Another John Deere B

Cjet · Nov 20, 2013

We picked up another John Deere B this week. The tractor is in pieces and missing the radiator. We picked it up with the idea of using it for parts, but it looks like it could be saved. The bore's were rusty, but cleaned up easily. I got the valves loosened up also without much trouble. We have 4 JD B's now and it looks like we can make 3 of them runners. We still need to haul the rolling chassis home later this week.

Cjet · Nov 20, 2013

What year do you think this is? I'm guessing 45/46. The serial # tag is rusty so I'll have to clean it up and see if I can read the number.

RLA · Nov 20, 2013

I think it's older than that. maybe 41 42 43 is
what I'm thinking..

A GURU · Nov 20, 2013

If the serial number tag is "rusty", that would imply that it is steel. It has an angle frame as opposed to cast. So I would guess it's a 42 between about SN 120000 and 136000, or possibly a 45 above SN 167700.

Cjet · Nov 20, 2013

The carb is a DLTX 34 and the Mag is model XH477. The mag is in great shape and only needed the light corrosion removed from the points to get a good hot spark.

bill mart · Nov 20, 2013

looks kinda sad with the pistons hanging out

Cjet · Nov 20, 2013

(quoted from post at 17:04:08 11/20/13) looks kinda sad with the pistons hanging out

Ya, I agree. I think we got to it soon enough to save it though. The pistons have light rust , but I think they will clean up pretty easily. If not, we are setup to bore and hone if we need too.

thdrduck · Nov 20, 2013

(quoted from post at 22:09:48 11/20/13) I think it's older than that. maybe 41 42 43 is
what I'm thinking..

I agree, I have a 39 and it is a 4 speed. Looks like that is a 6 and I think that started with sn 96000.

41B-boy · Nov 20, 2013

a beauty in the rough... wish it was parked in MY shop. Visually, it looks exactly like my '41B.
SN 114144, which I believe makes it a March '41 build. Mine, however, is a flat back. Notable for me is the gusseting under the frame below the block.
A year ago, before I got brave and just jumped head first into my B, I would have been skeered to death to see all those parts laid out.
the simplicity of this two cylinder design is genius!
Bob

Machinery-Man · Nov 21, 2013

I feel you'll enjoy fixing up but will find there is no margain to make much expenditures keeping in mind the value. It was an expensive lesson but I learned early on I could buy a good running tractor for less than I could restore one...

A GURU · Nov 21, 2013

Did a little estimating based on some known build dates and I think your tractor would have been built right around 4/17/41.
If you ever happen to get the number researched, I would be interested to know how close I was. Helps me reduce the error margin of the lists I compile on letter series tractors.

Everyone loves pictures if you have any to post.

Cjet · Nov 21, 2013

(quoted from post at 14:45:25 11/21/13) Did a little estimating based on some known build dates and I think your tractor would have been built right around 4/17/41.
If you ever happen to get the number researched, I would be interested to know how close I was. Helps me reduce the error margin of the lists I compile on letter series tractors.

Everyone loves pictures if you have any to post.

When we get it home I will get you the Serial # unless it is unreadable. What methods of cleaning up these steel tags have you found work best so as to not destroy the #.

A GURU · Nov 21, 2013

Cjet, I might not have been clear enough on the last post, the estimate was for 114144.
At any rate, there are probably as many methods to read a bad tag as there are folks on this forum. On steel tags I use a small brass brush or some kind of plastic based scrub pad. The main thing is to try not to remove (or smear) any more of the base material than is already gone. Sometimes you can highlight the numbers by rubbing them with a marker or something and wiping off the excess.
The best viewing method I have found is a good magnifying glass and a flashlight (not necessarily a bright one) and move the light and the magnifier at different angles until you can read each number. They can almost always be read with enough patience.
I've included this photo of a pretty bad steel tag from a 43 B. It's 140268. Once you know what it is you can almost read it in the pic, but otherwise it looks hopeless when you just look at the tag.
Hope this helps.

A GURU · Nov 21, 2013

Trying again. Having a lot of trouble with the post right now
No luck on the pic..........one more time!
Sorry........I tried three times to post the pic but no luck.
Good luck and let me know what you find out.

A GURU · Nov 22, 2013

Here's the pic I tried to post yesterday........if it loads!

Cjet · Nov 23, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:31:44 11/22/13) Here's the pic I tried to post yesterday........if it loads!
quote]

Boy, that tag is in rough shape. The tag on the B we are getting is in a lot better condition. Looks like we will bring it home next week when a friend of my dads can use his roll back flatbed.

Cjet · Nov 26, 2013

Just got the tractor home and started cleaning the tag. So far I can't tell if the number is a 14098X or 17098X. On JD tags is the #4 open or closed top. Here is the tag

Cjet · Nov 27, 2013

Here are a few pics of the tractor now that we got it home. Looks like the tag reads # 17018?

Another John Deere B

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