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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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casting dates

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farmall wrangle

07-23-2006 07:24:54




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I saw a post recently about casting dates versus serial numbers. I believe the conversation was about a cub. I have a little different situation that I am curious about and am looking to all the knowledge on here for thier ideas. I am currently restoring a MD that by the serial numder (FDBK285487) is a 1951. As I was disassembling and paint stripping I found that a lot of the casting dates were for early 1952.
Examples
Steering bolster 1-21-X
Transmission/Rear 1-15-X
Left axle housing 1-8-X
Right axle housing 1-22-X
Belly pump 1-11-X
The only parts that show the 51 dates are the engine (11-12-W)and the Bell housing 8-30-W.
Also cast on the lower housing of the front end is the word "Belectromal" I have not ever seen any reference or conversation about this? Sorry for the long post just trying to get some good sunday morning conversation started. Thanks for any information and I hope to have pictures to post as soon as I complete the restoration.

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Dave Slater

07-23-2006 15:15:39




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 Re: casting dates in reply to farmall wrangler, 07-23-2006 07:24:54  
Lot of fronts have Belectromal on them. Heard speculation as to why, but I don't know. Think your tractor is a 52 with original castings.



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CNKS

07-23-2006 13:58:45




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 Re: casting dates in reply to farmall wrangler, 07-23-2006 07:24:54  
You are calling the clutch housing where the serial tag is the "bell housing"? If so your tractor is a 1952, with a 1951 bell housing -- it was replaced for some reason. I have seen the word on the lower bolster mentioned before, apparantly that is the manufacturer, perhaps IH did not cast all theirs. Jim is right about the confusion of the serials in early 1952, but yours would have had to have been assembled the first week in Jan to have that serial, the casting dates are later than that. Another possibility is that IH had some of their serial plates pre-stamped, in other words not stamped after assembly, the tags could have gotten mixed up. In that case, the casting dates are a better indication than the tag.

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Dave_Id

07-23-2006 12:20:35




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 Re: casting dates in reply to farmall wrangler, 07-23-2006 07:24:54  
A production years timing didn't alway coordinate exactly with the calender year, so a 51 could easily have been produced in January when the castings were made



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Jim Becker

07-23-2006 11:53:27




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 Re: casting dates in reply to farmall wrangler, 07-23-2006 07:24:54  
Guy Fay's Data Book seems to indicate some discrepancy of M serial numbers, with 1952 either starting at 290923 or 285100. Your tractor supports the second number.



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Dave Slater

07-23-2006 14:48:56




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 Re: casting dates in reply to Jim Becker, 07-23-2006 11:53:27  
I agree the lower starting # is more acurate. 3 I have had MD 285266 , MD 285597 and 286713 Gas all had most castings in 52. Example MD 285597 Transmission 2-9-X , Center housing 10-2-W , R Axle 1-18-X, L Axle 2-13-X, rear wheels 2-5-X and 2-6-X, Engine Block 11-21-W, Lower bolster 2-18-52, Trans. top cover 1-X, upper bolster 1-X . Couldn't make day out on last 2. Head was changed sometime like most, 8-14-D .

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CNKS

07-23-2006 17:32:12




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 Re: casting dates in reply to Dave Slater, 07-23-2006 14:48:56  
Unless IH had a strike or something about the time your tractor was built, IH was producing about 700 M series a week (722 according to 1951 serial numbers). Using 285100 as the starting serial in 1952, your tractor (285597) should have been produced the first week in January 1952. I don't understand how it could have February castings? Don't interpret this as me disputing what's on your tractor, but I must be missing something. Guy Fay says the M/MD was discontinued March 27 1952, surely IH wasn't slowing to a crawl in January for the changeover to the Super M.

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Dave Slater

07-23-2006 18:28:57




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 Re: casting dates in reply to CNKS, 07-23-2006 17:32:12  
Not sure what answer is,but after noticing the X codes on M with serial # starting with 285 I started keeping a eye out for others and most have some X code housings. Without looking I think the most M of any year were showed as 51 model. Maybe IH didn't use calender year and were still calling them 51 models even if built in 52.Or maybe 52 models started even before the 285100 serial #. One of those things that would be interesting to find the answer to.

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CNKS

07-23-2006 19:37:28




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 Re: casting dates in reply to Dave Slater, 07-23-2006 18:28:57  
Yes, I don't think any of it is etched in stone, so to speak. Interesting that you have three with serials that close. Jim Becker, in the post below about the Cub, indicated that the published serials are by calendar, rather than fiscal year. That's what I have always assumed, but 99% of the time when I assume something, I am wrong.



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