farmall b year differences

madcitymfg · Oct 26, 2012

As a kid, my dad had a 1941 Farmall B. I have fond childhood memories playing on that thing... pretending to drive before I was allowed to operate it. It never had a battery, so we always had to hand crank it. Years later my brother took possession of it, restored it back to good running condition and then eventally wanted to sell it. He offered it to the family members, but none or us was in a position to buy or store it, so away it went. Now I am in a position to buy one and want as close to a 41 model as possible. My question is, what are the differences in the production years? I haven't found a decent 41 in my price range and/or location, so I'm looking at different model years as a compromise. For instance, how different is a 1946 model?

Joe

Heat Houser · Oct 26, 2012

While not an expert, my 41 B, that my Grand father purchased new, has the "clip" style front rim retainers. A 46 had loop style front rims like a C Farmall. The 41 had a magneto and I think the 46 had a distributor. The 41 came with the tall oil filter canister while the 46 was the short one. May be others will chime in.....

old · Oct 26, 2012

Well other then some of the early ones only being hand start due to the war the B pretty much is the same from the first one to the last. The decals where changed at some point as a selling gimmick but other then that pretty much the same. Ya small things like mag or battery ignition but that was also one of those things that became an option

gene bender · Oct 26, 2012

Sterters were an option so yours was ordered wihout one. Later ones would have usually had starters as a starter was optional since Sept 39. You wout find any differences in later models with the exception of how the sheet metal was fastened from very early models.

gene bender · Oct 26, 2012

All Bs had mags from factory and starters were an option.

gene bender · Oct 26, 2012

Front wheels were also an option as the loop rims made them adjustable for mud.

mkirsch · Oct 26, 2012

Yeah, by '41 the B had pretty much settled into its final version.

'39s and some '40s had Dzus fasteners holding the hood on, not the spring-loaded J-hooks.

Some early '39s didn't even have a hole for a starter. IH had a completely separate casting for the optional starter until they figured out that it was cheaper to just stamp out a plate and bolt it over the hole, than to stock two different bell housings.

The clip vs. loop front wheels were an option. Non-adjustable vs. adjustable width.

old · Oct 26, 2012

Guess ALL the Bs I have had then had the mags removed an battery ignition system put on since I have NEVER had a B with a mag on it

old · Oct 26, 2012

Guess ALL the Bs I have had then had the mags removed an battery ignition system put on since I have NEVER had a B with a mag on it and by the way I have had 6 or 7 of them over the years

LMack · Oct 26, 2012

Gene I believe mags and starters became optional for a while then starters were standard with mags being an option. We have an SA with a mag and we know not all SA's had mags but I do not know of any without starters.

Dave BN · Oct 26, 2012

I believe all A,s and B,s had magnito ignition. Battery ignition is a replacement later in life. Even early C,s had magnitos. Except for decals or factory options B,s should be the same 41 through end of production.

Dave

Dave BN · Oct 26, 2012

I believe all A,s and B,s had magnito ignition. Battery ignition is a replacement later in life. Even early C,s had magnitos. Except for decals or factory options B,s should be the same 41 through end of production.

Dave

mkirsch · Oct 26, 2012

Battery ignition did not become standard until 1950 IIRC, well after B production ended.

A lot of magnetos got tossed in favor of battery ignitions, though. Easier to maintain.

gene bender · Oct 26, 2012

They all came with mags and starters were an option. The SA could have a mag they were available into the 50s. War had nothing to do with starters it was an option They didnt make any Bs or As in 43.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 26, 2012

My dad bought a B new in 1944,it came with battery ignition. He ordered an M when it came in it was a B. the dealer told him he better take it because that was all he could get.

Jim Becker · Oct 27, 2012

Bs all came with magnetos. IH didn't put battery ignition on any tractors until '48 or so, after B production ended. There were many little changes made across the years the B was produced. I don't know how big/small a change has to be to be of interest to you. Get a parts catalog and page through it to see many of the changes. You can decide which ones are important to you. After you have a tractor, you should have a parts catalog anyway.

Ferd · Oct 27, 2012

Dad bought a new B in 1946. It came with a starter and ignition system. I spent lots of hours on it and remember it well. Had a pneumatic lift for the cultivator and said "cultivision" by the "B" on the hood. There was a short "L" shaped rod close to the steering shaft that you pushed with your foot (toe) to engage the starter (same setup as the 230 I have now except you used your toe to push instead of hand to pull like the 230). It was all factory so my older sisters could start and operate it. Can"t tell you what all the others had, but I know this one was factory.

madcitymfg · Oct 28, 2012

Thanks to all for the guidance. Your coments really helped me take the plunge in buying a tractor without worring that I would be buying something that is note correct for my intentions... a tractor like my childhood Farmall B. I looked at and purchased what was advertised as a 46 Farmall B today. From all the research that I"ve been doing, it"s appears to be all original... 6 volt, mag, lights, pto with drum pulley, no extra cutting or welding. The sheet metal is really striaght as well, so I"m really happy with it. The serial number on the seat frame is FAB-76409. Am I correct in determining that this is actually a late 1941 instead of the 46 that was advertised?If so, that is the iceing on the cake for me! The only thing better would be for me to find my fathers actual tractor. Again... thank you all for your comments.

Jim Becker · Oct 28, 2012

Yes, that serial number was 1941. You might want to check the engine number, which should be the same, to make sure the engine hasn't been changed.

Matt E. · Oct 29, 2012

I've a question about a B. What is correct decal - B or B with the cultivision across it? Also, didn't the early years have McCormick-Deering on the main hood decal?

Jim Becker · Oct 29, 2012

Some of the very early ones had the circle B without Cultivision. Most had the word Cultivision on the decal. Some time around '46 (forget just when without looking it up) they added the IH logo to the big side sheet decal. ALL B side sheet decals said McCormick-Deering. The Deering name wasn't dropped until 1949, long after B production ended. There were some trade mark exceptions for export outside of North America.

Matt E. · Oct 30, 2012

Thanks Jim. Good information. I've looked at the B photos on the Wisconsin website and none of them had the big IH on the side of the hood, all had McCormick-Deering and cultivision across the B no matter what year. Looking at 95% of pictures of restored/repainted Bs I guess most everyone went with the newer type of decals for later tractors.

farmall b year differences

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