Early Model B - Pros/Cons/Caveats?

[fontinalis]

Thanks Jim. I appreciate your expertise. You were able to identify my doohickey... how about these thingamabobbers? They look like a chain drive of some sort... maybe for a planter?

[Jim Becker]

Your hunch is right. IH made front mounted planters and fertilizer units for the B. The mechanism under your tractor was used to drive them. I'm not sure if there were variations to the drive you have that depended on the model planter etc. it was made for.

On another topic, I see your tractor is blocked up using concrete blocks. This is not good. The blocks can crumble from a shock load or even while just sitting there. The direction they are oriented is particularly bad. The webs can break with a surprisingly light load. Get some good solid wooden blocks. If you feel like you need to use concrete blocks, at least turn them flat to the normal position they are used in building and place a solid wooden block across the top.

[fontinalis]

Thanks for the confirmation on the purpose of the sprockets. And thanks for the tip on the blocks. The old girl will be back on rubber this weekend and rolled onto a trailer and then into my garage where she will be pampered. Thanks again Jim for all the information. I look forward to cleaning this tractor up and getting it running again. I'm sure I will have more questions as the work progresses.

[SamsFarm]

I look forward to cleaning this tractor up and getting it running again.

You might enjoy watching this!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-ueU5xts9uI

It is blocked to set up to watch here! ☹️

In the video for the cultivation demonstration, looks like they have a fine crop of 2x2s growing!

Also, anyone ever saw those pencil width dual wheels / tires like @3:48?

[Eugene]

Suggestion, before you put any money into this tractor - - look up the selling price(s) for a running B.

Then research the price for new rear and front tires and tubes. Also the one front rim, seat, other missing parts, and engine overhaul kit.

[fontinalis]

Thanks Eugene. I've been looking for parts and they quickly outstrip the value of the machine. This is typical... I've had the same experience restoring cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and old stoves. There is no economic sense to this project... its just for fun. But I will have to watch the costs.

[fontinalis]

SamsFarm - That is a great video! Would love to find some of those crazy attachments. And did you see the super-wide stance on that B? I doubt it would fit in my garage when setup at its widest.

[Eugene]

Suggest purchasing a parts B with decent tires. Between the two B's, should same money. You can try to sell unused parts or haul the leftover parts to the scrap yard.

[SamsFarm]

SamsFarm - And did you see the super-wide stance on that B? I doubt it would fit in my garage when setup at its widest.

I am not a fan of the regular B because of the extreme width!
Back then they really planted some wide rows!

I do have a BN! (collecting dust and taking up space)

Ps
I would not scrap any good parts to these old tractors!
Even questionable ones that might be repairable, I'd probably save!
Someone out there somewhere needs them!

[v w]

It looks to me, he who knows little, that there are more parts missing from the lift than what are there. Like the lift cylinder itself. I have driven an A with an exhaust lift and only one word comes to mind "worthless". Vern