Repairing my B

JDBRIDER · Apr 4, 2018

I have a 1945 model "B". I have had this tractor for about 35years. I use it for hauling fire wood and working food plots and running a small bush hog. Yesterday I discovered that the manifold has a hole in it. Burned thru on the exhaust side facing the carb. Its the original hot manifold. I have a cold manifold and gas pistons from a parts tractor that I bought about 20 years ago. The pistons were stuck in the bore but after lots of soaking I got them out about 15 years ago. They have been sitting in the corner of the shed since then. Now that I am going to have to replace the manifold I'm thinking about installing the gas pistons also. I removed the rings and got the wrist pin out of one piston. I've heard of people reconditioning pistons and wonder if that is feasible or if I would be better off buying new pistons and rings. The gas pistons must be standard size as I don't see anything stamped on the top. I won't know if the block in my tractor is standard bore till I get it apart.

Thanks for any help or advice.

Mike M · Apr 5, 2018

Are the pistons you have for that year B the 4 1/2" bore ? I have heard tell of people in the past using the late B 4 11/16" bore pistons but you could always run a chance boreing a block that big of hitting a sand hole or thin spot.
When I restored my 1945 B I was able to find some NOS gas pistons for it. IIRC they were the .045" over for the 4 1/2" bore. I also needed a manifold so I thought may as well use a gas only one from a late B as reproduction ones were cheap. It all worked out but I had to modify the air intake pipe so it aligned up with the air cleaner. Top hole need relocated. Those gas pistons really wake those tractors up !

Repairing my B

JDBRIDER

Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

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