Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:38 pm
Thanks to all for the education on Farmalls "A" tractors!
I made the near 200 mile round trip to see the tractor, cash in hand and trailer in tow.
What I saw when I got there made me think it was a wasted trip.
Man was this thing was rough, really scary looking.
The owner said it was a '48 but from what I've learned here it didn't appear to be a super as the torque tube was rounded and the dash was an early model.
The serial # plate wasn't there but I'm thinking its a '47. I'll post another thread with lots of pics so the tractor detectives out there can take on the challenge.
Ok back to the "A".
The fenders are missing and the rear had been modified to accept a carryall that was bolted on. The oil gauge was working through the busted glass.
The battery (dead) was relocated under the seat too.
Although I'm not big on carving up an old anything the carryalls welding and fabricating was top notch. The carryall even has a receiver hitch and chain hooks.
I'm telling you this was the ugliest tractor I'd ever seen! I was ready to walk away even with the asking price of $900. I just didn't want another money pit and time is something I don't have right now either.
Then I heard it run.
Hey wait a minute, that really sounds good. I took it for a spin and had to admit it was mechanically sound. The only thing to hold me back was paint and can I find the random parts? Seat pan, oil gauge, fenders, etc...(lots of small stuff)
Well we kicked it back and forth and settled on a price. The wheel weights were taken off put in the bed and onto the trailer it went.
Here's a few pics and videos.
I'm holding back on what I got it for.
What would you guys have paid for this one? ...I'll let you in on it later.
The final thing to say is on my wife's response. She gave me a sideways glance when I said I was going to go look at this with the trailer in tow.
I wasn't expecting her to even want to look at it when it came back with me but she gave it a good looking over and was able to get past the horible paint.
She loves it! Go figure(?). 
I hope you enjoy what I've shared, there will be more when I post the pics to help narrow down the year.
For now just try and think of what you would pay for this tractor.
Loaded and ready to come home
The tractor has been chopped but this carry all was made well.
Home and happy!
Cultivision A?
Cold start
warmed up and the smoke has cleared up
A not so graceful trailer dismount but its home!
I made the near 200 mile round trip to see the tractor, cash in hand and trailer in tow.
What I saw when I got there made me think it was a wasted trip.
Man was this thing was rough, really scary looking.The owner said it was a '48 but from what I've learned here it didn't appear to be a super as the torque tube was rounded and the dash was an early model.
The serial # plate wasn't there but I'm thinking its a '47. I'll post another thread with lots of pics so the tractor detectives out there can take on the challenge.
Ok back to the "A".
The fenders are missing and the rear had been modified to accept a carryall that was bolted on. The oil gauge was working through the busted glass.
The battery (dead) was relocated under the seat too.
Although I'm not big on carving up an old anything the carryalls welding and fabricating was top notch. The carryall even has a receiver hitch and chain hooks.
I'm telling you this was the ugliest tractor I'd ever seen! I was ready to walk away even with the asking price of $900. I just didn't want another money pit and time is something I don't have right now either.
Then I heard it run.
Hey wait a minute, that really sounds good. I took it for a spin and had to admit it was mechanically sound. The only thing to hold me back was paint and can I find the random parts? Seat pan, oil gauge, fenders, etc...(lots of small stuff)Well we kicked it back and forth and settled on a price. The wheel weights were taken off put in the bed and onto the trailer it went.
Here's a few pics and videos.
I'm holding back on what I got it for.
What would you guys have paid for this one? ...I'll let you in on it later.
The final thing to say is on my wife's response. She gave me a sideways glance when I said I was going to go look at this with the trailer in tow.
I wasn't expecting her to even want to look at it when it came back with me but she gave it a good looking over and was able to get past the horible paint.
She loves it! Go figure(?).
I hope you enjoy what I've shared, there will be more when I post the pics to help narrow down the year.
For now just try and think of what you would pay for this tractor.
Loaded and ready to come home
The tractor has been chopped but this carry all was made well.
Home and happy!
Cultivision A?
Cold start
warmed up and the smoke has cleared up
A not so graceful trailer dismount
but its home! Last edited by Lt.Mike on Wed Oct 03, 2012 5:33 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:53 pm
Nice. That thing runs really well. I believe a can of Seafoam will work wonders on it and running it will do it good.
You can work on the cosmetic stuff and you will have a really nice piece there.
As for what you paid, after hearing it run the $900 would have been a good price IMO.
You can work on the cosmetic stuff and you will have a really nice piece there.
As for what you paid, after hearing it run the $900 would have been a good price IMO.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:04 pm
But I didn't pay $900...
Mike.
