1939 B info

PretendFarmer · Feb 12, 2015

I have the opportunity to buy a 1939 john Deere B. The guy says it runs excellent. He says it has a factory high and low range with a four speed tranny(if I understood him correctly). He says the tractor is stuck in low range. Is that a big deal? How slow is this tractor in low speed first gear and because of this low and high range, how fast would it be in high range road gear? Thanks

DR. EVIL · Feb 12, 2015

1st gear was 2.3 mph. 2nd gear was 3.0 mph 3rd gear
was 4.0 mph. 4th gear was 5.3 mph. Reverse was 3.8
mph but seemed about ten mph when you were backing a
wagon. 1st & 2nd were low range, 3rd & 4th were
high range. Separate lever shifted lo/hi range.
Probably a simple fix. The range lever shifted from
hi to lo when you shifted into reverse. Bet that
linkage is where the problem is.

buckeye al · Feb 12, 2015

I don't have a table t otell you of the speeds but I can tell you I once ddrove one back to it's owner after working on the brakes & giving it a general tune up. As I did so I made the day for a couple of young Amish boys on a spring wagon.

They saw me coming as they reached the end of their driveway. This tractor makes an H seem speedy and so I was coasting down this hill going maybe 12 or 15 MPH. They naturally waited for the traffic which was just me. After I had passed they pulled onto the road as I continued my coast to the bottom of the hill. I put it b ack into gear, engaged the clutch, throttled up and they soon caught up with me. I watched them a while & as we came to a long straight level stretch of the road, I spoke to them saying this is all the faster it goes guys! I was coasting past your drive. You may as well pass me now!

We all grinned at each other as they easily passed me.

They sure got a big charge out of passing instead of being passed!

thdrduck · Feb 13, 2015

There is nothing in that shift linkage that is very complicated, probably a simple fix. You should be aware that 39 and 40 where the first years of the "styled" B and some parts are a bit harder to come by.

Mike M · Feb 13, 2015

I would see if they would let you pop the top cover off the transmission. Take a look and see if anything looks broken ? Maybe the gear shift just popped out of place ?
If you see a bunch of gear teeth missing you may want to pass on it ?

James Howell · Feb 13, 2015

The speed of Low Range 1 and 2 is slow.

The only time we use the <a href="http://youtu.be/H-dtiNAZZ_o?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">Low Range 1</a> is to load/unload "Uncle Earl" our 39B.

We use <a href="http://youtu.be/HgKBuc5Qi8Q?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">High Range 1</a> all the time.

Reviewed the John Deere Parts Manual PC330.

Take a look at the three diagrams below.

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182728.jpg" width="650" />

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182729.jpg" width="650" />

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182730.jpg" width="650" />

Note that the parts are common for the 1939 though some of the 1947 tractors.

Hope this helps.

James Howell · Feb 13, 2015

(quoted from post at 08:17:12 02/13/15) The speed of Low Range 1 and 2 is slow.

The only time we use the <a href="http://youtu.be/H-dtiNAZZ_o?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">Low Range 1</a> is to load/unload "Uncle Earl" our 39B.

We use <a href="http://youtu.be/HgKBuc5Qi8Q?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">High Range 1 </a> all the time.

Reviewed the John Deere Parts Manual PC330.

Take a look at the three diagrams below.

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182728.jpg" width="650" />

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182729.jpg" width="650" />

<img src="http://photos.yesterdaystractors.com/gallery/uptest/a182730.jpg" width="650" />

Note that the parts are common for the 1939 though some of the 1947 tractors.

Hope this helps.

James Howell · Feb 13, 2015

Sorry for the Modern View garbage above.

The speed of Low Range 1 and 2 is slow.

The only time we use the <a href="http://youtu.be/H-dtiNAZZ_o?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">Low Range 1</a> is to load/unload "Uncle Earl" our 39B.

We use <a href="http://youtu.be/HgKBuc5Qi8Q?list=PLCUEeGboEbi8NcttNiRDnDmLsAyI87uwI">High Range 1</a> all the time.

Reviewed the John Deere Parts Manual PC330.

Take a look at the three diagrams below.

Note that the parts are common for the 1939 though some of the 1947 tractors.

Hope this helps.

1939 B info

PretendFarmer

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DR. EVIL

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buckeye al

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thdrduck

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Mike M

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James Howell

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James Howell

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James Howell

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