W-4 vs H, How much is similar, how much is not ?

dpski · Sep 26, 2009

Contemplating my next project and have been doing a little research here trying to understand the differences between the W-4 vs the H, besides the obvious like front axle, rear fenders, tin work etc.

Concern is mainly around parts availability for things that normally wear out and/or break.

The engines are the same right?

Different gears in the trannies and PTO?

Brakes, are they the same?

Different seat pedastal, steering and shifter too?

Anything else?

How about hard to find parts on the W-4, anything to be extra careful about when looking at one?

Thanks,

DP

Jeff Z. · Sep 26, 2009

The Farmall H is the row-crop version of the McCormick-Deering W-4.
I don't know all the fine details between them but they do have the same engine.

rustyfarmall · Sep 26, 2009

Engine, clutch, brakes, transmission gears, guages, headlights, etc., all the same. Radiator is slightly different but an H radiator will fit. Rear end gears will interchange but will drastically change the speed of the tractor.
Also, gas tanks are the same. The hardest parts to find will be the hood and grill.

John M · Sep 26, 2009

Gas tanks are NOT exactly the same, but an H tank will fit the mounts. The hole for the sediment bowl is not in the same place, and even the short bowl wont fit if you have a belt pulley.

dpski · Sep 26, 2009

Is the W-4 significantly faster than the H due to the different gearing?

L.C.Gray · Sep 27, 2009

The engines are basically the same internally, but the I, O & W mount the engines totally different, so the back plate on the engine is different and the front cover and maybe the entire accessory drive is different. I put a '55 C152 engine from a 300 Utility into a'47 I-4 and had to change up both ends to allow it to mount up. The front cover change neccessitated changing the accessory drive backing plate because one hole on the magneto drive wouldn't line up. In my case I also had to sleave down the 1/2 NC holes in the C152 block to 3/8 NC along with redrilling the plate's dowell pin holes to a different size and location to match the '47 front cover. It all worked out fine, but was a headache that took a lot of head scratching and trial fitting.

Athol Carr · Oct 1, 2009

The engine and gear boxes of the H and W-4 are the same. The bevel pinion and ring gear behind the gear-box may be different to account for different back wheel sizes. The W-4 with 12.4x24" tyres is supposed to do 14 mph whereas the farmall H on 10x38" tyres is supposed to do about 15.5 mph.
The seats are the same but the seat supports are slightly different, the Farmall tool-box is on the seat support the W-4 is on the transmission behind the belt-pulley. The radiator shutters are the same, then engine is the dame but the front supports are different, the Farmall H is supported at the front by mounts on each side to the channel frame whereas the W-4 had a central support, around the crank pulley to drive the fan, to the front frame tub.
I was not aware of differences in the fuel tank except that the clutch housing on the Farmall H is very long to give the same wheel-base as the Farmall M whereas the W-4 is very short, barely room for the starter motor in front of the belt-pulley fitting.

W-4 vs H, How much is similar, how much is not ?

dpski

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Jeff Z.

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rustyfarmall

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John M

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dpski

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L.C.Gray

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Athol Carr

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