Flat top fenders on a Farmall 450

Can a person put flat top fenders on a farmall 450? And if so, is there a particular model of fender that works better and what about brackets?

Thanks,
Alan

I took a 450 in on trade awhile back that had 06-56 series flat tops on it. They remained on the tractor for a grand total of 15 minutes after it arrived. Looked horrible in my opinion, but each to their own and we all know what opinions are like. If I remember correctly, they were just mounted with u-bolts and didnt feel very sturdy.

450s never came with flat top fenders.

You would need to make up brackets to mount flat top fenders solidly to a 450 axle housing. There are no such brackets pre-made.

Frankly, flat-top fenders look DUMB on a 450, but if it floats your boat, have at it. You sit way too far back on a 450, almost behind where the fenders cover. Newer tractors with the flat-tops have the seat moved quite a bit forward so the fenders actually protect you.

Farmall 656 fenders would bolt right on and fit but would look very out of place.

Harold H

I've seen an M or two that had John Deere (3020-4020) fenders. Don't know why it wouldn't work on a 450. In my opinion, The JD fenders look better than the IH flat top fenders. You will want to paint them RED though.

Attitudes are like armpits - prone to stinking.

I put a set of flat tops on a Super M. Made the brackets which is not hard to do. They sure eliminated a lot of dust mud and etc. from blowing up on the operator which the original clamshells do not do well. They didn't look original, but in my opinion I thought they looked good for a working tractor. It just depends on what you want you fenders to do. If it's a show tractor probably not, working tractor definitely yes.

(quoted from post at 18:37:23 03/01/10) Farmall 656 fenders would bolt right on and fit but would look very out of place.

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Right, but for every set of 656 fenders, you'll find 25 sets of 706, 806, 1206, 756, 856, 1256, 1456, 766, 966, 1066, 1466, 1566, 1468, 1568 (I think I got them all...) fenders.

To answer your real question. Yes they will fit, and although not a factory option, will work very well. Make a mounting bracket out of 1/2 plate steel. Drill four holes in it to match the mounting holes on the axel housing. Make the plate long enough to go to the edge of the axel housing. You could go longer, but then you couldn't move your wheels in all the way. I would weld a thin strip of steel on the very edge of the plate and another one paralel to the edge so that the fender's bottom edge will have somthing on either side of it. This keeps it from shifting sideways. To mount the fenders on the bracket, use a 1/2 inch or thicker steel bar under the axel housing with two holes in it (like what is used to mount a rear cultivator or loader) and two 3/4 inch bolts. This setup will hold a lot better than ubolts and the fenders WILL NOT slip.
I have a set of 656 flat tops on a 350 and love them. They don't look factory, but are FAR better for utility as they actually protect you from things. They also allow you to put you hand on them when mowing or baling ditches so you don't feel like you are falling off the tractor. They also greatly improve your lighting.
BTW, I also made a platform thet goes from the existing transmission cover to the fenders, added a front step and made a sturdy grab handle for ease of getting on and off as I added a three-point on the back. All of these additions were made so they could be removed and leave no signs of permanent alterations to the basic tractor.

I think you will like the flat tops on your tractor. If you would like to know how I made the platform or grab handle. let me know.

Leo

My mistake, the steel bar goes UNDER the steel plate mounting bracket, but ABOVE the axel housing. That means you use 2-3 inch bolts.

Leo