For those of you who followed: '41 Unstyled A is Running!

Hello all!

Just thought I would give you all an update, as I thought there might be some of you that may not venture into the JD forum. I initially posted on both forums, but throughout the months have spent less and less time posting in here, so I thought I would give an update.

The A is back together in it's converted Unstyled clothing. It unexpectedly popped off and took off running after what was a long and challenging rebuild. It was my first dive into a transmission, and nearly everything except the main case and camshaft in the motor needed to be replaced. Here is a summed up list of what I id to it:

Engine:
-Replaced block with .045 over block and cast iron pistons.
-New rings
-Replaced crankshaft and main bearings
-Replaced (#1) rod - Someone earlier installed a insert bearing rod (without a bearing) with a babbit bearing cap. Needless to say it ate up the crankshaft.
-Replaced Oil pump drive gear and coupler
-Replaced manifold
-Lapped valves
-Scrubbed crankcase
-Replaced governor housing with unstyled housing and new governor shaft bushing
-Carburetor rebuilt
-Magneto: new points, condensor, clips, cap, rotor, plug wires
-Gaskets/shims replaced
-New radiator core
-Trimmed 1/2" off of Styled fan blades to fit between Unstyled radiator side curtains.
-Fabricated new throttle linkage (throttle lever to governor)
-Replaced hood/gas tanks/frame/front pedestal/steering shaft/Air Cleaner with Unstyled components

Transmission:
-Replaced reduction gear cover with Unstyled cover (outer reduction bearing severely wore away the original cover)
-Replaced reduction gear/input shaft/input shaft bearings
-Replaced all topshaft bearings
-Adjusted countershaft bearings
-Replaced slant dash/trans cover with 6 speed hand start trans cover and steering support post
-Flushed rear end
-Replaced gaskets
-Replaced clutch discs and pulley brake
-Countless washers, nuts, and bolts.

I think that is everything, but I am sure I missed some things. Enjoy the pictures and the video that I was able to get while capturing the first start. Tractor hadn't ran in at least 10 years or so.


1941 John Deere Unstyled A Conversion First Start

Great runner! and a nice job saving it.

Congratulations! You know don't you that you are going to need to get a place where you have considerably more room to be able to both store and work on tractors.

Way to go! I am a little surprised that they allow you to work on machinery in a place like that.

Well Ken I am currently resurrecting a 1944
styled hand crank A into a 46 Slant dash.
I should have purchased the tractor you picked
up & you should have purchased mine. I will
tell you BOTH just about needed the same thing
except the crank & rods on Mine were OK, &
After removing & cleaned the trans & final
drive I only replaced 2 bearings & added a
power troll & replace the PTO Pump asy. But
I needed a cylinder head along with the block.
I still need a few items like a gasoline tank?
But your progress is much faster than mine,
mostly because you have a warmer place to work
& it"s been a VERY long & Cold winter in Pa.

I doubt if we have a much warmer place to work here in Minnesota, lol. I have spent nearly half of the winter below zero (and my garage has remained close to zero much of that time). Zero in the garage sure beats -60 windchills outside though. I got this A for pretty much scrap price, which is why I decided to do what I did. If I had paid more than that, it wouldn't have been cost effective to do it. But now I have a (nearly) completely rebuilt A (minus the PTO and Power Lift), and an Unstyled A with a 6 speed, lights and electric start at that. Pretty much the best of all worlds in my book.

I just would work on mine when I had a spare hour or two between sleep, class homework, work, and the girlfriend.. It's a wonder I even got it done this quickly. I guess I get a little adamant when I have something on my mind.

Good luck with yours, and we'd all love to see some pictures (and video) of it!

What they don't know won't hurt them. Besides, what I do inside my garage is my business. As long as I keep it clean, am not doing it outside or cluttering up the "common areas", I don't think they really care.

In the meantime, the next project is to move the girlfriend in (once she finishes school in 3 weeks), and begin our search for a new home with a (hopefully much bigger) shop and "green space".

You are very correct on that. A bigger place is the next project. Then I'll have to get another (loader) tractor to clear snow in the winter.. I just have to make it seem justified.

I do have a full time job @ a Ford Garage, + help out
on a 80 head dairy farm with milking & chores. After spending
most of the weekend outside, @-18 air temps I kinda like to
spend most of the other off time in my basement where's it
+80°. The tractor I am attemping to save from the scrap the
scrap yard last ran May of 1985. A tornado took it on the last
day of May & rolled it over a few times. I too got this for about
scrap price, bought site unseen & all this time thought it was
a later cyclone A. Disappointed at first, but after removing all
the damaged parts it began to look better to me. Most of
everything was done befor it got real cold. The rest of the
winter been working on pieces & parts that I could carry into
the furnace room in the basement. Picking up parts here &
there off Craigslist & Ebay. Painting pieces & parts up stairs
in My Ford Parts room.

I do have a 30'x30' pole building where most of my work is
done, but there is 620,630,41B, 52 60, 54 60 & a J/Deere M
& the Model A that really is taking up 2 parking spots in this
shed along with all my tools. So I am cramped for space just.
like you. I've been told I am Crazy, at times I have thought
others were correct in their assumption of me trying to save
a tractor that there is SO MANY OF. But it's a passion/goal
a battle of sorts to achieve something & hear it run again. It
will be used for something when it's done or It won't be at our
at farm. My plan is making this into our snow plow tractor.
But who really knows? LOL

Great pics and video. Love the sound of an old John Deere. We have a "36 B.

Good luck on you and your girlfriend finding a bigger place with some green... so you can have fun with your tractors.

