IH/Farmall 140 Production Changes, Need some help Identifyin

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Ok guys, I know this topic has been asked before (and probably by me), but I just can't seem to find anything in the searches.

I am looking at a couple of 140 tractors that are about 500 miles from me. I am wanting to learn how to narrow down items by looking at it and trying to figure out what year the tractor is. THe owner is older and after I got the pictures, it's hard to tell much. I guess I could ask for specific pictures, but I just don't want to bother him and seem "too" intrested. He did his best, and they look good enough from what I can tell, so I'll make the trip to look at them. For now, it is killing me wanting to know how I can identify them by certain objects to narrow down the year range it was made. Here are the (2) tractors.....

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

I was told they are both "key start" tractors. Well......any tractor can be a "key start" if you add the right components, so I'm trying to figure out if they are the ORIGINAL "Key Start" tractors because the one I can see is that the alternator isn't original....could be a replacement, or a conversion.

Some good tips that I know of to look for are the obvious factory Alternator (late 1975-1979 if I am correct), the spin-on oil filter option came in the early 70's (but when)?, the touch control levers went from the Super A style to the "twisted flat bar" style in late 1975 with the alternator change. What are the other things?? What about the steering wheels and center caps? Does that tell anything? From the bad pictures I got, the stuff I know to look for can't be seen in the pictures.

Harold H · Oct 4, 2012

You need to get the serial numbers to date the tractors.

Harold H

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

I can do that once we get the chance to make the trip up there, becuase the owner isn't able to go out and scrape and clean to read them....he said he probably wouldn't be able to see them.

Some folks on here know the different changes and when. I know the steering wheels and center cap has a signifigance, and maybe a few other things I don't know about. I'm just trying to approximate until I can get there.

mkirsch · Oct 4, 2012

Can't get much from the pictures. Most of them are of steering wheels or tires.

One of them is definitely a later 140. You can tell by the square-nose grille and the decals in that one picture.

Early 140's 1958-1963, have a 4-bar grill and looks like a miniature 560.

From 1964 on, they had a white corrugated grille perforated with round holes like the one in that one picture.

I don't know if the later ones ever had real emblems. If they did, it would have been in the era from 1964-1970, to match the '06 and '56 series which still had cast emblems.

In 1971, the '66 series came out with decals instead of emblems.

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

You are correct on that MKirsch. These are both definitely 1964-1979 models. I also know that from 1964 to at least 1973 (maybe later), IH used a clear center cap on the steering wheel with the IH logo. That tells me these are at least 1974-1979, which helps the "key start" statement. When was the beginning of the factory "key start" when it changed over from key on/off and pushbutton start?

Also, both tractors have the brackets for the rear flasher lights, which didn't come until the late 60's (that I know of), at least they weren't on a 1958-1964 140 that I've seen. I've also noticed that almost all 1979 140's I've seen have a vertical flat edge on the flasher bracket whereas the other models didn't. That's an easy way to identify a 1979 model for me. These tractors don't have that.

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Ok....I might be answering my own questions here (but not down to the specs) after looking at some pictures on the internet and some of a 1975 140 we used to own.

Here is a 1975 IH 140 tractor. Notice that it has the following:

* 12 volt GENERATOR
* Twisted Flat Bar Touch Control Levers (seen on the 1976-1979)
* Screw-On Oil Filter
* Factory Key Start (no push button)
* Black Steering Wheel Center Cap with Red/White/Blue Decal

This tells me that all of these options (even the steering wheel & flat bar touch control levers came BEFORE the swap over to 12 volt alternator. I was thinking all of those options (but the oil filter) came with the factory alternator change, and I thought "key start" came then also.

Hmm.....gives us all something to think about and makes me want to get some 1975 owners on here to see what they have!

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Ok.....so if they are indeed factory "key start" tractors from the pictures the owner sent me I have deduced that they could be a 1975-1978 model (not 1979 because of the rear flasher brackets). My resoning is from seeing the black center cap on steering wheel and not the clear one. And also being that he says it is key start. Is it possible a 1974 was a key start or had the same center cap? When exactly was that change-over? From the last tractor I posted....apparently is was all before the Alternator Conversion.

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Yep.....here is a late 1973 model 140. It has the spin-on oil filter, 12 volt GENERATOR, Key Start, BUT it has the Clear center cap on the steering wheel.

Sooooo.....looks like key start was also in 1973, but the steering wheel cap was the old style....oh and the touch control levers are the old style too just in case you didn't notice.

If I can find out when the steering wheel cap change was, that will be the best way to determine the approximate year of them (without the serial # of course). haha, this has been fun!

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Site made a double post.

D7fever · Oct 4, 2012

Seems to me the condition is more important then
knowing what vintage they are

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 22:42:44 10/04/12) Seems to me the condition is more important then
knowing what vintage they are

It really is, and I will find that out once I get there; but I really like 140 tractors and love to know as much as I can about them. It's really cool to find one and be able to date it based on the "options". I'm just wanting to know more information as to when specific parts and options were available on the 140's for my general knowledge and because it's fun to guess what year they are that way.

The topic about all of this has came up a few times before and some of you may have posted on it, but I just can't seem to find it. I remember it had some of the information I was wanting in it. Maybe Jim Becker, JaNicholson, or some other would happen to know because if I recall they might have posted in that topic.

erik dekeyser · Oct 4, 2012

Ok the later ones have a larger serial number.Mine is a 1979 serial number 65647. The last 3 years are all in the 60000s numbers. They are all just key starts and no push buttons. They have 2 flashers and the shrowed around the fan is bigger than the early models. They also have a spin on oil filter and an altenator instead of a generator. Hope that helps Erik..

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 02:21:17 10/05/12) Ok the later ones have a larger serial number.Mine is a 1979 serial number 65647. The last 3 years are all in the 60000s numbers. They are all just key starts and no push buttons. They have 2 flashers and the shrowed around the fan is bigger than the early models. They also have a spin on oil filter and an altenator instead of a generator. Hope that helps Erik..

Thanks for the info Erik. I had NO IDEA the fan shroud was different/changed on later ones. As I was saying before it looks like to me that the "Key Start" came BEFORE the Alternator. Also, I've restored a 1973 model (pictured above), that was key start and had the Spin On Oil Filter with the 12 volt Genny. Oh, and it also had the DUAL rear flashers; so apparently those were available Dual before the 1975-1976 change to Alternator.

gene bender · Oct 4, 2012

Why dont you check the cast codes that will tell you pretty close to when it was built

erik dekeyser · Oct 4, 2012

If i were you i would quit looking at the steering wheel centers they are real easy to change. Look at the steering, is it tight? check the right brake pedal if its real sloppy the tractor might have a lot of hours on it. Check the draw bar hole is it egg shaped? Check for a noisy transmission or hydrolics and check the oil presure.Does the engine smoke? Make sure it has good tires they are not cheap to replace. Thats what i look for when i look at a 140.

RTR · Oct 4, 2012

Thanks for the tips and checklist. I'm definitely gonna go thorough those checks when we get to make the trip up there.

gene bender · Oct 5, 2012

Get a list showing the cadst codes so you know how to read them as they will tell you pretty close when the tractor was built month day and year as the cast #s shown will be when the cast was made and usually in 30da or so the partswent to the assy line. You can also look up the serial# and it will show the #s starting production of that yr and this will help to tell if its a Jan production or maybe May ect.

IH/Farmall 140 Production Changes, Need some help Identifyin

RTR

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