1941 MD info needed

Mark Parker · Dec 29, 2010

I just bought a 1941 Farmall MD and need some information on it. Serial number is 26978. Does anyone know serial number of the first production MD tractor? What are some serial number of other produce before this one. Were does this one fall in line around the 100th built or 500th built? How do you check the oil level in injector pump I see a 1/8 drain plugs on side of pump body at bottom and one on bottom of govenor body at end are these both drains? Looks alot different than the later pump. IT has 6" longer rear axles with Two notches cut in them on each side 2" from end of axle. what are these for??

sflem849 · Dec 30, 2010

Don't know much about the serial numbers. IH didn't keep very detailed records. Some sites have a serial number registration type thing where you enter the serial number of your tractor into their record keeping system. Not sure if this one does it or what it is really called.

There is a mini petcock just like the ones in the oil pans of the gassers. You open it up just like any other petcock. It is up 2" and over 2.5" from where that 1/8" drain plug is in the bottom of the pump IIRC.

The 100" axles were for running corn pickers or other equipment that needed a longer axle. Not sure what the notches are for.

Wayne in MN · Dec 30, 2010

IH made an axle extension that bolted a heavy casting and short axle on to the existing axle. It used 2 notches so the casting bolts would keep the extension from moving.

D Slater · Dec 30, 2010

If still equiped with the early bosch pump, they were different things on the real early pump. Some had a drain near the point rear housing mounts to the main housing.
Problem with the serial numbers is, serial # 26145 was the first official MD made. But the serial numbers of all M tractors is included in the total. 26146 or 26147 or lots of others could be a gas tractor before another MD was included. 26145 and your # 26978 were built in the first month of MD production, Jan 1941. So whatever was built from 26146 to 27141 was the total of M tractors of all fuel types. First M tractor built starting 2-1-41 was 27142. Since MD tractor production was a small percent of the overall M production, probably not to many were made before the tractor you have.
Long axles were offered as a attachment, don't know what the notches are for. Unless there the bolt on axle extenders.

1941 MD info needed

Mark Parker

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sflem849

Well-known Member

Wayne in MN

Well-known Member

D Slater

Well-known Member

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