Way to stay with it! I remember you got the tractor for a good price, but sounds like you have quite a bit invested in it now.

I actually had a lot of help from a lot of forum members and searching. I was able to find nearly all of the bearings for the transmission used (that were still good and tight). I didn't buy very many things new for the tractor. Piston rings, governor/fan shaft shims, clutch discs, and a couple other things were bought new, but most everything I have is from parts tractors. I still have a good deal of money beyond what I paid for the tractor, but not NEARLY as much as I could have had I bought everything new. Stay tuned for more videos, as I'm sure I'll get around to doing more as soon as the weather clears up around here, my week long training for work at Camp Ripley, and school finals are done.

Isn't it amazing how when we think we can't dedicate any more time to anything, we still find time to work on tractors (even when the weather isn't loosening it's grip)? Ha ha. Well it sounds like you definitely have your hands full with a lack of space, and enough projects to last you a while. The A sounds like a heck of a good one to restore - not because it's your average, every day A, but because of the story it has to tell. It's been through a tornado and lived to tell about it. I think you are right. It's not about 'commonality', it's about resurrection - bringing something back to life that many have long forgotten about.

As far as use goes. My tractors won't be used until we get into the next place. For what they will be used, I am not sure.. But I know that I'll have to get a third to use as my snow removal tractor. I don't know if the girlfriend will be able to justify me having any more than three (although letting me have two while living in a townhome with a one-stall garage yields a pretty promising future, eh?) Ha ha. Well I hope your project goes well, and if you got time, I'm sure we would all like to see some pictures.

Everything is in the Shed is running with the exception of the
Model A..... I've had then all running lately & some do get used
over the winter, the 41 B & 620 & 630 did start but they have
not seen any sunshine since last November, I will start again
on the A when I get the Block Back from a Machine shop.

Well it sounds like your shed is mostly good to go then. I doubt I will get around to painting the A this year. Probably will be next year by the time I get around to it. I typically send them to the local sand blasting firm to get completely stripped, then put a good primer and (usually) PPG paint on to spruce it up some. As long as it runs well, that is half the battle. I can break it down and have it blasted and painted in the matter of a couple weeks, so that is pretty miniscule as of now.

What did you have done to your block? Just decked or did you have it bored as well?

Ken.
I had access to a donor 46 slant dash in pieces. The block
that came with the tractor would have had to been sleeved.
So I am using the one that needed bored & going 45 over.
Having it check 1st my man at the shop said 45 should clean
up everything. I was pushing alittle because a set of 45 over
correct pistons on Ebay were selling cheap & I won them.
NEW NOS pistons.

After boring he calls & asked me to come look at the block?
I thought O Crap... Tope side r/h cyl has slight discolored
spot that didn't clean. I can't feel it & it's only 3/8 by maybe
3/16 at the head of the piston so it won't hurt a thing.
MAYBE another couple thousands would have cleaned
perfect. As for the head I had needed exhaust seats, I
said just do them all. But after a magna flux we found a
crack so now using the other head. Which checks OK but
one exhaust seat doesn't look good to me. So he's replacing
both exhaust seats. I said I wasn't in a hurry, that might
have been a mistake? Since he's had the engine, I tore
everything else apart & back together with new gaskets &
seals, some I've made. New Frt wheel bearings & felts.
New rear axle seals & checking everything & readjusting
trans shafts & shift forks final drive carrier. have sand
blasted many parts & self echting primer , Built a new
wire harness with all heat shrink eyelet ends. Rebuild the
lights I bought on Ebay . Went through a genie from Ebay
& plan on making this a 12V system using a late Model G
Starter. And clutch pulley & 1st reduction gear from a
51 A to slow the trans down & reverse. I ( Might) use a
shift tower from a 48 A & make this a Short hood & put
battery box & float ride seat & rear rock shaft for the 48.
It will truly be a Johnny Cash type Model A, that will be
all Bolted back together. It started as a 44, with a 48
oil bat & air cleaner. with a 46 Block & head. a 47 manifold
48 a rock shaft, & battery box with a 520 float ride seat &
seat frame 51 A Clutch & lights. The Hood came from
Kruggiemonster I think it's 47 A that also went threw a
twister. Grills & Nose cone are from a 45 A that needed to
be tweaked to fit a 44 Radiator.. Frt wheels were Junk
& 2 1268R wheels from a 1954 Model 60? And a cross frame
tool box from a 60. It will also sport a Distributor & live
hydraulic pump & 801 3 point hitch. I already had many other
parts I've saved over the years.

As U can see I'm Long winded..

What I still need is a Small Radiator Neck & Cap. Main Fuel
tank. ( I missed one on Ebay) & 1 good used 13.6 x 38
tire.. This tractor had 16.9x38 on the rear.. LOL! So far
it has been an enjoyable adventure... I've already named
this Machine POS... U Figure it out. I Hope it runs!!

Wow! Sounds like you have had a lot of work to do as well. Good thing your block is usable, even though a replacement can be had at a pretty fair price. I've been told that the Unstyled A and later model A heads are known for cracking, but the early styled A heads are pretty strong. The combustion chamber casting areas are a little thicker on the early Styled A heads.

I guess I'm not quite sure about the float ride see, I'll have to look it up to see exactly what you are talking about (again, this is my first Deere). I won't be getting out in the garage for at least two weeks probably. I've been trying to lock down my final exams this week (a week early), as I am headed to Camp Ripley for a week-long training for work. Going to learn how to breath chemicals for five days straight while doing push ups and getting yelled at. Ha ha. Good luck on the project!