Traded my old 1970 Cub for a 1939 M. Needs a few things like a choke rod, PTO rod and a sediment bowl. It runs great and has no leaks. It’s my first M and I bought it to run a 24T baler. Any words of wisdom regarding this model? It has a magneto, can lights be added?

Thanks!

I have a 39 M and found that the PTO is week. Mine would not stay in gear. I replaced it with a later model. Other than that it is a real work horse. Had it since about 2000.

Original Poster: Your post that shows in classic view but not modern view (you have a competitor name to this site in that post is reason why).

Anyway that post is NOT correct in any way. A magneto is a self contained spark generating unit so it could care less what voltage battery you decide to go with as it is not connected to the battery in any way. The charging system whether it be an alternator or a generator and the lights for both work and instrument lights do care though.

In many ways a magneto equipped tractor is even easier to convert to a different voltage than a distributor type ignition tractor is as there is no worry about which coil you have and whether you need a ballast resistor or not

I think there was a 1 1/8" PTO shaft for Farmall M and MD tractors with part number 51571DA. My mower book shows the setup for M and MD tractors with 1 1/8" PTO shaft.

SadFarmall

Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see

No problem. There is even multiple styles of adaptors.

One style is simply a simple sleeve that will not increase the length of the PTO shaft in relation to the drawbar pin hole in any way. Like this copy and paste link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PTO-Sleeve-Increaser-Adaptor-1-3-8-x6-male-x-1-1-8-x-6-Female-2-25-sleeve-New/272449625340?hash=item3f6f435cfc:g:P1cAAOSw44BYKhTU:sc:USPSPriorityMailSmallFlatRateBox!45345!US!-1

There are other designs that will add about 1" to the length of the PTO shaft. Additionally there is even an over-run clutch that will fit the little shaft while converting to the bigger shaft size. I would not use an over run clutch on the baler since the baler already has one on the baler but an over-run clutch is handy for a bush hog.

According to the other poster, M's never came with the smaller shaft so OP may not have to worry anyway.

I didn`t know there was an adaptor available. Thanks

There is an adaptor sleeve available that converts the shaft end from 1 1/8 shaft size to the modern 1 3/8 size as well in lieu of changing out the shaft.

My `39 H came with 1 1/8" pto shaft. I`m not sure if the M`s also had a 1 1/8" shaft. If it does have the smaller pto, you`ll have to swap it out with a later 1 3/8" unit.

M tractors never came with a 1 1/8" PTO.

You will like the M. An M is way more useful than a cub in my opinion for farm work. I see a cub as useful only for mowing and not even really good at that since a cheapo zero-turn mower will mow circles around a cub in every way.
I have a 1946 Farmall M (believe it to be stock) and it is my oldest tractor in my fleet of antiques. Yet it is the closest thing to a work horse that I have.
Mine has Behlen power steering and I added a 3 point hitch and like both. The M's main jobs are running my 9' Hesston 1120 mower conditioner, running the square baler, and bush hogging the tall hood height stuff.

I always thought a Cub was only good for parades. I had a new neighbor move across the street on a three acre hobby farm. He bought a 55 Cub to "farm" with. He found an old horse drawn sickle mower to mow his one acre of alfalfa hay. Pulled a five wheel Farmhand rake. He then bought a five foot horse disk and made a one bottom plow. He used that little tractor everyday. I could hear him singing while he mowed and raked. For a while he had alfalfa, oats hay, corn, and prairie hay. He even used it to stretch fence and pull steel posts with the fast hitch. I would have never guessed a Cub could do all that.

He paid $3600 for the Cub in 2000. Sold it in 2013 when his health wet south for $3200.

I agree. You can't go wrong with a Farmall M. They are a wonderful tractor. I have spent many hundreds of hours on our machine working ploughs, harrows, seed drill, mower, hay rake, baler, reaper & binder and various other implements. Started driving the Farmall M when I was eleven years old and still enjoy it today. Just picked up the repaired generator and regulator for mine. Keeping mine magneto and 6 volt; I just like 6 volt on old Farmalls.

SadFarmall

ive got a 48 m on 12v with a mag. the key here is the on/off switch. took some doing but got to work. Molly is my chore tractor and use here to pull my 3-14 plow and she never looks back. right now she needs a rear main oil seal.
you cant to wrong with an M

bass

The choke and PTO rods you can easily make yourself. If it has a generator,yes you can put lights on. However,you may want to consider 'converting' it to 12 volt so you can run good 12 lights.12volt lights are aesy to find,and cheaper than 6volt lights these days.A one wire alternator is easy to do.An M is a great tractor(I have 5),one of the best. Bullet proof tractor,easy to work on,a bazillion parts are available. Get yourself a set of manuals. Enjoy,and happy 'M' ing!

The secret to "Armstrong" power steering is to turn the steering wheel when the front wheel is turning.

Armstrong power steering may test the ability of the power unit for same. Keep your thumbs out of the steering wheel.

If you are short or short legged, take some time to get the seat adjusted so you can push the pedals easily. Blocks on the pedals as a last resort.

If you have trouble bending and stretching, an improved brake lock of some sort will be a big help.

Thanks. Been trying to post pics but no avail 🙄

Steiner tractor parts says you can’t go 12v with a magneto. I’ve got the wiring diagrams. I’ve got to learn about nags I guess