SMTA production dates

biggerred

Member
Knowing that SMTAs were only built for part of 1954, what were the actual production dates? I'm curious specifically about the transition time frame between the stage 2 SM and SMTA.
 
Think the official records dates are from in February to October. But there's pictures of preproduction tractors working crop ground so they were probably field testing them in the 53 year. Probably didn't have production serial numbers. Farmall works SM tractors ended in February 54. Maybe some SM other than standard chassis SM tractors were made a month or two after February. Would need to look on that.
 
The reason I'm asking this is I'm picking up a late SM. ALL the castings front to back are from late April to early May of 54.(Z) The serial number tag is different from any IH tag I've ever seen with a 3 digit number and several letters after the numbers. It has all stage 2 attributes, with what looks like a pto from a 560.
 
Without seeing the tractor the first thing I will ask. At the tractor center housing mating point to the transmission can you see four 5/8 diameter attaching bolts with 7/8 or 15/16 wrench head size on each side? If so its not a regular SM chassis. Top of center housing would also have a steel plate instead of being part of the casting like a regular SM.
Sounds like it may be a SMTA chassis but the 3 number serial number don't match that. If someone put a earlier 400 center housing with a 3 number serial and other parts the date codes should be later than you stated. Early 400 may have one or two early 54 dates but most are 7 through the 12 month.
Check for a date code on center housing left side to rear of clutch shaft that goes in the side of housing, if its what I suspect. Also on the right side just to rear of biggest part of housing see if there's 6 numbers followed by R1? or R2?
Also forgot to ask. How far is the rear of fuel tank from the front side of steering post?
 
I'm bringing it home Saturday so I'll get some good pics. I do remember there were no holes where any t/a linkage would have been. If I recall the codes in that area matched the rest of the tractor.
 
Per the Wisconsin State Historical Society
McCormick collection:
Farmall Works production lists.

Feb 1, 1954 started production of the S-MTA with s/n 113394
Oct 1, 1954 started with s/n 135284
Nov 1 1954 was discontinued, but has no listing of the last serial number built.
 
rhtx, Would guess you were looking at first monthly engine serial numbers and not SMTA tractors. But didn't look to be sure if that's the case.
 
I've got a SMTA with all Z codes except for the front bolster which is an A. I think it was cast in January of A (55)
 
I should be so lucky! I will say the tag only has numbers and a couple of letters hand punched not machine stamped. There is no embossed areas typically found in production plates but it's the same size and made of aluminum. The rivet heads are not deformed like if someone hammered in some after the fact.
 
This is what some IH records show. Serial number is the first one built that month. So a tractor would be built in the month the tractor passed the first built serial number and below the first one of the next month. This is first month serial numbers. Just using a letter for month starting with February. For regular SMTA models other than diesel.
F-60001
M-61707
A-65282
M-69226
J-72802
J-76002
A-78416
S-79686
O-81847 Last one built 83523.
yours went through factory in June
 
(quoted from post at 04:59:08 02/03/15) rhtx, Would guess you were looking at first monthly engine serial numbers and not SMTA tractors. But didn't look to be sure if that's the case.
You are correct, I just checked......workin too much....
sorry guys...
 
Most old serial plates on SMTA only have the stamped in numbers and letters left on them. Picture of one. Reason for D above serial line is a diesel. SMTA all had 5 numbers. Can have more than one letter. Stage 2 SM all had 5 or 6 numbers. 5 serial number stage 2 SM didn't go as high as 60001 when SMTA started. Louisville SM had 6 numbers instead of 5 like all SMTA.
So if you only have 3 numbers its not a regular stage 2 SM or a SMTA chassis. Something different or pieced together.
Also the only 3 number serial number plates on a Z center casting is early 400 tractors. Never found a 54 Stage 2 SM with other than mostly late Y castings. Certainly no April or May Z castings came on a stage 2 SM.
a181710.jpg
 
If I remember correctly it doesn't have the same center section as my 400 or my SMTA. Its just like my 52 Super m. I wish I'd have taken some dang pictures but i bought a highdrum cotton tractor he had and my attention got diverted. Fortunately my smta still has a readable plate.
 
Looking on the WHS Web site, the picture of what looks like a serial number list from the Farmall Works for 1954, it shows serial number 501 for the 400 starting in November. Am I reading that right? The castings on this tractor are all from late April, early May of 54.
 
Yes Farmall 400 tractors started with serial number 501 and the official start date was 11-54. Nov. was the start of IH fiscal year.
Maybe can figure out what you have after getting it home.
You mentioned having a PTO like a 560. Do you mean the one with operating lever going direct to the PTO unit or one with operating lever mounted to the side of the transmission? Planetary type or clutch type?
Anything is possible but all early 400 tractors I have looked over have zero to two Z castings early as you posted. Biggest percent have late 54 castings.
Also no production SM tractors came with any April or May Z castings.
Unless its a non regular production tractor I'm thinking the tractor has some SMTA parts or is a SMTA chassis.
Hope you get it home without problems.
 
You've been really helpful, thank you. I'll take a bunch of pics and start an updated thread soon as I can. I'd really like to know what this joker is before I make a fool out of myself bragging about something that isn't so. I truly don't think it's something Bubba built under his shade tree. I'll let folks smarter than me figure it out
 
I went back and pulled the ad the guy ran to see about any pics. I believe that I was wrong about the clutch housing. It looks like that of an mta/400. My guess is that the tractor is an mta that has had the clutch housing changed with that of a 400 with no t/a. The original ta probably died a terrible death and that was the fastest way to remedy the situation.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top