B Original

For example:

1) How do I know if the five whole pan seat is original? Most replacements I see have a lot more holes.

2) I've seen some radiator fans painted yellow. What should mine be?

3) I have two different front wheels. How do I determine if one (if any) is an original style?

4) How do I know how to shape the fuel line to the carb if I need to replace it?

As a newbie, these are the thoughts going around in my head.

I have a 1941 B and want to slowly start restoring it.

Anyone have a bunch of high detail shots of a good original restoration?

Looks like I'll be looking for a 9 hole seat. The guy at the local John Deere dealer showed me the parts maenual and the part did not have any hole or year specifications. I imagine if I order it from them that I will receive the most recent flavor seat. My current seat is unsavable.

Also, thanks for the fan and other information. I think I'll paint the back yellow.

If anyone has a close up shot of the fuel lines from tank to carb, I'd appreciate it. Mine has two tanks and the fuel line was fairly mangled when they took the starter tank out of service.

I've been putting off the manual purchases due to cost. I've got to spread this stuff out so my wife doesn't wise up ;>) I just got the tractor two weeks ago so I need to be patient.

Pictures are here if anyone has any idea about those front wheels.

Good luck to those in FLA!

Kris A NC

Joe - here is how I ran my fuel lines on my "35. I think they are correct. (The shut off style on the sediment bowl is technically incorrect....but the lines are the same.)

This is great. This will help me a lot.

Do you have two fuel tanks in your '35?

I'm not sure if I will hook both up or not. My understanding is that there is a starter tank that used to be used to warm up the engine with good gas and then they would switch over to the other tank which contained less expensive "heavier" gas.

At that time, Deere sold its tractors for more then its competitors, but could demonstrate that in the long run they were cheeper to run. Now that "tractor fuel" or distillate is not available, everyone just uses the larger tank with gasoline. I have some tractors with both operational, but I don't use the smaller tank on my 35, although I could.

Many lines on tractors are plumbed incorrectly. It looks like there is some sort of in line shut off on yours. They had a 3 way valve to switch from the small starting tank to the larger distillate tank, after the tractor warmed up.

You will want to run your plug wires inside the metal "loom" that you have on your tractor, when you get a chance.

Looks like you have a good solid tractor that can be restored over time to be a show case.

Let me know if you need any information as you progress.

You already have some good advice here, especially on the holes in the seat. When I bought my '41 B out of Platteville, Wisconsin, it had some odd-ball seat on it. The seller later sent me the original Operator's Manual and the original seat (totally not repairable, but original) - nine holes in it.

An interesting story (rumor/old wives' tale/whatever) about the size of those seats. Tractors prior to the styling action had smaller, flatter, possibly 24-hole seats (correct me if I'm wrong, Jon). Supposedly, Henry Dreyfus walked around the factory, found the guy with the biggest backside, and made the new seats to fit that guy. One of my tasks used to be assigning and arranging office space for our company, and everyone had their own opinion as to what we should do. The saying went that "Everyone that has an a$$ is a seating expert". Maybe the saying goes back to when Dreyfus was styling the A and B tractors in the late '30s, eh?

Fan color?? I remember Dad's '43 B having a yellow fan blade until he had it repainted in the late '40s. Other than that, I couldn't comment except to say that my memory is not perfect. When I restored my '41 B, my buddy and I argued about which color the fan blades should be. They got painted green and the first time I showed it, I found a note tied to the air cleaner that said, "I still think the fan blades should be the other color". That would have happened no matter what color I painted them, I suspect.

Wheels? I hope someone else can help on this one, as well as the shape of the fuel line.

Best advice previously given? Get a Parts Catalog, PC-330, Service Manual SM-2004 and Operator's Manual OM-R2005.

Good luck, and enjoy your new toy!

Stan Huff
Melbourne, FL

The later ones do have 9 holes in it, and have higher sides. My understanding of the story is the same, and that a guy by the name of "Jim" in the factory had the largest hind end. So they made a seat to fit him, and the 9 hole seats were subsequently called "Jim Seats".

