I ended up buying the Farmall B. It certainly isn't a gem, but I think the price was reasonable. I paid $700 for it and spent about $75 in fuel to get it.
Now for the problems:
Seat is rotted out. I will have to look for what exactly need replacing and what can stay.
Wiring is a mess. Go figure! I haven't seen too many 12v conversions that I liked and it seems like a lot of these tractors are all hacked into.
Drawbar is a mess. Somebody was smarter than Farmall and started welding a bunch of crap on the drawbar to hold it up. Not really sure how to bring that back to stock, but I haven't started looking very hard either.
Crack in block. Of course it leaks more than he said, but the tractor is very useable.
Won't stay in 3rd w/o holding it. It will stay in if you hold the shifter forward. If I had to guess now the spring that holds the ball in place is broken.
Grinds going into reverse. I doubt this is normal. Maybe I will see something when I get in the trans.

Questions:
What is the hitch stuff on the drawbar? Mounted plow???
Is there anything more to getting in the trans than popping the top off the thing with the shifter?
What do you think of it?

Farmall Model A, AV, B and BN
Year Starting Serial Number
1939 501
1940 6744
1941 41500
1942 80739
1944 93690
1945 113218
1946 146700
1947 182964
The Serial Number is located on the seat bracket on the left side

Mine is 214360. That would make it a '47 according to the yt chart.

Edit - Is max RPMs on this is only 1540? The tractor sounds like it is barely turning any rpms when it is WOT. That would make sense if it maxed at 1540. I also forgot, the sawtooth throttle is really worn out, too. No big deal, just money

Well it sure is in fine hands now. Great find at 1/2 price. You will probably find some sheared off bolts on the draw bar mounting points. That is a great tractor. the seat pan can be repaired with metal if done carefully, or a replacement is surely available.

I love the milking inflation shifter boot.

good buy .I paid $1000 for a A with about exact description even batt batt mounted in same place , Mine was a Hand start, some one welded a mount for a starter dosnt look good but works , I was going to grind it smooth and put it back to original but the guy I bought it from said they did it in 1940 when the tractor was new . so after 70 years i left it .

try this

Ron
throttle

The Bs were also built in Louisville in 47 their serial nos started with 200,000. You can fix the seat easy just add some layers of fiberglass and resin to the seat side will last forever. Those brackets are not for a plow just added stuff. Sure has large tires for a B.

(quoted from post at 17:33:43 09/06/10) The Bs were also built in Louisville in 47 their serial nos started with 200,000. You can fix the seat easy just add some layers of fiberglass and resin to the seat side will last forever. Those brackets are not for a plow just added stuff. Sure has large tires for a B.

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So mine is a Louisville because the number is 2XX,XXX? Is that a good thing?
The rusted out seat pan could be fixed easy enough, but the rods it sits on don't all touch stuff. I am guessing some stuff is tweaked a bit. With a little work it could certainly be (more) useable Right now the adjustment and suspension don't work 100%.

(quoted from post at 09:22:49 09/06/10) I love the milking inflation shifter boot.

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I think that's a "rain guard" since the tractor seems to spend most of it's time in "God's shed." :lol:

(quoted from post at 11:44:53 09/06/10) try this

Ron
throttle

Click to expand...

I like it! I have a friend that is a TIG welder and I might try building up rather than cutting and replacing. The throttle must have been jumping out on one of the POs bc they went at it with a grinder to "modify" the sawtooth in a few spots.

...Those brackets are not for a plow just added stuff. Sure has large tires for a B.

Click to expand...

Even the stuff that mounts to the right of center, about under the seat? They are definately production pieces, not farmer modifications. There is some sort of yolk and another drawbar type thing.
I will look at the tires size in the morning. It does sit a little low in the nose, better than high in the nose!