What I did today: '41 Unstyled A

Well, it has been a while since I have posted in the forums - I've been reading at least a few times per week, but with cold weather comes hibernation.. That and I have been concentrating on my (last) semester of school, as well as my newest motorcycle build this winter. Today I got around to installing a part I picked up from Biewer's in Barnesville, MN.. Last fall I inquired about installing a different (longer) clutch lever on the '41 Unstyled A (I have recently dubbed "Half-Breed")... Well, I was rummaging around the yard helping a friend pick up some parts for his Late model B and came across a "70" lever. Looked like it would work, so I paid the man and took it home. Was able to get it mounted today, and I like it much better over the stock length A lever.

Also picked up a "G" light bar (that needs a little welding done on it), and will be installing the lights on the tractor. Going to have to design some type of switch housing - thought about using a Farmall H/M style light switch housing that mounts to the steering post, but would have to determine what to do with the Ammeter gauge hole. Anyone else have any ideas? Stay tuned for more ideas that I may come up with!

I thought 1939 was the last year of the unstyled JD tractors and in 1940 they change over to the styled

Old, you are correct. This tractor started life as a '41 Styled A slant dash. I wanted to see what I was capable of (and this tractor was essentially completely wore out), so I decided to build a version of my own. I took the platform of the Slant Dash and converted it to an Unstyled A. Everything from the motor back is Slant Dash A, but the frame forward (and up) is Unstyled A. Essentially, I've got a 6-speed, electric start Unstyled A. You can do a search for my name and see some of the project, but here are a couple links to Youtube videos I created, as well as a couple photos:





41 Unstyled A Reassembly

Ken, what did you do with the temp gauge and ammeter that your A came with? I'd probably mount one of those in there or you could weld a patch over the hole.

Actually Rich, 1938 was the last year for unstyled A and B models.

For these, I constructed my own triple-gauge "slant dash" type of mount. I thought about that, or about mounting the JD ammeter gauge in it, but I already put so much work into the gauge cluster that I made. See the photo.

- thought about using a Farmall H/M style light switch housing that mounts to the steering post, but would have to determine what to do with the Ammeter gauge hole. Anyone else have any ideas?

Click to expand...

Could you put a frost plug in that hole? Or maybe cover it with something like this:

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/Prod/Westbrass-D202-50-Sink-Hole-Cover-Powder-Coated-White/175306/Cat/902

The gauge panel you made looks really cool. Too bad you didn't make it a little larger. Your switch would have looked nice there.

Whatever you come up with, be sure to make room for an ignition switch too, in case you ever decide to convert to a distributor.

KENT, i did the exact same thing with my unstyled/styled conversion. I dubbed mine the "38 special", as it started out as a 38 unstyled. I used the lever off a 60, and it worked awesome.

Ken, that turned out good!,...I don't think I've seen a pic of the tractor from that angle, I could see that there was something next to the breather pipe but wasn't sure what it was.

How would it look if you got a ("hub plug" I guess id call it) from center of the steering wheel from a newer Tractor like a 4020 or 4450, and put that over the hole? It's maybe a "too new" feature since your going old school but just a suggestion.

How about a volt meter in that hole?

That is the route that I am leaning. I already have a new ammeter gauge that I purchased. I might as well install it in the hole that is already there!

Ken, I am doing a similar project using a 1940 A and an unstyled 38. The 38 engine and trans had been full of water and not practical to rebuild. The 1940 is in good running condition but with really bad sheet metal, radiator, leaking rear axle seals, etc.

I intend to put the unstyled 38 frame, front pedestal, radiator, hood, etc. on the 1940 engine and trans. Many of the part numbers are the same because the 1940 is an early serial number. However, it appears the holes in the bottom of the frame that bolt to holes in the bottom of the block will not align. The holes and the "bent" clearance area on the unstyled frame appear to be about an inch further away from the end of the frame where it attaches to the main case.

Did you have this problem and if so, how did you resolve? Drill new holes? Will the "bent " area on the frame give clearance for the 1940 head? Do you have pictures from under the frame?

Thank you for any advice and pictures!

James

I find it amazing we do to what ever meets our fancy to our tractors!! I too am creating abortion from a John A.. Started with a 1944 A that went through a Tornado in 1985, & got parked in the woods. Felt sorry for it & picked it up from the owner. Was a Hand Crank 6 speed. Now it's a Short hood electric start styled A. Many Parts from Stuff I had, 46 block & head, 1st reduction gear & pulley from a 51 A. Rock Shaft & power trol from a 49 A along with the battery box. Starter is from a 50 G 12Volt, Seat frame & float ride from a 620 along with the tool box. Grills ?? One is a 39 or 40 A & the other from a 46 A They are a little different on is longer. Hood came from Minnesota from a 47 A. Distributor & Air Cleaner Genny & LONG Clutch handle from the 52 A that had a Cotton Picker on it, so it's a Long handle with a Small Ball. Soon to be sporting Live Hydraulics & Power steering. Two Items I've used that are not John Deere are one rear stamped steel wheel is from a Oliver 77. & I created a Light Bar from one of the grab handles to climb on a SP100 Allis Chalmers Combine. Many other parts are new & some I failed to think of.. Runs Really well & all this for a tractor I really don't even need?

RLA,
That sounds like an interesting machine! Would love to see pictures of it.

(quoted from post at 13:26:21 01/17/19)
RLA,
That sounds like an interesting machine! Would love to see pictures of it.

Click to expand...

I have lost the pictures when this project started due to a hard drive failure.. It true was a sad looking machine that I intended to just takes some parts off. Then scrap what was left. But this was a 44 & had cast steel Front frame, with a Small Radiator cap & steel Radiator ( That was Junk ). Dummy me changed my mind & resurrected it. Once the bent parts were removed it looked so much better & like I said be for I had many parts that I've looked at for years, ended up bolting some on this Tractor. If you can imagine what it looked like after being rolled at least twice & them picked up & dropped upside down, with one bent wheel that had 18.4 x38 mounting on those 10" rims it was really sad. I will take some more pictures
, most of the parts that have been install were painted be for installation so it does look like a spotted adder. At one time it sat in my shed, on stilts, frt frame & pedestal, empty crankcase, empty transmission housing without either axle. It is hand built by me. About the only thing I haven't separated frt frame crankcase & transmission & rear housing. We did use is some last summer pulling hay wagons & moving round bales, worked great.