One good source for anything to do with your 41 B is Stan - Florida who is a regular on this message board. Stan has the same tractor in excellent shape. If he sees this post, he can probably point you in the right direction.

I have older unstyled B"s, and those did have the back side of the fan painted yellow. However, I think the styled B"s had all green fans.

1939-----9 Holes
1940-----9 Holes
1941-----9 Holes Until undetermined time late in 1941, then 7.

1942-----7 Holes
1943-----7 Holes 58-R Repair Catalog 8-15-43 illustration shows 9 holes.
1944-----7 Holes Maybe all of 1944.

1945-----5 Holes
1946-----5 Holes Part of 1946. 3 Holes By mid- to late 1946
1947-----3 Holes

From the start of the 1939 model year until an undetermined time in late 1941, there were nine holes. In 1942, 1943, and maybe all of the 1944 model year, there were seven holes. By 1945 and through part of 1946, there were five holes. By mid- to late 1946, it was down to three holes and stayed that way through the end of production in early 1947. The exact breaks when the number of holes changed is not precisely defined, as it appears that there were no exact breaks. Seat inventory during changeover periods probably included both the old and new versions, and they were installed-as-delivered to assembly."

2. The back of the fan only was hand painted yellow at the factory.

3. You need to obtain a Parts Catalog for your specific tractor from John Deere it will give a good guide to restoring your tractor back to as original as possible.

I am finishing up restoring my 1944 B. I have been working on it nearly 2 years. I could have done it much faster but I wanted it to be as original as possible.

I think JDMark's suggestion is great!

Another thought would be to subscribe to some of the periodicals devoted to antique tractors. Two-Cylinder and Green Magazine are two superb examples that specifically deal with John Deere.

One issue in particular of Two-Cylinder (approx 1996) dealt very thoroughly with the early styled B series, listing serial number breaks for the seat variations, wheel types, etc. Perhaps you can purchase it as a back issue. I know it was really helpful with my '40 BN.

Link

Incidentally, I've read that the back of the fan blades were hand painted yellow for safety purposes before they left the factory.

Enjoy that B!

Mike DeKarz in Clearwater FL

How did Clearwater fair with Charley and Bonnie? I'm in Minnesota, but have a place in Largo. Across the intercoastal from Indian Rock Beach. Report from there was a few tree branches down, but nothing serious. Joe,
I have some vintage pictures of my grandfathers 41 B and 41 A, but they were taken in the late 40, early 50's. I don't think they are clear enough to give you much help. These both had the cast rear wheel, pressed steel wheels on the front (not spokes), and electric start and lights. If you have more questions, I can help with wheels and overall appearance, but not much detail. Loren-MN
Mankato, MN
I've opened my e-mail.

Clearwater/Largo fared fine. A big sigh of relief coupled with sadness for all of those who unfortunately weren't so lucky.

Ft. Meade was hit hard; I have been wondering what injury and/or damage may have been incurred at the Florida Flywheelers facility.

Mike DeKarz

This is where my father used to live in Port Charlotte. He moved back to New Hampshire a few years ago. I"m there almost every day as I still have many friends there that we are helping.

Loren - I live in Englewood, and did o.k. I think Clearwater is fine. Just to the east of me in Port Charlotte, where I used to live did not do so good. Here is a picture of the hardware store where I used to shop.

The best advice I can give you is to call John Deere Pubs. at 800 522-7448 & get a parts book. You will be able to look at serial number breaks & in most cases be able to determine what is correct for your tractor. You will want a service manual also. They're not cheap, but you will be glad you got them.

I'm almost certain your fan should be green, but others can chime in if they know otherwise. I do have some pictures I took at Expo. E-mail me & I'll see what I can find. Welcome to the world of green & yellow. These folks on these boards will be glad to help.

Mark