1942 John Deere B Questions

Beatles65 · Oct 6, 2011

I am tearing apart my grandfathers 1942 John Deere B be to do a full restoration. I am having trouble getting the steering wheel off. I know that there is a key in there to keep it on and that I need to take the large nut off the end. I was able to get the nut off but cant seem to get the key out and the wheel off. Does anyone have any tricks to help me out?
I am also trying to get the magneto off. I was able to get the bottom nut off but cant seem to get the top one out! Do I need to access it from the inside of the mag or should I be able to take if off from the back side? There doesn't seem to be much room on the backside!

Thanks for the help everyone!
From Denton, Nebraska.
Andrew Kean

Patsdeere · Oct 6, 2011

The steering wheel might need a little heat to get it to release. Heat and cool and heat and cool. A little penetrating oil would be good too.

The mag should have a bolt on top so it should unscrew (no chance that it has a nut on the back side of the flange is there?). Does it do anything when you put a wrench on it?

davediehl@hotmail.com · Oct 6, 2011

I put a small 3 jaw puller on mine. It popped right off with just a little tension.

DeltaRed · Oct 6, 2011

Cant help with the mag...But,those wheels get rusted together.use a 3 jaw puller and a little heat.the hweel should moove.Some times a BFH is needed to help persuade things.Good luck.Steve

JDseller · Oct 7, 2011

On the steering wheel, the other guys have covered. You need heat and a puller. It is on a keyed taper. It will pop right off when you put a little pressure and heat on it.

The Mag top mounting nut. There is a stud in the governor housing that holds the top of the mag on. There is no way to do anything from the back. The bottom can be a stud or a bolt. To get the top nut/bolt out you need an angled open end wrench. I have a Snap On set I use but you can make one out of an extra end wrench you have. Heat it to cherry red and bend it to the angle you need. Then re-heat it to cherry red then cool it by dipping the wrench in and out of oil. If you let it air cool it will be soft and if you water cool it it will be glass hard and break. I have attached a picture of the wrench you need.

Greenday · Oct 7, 2011

You dont get the key out so to speak you first have to use a 3 jaw puller and pull the steering wheel off. The key does not hold the steering wheel on it simply keeps the steering wheel from, spinning on the shaft.After you get the wheel off then you can get the key out of the groove in the shaft.

Mike M · Oct 7, 2011

The nice little stubby wrenchs work good on those mags. You may have to pull the mag out as you unscrew it though.

Paul from MI · Oct 7, 2011

The top bolt on the mag is 3/8", should take a 9/16" wrench. I have good luck with a "starter" wrench. On other tractors I have had to take a cheap combination wrench and heat/bend it to fit. Good luck with it.

36 Coupe · Oct 9, 2011

You will have trouble with a full restore if you are stumped already.

1942 John Deere B Questions

Beatles65

Member

Patsdeere

Well-known Member

[email protected]

Well-known Member

DeltaRed

Well-known Member

JDseller

Well-known Member

Greenday

Well-known Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

Paul from MI

Well-known Member

36 Coupe

Well-known Member

Similar threads