Checking Super A Oil Level (???)

In going over my "new" Super A, I noticed that where the oil dipstick would normally be was never drilled on the block, and looking at the IH parts site, I see they note the "oil guage & tube" as optional. I noticed 2 petcocks at the top of the oil pan (stock or added?) and oil did come out when I opened the slightly higher one, so I know it's at least at that level. But if there's no dipstick, how can you tell if it needs oil or how much is actually in it???

(quoted from post at 16:23:15 06/27/08) In going over my "new" Super A, I noticed that where the oil dipstick would normally be was never drilled on the block, and looking at the IH parts site, I see they note the "oil guage & tube" as optional. I noticed 2 petcocks at the top of the oil pan (stock or added?) and oil did come out when I opened the slightly higher one, so I know it's at least at that level. But if there's no dipstick, how can you tell if it needs oil or how much is actually in it???

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Rad: If you love your tractor, you need to get an Operator's Manual for it. The content covers a lot of maintenance issues like the one you asked about - and many more as well.
The two pet cocks in the oil pan are at different heights. You fill the tractor with oil until it starts dripping out the upper cock. You add oil whenever it won't come out the lower cock. Of course, when you change oil, you fill it until it starts to drip out the upper cock also. Good luck. mike

I add oil when it no longer comes out of the upper one. Having used oil burning tractors on my dad's farm in the 50's, we did not want it to go much below the lower one, since we did not know how much it had used. Once you get used to the tractor, you will get an idea how much it needs.

Red: Those petcocks are a more accurate system than a dipstick. Keep the oil level between them and it will operate just fine. If oil is coming out the upper petcock, put a can under it and let drain down to that level. Just about everyone that ever popped a crank seal did it by having the crankcase over full. Most wont admit it, but that is the cold hard fact.

Take Mike's suggestion and get your self an IH operator's manual. There are items in the maintainence section that will cause you a lot of grief if not serviced. Two things that come to mind are lubrication of fan hub and distributor drive. Who wants a fan through the radiator at $500. and who wants to burn up the distributor drive gears at $175. per set?

I've lost two of those fans, one right after my "restoration" when I actually disassembled it to clean it up good (should have left it alone)then added the oil, and drained off the excess according to the manual. The other right after I purchased it, and had not checked it. In both cases, the fan seized, ie fan stopped turning, no damage. The first one, I went into the house and left it running, luckily I got back before I ruined the engine. The other seized as I was looking at it. At least on tractors that I buy, knowing nothing about the maintenance, I no longer trust them. I replaced them both with the sealed bearing ones. My 48 C is now 60 years old. That's a long time for that type fan to last. But, the one on my 53 SA is still ok.

Name: Rad Red (Reserved Name)
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Subject: Re: Checking Super A Oil Level (???)
In Reply to: Re: Checking Super A Oil Level (???) posted by Hugh MacKay on June 27, 2008 at 17:58:23:
Body of Message:

Thanks for clearing that up for me, folks. I wondered if those two petcocks might be factory installed since they looked much "cleaner" than any of the rigged "get by" additions that are on the little beast (not many, thankfully). I wondered what they could be for, and though I thought it only natural to see if there was at least enough oil to come out of them, it never occured to me that they might be the actual factory installed oil level indicators!

And as for the Owner's Manual, yes I'm getting one of those (off eBay, probably) and a parts book AND a tech manual for it also. I bought the tractor with the intent of working on it, and it doesn't make much sense to try to "wing it" with 70 year old technology (like those totally "alien" but very clever petcocks) when there is perfectly good info so readily available (and with pictures, too!)

The toy has been parked for 2 days with jacks and blocks holding up various parts underneath, waiting on the new drive belt for the belly mower while I poked, prodded, inspected, took off, put back on, straightened and checked everything I could think of to check (w/o a manual) without moving it. But I'm picking the belt up tomorrow, bolting everything back up and I'll be riding again tomorrow afternoon, comfortable in the knowledge that there is enough oil in the crankcase. Now, if only that radiator cap will come in tomorrow morning, too...

Thanks once again, guys,

-Rad

Try external_link for your manuals. I believe they are like the originals. Order a service manual and a parts book and you will have almost anything you need. The parts book has schematics and shows where everything goes. NUff said Henry