H year / model differences

still looking for an H for my stepfather. the 51 I was going to look at this weekend didn't pan out, and after another call back from the owner, it's probably being taken 'off sale' as they are simply too busy to mess with selling it now.

the 51 I had looked at was a heap.

I've found a 44 in my area today wheile on the way to work.

just wondering what the year differences are, and if i should be looking for any specific year.. or any year is better than another.

from the road the 44 'looks' to be in darn good condition.. pretty straight tins.. decent tires. rears are plenty checked.. but holding air.. etc..

If you exclude the Super H model, the vanilla H series was pretty much the same. the PTO changed (as did the M) from the early, smaller one to the standard size. There were some other minor changes here and there, but for the most part, all years are good. in 1941, the Duetz fasteners were replaced for the grille attachment, which also changed the radiator mounts for it. the very early H's also had a channel in the tranny deck.

there may be some other changes that I am not listing, but for the most part, they are the same.

Soundguy - I think you were asking about pros and cons for H's. I meant to tell you the one con when buying an old H; the seat spring. Those old 60-year old springs can snap, and dump you right off the back. It happens. Just go buy a new spring, and you'll be happy.

Some late 52 and early 53 Hs had disc brakes and a larger clutch, I have been told, which were part of the change to the Super H, but it is my understanding that there were no changes from 41 to 51 except that wartime tractors had a cast iron gear shift knob instead of rubber. I have a 49 H and it is identical to the 42 H I parted out, but those are extremes of years that I have personally had.
Zach

Most of the older H models were kerosene or distillate. They can be identified by their having two fuelt anks(a liitle tank for starting on gas and a large tank for kerosene), low compression heads, magnetos instead of disstributors, and cutout relays instead of full fledged voltage regulators.

(quoted from post at 05:52:13 01/15/12) Some late 52 and early 53 Hs had disc brakes and a larger clutch, I have been told, which were part of the change to the Super H, but it is my understanding that there were no changes from 41 to 51 except that wartime tractors had a cast iron gear shift knob instead of rubber. I have a 49 H and it is identical to the 42 H I parted out, but those are extremes of years that I have personally had.
Zach

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My late war model doesn't even have the cast knob. Just a missing rubber one. And judging by how worn out it is it couldn't be a replacement.

George, Happened to my BIL on his 1948 M when he was teddaring hay. The field he was in was very rough as it is also used for winter pasture and the cattle have the ground all troumped up so he was holding tight to the steering wheel and didn't go off the back. I can't imagine getting beat up with a teddar. Good suggestion for these old tractors, Hal.

When I am thinking of adding a new tractor to my collection I purchase an Operator's Manual and a Parts Catalog first. I get a very good idea of what to look for after reviewing those items. The parts catalog will basically show or describe the various changes that took place during its production run and the Operator's Manual tells you how they are maintained and how the various systems perform and are operated. Both of these are fairly reasonable in price and can be found quickly on eBay - they are well worth the money in any event, Hal.

In my opinion, get one with a gasoline engine (X1) and a pressurized cooling system. Although the first X1 engine was produced in 1940, I doubt if many early ones had it from 1941-1945 due to WW II. The pressurized cooling system allows a higher temp before it overheats. Neither of these are that important on a little used tractor, but if you get these two things, you will have most of the minor updates. Of course if you want a distillate/kerosene engine with a different head, manifold, carb, and working shutters, etc you can do that, but some of those parts are hard to find. Only my opinion but I prefer the later models. My opinion can be overriden because overall condition of the tractor is the most important thing.

I too had always wanted an H (would have preferred a super H but they are too pricey). I pick up an decent 1951 H for less than scrap price in October 2011 and do enjoy driving it. Runs like a swiss watch and all I plan to do it is a cheapo paint job.

My best advice is learn the suffix's that follow the serial number.
X1 indicates gasoline only and has the most hp.
X? (I forget the code) indicates distallate fuel and has lower compression than the gas model so slightly less hp.
X? (I forget the code) is Kerosene and has lower compression than even the distallate model so it is the lowest hp of all the H's.

Likely if any of them have been overhauled then they were updated with Super H pistons so could be irrellavant if that is the case. Otherwise, I prefer the later ones the best although as others have already pointed out the differences are really very slight.

Also there are other suffix codes that indicate a super slow first gear. and also a different code indicates a faster 4th gear (but I forget those codes too so you will have to search the archives)

It has always been my impression that x1 means gasoline engine,
no suffix means distillate or kerosene and x6 is for lower first and
reverse gears. There is also a suffix for high altitude but I don't
recall what it is and have never seen one around here in NY. I think
they were more of a western thing.
Zach

(quoted from post at 13:27:07 01/15/12) It has always been my impression that x1 means gasoline engine,
no suffix means distillate or kerosene and x6 is for lower first and
reverse gears. There is also a suffix for high altitude but I don't
recall what it is and have never seen one around here in NY. I think
they were more of a western thing.
Zach

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It has been kicked around on YT that they used them in the later years. Something like they switched over to them when X1 became the standard tractor.


EDIT
In Guy Fays "Letter Series Farmalls" it can be found on page 11. The basic story is kero tractors would have an X3 code and dist tractors would have a X17 code.

Here is the actual factory list of all the approved suffix codes as authorized in 1944.

http://content.wisconsinhistory.org... code"&REC=1&DMTHUMB=0&DMROTATE=0

I couldn't get the image to display so the above is a link to the image itself.

Only things I've noticed different on various year models that have not already been covered are, some of the parts had running changes/upgrades, like the previously mentioned PTO, the oil filter size, the lower shaft front seal retainer for the transmission originally was pot metal, and while substantially lighter than the later one, it was also much weaker, and thus prone to breakage when torqued down, especially if done so by Charles Atlas. The later one is a direct bolt on replacement though, and much stouter. Speaking of lighter, the earlier tractors generally had lighter castings in some areas, especially during the war years, when all metals were rationed and thus very hard to get. For instance, on my July, 1940 manufactured H, the transmission top cover is light enough I can lift it on and off by myself, but later model ones I have always needed help to do so. Also, the early models had a different key system to hold the rear casters in place on the axles, using a separate key top and bottom instead of the one in the hub being cast in like on the later models. I have a set of 1946 coded casters done like this.

Thanks, that's interesting. My H is a 1949 with no suffix on the
tag, so what would that make it?
Zach

Suffix codes didn't start being used until serial # 20891 and higher. Not all years had all the suffix added that later ones did. Most distilate and kerosene ones had no suffix.
Later suffix chart pictured for a H if readable.

(quoted from post at 18:48:58 01/15/12) Thanks, that's interesting. My H is a 1949 with no suffix on the
tag, so what would that make it?
Zach

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That would mean it was originally a base model as built, with no added on options, at least not from the factory. Remember though, everything IH made as an add-on was also available through the dealership as a field add-on as well.

Not totally sure about '49 but I think it would have been a distillate model with belt pulley and that is all, though by then it could have been a gas model that was the base tractor.