I'Ve been looking through the photo adds and also of pictures on some of the posts and have noticed many of the row crop and others do not have fenders. I realized that during WW2 there was a shortage of steel, but have noticed no fenders well into the sixties. In Canada almost all tractors had fenders. Just wandering.
- Thread starter FWB in SK
- Start date
Kentb of SWMO
Well-known Member
Fenders were an extra cost option. Frugal farmer did not want to pay the cost.
Kent
Kent
rustred
Well-known Member
my same question also. the tractors look incomplete, and i sure would hate to work in the field with no fenders and be surounded with all that dirt and dust espesially on a windy day. the wide fenders on the 560 and 660 int. really are worth it when you compare it to a w6 or w9 , your eyes get full of dirt and its just miserable to work when the wind blows.so i dont even want to drive an incomplete farmall without fenders.also the safety aspect of it!
Back in those days, we ran a mounted corn picker, loader, or cultivators on the tractor. Why put the fenders on when you had to take them back off soon? So many were hung up in the shed somewhere and forgotten. Then there is the point already mentioned, they were an extra cost option.
Kentb of SWMO
Well-known Member
Dad bought a new JD 630 in 1959. One of the last 2 bangers. It DID NOT have fenders on it.
Kent
Kent
Phil in Pa
Member
I'm not sure that safety plays in to it. I did daily chores with an M for three years from the age of 14, as well as some plowing and other field work, and I don't ever remember having a safety issue from the lack of fenders.
Though I'm no big fan of the M generally, back in the day we knew how to take care of ourselves better than today's youth, it would seem.
And if we made a mistake it would not have occurred to us to file a lawsuit over it.
Though I'm no big fan of the M generally, back in the day we knew how to take care of ourselves better than today's youth, it would seem.
And if we made a mistake it would not have occurred to us to file a lawsuit over it.
When a kid remember dad telling how he was helping plow for the neighbor and got a limestone rock wedged between the lugs on a steel wheel L Case and the fender and did a number on the fender. Rubber tire picked up a lot less dirt then steel wheels so figured didn't need any.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Fenders where an option way back when and most farmers did not want to spend the extra $$ for fenders so a lot of tractors did not have them but then money was tight back then maybe even tighter then it is now
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
All the folks from baby booomz to now simply can not understand that no money meant--- no money.
We should think in terms of survival.
I once asked my dad what tough times realy meant. I could not understand so well. Dad had a tear in his eye when he stated he hoped us kids never did.
We should think in terms of survival.
I once asked my dad what tough times realy meant. I could not understand so well. Dad had a tear in his eye when he stated he hoped us kids never did.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Phill you express a major point. Lawyers like to point out how the world is much safer due to their work. Along the way though, a lot of lawyers have made a lot of money for themselves and their clients and have forced us all together to pay billions per year for insurance that used to be a much smaller portion of the GNP.
A farmer would have been thought of as a pantywaist if he would have been complaining about a little dirt when out in the field. I fit many acres with both tractors with and without fenders and if the tires are kicking up dirt it don't make a nickels worth of difference if it has fenders or not. Your still going to need a bath before going to bed. Most 50's tractors fenders did not cover the top of the tire and only came a little higher than the tire.
The best bad thing about fenders was the habit of leaning over holding onto the fender while watching the tools and ending up with a sore back or one side of your rear would be sore. Without fenders you had to grip the back of the seat which caused you to sit up straight instead of slouching over.
No paint on my Oliver's fenders on the right side where I slouched. Dad had the paint wore off the side of the seat where he rested his hand while farming. I always had back problems and he didn't.
May be hard to believe but we looked back more than forward when in the field. If something broke in the field I was expected to stop when it broke not find out on the next round.
The best bad thing about fenders was the habit of leaning over holding onto the fender while watching the tools and ending up with a sore back or one side of your rear would be sore. Without fenders you had to grip the back of the seat which caused you to sit up straight instead of slouching over.
