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1939 A JD?

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Mike Smith

05-30-2002 17:54:58

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I recently have gotten a chance to buy back my Grandfathers old "A". My neighbor bought it when I was 10 years old and it has sat in a barn untouched for the last 20 years. It has the long hood and slant dash, my Grandfather says he thinks it's a '39. The ID tag is rusted so that I cannot read it. Is there any other way to ID the year? This tractor means a lot to me since my Father learned to farm on it when he was a kid. I will have to sell my Farmall H to buy it, but I think there is no comparison.

Mike

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Will P

05-30-2002 21:57:15

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Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-30-2002 17:54:58

Is the serial number tag rusted? Or is it oxidized? If rusted it will be the was years. 43 and 44. Does it have an angle iron frame on it or is it cast with a belly where the lower water pipe runs?

Will P

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Mike Smith

05-31-2002 08:49:15

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Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Will P, 05-30-2002 21:57:15

I am pretty sure it was rusted, not an aluminum tag. It has the angle iron frame, steel seat, John Deere is cast into the rear end housing. I will have to look today at the water housing to see if it's square or rectangle. I will also look at the speed of the transmission. Thanks everyone for all your replies so far!

Mike

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Will P

05-31-2002 10:39:21

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Re: Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-31-2002 08:49:15

Steel tags are 43 and 44 only. The first half of 43 are steel tag, angle iron frame. Deere killed the production of the A for 5 months (because of the war) and resumed with a cast iron frame for the last half of 43 model year. The first half of 43 is 520004-522599 with the angle iron frame. The last half of 43 with the cast frame is 522600-524422.

If it is a steel tag. You can use fine sandpaper to get the numbers to show. DON'T do that to an aluminum one. I have a 43 A and B. My A is the first half with the angle iron frame.

Most war tractors were shipped on steel wheels. Rubber was harder to get than steel. Does it have cut off steel on it? If shipped on steel, it will have a 4 speed trans. But put on rubber Deere offered a kit to put in the 5th and 6th gear. I have seen cut off rubber war tractors with the 4 speed still. You will have 6 quadrants but 5th and 6th won't work and will have a plate over where 5th and 6th are.

Need more info just let me know.

Will P

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Menno Hiemstra

05-31-2002 15:06:14

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Re: Re: Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Will P, 05-31-2002 10:39:21

Do you have a picture off sudge a tractor. I want to buy one, but it isn parts in a box.

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Michael Smith

05-31-2002 15:06:03

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Re: Re: Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Will P, 05-31-2002 10:39:21

I looked at the tractor today and it has a 6 speed trans. It is on rubber and my grandfather says that's the way he got it. It has the rectangular fitting on the water inlet on top of block. I worked on the tag and all I can see is Model A Tractor and serial number seems to start with the number 5 after that it is too pitted up to tell. I'm just happy to get it back no matter what year it is. It's not too often you can track one back down that was sold that many years ago.

Thanks,

Mike

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Will P

05-31-2002 16:32:48

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Michael Smith, 05-31-2002 15:06:03

Does it have cast rear rims? Is it round spokes in the front? For the model year of 1939 is serial number 477000-487999. So it is not a 1939.

It has an angle iron frame, right? And the tag is steel? Then it is a 1943.

Will P

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zane

05-30-2002 19:30:21

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Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-30-2002 17:54:58

I have a 39 A and love it dearly. If your's has a styled hood and grill, and the following features, it is probably a 39: 12-spline axle/hub assembly; square, 4-bolt exhaust pipe/manifold joint; gravity feed rocker arm lubrication; 2 tranny levers (no lever guide), one w/ first and second, and the other hi and lo range. Top speed about 5 mph. 39 was the first full year of styling, yet it maintained the running gear of the earlier models. There were significant engineering changes at y/m 40.

The nameplate is made of aluminum and is probably oxidized badly, but with fairly soft corrosion products. Use solvent-type spray carb cleaner (white can) to remove grease and grime, then get on it with baking soda or toothpaste or bon ami, a toothbrush and water. After it is rinsed and dry, spray it with graphite key lubricant and wipe with a soft cloth. The characters were punched in and so are depressions in the plate. The graphite should lodge in some of them. I've been able to make out some that looked pretty hopeless.

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zane

05-30-2002 19:36:16

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Re: Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to zane, 05-30-2002 19:30:21

I forgot to mention that I believe the 39 was the last to use solid disk rims/with rubber on front.

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Mike in Mo

05-30-2002 19:16:15

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Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-30-2002 17:54:58

Mike Is it a 4-speed or 6-speed? (1st & 2nd + hi-low or 1st,2nd,3rd + hi-low) The '39 & '40's had 4 speed and '41 up had 6 speed. To tell between a 1939 & 1940' the 1939 should have a square water pipe housing that bolts to the top of the block(about 4"square). the 1940 version would be rectanguler (about 4"x8"). If you have a 6 speed tractor post back and I'll give you some more things to look for to narrow it down (it'll be between 1941 and early 1947). Hope this helps. Mike

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gwh

05-30-2002 19:15:37

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Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-30-2002 17:54:58

Mike, Look at the casting of the upper water pipe where it is bolted to the top of the cylinder block, is it square shaped or rectangular? If it is square in shape then you should have a '39(with the 309 c.i. engine- same as the unstyled A's). If it is rectanglar then you have a '40 & later(321c.i.). Post back and we can try to break it down more if its a '40 & newer.

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Mike F

05-30-2002 19:12:43

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Re: 1939 A JD? in reply to Mike Smith, 05-30-2002 17:54:58

I'd think it is not a 39 being a long hood and slant dash, but does it have a 4 speed tranny with hi and lo? this would really help to tell if the year is really 39. Not many electric start tractors in 39 unless it was converted.

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