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H Cast Iron Shift Knob

S

sflem849

Well-known Member
What is the story with the cast iron shift knobs? I just saw a tractor at the junkyard that had a cast knob. Wondering when and where they were used.
Thanks.
 
(quoted from post at 06:11:49 08/13/10) What is the story with the cast iron shift knobs? I just saw a tractor at the junkyard that had a cast knob. Wondering when and where they were used.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Most commonly used in the war years 1942 and 1943 because rubber was in very short supply. It's possible that you might find a '44 or '45 also with the cast iron knob.
 
Back during WWII, synthetic rubber was still being developed. With supplies of natural rubber being diverted to wartime usage [and civillian items like tires being subject to rationing], rubber used to make shift knobs was unavailable. So IH substituted a cast iron shift knob during the war years.

My dad, who sold and repaired Farmalls from 1941 on, told me that the cast iron shift knobs were found on all 1944 models...although there were several '43 and '45 production tractors that got the cast-iron knobs as well.
 
My '44 M has one that I'm sure is factory, but my '54 MTA has one too, which I'm sure is not. it is quite likely people have switched em over the years because of what they had available, or what they liked.

Ben
 
After 60 years I doubt that you will find many tractors with all original parts so you might find parts from any year on tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 12:14:24 08/13/10) After 60 years I doubt that you will find many tractors with all original parts so you might find parts from any year on tractor.
Click to expand...

In my 10 years of working on these machines I have found that to be more true than ANYTHING else you will read on the forums.

I have a 1943 H and it doesn't have a shift knob right now. It sure will have a cast one when I go back to the junkyard!

I have heard that it was a war thing due to the shortage of rubber, but I never know what years exactly had them. I should read the casting codes, but I assume mine is a later 1943 bc it has a later serial number in the range. I will tell everybody that questions the cast knob that they had run out of rubber by late 1943 ;)
 
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