No paint on my Oliver's fenders on the right side where I slouched. Dad had the paint wore off the side of the seat where he rested his hand while farming. I always had back problems and he didn't.
May be hard to believe but we looked back more than forward when in the field. If something broke in the field I was expected to stop when it broke not find out on the next round.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
I noticed that too in the US at shows, fenders and full size pto covers as a rule are missing.
Tractors in Canadian shows are very rarely seen without fenders in the rowcrop models.
Then again the most common 60/620/630,70,720,730 is a standard chassis version up north rather than rowcrop.
I don't why a poster has got all hissy with the depression as an explanation
Tractors in Canadian shows are very rarely seen without fenders in the rowcrop models.
Then again the most common 60/620/630,70,720,730 is a standard chassis version up north rather than rowcrop.
I don't why a poster has got all hissy with the depression as an explanation
John in Nebraska
Member
On our Nebraska farm we never had fenders on our tractors, so never missed them. When I worked in Colorado, where the soil was lighter and sandy, I found out something. I was running an old Case, fender on one side, tore off on the other. Going across the field with the wind from the fender side, wasn't too bad. Making the trip back tho, that sandy soil whipped by the wind off the tire made that side feel sandblasted by end of day.
Too Far Gone
Member
Im in my 30's now,and when I was growing up farming with my Dad we put in 900 acres every year with an 1850 and a 4010,If we were close We'd come in to eat and wash off enough dirt to see our faces at noon.If we werent close my Granny would show up with a meal in the trunk of her car,and amazingly the hot items would be hot and she'd have a gallon of ice cold tea in there too.Ive actually hosed myself off in the yard with a hose before I ever went in the house.Them was the good ol days and I wouldnt trad'em for nothin!I like fenders but Ive run'em without and survived.After 12 or 14 hrs in the saddle You're not any less dirty if Ya had the fenders.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Very simple, there was NO MONEY to pay extra for fenders. To own a tractor was simply a blessing, and the older foks never forgot the lesson that was given to them. Do not spend any more than is totaly necessary to do the job.
That group of folks have pretty much left us to wonder. A old farmer I knew had two WC Allis tractors--only one mag, so he switched the mag after two loads of corn were picked, then he put the mag on the other tractor to unload the two load. That is bad enough, but with a two row mounted picker it seemed almost impossible to me.
He owned several farms, but never spend a dime on something you could do without. He even built a new house (you better believe he needed one) but refused to spend the money for a skill saw. He had a chain saw.
The house didn't look so bad from a mile away. It had a cook wood stove, all wood heat, and a dirt floor in the basment. This was in the late 70's. Why would anyone waste money on indoor plumbing, a lawn mower, or paint. Not one load of gravel was ever hauled in, and cement was out of the question 90% of the time except where the milk cows stood in their stantions.
He did leave all three sons with two farms each. His dad lost the home farm during the depression, so in his mind he did good.
I hope this clears things up a bit as to why I mentioned the depression.
We all know of folks that lived, spending beyond the things they actualy needed, and lost it all--to what extend do things like fenders become something you need?
Does any of your wives question if you need to spend $500.00 on a set of fenders for your old tractor?
He had no fenders on any tractors because it was a waste of money.
That group of folks have pretty much left us to wonder. A old farmer I knew had two WC Allis tractors--only one mag, so he switched the mag after two loads of corn were picked, then he put the mag on the other tractor to unload the two load. That is bad enough, but with a two row mounted picker it seemed almost impossible to me.
He owned several farms, but never spend a dime on something you could do without. He even built a new house (you better believe he needed one) but refused to spend the money for a skill saw. He had a chain saw.
The house didn't look so bad from a mile away. It had a cook wood stove, all wood heat, and a dirt floor in the basment. This was in the late 70's. Why would anyone waste money on indoor plumbing, a lawn mower, or paint. Not one load of gravel was ever hauled in, and cement was out of the question 90% of the time except where the milk cows stood in their stantions.
