1938 John Deere Model A

scott12180

New User
Hi --- I'm new to the forum but also to antique tractors. Always loved and lusted after an old two-cylinder John Deere and found a nice 1938 Model A which is for sale locally.

My question is, I'd like to buy this to do some snow plowing. I've got heavy snow and ice which falls from a building that a snow blower can't handle. I don't have a 4WD truck. So here's an excuse to get an antique tractor to have some fun while I put it to use.

So, it is reasonably easy to find a front plow blade or better yet a front-end loader or bucket/scoop to fit onto a Model A? Or is this a hard-to-find item for an early Deere?

Like I say, sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm new to this. I'm an old car guy -- Model T era --- but this is my first foray into tractors.

Thanks --- Scott
 
Does it have ROCK SHAFT HYD on it, a model 90 JD snow plow could be made to work if it has the HYD a losder i would no suggest to much cobbing, WEIGHTS for backing up just in case and front mounting assey of plow frame might have to MODDED a little. They are EXPENN if you can find one for sale.
 
I got an abg90 snow plow that would work for ya if your tractor has rock shafts. Not sure how bad I wanna sell it tho, you can find em advertised for sale from time to time. I gotta loader on my 50 and it surprisingly does a real nice job of pushing snow. I could use some tire chains tho and you would probably want some too!
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No starter so might be hard to get going when you need it. No power steering so a loader will make it tough to steer. No live hydraulics or any hydraulics for that matter. Will definitely need a set of chains also. A newer model will probably work out better for you.
 
Don't get me wrong, the only thing I know about unstyled tractors is I want a few but I get along alright without power steering on the 50. Just like anything else u adapt and overcome and get used to it. I would like to have power steering but on my 1953 tractors it wasn't an option and I don't like the looks of the aftermarket units. Steering brakes are kinda handy.
 
An older 4WD pickup would be a much more user friendly snow removal machine. An unstyled A is a really crude machine as the others have said.

Back in the 1950's & '60's there was only one neighbor who used an A to push snow, and only because it was the ONLY thing he had plus he had four hands/arms to run it.
 
What do you have in the way of Model T's. I have a 17 converted to a pickup. I had a 39 JD A hand crank with a rockshaft and 3 point. I used a back blade on it. I did not enjoy cranking it in cold weather. Might be alright if kept in a heated garage.
Richard in NW SC
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I like a 2cyl. as much as the next guy , but I don't think I'd want one that old for snow removal ? You should buy it anyhow so you can get your putt putt fix. Nothing like hearing one run !
Most likely you would have to be capable of making your own brackets to mount something like a blade from a Pickup truck.
Then having not ever ran a front blade on a 2 cyl. I don't know if the front ends are too light to stay put and not slide all over. You would have to keep the blade straight only and then is not good for snow removal either.
I have ran 2cyl. with rear blades and even front loaders and then after moving up to more modern tractors like a 4020 with a loader and rear blade I sure would not want to go back !
 
Thanks for your thoughts, guys. Much appreciated. Like I said, I am new to old tractors and other than always wanting one, I'm kind of ignorant on the ways and practicality.

So a Model A doesn't have a starter? Hmmm. No, that wouldn't be much fun in the winter. And no, I do not have a heated garage. Shoot. . . .

And maybe an old 4WD pickup or Jeep would be a better snow pusher. Have to think on that. I had a 1954 Willys 4WD pickup in high school. Sure wish I had that now.

Thanks for the advice, and if anyone has something to add, I'm all ears.

And I've owned several Model T's over the years --- 1926, 1914, 1913 and 1912 --- now now I just have two Franklins. A 1924 Sedan and a 1914 Touring car. Both are fully 100% and on the road. Fun stuff.

--Scott
 
If your snow piles are too hard to dig into with a snow blower, I doubt that you will have much luck pushing them. You may need a loader to tear them apart before you can move the chunks.

As others have said, there are better loader tractors out there for about the same money. Look for one with a foot clutch, working brakes, is easy to shift between slow forward, reverse and a fast traverse gears. Live hydraulics is a big advantage on a loader tractor.

It's usually less expensive to buy a tractor with a loader already on it than to buy them separately, same with tire chains and a heat houser. You can also test drive it too.
 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7BWjShuW_E0

This is my 41 hand start A. Use it every time it snows, starts at -25f in 2 cranks. Tires are full of chloride. Sits outside year round. Full synthetic oil, tank heater & a hot mag properly set. Clean carb. Manual Thermostat & shutters.
 

We had a Caswell loader on a 51 A for darned near 25 years. I would never go back to those days for anything but it got the job done. You learn to pull the clutch, throw it into neutral and push The clutch back in to raise the loader right before you get to the snow pile. Turning the steering wheel with the tractor stopped won't happen.
 

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