Putting a late model JD A on a diet

nfrank0908 · Sep 28, 2015

So I would like to try to get my A down to 4500lbs. Just wondering if anyone has gotten a late model A down that far. I have seen several unstyled A's down there but none like mine. is it even possible?

Tractor details:
1951 JD A
if I remember correctly it is about 5000 lbs empty right now.. been about a year since I have pulled it, so my memory is a little rusty.

Parts already removed:
Oil bath air cleaner and stack
shutters
cast hubs (have 9 bolt rims on currently)

I'd like to remove the back cover and hydraulics and put an aluminum flat back on it. Can anyone tell me how much weight I could loose doing this?

Also considering remaking my weight brackets and wheelie bars from aluminum.

And how about getting rid of the radiator and putting a light automotive radiator with an electric fan?

Attaching a couple photos to show the tractor.

nfrank0908 · Sep 28, 2015

got to thinking about the Radiator part of the deal. If remove the stock radiator, do most people just fab up brackets for the hood to mount to? as well as the exhaust since the stack bolts to the radiator..

What about the loss of volume of water going to a smaller radiator? would one have to add a water pump?

forty40 · Sep 28, 2015

(quoted from post at 10:11:47 09/28/15) got to thinking about the Radiator part of the deal. If remove the stock radiator, do most people just fab up brackets for the hood to mount to? as well as the exhaust since the stack bolts to the radiator..

What about the loss of volume of water going to a smaller radiator? would one have to add a water pump?

1950 JDA I converted into a puller weighs exactly 4500lb with a 230lb driver sitting on a 1/4 piece of plywood and 1 gal of gasoline in the tank but doesn't pull all that well without a scale allowance to add weight back on the nose. Have al radiator, elec fan and water pump, al gas tank, B pedestal, removed fan shaft, light weight back cover, hitch, and wheelie bars. Tires weigh 127lb, no tubes. If I had aluminum wheels would cut another 200lb, saw 9" off axles 26lb, lite weight hubs approx 40lb, could make a lite front axle, time and money. Styled A would be a challenge to get to 4,000.

MSD · Sep 28, 2015

Back cover with hydraulics for a G weighs 286 lbs. Have the bull gears turned down and loose another 80 lbs., lighten up the front weight bracket, lighter wheelie bars,
aluminum hitch cover, remove fan shaft, redo the steering pedestal, loose the lights and big gas tank, put driver on a diet and you can make 4500. Our styled A comes in at 4400 with the grandson on it.

nfrank0908 · Sep 29, 2015

All good info, thanks. I'm 6' 165 lbs.. can't stand to loose too much of me.. LOL

forty40: how hard was it to attach the hoods and things after the radiator swap? Doesn't seem like it would be too bad. What radiator did you use?

forty40 · Sep 29, 2015

(quoted from post at 06:04:59 09/29/15) All good info, thanks. I'm 6' 165 lbs.. can't stand to loose too much of me.. LOL

forty40: how hard was it to attach the hoods and things after the radiator swap? Doesn't seem like it would be too bad. What radiator did you use?

Not difficult, kind of a puttering type job, 2" x 11ga flat stock formed to fit contour of the hood, then plasma cut the vertical member, L shape for stiffness. The radiator is just a hot rod radiator std catalog item, sized to fit under the hood. I have seen a custom JD A aluminum radiator, bolted right in where the stock radiator was, probably a better deal than my homemade setup, a little small for big cu-in.

Putting a late model JD A on a diet

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