Disc Brakes on an H?

I?m restoring my grandpa?s 1944 H. The restorer and I discovered that it has disc-type brakes. Everything I?ve read says that H?s have band brakes, not disc. Does anyone have any experience with this?
 
The last couple thousand of H's built had disc brakes so maybe somebody machined your tractor to accept the factory disc brake assemblies. The other more likely explanation is that some kind of aftermarket kit was put on. A third explanation might be your tractor does not have the original transmission case but instead a very late H transmission case and therefore disc brakes but this would be fairly improbable due to low production numbers.
 
I discovered my 1950 H had a 1951 transmission case. I bought it from an old IHC mechanic, and my belief is he put it together from two tractors. You can check by finding the casting codes. The 1944 code will look something like ##-##-N, where the N represents 1944. If the transmission case code looks like ##-##-U or maybe ##-##-W, it would be 1951. T would represent 1950.
 
Add on attachment for H that came with band brakes. Even though the serial numbers go from 501 to the serial number for standard disc brakes on a H, early H models using a keyed bull pinion shaft needed changed to the spline type to use the brakes. Notice 3 bolts mounting the brake cover housing verses 5 for the late H.
 
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My 1950 H had disc brakes when I bought it. The brakes were the Ausco-Lambert aftermarket brakes. They are not the same as the disc brakes on a Super H. NO parts interchangeable, and NO parts available. I recommend changing that H back to the band brakes. Those work SO much better. I changed my 1950 H back to the band brakes.
 
Sorry to break in on this post , but I was wondering what is involved in changing Lambert brakes back to band type? I have a 47 H w / Lambert brakes. Thanks DTK.
 
Checked the casting code on the right side of the chassis and the number ends with the suffix ?N.? So I?m pretty confident the tractor is a 1944.
 
David, The information I have read says that the last 300 or so H's had disc brakes installed from the factory. If yours is a 1944, I would have to presume that they are aftermarket.


Haven't seen you post for a long time, welcome back!
 
(quoted from post at 09:19:49 11/09/18) Sorry to break in on this post , but I was wondering what is involved in changing Lambert brakes back to band type? I have a 47 H w / Lambert brakes. Thanks DTK.

Pretty straight forward really. You will need the drums, the brake bands, and the brake covers from another H and then it is just a matter of removing ALL of the disc brake stuff and then installing the original type parts. This would also be a good time to install new pinion oil seals.
 
Word of caution: Do NOT attempt to pry out the bull pinion carrier to change the seal. You WILL be sorry, as you will break the bull pinion carrier, requiring you to pull the axle, and drop the bull gear out of the way to get the carrier out to replace it. While it can be done without removing the top cover (deck), it is much easier to manipulate the bull gear with the top cover removed.
 
Thanks, DS. I must have the same parts manual. I found the same page you?re showing. If we?re looking at an IH publication, and it?s showing this for an H, doesn?t that point away from aftermarket and toward IH?
 
Dave, great to talk to you again. I?m still here, just been busy lately. Now have 8 tractors: SM, M, 4 H?s, SC, and an Allis WD-45. Only the Allis has been fully restored. The brake cover on Grandpa?s H has a part number cast into it. That fact, plus the inclusion of the parts in an H parts manual tells me it?s IH, not aftermarket. What do you think? Are you on Facebook? If so, we should be friends. Let me know your thoughts. David
 
Don't know the complete story but a fellow with last name Lambert had a patent on the brake design. Ohio company ASCO, Auto specialty Company produced the brake parts. IH started using the design in 1950 on orchard tractors if I remember correct. Sometime after that IH started selling them as attachments for H and M tractors. Not sure if a aftermarket company also sold them for IH tractors. Can't recall if they were advertised by one.
 
Left out a letter in the parts company logo AUSCO in the last post. They were one parts supplier for IH and others at one time. Some wide fronts contained parts from them as one example. May still be around but think the original Co. went out in the eighties.
 

I believe that the Ausco-Lambert disc brakes were used on some Chrysler vehicles. Maybe even before they were offered for tractors. Apparently those brakes did not work out so well on cars either.
 
David, sorry I don't have a Facebook account.

As for your H, over the past 75 years any number of things might have been done. Aftermarket parts, parts from a later model H may have been installed, or maybe IH sold them as a kit for retrofitting.

Did you know that the Cinderblock moved? There is a link to it on the old site. I check in there and the Cowboard from time to time.
 

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