Trying to confirm age of my first tractor

tallnproud

New User
I am new to all the tractor world because I just bought my first Farmall A even though I have wanted one since I was little. I did not realize it didn't have a serial tag when I bought it. The guy told me it was a 1946 SuperA. The cast stamp/bolted tag is FAA 2091J which would put it at 1940?? The stamped # on the engine is 86638DB. There is also a 6340D on the engine, but I think that must be a part #? I am determined to learn as much about this tractor as possible so thought one of you might be able to help me.
 
Above the distributor is a raised flat spot and that is the tractor serial number and with that you can figure out the year it is. Super A will have hyds an A will not have hyds
 
http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/2/9/292-farmall-super-a.html

looks like 47 was first year for super a

serial numbers are located on this link.
 
Casting codes are another way to get the year, unless the tractor is cobbled together from multiple parts tractors. These are small, oval-shaped raised areas about 2-3 inches long, maybe 1/2 inch wide that have raised numbers and letters on them. Check out this thread, at red power magazine. Link to an example picture also posted.
https://www.external_link/id/mvc_079e.jpg
red power casting code list
 
I am REALLY new to all this and just learning about tractors. Have to stop and look up each part you mention in the Steiner catalogue. I don't see a number above the distributor. I have a 12.30.J stamp by seat which would be Dec 30th 1940. I found a FAA2091 stamp and also a 8638DB on engine. I am not sure if I have hydralics or not. The tractor is in really good shape and runs well, but the farmer who had it has Alzheimers so I am totally on my own. My husband knows less about mechanics than I do!
 
I don't see a number above the distributor, but I am not even sure I am looking in the right spot. I have a 12.30.J under the seat, FAA20191, and a 8638DB
 
On the right side of the engine as your sitting on the seat you should see where it says firing order. then below that 1,3,4,2 just forward of that and just below the head is a raised flt spot about 1/2 inch by 2 inches and the serial number is there. It may take a bit of cleaning that area to be able to read the numbers due to dirt/paint etc.
 
If you look around you'll see more of the casting date codes. They look like ovals. The 8638DB is the part number...it should be on the "torque tube". The one with what looks like a date (12.30.J) is the casting code. I am pretty certain you have an early 1941, as if the part was cast just before new year (December), then the tractor was probably manufactured in 1941.
 
If 2091 J is below the seat and 2091 is on the engine that's the serial numbers. 8638DB is the casting number of the part joining
the engine with transmission of the tractor. 3640 D is the governor housing casting number. Housing 8638DB may not have a opening
for a starter. Does it have one?
 
Happen to think a J wasn't used back then. So do you have a FAA 20911 instead of 2091 J? 20911 would be a 1940 model.
 
(quoted from post at 14:59:08 09/29/19) If 2091 J is below the seat and 2091 is on the engine that's the serial numbers. 8638DB is the casting number of the part joining
the engine with transmission of the tractor. 3640 D is the governor housing casting number. Housing 8638DB may not have a opening
for a starter. Does it have one?
I found a 6382-DA by the stick shift and a 6342-DH by the firing order. It could be a FAA20911 instead of a J.
 
(quoted from post at 05:51:20 10/01/19)
(quoted from post at 17:21:28 09/30/19) It says 6342DH. Is that helpful?

That's another part number.

The "FAA20911" or "FAA2091J"... Where is that shown? Is it on a tag under the seat? IF so that is the serial number.
Yes, it was a red metal tag on the left side under the seat. But how does that help me know when it was made...aren't serial # different for each individual tractor in case of theft or something?
 
That's the serial number, yes it is unique for each tractor, and it is the most accurate way to determine the age of the tractor.

Each tractor gets a separately stamped tag with a unique serial number. On the A, B, and Super A, the tag is riveted to the left seat support.

There are serial number charts on many websites, including this one, that show the first serial for each year of manufacturing for most tractors.

FAA 2091 J is probably the serial for your tractor, as the J is a common suffix indicating that the tractor has a Rockford clutch (more later on that).

2091 is between 501 and 6744 (first production of 1940) which makes your A a 1939 model.

