new tractor in 43 would have been a big thing there were no rubber tires to be had there werent any made pluss rims sounds like a story. Because just to get a new one was not easy.
 

[jim warehime]

Gene I agree 100%. Rubber was on short supply with the rationing for the war effort. The tractor was almost certainly sold on steel and would not off had electric starting or lighting. Would have been hand start only and most likely either a kerosene or distillate engine. It is also very likely that it didn't have hydraulics either. After the war ended most tractors were updated to rubber tires and had electric and hydraulics added to make them more versatile. This is the reason you see so many cut down steel wheels with tires added. At the time alot of people couldn't afford to buy cast hubs tires and rims do they cut down the steel and welded rims on. If it is a 43 H then it should also have a steel gearshift knob and steel farmall badge on the grill instead of aluminium.
 

[jasinpa]

sometime in the late 40's is when they no longer offered steel from factory , but if you wanted them ( which who would ) i bet the dealer would come up with a set , and in reply to, no rubber in 43 , not true my grandfather bought his H in 43 on rubber brand new , but the rubber on them was very poor , also the tractor had 5th gear locked out because tires would come apart at those speeds
 

[jasinpa]

but the tractor did have lights & starter added befor dealer delivered tractor new , the way you can tell an add on starter & lights is the starter button is in the box on steering post , if it was factory it was in the rear tank support ,hydraulics where factory on this tractor , either my grandfather was very lucky or there are some mixed up facts here. tractor cost was just over $800 with everything & rubber , our family still owns this tractor & retain the canceled check it was payed for with
 

[jim warehime]

Steel was offered as a option up thru the 400 and 450 tractors. Hydraulics were a option in 43, a few tractors did come thru with them buy mist did not due to rationing. Same goes for rubber, very few had rubber most were on steel. 5th gear was locked out because it probably was built on the line for steel but changed to rubber prior to delivery, all steel wheel tractors had 5th locked out. Like you mentioned the rubber sold during the war was very poor quality along with the paint they used. There are some photos and company records I belive at WHS pertaining to wartime rationing and showing pictures of the "wartime" tractors.
 

[jasinpa]

never heard of the pour paint but that would make sense , the tractor wasnt very old when it got a paint job and new rear tires , but i can say the way this tractor sits to day is the way it came new, nothing was ever removed or change , was a kero burner , still has everything to run kero on it even the shutters & heat flap still works on manifold , but it has M&W pistons in it now , dont thing kero would work very well
 

[Charlie M]

There some religious groups around here can use newer tractors but not on rubber. I've seen some pretty big tractors made in the 80's on steel wheels. They had to be after market parts.
 

[AlinMO]

[robgIN]

I have pictures of my grandpa doing hay work in the summer of 45 with the new Farmall B he got while dad was away in the Marines. It also had lights and electric start, and rubber tires. So not ALL tractors were steel wheel hand crank but the majority were. I was told tires were rationed to manufacturers so some would be available but you would have to take what was available at the time. Grandpa had been on a waiting list for a tractor also from what I was told so maybe he just got lucky or he chewed the dealers butt long enough he came up with something.
 

[Charlie M]

I'm betting a dealer would do about anything possible in those days to sell a tractor. Might have taken rubber off an older tractor if that was all they could get and it fit.
 

[jasinpa]

never caught that one , thanks for you help.
 

[hadley]

I have a 1944 Farmall M that is on rubber. Not steel cutoffs. Has the steel gearshift handle. Also factory electric start and lights. Has factory belly pump hydraulics as well. Does have paper belt pulley though. I always figured it must have been a rare one that got through with all of these options.
 

[MIKE FRENCH]

706/806 were the last ih tractors that offered steel wheels from factory from what I have researched. They are in the parts book.