John Deere AN High Clearance

joshienelly · Nov 25, 2014

I'm trying to track down the number of High Clearance model AN tractors John Deere produced. Not the true ANH from the early 1940s, but the high clearance variety during the years of 1947 through 1952 with 42" rear wheels, 16" front wheel, and A3271R rear housing. I have found info on the AWs, but I'm interested in the AN. Hopefully someone with some literature could help me out. My internet searches so far have come up empty. Thanks!

Bob Gauntt · Nov 25, 2014

Production records show 5,223 AN tractors were built from 1947 to 1952. I don t know of any records on the number with 42 inch rear wheels.

joshienelly · Nov 25, 2014

Bob, thanks for the quick reply.

So is the only difference between a "Normal" Clearance AN and a High Clearance AN the just size of the tires? It gets a little confusing, please bear with me...

I thought the distinguishing features for a high clearance AN were:

1)Tires (16" front and 42" rears)
2)Axle Width (96" instead of 84")
3)Axle Housing (A3271R instead of A3270R)

Does a High Clearance AN need all three of these to be considered a High Clearance, or is it just the tire size? Does a "Normal" Clearance AN (with 38" rear tires" still have the A3241R axle housing? Could a "Normal" Clearance AN be ordered with wider axles?

Maybe I'll ask my wife to buy me a serial number search for Christmas. Then I'll know everything about my tractor.

In the end, all the specifics don't really matter...all that matters is that I enjoy what I've got.

Mike Aylward · Nov 26, 2014

A true AN has the rear axle housing you describe. Otherwise, it's just a regular A with a single front wheel. Not the same. Mike

Jake Winn · Dec 3, 2014

Its kind of a confusing when talking about the late styled AN/AW BN/BW tractors. Like Mike mentioned, to have a true -N or -W they need the long axle housing and rear axles. There is also a spacer between the drawbar frame and rear axle housing. Along with 10 and 16" single front tires, there were different spindles and knees used on the wide front axles. Usually a tractor equipped with 38" rear tires had the short spindles where one on 42's had the tall ones. Whatever the tire equipment is, these are the features that make them a factory -N or -W tractor.

There were a lot of crops that needed the tread adjustment that the long axles gave the farmer, but they didnt need the clearance, such as potatoes or sugar beets. My dad had a 1947 BN that came fron eastern Washington. It had 10-38 rear tires on pressed rims and a 9.00-10 single front.

One thing that a lot of folks may not know on the mid-40s -NH and -WH tractors is that 38" rear tires were an option along with the 40" tires. Still technically a high clearance tractor, but on 38" rear tires as an 11-38 was probably the same height as a 9-40 tire.

John Deere AN High Clearance

joshienelly

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Bob Gauntt

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joshienelly

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Mike Aylward

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Jake Winn

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