MD missing serial tag

Len · Sep 21, 2014

I just bought a Farmall MD which is missing it's serial tag. Engine number is FDBKM 11989. Transmission and belt pulley housing are dated 12.14S and 12.14.S (does that mean 12-14-1949?)So, is this tractor likely a 1950?

The right rear axle is about 6" longer than the left so it would appear that it didn't all leave the factory as one unit.

caterpillar guy · Sep 21, 2014

I believe the number you posted as the engine number is the tractor serial number.

Harry Klever · Sep 21, 2014

With that long right rear axle, chance's are it was on a sugar beet lifter at one time. I would say it's a 1950.

jim warehime · Sep 21, 2014

Most likely a late 49 or early 50. Md follow the same serial numbers as gas m's. Also they didn't start building mds until january 41 starting with serial number 26145. They only made a little over 18,000 mds, where as there were 300,000 m's produced. The serial number on the engine IS NOT THE SERIAL NUMBER OF TRACTOR. Md engine numbers will never match the chasis number. My 1951 md is 285xxx serial number on chasis and 12xxx serial on engine. A 41 parts tractor I got parts from was 35xxx and engine number 1020. As far as rear axles it may of had 100 inch axles and had one replaced at some time with a shorter/standard axle. Ie possible bearing failure or axle tube broke ect. Jim.

D Slater · Sep 21, 2014

Transmission probably assembled in the 1950 calendar year.
Got my numbers mixed up earlier. Think the engine could be older than the transmission housing. Maybe why no serial plate, some switching of parts.

DeltaRed · Sep 21, 2014

The long axle was installed when the tractor was used on a beet harvester. Added at a dealer.Leave it be! that is a rare 'option'.Learn what you can about the early beet harvestors.

Len · Sep 21, 2014

Thanks, that supports one thought that I had which was that maybe a MD engine got mated to M chassis.

At this point, it is what it is: a decent running MD without a serial tag. Since I'm not planning to resell it, calling it a 1950 is probably good enough. I'm in Oregon and no don't hang out with the right crowd, but it's been a long time since I last saw a running MD.

Len · Sep 21, 2014

Thanks, I'll resist the urge to shorten the axle (I hate those long axles sticking out grabbing things when I'm not watching close enough)

And I appreciate the pictures

D Slater · Sep 21, 2014

Jim MD 285211 was the first one built in 1952 calendar year. Maybe you are a little below that.
Your engine number sounds to low. In the past I had MD 285266 with engine 18772. Also MD 285997 with engine 21606.
Could be wrong on my other post. The engine # is close for a end of 49 or early 50 model. But I really think it came in a tractor before the transmission casting was made.
MD engines have wide swings on dates and numbers. So maybe without doing more checking its part guessing on my answer to the first poster.

D Slater · Sep 22, 2014

Len, its something to wonder about. Only thing is if they used another M transmission from a gas they would still need to use the MD clutch housing for the MD starter to fit. Maybe another reason for the plate missing. Date code for the clutch housing is on top most times. May not be able to see it under the front of belt pulley gear box.
Engine date code may give a idea if it fits into late 49 or early 50. Its usually found near the center of the block on the left side. Kind of hard to see looking past the top rear of the injection pump and lines. If not there its almost always on the left side somewhere.

Len · Sep 22, 2014

Ok, found date codes but not easy to read. I think engine is 9-9.S . Bell housing looks to be 6.5.X which probably explains the lack of a tag

Did some people manage to break these tractors in two at the bell housing?

D Slater · Sep 22, 2014

Yes they broke once in a while. Sometimes they were replaced because the ears inside the housing that the release bearing holder bolted to broke.
Sometimes due to the clutch shaft coupling getting loose.
With that date code and looking at some more numbers I wrote down the engine could go with the transmission originally.
Unfortunately never found a way to say what a tractor serial number was close to on most MD compared to the engine. Unless a close number is known. Some of the diesels will have block castings over 6 months earlier than the tractor was built. Must have cast the blocks at certain times. Can find blocks with the same casting date and serial number a good bit apart.
If you want to call it a 50 model, don't think anyone will know different.

jim warehime · Sep 22, 2014

My 51 is 285121 which should be late october 51, been a while since I looked at cast codes, I will check the engine number again to be certain. Been so busy working on gettinng the 41md back together haven't paid much attention to the 51md. Jim.

D Slater · Sep 23, 2014

Jim according to the IH records at Wisconsin historical society your MD serial number was built the last month of 51.

MD missing serial tag

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