He did leave all three sons with two farms each. His dad lost the home farm during the depression, so in his mind he did good.
I hope this clears things up a bit as to why I mentioned the depression.
We all know of folks that lived, spending beyond the things they actualy needed, and lost it all--to what extend do things like fenders become something you need?
Does any of your wives question if you need to spend $500.00 on a set of fenders for your old tractor?
He had no fenders on any tractors because it was a waste of money.
My area used mostly the big standard / wheatland tractors. Those big clamshell fenders were a lot better for keeping dirt off the driver than the little shorty row crop fenders.
The worst was doing tillage like summer fallow, where the soil was loose and dry.
The tractors and implements designed before hydraulic lift was common, by necessity placed the tractor driver behind and low down on the rear wheels / fenders. This was necessary so the driver could operate the mechanical lift levers on the impliment. Low down and behind the rear wheels put the poor driver in a cloud of dust all day. (Been there, done that)
Once we got into the mid 50's and hydraulic lift was the norm, the operators platform got moved to high up and between the rear wheels / fenders. Then the operator had a much better day.
better ride less dirt better visibility.
Now I get annoyed if I get a gap in the GPS satellites and the GPS auto steer kicks out ;-)
The worst was doing tillage like summer fallow, where the soil was loose and dry.
The tractors and implements designed before hydraulic lift was common, by necessity placed the tractor driver behind and low down on the rear wheels / fenders. This was necessary so the driver could operate the mechanical lift levers on the impliment. Low down and behind the rear wheels put the poor driver in a cloud of dust all day. (Been there, done that)
Once we got into the mid 50's and hydraulic lift was the norm, the operators platform got moved to high up and between the rear wheels / fenders. Then the operator had a much better day.
better ride less dirt better visibility.
Now I get annoyed if I get a gap in the GPS satellites and the GPS auto steer kicks out ;-)
The first Fordsons were built without fenders and when Henry found out the safty factor without them he put them on all of his tractors. The acidents that did happen when the driver was killed on a Farmall or Deere were not publisized and except a few of the clossest no one new that was the cause of depth that you know know. Years ago neighbor WC Allis with fenders was plowing, furrow wheel hit a rock, bounced him off the seat, was laying across the turning wheel till he could pull himself back up and stop the tractor. Told us at one time but as for everybody else they never knew of the incident, if he would not have had the fenders and been killed would never have been mentioned that he could have lived. Most were extra and people then like the young think nothing can happen to them with there speeding and reculass operation of the automobile. And most of the cultivators and loaders could have with some thinking been used with fenders. But it comes down to thinking nothing could possibly could happen to them, the same reason arms were taken off in snapping or husking rolls.
Back in the 50's and 60's we still cultivated row crops and mowed with a cutterbar - jobs that required frequent get-offs and climb-back-ons. Fenders were just in the way. You could climb on or step down off of a fenderless tractor with much more ease. ... and much more quickly.
Jimmy King
Well-known Member
C"s, H"s, and M"s always looked like fenders would be in the way.
teddy52food
Well-known Member
I have a 1941 Farmall B with fenders. I don't know for sure but I think they all came with them.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
I hope he was happy being miserable.
My Maternal GrandFather was always broke and looking for the next depression. Old fool was an inspiration for all six children who couldn't stand his foolishness. Every one of his children did very very well.
Poverty and misery is way over rated in both country songs and in some churches.
How can somebody say with a straight face that tractor fenders are a money wasting luxury.
Your money grubbing miserable farmer buddy lost more $$$ in productivity and worn parts. Than he gained by not purchasing a 2nd mag.
My Maternal GrandFather was always broke and looking for the next depression. Old fool was an inspiration for all six children who couldn't stand his foolishness. Every one of his children did very very well.
Poverty and misery is way over rated in both country songs and in some churches.
How can somebody say with a straight face that tractor fenders are a money wasting luxury.
