Looking at a John Deere 1941 model A

Brent Zappe · Sep 2, 2014

Okay I need all of you John Deere people advise. I had looked at a John Deere MOdel A year 1941. It looks like a nice tractor and is restored. The question I would like to ask could it be change over for a 6 volt or 12 volt starter. Is there a kit to convert a hand fly crank system to a regular starter.I fell I need this because I have never owned a hand crank tractor. I would like to buy it but I would like to have a regular starter on it instead of hand cranking it.The price is around 2,500.00 but I think he would take a little less than that price. The tires are in great shape and it looks like it is parade ready.Thanks Brent

bigboreG · Sep 2, 2014

There are factory brackets around to covert to elec start. They really are not hard to start if everything is in good working order. My '42 A will start on the first fly almost every time. Sometimes on the second if I cant open the choke fast enough. My advice to you is, see how good it starts by hand. If it don't, or if you find its too much for you to handle starting it by hand, maybe look for a slant dash A with factory electric start. They are not rare by any means. As I said earlier, you can find the bracket to put a starter on the one your looking at. Then you will need to change fan shaft to a pulley style to run a genny or alternator. Also need a place to put the battery. One I put together a few years ago, I changed the rockshaft housing so a battery box seat would bolt on. Its a lot of work, there are a lot of good factory elec start A's left to be had, I would look for one of those. Just my 2 cents.

Mike M · Sep 2, 2014

No two start alike. A good starting hand start model is easy to start and then you don't need to try and keep a battery alive in it.
Try and start it and see if it does good. If not pass on it and find another. Like said before there were plenty made with starters on them already.

Greenday · Sep 2, 2014

Kinda confused why you want to buy a hand start tractor then convert it to electric start. Why not save the heartache and just buy a electric start tractor?

Dick2 · Sep 2, 2014

If you do not know all the things that you need to start a hand crank JD, don't buy one! After you break your wrist or your arm on that JD, you'll wish that you had a hand crank Farmall (A, B, C or H)

Mike M · Sep 2, 2014

I think you got that backwards ? A flywheel hand start JD is the safest hand start ones around.
It's the ones with a crank you stick in the front that will get you hurt !

Super Trucker · Sep 2, 2014

Make sure the mag impulse works and carb is set right and it will start so easy. I took all the elec start off my JD. Remember it's a old man tractor , meaning slow and easy on the flywheel no trying to windmilling the flywheel.

Brent Zappe · Sep 2, 2014

I am really thinking about this tractor because I like that green and yellow. I have never owned a hand crank but I think if I learned how to start it up it might be a neat tractor to add to my collection.

David G · Sep 2, 2014

The price is pretty steep to start with, get one with electric start and not have to mess with it.

GregCO · Sep 2, 2014

The 41 A's were available with electric start from the factory. It I think was the first year it was offered on the A, but I might be wrong. You don't need a kit to convert it, but do need a ton of parts off of a parts tractor that had an electric start. You will need the hood assembly (battery is under the hood), crankcase cover (starter bolts to the crankcase cover), Starter, flywheel, flywheel cover, generator, wiring harness, amp meter, voltage regulator, battery tray and strap, hub for the hand crank and a crank handle for when the battery goes dead. Honestly it's allot of work to change it over. If the hand start model you are looking at it properly tuned it will start really easy even in cold weather. Usually on the first pull.

Greg

old popper · Sep 2, 2014

I would never convert a hand crank A JD to a starter. Get used to what it takes to start it and you will love it.

Meangreen · Sep 3, 2014

Hand start tractors are fun ones to have. I have had 2. Sold one but still have my 40 B. When it's 60+ degrees out I can usually start it in one throw. When it's colder out it take a couple more cranks.

Big thing is the timing has to be right on the mag or it can be a real pain! Generally I full choke it, bring the flywheel up to full compression, give it a good turn, it usually pops, open the choke quickly and off it will go. I think it is either 2 1/2 or 3 full turns of the flywheel between full compression cycles.

Greenday · Sep 3, 2014

How do you break your wrist or arm on a round smooth flywheel? A tractor with a crank would be far more dangerous!

Looking at a John Deere 1941 model A

Brent Zappe

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bigboreG

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Mike M

Well-known Member

Greenday

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Dick2

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Mike M

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Super Trucker

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Brent Zappe

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David G

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GregCO

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old popper

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Meangreen

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Greenday

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