One babbitt one insert rod

A man at the NY Expo told me that over the years he has had at least three different early styled A's with one babbitt and one insert rod. He asked me the reason for this and I told him that apparently one rod or bearing went bad and they were converted to the newer style. He thought that three tractors was too big of a coincidence.
Does anyone else have a good reason?
 
No good reason I can see ? Was pretty rare to find insert rods in tractors around my area. Maybe it was from that certain area there was a certain dealer/mechanic that worked on them all ?
 
I have run into this too. A 50 rod was a direct fit for late model B's. The babbitt got thin in a rod but the journal was ok and it was cheaper and easier to put the 50 rod in than to rebabbitt the old rod.
 
(quoted from post at 10:59:44 07/19/17)
(quoted from post at 14:57:18 07/19/17) Let me guess, that they were on number one cylinder?

That would be my bet, of course the odds are pretty good. :lol:

I get the feeling there is some joke here I'm not getting. Nonetheless it does seem like he might have said it was always the same cylinder but I don't remember which one.
 
For several years Deere had an exchange program where you could send in your worn out babbitt rod for a rebuilt one. At some point in time that program stopped and insert rods became the over the counter replacement. I am not sure when this would have been. I remember checking on a rebuilt babbitt rod for a "B" in the early '70s and as I remember that was the case then. Odds are the babbitt rod exchange program stopped before then, possibly in the 60's sometime. Mike
 
I've seen it once , it was often the farmer was tight with money
and would just replace only what was absolutely necessary to
get it going again
 
Having lived in the Northeast for 4 years, I can tell you that farmers there know how to squeeze every bit out of a dollar. If the guy was from the area, I think it was nothing more than one rod needing
replacement at one time or another, and the other being "good enough."
 
(quoted from post at 17:23:25 07/19/17)
(quoted from post at 10:59:44 07/19/17)
(quoted from post at 14:57:18 07/19/17) Let me guess, that they were on number one cylinder?

That would be my bet, of course the odds are pretty good. :lol:

I get the feeling there is some joke here I'm not getting. Nonetheless it does seem like he might have said it was always the same cylinder but I don't remember which one.

The older Deere's with the single barrel carbs were known for running on number one cylinder alone while idling. Only under a load would number two start firing. The firing order is what led to this, when idling number one would take all or most of the gas leaving number two with hardly any. When under a load there is more fuel available allowing number two to pick up the slack. That's why I said I would bet the replaced rods were on number one cylinder.
As far as the odds comment, there are only two cylinders to pick from hence pretty good odds. I wasn't trying to be a smart azz
 
I just did this to a 1950 G #1 rod bearing was gone so put in newer rod with the inserts and also bought one for #2 but when I went to do #2 the rod bearing was fine and in spec and
since I did it through the access cover on top figured why bother. And it runs great no issues.
 
My '42 A, when I got it and tore into it, had one babbit bearing (clutch side), and one insert bearing (flywheel side). Only problem is, the rod with an insert bearing in it did NOT have a bearing in it. Needless to say, the crankshaft was trashed. Had to put new mains, crank, pistons, block, rods & bearings into that old girl. Also a new reduction gear & cover, countless bearings... You get the idea.. She was in bead shape internally. BUT, it runs like a top now! (I even converted it over to an unstyled, electric start with lights)!
a166466.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 12:25:39 07/20/17) Reminds me of George Thorogood song, one bourbon one beer.

Forgot the Scotch...originally John Lee Hooker

The 1st A I took apart had an insert bearing rod on #1, used babbitt bearing shims for a .040 undersized crank pin, #2 was standard babbitt & dia.
 

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