Here is a '41 M I picked up a couple of months ago. (First five photos) The configuration of the carb and regulator is just like that of the Super M LP's I've seen and Super MTA's. The tank is from San Angelo and is dated '55. The Gauge cluster fits the contour of the tank and you can see that it even has mounts for the lights. The air cleaner has been moved forward a few inches to clear the tank. Originally a distillate tractor, I'm not sure yet if it has domed pistons or not.
Not your typical LP conversion hack job. I wonder if it was some sort of a kit or if the same group who did the SMTA's did some M's on the side.


The bottom three photos, for comparison are my '53 Super M LP.
Both tractors have the cold manifold. However, the '41 has "LP GAS" cast into the side of the intake half.

What is that frame on the front of the '53 M and could you post a couple pictures of that mounted on the front of the tractor. Thankyou. Armand

i sure would like to have the wards tire on your m. i have a super m lp a 400 lp and a 450lp.

Nice conversion on M. Have seen a lot of M LP conversions but have never seen a tank like yours. Not sure that I like the valves and metal lines right in your face though, have seen what they can do if line bursts.

I like the LP tractors. I wouldn't mind having a 450 LP. I know where there's a 400LP with TA delete that's a good runner.

That tire is not quite as pretty up close! I'm sure I could be talked out of it as it's the only one I have like that. It's on there strictly because it holds air!

NDS,

Now you are creeping me out. Are LP tractors inherently more dangerous than gasoline tractors? After all, a gas tank can be easily pierced. Or ruptured like a Ford Pinto.

It should be pointed out that IH used unshielded copper tube for the liquid and vapor lines to the filter and on to the regulator. And curiously, on the same machine, IH used steel lines for moving water to and from the evaporator. That doesn't seem to make much sense but there must have been a good reason.

The IH engineers also placed the valves facing the operator's position. This arrangement seems better than front, left, or right side of the tank. Less chance for a tree limb or other stationary object to do damage.

Can you describe the LP tractor accidents that you are aware of.

That frame is a loader I've been building out of steel that I have been building. I just looked through my photos and unfortunately I don't have any that show better details. I'll take some more and get them up.

I originally built it just to carry a blade and I had it on a '50 M. I wanted the pushing force to be resolved right on the axle housing so that's where I mounted the pivots. This last summer I got serious about getting it finished and bought the cylinders and hoses and fixed it up on the Super M.

I made it so that various attachments bolt and unbolt on the front of the loader frame. Although it's out of the photo, in that one it has a boom mounted on it. I also have some forks that mount on a solid steel rod so that you can slide them in and out for adjustment. The next thing to make is a bale spike and then I'll finish the bucket and bucket cylinder mounts. The blade is an old three point type and I kept the swivel so it can be straight or 45 angle.

They are no more dangerous if you use common sense. The worse thing would be overfilling the tank vs. outside temp. Then you would be inviting the pressure relief valve to do it's function on a hot day. Then you could have a potential release of vapors right in your face with the way the Super M is setup. Keep in mind though that the pressures involved in an LP system are fairly low in the grand scheme of things.

As for tank punctures, that's the last thing I would worry about. I went to a special class once when I was on the local VFD about propane fires and that was a clear point they made about collisions involving propane powered vehicles, transport tanks and rail cars. i.e. Post accident photos of burned up rail cars with tanks fully intact.

The use of copper line does raise an eyebrow, but all the ones I've seen of this type have the exact same type and even in Guy Fay's book if you look at the W-9 LP (or was it a 6?) it has the same lines that are bent in the exact same way. They are, however, mounted between points that do not experience relative movement. Also the liquid valve has a flow check on it.

Another thing to consider with LP is that it actually has a narrower stoichiometric range for ignition than gasoline.

I would be more concerned with LP where hoses are involved, such as a fill line between storage tank and tractor; make sure it's in good shape.

CenTex, Great pics. Enjoyed seeing them. I will hollar at you later.
Later,
John A.

Back in the day one of my nieghbors dad LP line rupture and spray him with liquid propane while staring tractor, he did not have serious injury but all exposed skin was frostbit and pealed off luckily it did not get in his eyes.

Back in sixtys Dad was fueling LP cotton picker using the poor farmer method of venting off large amount of vapor. It was cold still morning and vapor settled to ground and drifted about 150 feet to open flame and flashed back. Dad had first degree burns on all exposed skin and picker caught fire but they were able to put out fire with nearby water hose before serious damage was done.