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1953 Super M

L

L. C.

Member
Approximately 8 years ago I purchased what I thought was a 1953 Super M. I have put it up for sale and the experts tell me that the engine in this tractor is not from a Super M. It has a date code of 1-25-O. The experts tell me that the last diget on this tractor should be a Y to be a 1953 engine. The Serial No. is (F23498) which makes a 1953 model. It has disk brakes and the batteryis under the seat which also makes it a Super M.
Can anyone tell me where to find and interpet the date codes on these tractors?
 
It definately is an "O" and not a "Q" so I think it is probably a block from a 1945 model M. The Chassis has a SM code.
 
Thanks for the web page for date codes.


Although the codes do not go beyond 1947 which is "Q", the code on my engine block is 1*25*O. It is not a "Q" as was used in 1947 so that would make this block a 1945? Am I correct?
 
Does it still have live hyd? I assume the replaced the timing cover from the original engine to the parts engine?
 
No, it doesn"t have live Hydraulic. I don"t know if it ever had live Hydraulic. It has a Hyd. pump in clutch housing. I guess it is just a cobbled up Super M. but it has excellent H.P. The last time I had it on a Dyno. it was making 52 H.P.
 
First off the battery box under the seat is not original for a SM with that serial #. Most times a date code on the transmission is found on the side in front of the brake pedals. Clutch housing on top and can be hard to see for a belt pulley gear box. Axle housings on the back or front. Transmission top near where the right foot would sit. Maybe just ahead of the battery box. That serial SM housings will probably have some X date codes. Maybe most of them. To ID the engine look for the casting # and letters following the number, above the oil filter on the side of engine block. See if the engine has a serial # stamped in a raised flat area below # 1 spark plug and just above the tin cover on the side of the engine. If it came from another M tractor the letters in front of the serial # will confirm that.
Serial prefix for a M engine is FBKM. Cast # for a 45 block that came in a M tractor would be 6722 followed by letters that I think would be DH.
 
You have confirmed one thing, this is a 1945 block. The no. above the oil filter is 6722-DH with a 2-BB under that no. The date code on transmission just ahead of the brake pedals is 12*29*X The No. to the rear of the date code behind the brake pedals is 357023-R1. When I purchased tractor about 8 years ago I was informed that engine had been just overhauled. I suspect that I have a tractor that has been cobbled together but I am not complaining, It has been a very good tractor and I have not had one problem with it. I have pulled it for 8 years in the antique class and won many first and second places. The problem is that this tractor is useless to attempt to sell if the "Correct Police" become involved. I have built a 1952 M with a 281 block instlled which dynos 118 H.P. and I don,t need the so called Super M any more.
 
Sounds like tractor may just have a engine change. Also a battery box and seat attachment added from IH parts accessories or from another tractor. Also the date codes are the casting date of the housings. Tractor serial would still mke it a 53 model first month built. Also the engine could be from a 46 model tractor if the date code on it is late in the year. Need the serial # to tell.
Think the economy and high fuel cost may hurt the sale of common tractors more than the engine change. If it has good tires it will probably sell.
 
All you need to do is go backwards from Q, one letter for each year, from 1947.

The tm-tractor list starts at 1947 because it's a Farmall Cub website. Farmall Cubs weren't made before 1947.

If the engine is making 52HP, it should not detract from the value of the tractor because it is the "wrong" block.

The replaced engine gives the tractor character. Something big happened to that tractor in its life that necessitated replacing the engine. To have been a fly on the wall....
 
Thanks, to all of you for all your help. With these date codes, I can now figure out when these tractors were built from the IHC line. Looks like the transmission was built on 12-29-1952 and the engine block was built on 1-25-1945.
According to serial # it was assembled in 1953. Somewhere along the way the engine must have failed and a 1945 block was substituted,aparently with some updates and modifications to obtain 52 H.P. It is still a good tractor and I haven't had one problem with it since I owned it and if the "Correct Police think they can steal it they can just dream on because it will sit in my pole building until my demise and then my heirs can give it away. Thanks for your help guys.
 
Maybe you switched the blocks when you had them out. :lol: You better take your 281 engine out of the M and put it in the SM. Then you can take your 248 engine out of the SM and put it in the M where it belongs. That should keep the police happy enough until you are gone.
 
That wouldn't satisfy the Police, the date code on the 281 engine is 8*4*K, not the Super M code Y. lol
 
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