Farmall 140 - Factory Used (2) Different Radiators

[AL Farmall Boy]

Last year I went through and refurbished a 1968 Farmall 140 (serial # 39745 ) and found that it had a noticeably different radiator than typically found on the 140 tractors. Since starting on the other 1968 140 that I bought from the same guy (he bought them from different folks over the years), it is close to the serial number of the other tractor and has that same different radiator. IH must have used a "different" radiator for the Farmall 140 in 1968 (other years possible, not sure if a document serial number break). I've checked the online parts manual , and it does not show the different one like my (2) tractors have. This is something that I wanted to bring up so others could learn about this and use the info if needed down the road. Not sure why a different radiator was used, but I don't like it as much as the more common radiator.

From working on both of these tractors, I have noticed a couple of things about this particular radiator.......the brackets/flanges at the top corners come loose and need to be re-welded to the radiator tank. The standard upper radiator hose that is available aftermarket for a Farmall 140 does not fit this radiator. I have not found one that fits correctly, and have just reused the old hose. Hopefully I will be able to do so again on this tractor.

Please feel free to ask questions, comment, and/or share your experiences. I've included some pictures about this and will add more pictures soon of the tractor I just started on.

[AL Farmall Boy]

More pictures of the same tractor..............

[Jim Becker]

From the picture, I read the part number on the radiator as 405 175 R1. Is that right? If so, I can't find any reference to it.

[AL Farmall Boy]

That is correct Jim. I am about to post pictures of the other tractor that has the same radiator.

[AL Farmall Boy]

Here is the other 1968 Farmall 140 (serial # 38550 J ), that has the "weird" radiator from the factory. It has the same part number as the one on the other tractor and is "close" in range with the other tractors serial number. Notice the brace/strap broken loose from this one too. Also, notice that there is a drain cock in the very front of the radiator......something not found on the others and pretty much useless unless the sheetmetal is removed.

I am VERY intrested to learn more about the use of this radiator and it would also be nice to find the replacement upper hose too.

[AL Farmall Boy]

more pictures......

[AL Farmall Boy]

I just noticed that if you Google "405175R1 Radiator", it gives you 1 result. Yes that is right ONE! That one result is this forum post. Have I got the only (2) Farmall 140s that used this radiator? If anyone else has a 1968 model please look and see which one you have. The radiators are quite different in size and design.

Here is the more common radiator used.

[Jim Becker]

I tried to make sense out of this and can't. I don't have a 140 parts catalog from '68 or '69, which would show this if anything did. There is nothing like it in the later catalogs. They show one radiator change at serial 13698 (1962) and nothing else. The later ('62 and up) radiator requires a different cap, so the change was evidently in the filler neck. I can't find any reference to 405 175 R1 in any of my ag parts listings. Here are several observations/guesses in no particular order:

- The obvious differences from the more common radiators are the smaller upper tank, longer upper tube and the bracketry on the sides. The fit looks way off, particularly at the upper hose. I am having trouble imagining a hose that would fit without a kink.

- The side bracketry makes me think it is from somewhere in the IH truck line or possibly industrial.

- It is possible that the factory came up with these to deal with a part shortage. But it looks like too poor of a fit for that to have happened. Since different part numbers were involved, it seems that would have been documented in the parts catalog.

- I assume you found both of these tractors fairly locally, each from near the same area. If so, it may have been something done by a local repair shop. He may have found an "inexpensive" replacement, probably used parts from a junked vehicle.

All things considered, I lean towards them being "make it fit" radiators installed locally after the fact, not factory installed. I would like to see anything else that helps explain this.

[havoc1482]

Isn't 405 175 R1 or xxx xxx Rx the typical nomenclature of IH part numbers? I'm all for believe its a frankenstein, but it seems strange that it would have an IH part number.

[Jim Becker]

Yes, it is an IH part number. In fact, if you look at the picture you can see the "IH" on the radiator tag. My assertion is that it was never intended for use on a 140.

[Super A]

Why not just get a caseIH dealer to run the part number and see what that turns up? If no dice contact a truck dealer.

Al

[AL Farmall Boy]

I will get them to run the part number. Good idea. The 2 tractors came from the same family within 20 miles of each other......one was bought as a project from someone else about 5-6 years ago, and the other was bought new by the guy's (who sold me the first one) deceased father-in-law .

1.) They are "local".
2.) They are the same year model (1968) and are close in serial # range.
3.) Both tractors have nice original paint and show very little wear in the steering, brakes, engine, etc.
4.) I have found both tractors to appear to have the original carburetor (original red paint with same patina, original fuel lines, and the exact same fasteners holding them down), possibly not ever rebuilt.
5.) This last tractor did have some damage to the front end and the radiator was noticeably pushed back at the top, which might account for the kink in the upper hose. You can see that tractor #1 did not have a kink in the hose.

I truly believe from what I have seen on both of them that the radiators were originally put on there from the factory, but for what reason I don't know.........parts shortage, etc. ?? I looked in my records and I had one other tractor a couple years ago that might have been pretty close to these in serial number, but the pictures I have don't show the radiator. Also, keep in mind that the upper hose is a different size from the more common part. That is something that would have to come from IH too.

[Jim Becker]

I could see a difference in how the upper hose fit between the two tractors, but thought even the first one required a pretty tight turn of the hose. I'm looking forward to anything you find out by taking the part number to both ag and truck dealers to see what they find. That is probably the only remaining chance for an answer.

[AL Farmall Boy]

I will report back what I find out.

Yeah I had ordered a new hose for the tractor that fits the common radiators, and when it didn't fit is when I realized that it had an entirely different radiator. I then checked all of the other 140s I have in the shed and they're all different. They all have the more common one........all except for the other 1968 model.

[AL Farmall Boy]

UPDATE:

I called the local Navistar International dealer and he was able to pull the part number up for the radiator but it did not give him any information other than it was for a radiator and was no longer a good number. No application info at all.

I called Ken Updike at Johnson Tractor in Juda, WI, and he was not able to pull up the part number on his system. He said he is going to go look in his files and information at home and report back.