Your money grubbing miserable farmer buddy lost more $$$ in productivity and worn parts. Than he gained by not purchasing a 2nd mag.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
Just glad I'm not you.
I was a freshman in high school, plowing with a JD 70 (of course, no fenders). Along the edge of a field was a tree limb sticking out. Rather than turn out and come in again on the other side, I got the bright idea to stand on the axle housing, hold the steering wheel with my left hand, grab the tree limb with my right, and duck under as I went by (freshman in HS = stupid).
Guess my backside hit the tire, 'cuz next thing I know I'm horizontal and fighting a losing battle to keep my grip on the steering wheel. Lost the battle and looked up at that tractor tire. Then dark, then light again as I prepared to be sliced into 3 pieces 14" wide and buried on the spot.
Then I heard the engine sputtering. Miraculously, my foot had hooked over the left brake pedal and that extra drag was enough to kill the engine. Still had my leg twisted more than half way 'round but at least I was stationary.
In the field alone- no one would come to check on me for a long time, so I flopped around until my foot came loose, pulled the pin on the plow and drove to the house. Longer story shortened, I spent some time in hospital with "only" a small skull fracture.
My dad couldn't believe the tractor had actually run over my head until they went to get the plow and found a nice round hole where I'd been shoved down into the soft bean stubble ground.
If you farm with these things, or if your kids drive or ride on them, GET SOME FENDERS.
Guess my backside hit the tire, 'cuz next thing I know I'm horizontal and fighting a losing battle to keep my grip on the steering wheel. Lost the battle and looked up at that tractor tire. Then dark, then light again as I prepared to be sliced into 3 pieces 14" wide and buried on the spot.
Then I heard the engine sputtering. Miraculously, my foot had hooked over the left brake pedal and that extra drag was enough to kill the engine. Still had my leg twisted more than half way 'round but at least I was stationary.
In the field alone- no one would come to check on me for a long time, so I flopped around until my foot came loose, pulled the pin on the plow and drove to the house. Longer story shortened, I spent some time in hospital with "only" a small skull fracture.
My dad couldn't believe the tractor had actually run over my head until they went to get the plow and found a nice round hole where I'd been shoved down into the soft bean stubble ground.
If you farm with these things, or if your kids drive or ride on them, GET SOME FENDERS.
Glad the luck was with you spacechem. It never ceases to amaze me how many of us have made a dumb mistake like that and lived to tell the tale.
Your story reminds me of our neighbor's son who made a fatal mistake many years ago.
He went to start the little crank start Case to go to work in the fields, just like every other day.
The fatal mistake was that the little Case was in gear and he forgot to check it. The tractor started, knocked him down and one rear tire and the tandem disc ran over him. He lived paralized for a few months, but the damage finally killed him. A real sad deal.
Your story reminds me of our neighbor's son who made a fatal mistake many years ago.
He went to start the little crank start Case to go to work in the fields, just like every other day.
The fatal mistake was that the little Case was in gear and he forgot to check it. The tractor started, knocked him down and one rear tire and the tandem disc ran over him. He lived paralized for a few months, but the damage finally killed him. A real sad deal.
BarryfromIA
Well-known Member
This comes from an article in one of my CASE magazines. Any way one of The Case engineers lost a relative to an accident due to no fenders on a tractor and therefore made sure all CASE tractors had fenders when sold. That does not mean that they stayed on.
Henry Ford made fenders standard equipment mostly because of the Fordson habit of doing nasty backflips. The tail end of the fender unit (which was huge) was designed to hit the ground flat and stop any more up and over movement. My uncle was quite boastful of the fact that he purchased one of the last Fordsons without fenders. Saved $50. One day it was idling in the yard (hard to start when hot) and it jumped into gear (another one of its nasty habits) and headed straight for the silo. It hit the silo head on, front wheels making contact first, climbed up the silo as far as it could and then did one of its famous backflips catching on fire in the process. In spite of being made almost completely of steel, the tractor burned beyond recognition.
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