SMD-TA original?

Thanks for your help. I"m trying to make a good decsion that will cost me $3000. The tractor hasn"t ran for 2 years, but is not locked up.

1}Casting codes (extreme value) that match the Serial number estimate of the production date within a month (usually) but not more than 4 to 6 months. and usually not later than the estimated production within the range of serial numbers.

2}Provenance (where it has been and what they, former owners, say about the unit) paper trail and repair orders, receipts indicating when/what. old photos of it.

3}Current attachments and correctness of components. A 400 top cover on a SMDTA would be an example, as would incorrect ground speed in gears, or other mis-applied parts.

Things which do not cause concern would be mediocre repaint, normal accessories like M&W gears, or throttle quadrants, or hydraulic accessories that are not shade tree force fit garbage. Missing common components should also not cause major headaches, but may be difficult to find in usable restorable condition.

That is the Info I would use to evaluate a high value tractor I was interested in restoring. JimN

You kinda hit home with item #3 "A 400 top cover on a SMDTA would be an example".

Contempoary accessories or attachments always add value to a vehicle. They are even better if they do not irrevocably alter the vehicle.

There is only one reason a 400 lid would find its way onto SMTA. Lids do not wear out or break. The 400 lid would only find its way on a SMTA if an owner, in 1954-1956, wanted to convert his tractor to fast hitch. I have seen a few SMTA's with 400 fast hitches. The rockshaft mount always looks jury-rigged. A proper conversion in '54-'56 would require a new lid (or factory engineered bracket) along with the new fast hitch hardware. It also requires a steering column mounting plate which is easily fabricated.

I have altered one of my SMTA's with a 400 lid and fast hitch. I don't think it has depreciated the value of the tractor. If I were to sell the tractor, I would not put it back to original condition. It would be offered with the original lid and drawbar on a pallet. I think the tractor is more useful and interesting with the conversion.

This is the reason why I have asked this board, on several occasions, whether IH offered a retrofit kit for the SMTA. If they did, the conversion would have high value if all the kit parts were still on the tractor.

Ideally they should end in "Z" (=1954). However "Y" (=1953) with the month characters later in the year (eg about "8" thru "12") would be OK too.

All larger castings (block, head, torque tube, axle housings, bolster, wheels, etc) will have date codes on them.

Back away from the puter and go look.

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