Quick word on the Rockford clutch. It is nothing special. Most tractors came with it and had the J suffix. IH used two suppliers of clutches at this time, Auburn and Rockford. Again most came with Rockford. The reason it's a special suffix is so the mechanic knew what parts to have on hand to replace the clutch, which was apparently the most common internal repair on these tractors.
 
(quoted from post at 04:53:43 10/02/19) That's the serial number, yes it is unique for each tractor, and it is the most accurate way to determine the age of the tractor.

Each tractor gets a separately stamped tag with a unique serial number. On the A, B, and Super A, the tag is riveted to the left seat support.

There are serial number charts on many websites, including this one, that show the first serial for each year of manufacturing for most tractors.

FAA 2091 J is probably the serial for your tractor, as the J is a common suffix indicating that the tractor has a Rockford clutch (more later on that).

2091 is between 501 and 6744 (first production of 1940) which makes your A a 1939 model.

Quick word on the Rockford clutch. It is nothing special. Most tractors came with it and had the J suffix. IH used two suppliers of clutches at this time, Auburn and Rockford. Again most came with Rockford. The reason it's a special suffix is so the mechanic knew what parts to have on hand to replace the clutch, which was apparently the most common internal repair on these tractors.
The only problem is that when I look up pictures of 1939 or 1940 A class tractors...mine doesn't look like those years. The generator is in different spot and it has battery box by seat, the curces on body are different. My tractor looks just like other 1946 A class tractor pictures, but the tag would be for older model.
 
That does not make any sense. The "curves on the body" did not change from the first 1939 A all the way up to the last 1954 Super A-1. Hood and gas tank were the same style and shape.

I could not tell you the difference between a 1939 and a 1946 model without looking real close, and I've been around these things all my life.

I'm starting to wonder if you have an A at all, or even an International tractor for that matter.

Parts can be swapped to other tractors, even other brands.

Ideally, you could post a few pictures and we'd be able to identify what you have.
 
(quoted from post at 23:17:49 09/29/19) Above the distributor is a raised flat spot and that is the tractor serial number and with that you can figure out the year it is. Super A will have hyds an A will not have hyds

That number is the engine serial number. It doesn't match up with the main tractor serial number, which tells you the year.
 
(quoted from post at 01:26:42 10/03/19)
(quoted from post at 23:17:49 09/29/19) Above the distributor is a raised flat spot and that is the tractor serial number and with that you can figure out the year it is. Super A will have hyds an A will not have hyds

That number is the engine serial number. It doesn't match up with the main tractor serial number, which tells you the year.
Now within the first couple years of the Farmall A (1939-1940) the engine serial number did match the tractor serial number. If his tractor is any older it will not match. Sorry I should have made that more clear. Sounds like we do need pictures.
 
(quoted from post at 13:30:38 09/29/19) I don't see a number above the distributor, but I am not even sure I am looking in the right spot. I have a 12.30.J under the seat, FAA20191, and a 8638DB

I'm jumping in here and going to your above earlier post. 12.30.J is a casting code indicating Dec 30 1940. Your serial # is FAA2019 with the J for a Rockford clutch.

A Super A has a hydraulic pump on the right side at the front of the engine in front the the distributor/magneto. The hydraulic pump has two hoses running from it to the control unit under the gas tank. The right side is as you sit in the seat, same for car or truck. So if you don't have hydraulics, you probably have a 1940 A
 
(quoted from post at 11:21:07 10/02/19) That does not make any sense. The "curves on the body" did not change from the first 1939 A all the way up to the last 1954 Super A-1. Hood and gas tank were the same style and shape.

I could not tell you the difference between a 1939 and a 1946 model without looking real close, and I've been around these things all my life.

I'm starting to wonder if you have an A at all, or even an International tractor for that matter.

Parts can be swapped to other tractors, even other brands.

I just watched a video of a guy showing his step-dad's 1940 Farmall A and it was my tractor exactly!!! Down to every detail. I think that the other pictures I was looking at on line were misleading. Thank you everyone for helping me this! I have talked to the nicest people since buying this tracotr.

Ideally, you could post a few pictures and we'd be able to identify what you have.
 
I just watched a video of a guy showing his step-dad's 1940 Farmall A and it was my tractor exactly!!! Down to every detail. I think that the other pictures I was looking at on line were misleading. Thank you everyone for helping me this! I have talked to the nicest people since buying this tractor.
 

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