1939 AC-B

Basil Greenleaf · Jan 6, 2020

I have a 1939 AC-B that needs an engine rebuild. Looking at spending perhaps as much as $600.00 to $800.00 to rebuild it. I bought the tractor for $450.00 years ago. My question is
should I just scrap it out, sell it as is, or rebuild it? I hate to see an 81 year old tractor go to the scrap yard butt on the other hand I may get a total of $900.00 for the
tractor after an engine rebuild. Has fair tires and sheet metal is very good. What is the best thing to do?

old · Jan 6, 2020

Before I will scrap a tractor I'll park it in such a way that it should be good to go if left say a year or 10 years. One never know what may happen in life where you may need it again

Bob Bancroft · Jan 6, 2020

I agree that if the rest of the tractor is good, it's a shame to scrap it. You need to do an economy rebuild! When I bought my C, it was in very rough shape. What it ended up needing was bottom end engine work. I did the work myself, except for the machining on the block/crank/rods/head/etc. The pistons and sleeves looked so good I put them back in with new rings. I worked that tractor for nearly two decades before selling it, and it ran as well when it left as ever. If you can't do the work yourself, and you're concerned about getting your money back out of it, well that's a problem!

steve(ill) · Jan 6, 2020

I have honed the cylinders, lapped the valves, installed new bearings and rings and gaskets with good luck.. $200. .......... if your going to sell it, then why rebuild ? Let someone else buy and rebuild it... What is wrong with it ?

Butch(OH) · Jan 7, 2020

You have you decide if finances are guiding your decision or not because I can tell you for certain that at least 50% of what you put into it will be flushed down a toilet. You can buy a real nice running B around these parts for 1000 and "runners" for 500. However save the thing if that is what you want to do, just don't keep track of what you put in it vs what it is worth. I have saved quite a few low value tractors and lost my hiney on every one of them, other's can save the rest not me LOL. I no longer even accept freebies because I won't scrap them and don't want the place decorated with "valuable??" junk piles.

Dick L · Jan 7, 2020

Two different ways to rebuild an engine. One is to rebuild it as good or better than new with all new parts. The second way is to rebuild it to where it is reliable replacing the parts broken or out of spec. The cost of the second way depends on the condition of the engine is before rebuilding.

grandpa Love · Jan 8, 2020

I have a '39 B. Just wondering what your serial number is? Thanks

Basil Greenleaf · Jan 9, 2020

Serial number is B 2316

dakota dave · Jan 16, 2020

If your going to get rid of it your going to loose most of whatever you put into it. Why does it need a rebuild low compression , uses oil , won't start. I have put a used piston and rods in a tractor with a spun bearing cleaned up the crank with sone music acid put in a new rod bearing. And a oil pump drive pin in the crank. For less than a hundered dollars it was back running been running strong for 10 years now. I was very mad at that CA and was my brother talked me out of scraping it. Never I'd sell it just put the mower on it and still using it. My old C never did get the rebuild it need for the 30+ years I owned it. Lapping the valves and a new head and rocker cover gasket cut the oil consumption down to a quart every month it just smoked on start. It was still running good when I gave it away. A full rebuild is worth it if your keeping the tractor. Other wise just fix the major problems.

1939 AC-B

Basil Greenleaf

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old

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Bob Bancroft

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steve(ill)

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Butch(OH)

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Dick L

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grandpa Love

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Basil Greenleaf

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dakota dave

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