Mike.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:33 pm
That's Is a good looking tractor compared to some I have seen for $900.00. If you look at the cast codes on the engine and torque tube it will give you a good idea of the year if was built. 1947 would be Q cast code 1946 would be P.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:03 pm
raystractors wrote:That's Is a good looking tractor compared to some I have seen for $900.00. If you look at the cast codes on the engine and torque tube it will give you a good idea of the year if was built. 1947 would be Q cast code 1946 would be P.
Ok I wasn't sure how much use these would be but here are the codes...
engine ( does this mean its a '46?)
behind the oil filter...
and the torque tube..
this is on the magneto...
I'll throw more pics in after dinner.
Oh and I paid alot less than $900.
Last edited by Lt.Mike on Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:52 pm
Guess I'll just post the rest of what I have on this thread.
So here's some more.
As rough as the tank is rust is minimal.
The yellow paint and numbers say highway department to me.
Here's the inside. It shocked me to see it was this clean.
The seat lifts back and shows the tool box. The pan is rotted along its rim beyond my skills.
will need a new oil cap too
not original but its new and will make life easy
what is this rod for?
the round torque tube says "A" not super A right?
I thought they all were either IH (little square block) or farmall (wings)
is this a clue to its year?
an ad for decals says this is for model years '45-47 (?)
no dip stick for the oil like my cub so I'm guessing its a fill til it overflows setup
would have been easier if this had a plate.
This is all I have on it, hope we can get something out of it.
I appreciate your help and I hope it provides something interesting to mull over.
As basic it is this should prove easier to strip and paint than the cub with all its attachments.
So maybe in the spring I'll be able to post restoration pics.
Mike.
So here's some more.
As rough as the tank is rust is minimal.
The yellow paint and numbers say highway department to me.
Here's the inside. It shocked me to see it was this clean.
The seat lifts back and shows the tool box. The pan is rotted along its rim beyond my skills.
will need a new oil cap too
not original but its new and will make life easy
what is this rod for?
the round torque tube says "A" not super A right?
I thought they all were either IH (little square block) or farmall (wings)
is this a clue to its year?
an ad for decals says this is for model years '45-47 (?)
no dip stick for the oil like my cub so I'm guessing its a fill til it overflows setup
would have been easier if this had a plate.
This is all I have on it, hope we can get something out of it.
I appreciate your help and I hope it provides something interesting to mull over.
As basic it is this should prove easier to strip and paint than the cub with all its attachments.
So maybe in the spring I'll be able to post restoration pics.
Mike.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 6:58 pm
It ain't ugly.... I would guess $600.... and the rear tires are worth more than half of that.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:23 pm
$600 Nope didn't pay that much. 
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:50 pm
Cool, so you got a tractor for the price of a nice set of tires....
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:55 pm
I believe I saw a square tube front axle. If so, you have an industrial A. That would explain the International Badge on the front.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 7:57 pm
Very nice tractor Mike! I think that painting it back to yellow with the numbers recreated on the tank would be awesome!
I believe the rod under the tank is the remnants of the foot throttle.
I believe the rod under the tank is the remnants of the foot throttle.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:22 pm
Bigdog wrote:I believe I saw a square tube front axle. If so, you have an industrial A. That would explain the International Badge on the front.
Yes your right it is square! Good eye. I didn't pick up on that as being special. What can you tell about the industrial A's? Is this something unique?
Was there a specific year or year range? Limited #s? I need a source link!
Very nice tractor Mike! I think that painting it back to yellow with the numbers recreated on the tank would be awesome!
I believe the rod under the tank is the remnants of the foot throttle.
Foot throttle huh? yellow would be different but nothing looks as good as the white farmall decal over red paint!
The numbers are kinda cool, they remind me of numbers on a locomotive.
I should trace them in case I ever decide to go that route.
Cool, so you got a tractor for the price of a nice set of tires....
Probably less....
Ok, ok, probably held off long enough.
What I paid was.... $475.00 ... uh, you guys ok, need some smelling salts?
I think I did ok for a change.
Mike.
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:24 pm
Nice find.
Berlin
Berlin
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:38 pm
Lt.Mike wrote:Ok, ok, probably held off long enough.
What I paid was.... $475.00 ... uh, you guys ok, need some smelling salts?
I think I did ok for a change.
Mike.
You did real good!!
The yellow paint, square front axle, foot throttle and International badge say AI. Don't believe there is any data for numbers produced.
While I agree that the red looks pretty good, I happen to like this look as well...
Photo courtesy TractorData.com
Re: Went to look at the "A"...& came home with it!
Mon Nov 28, 2011 8:50 pm
Big dog, Raymond, you guys gave me gold to work with!
Heres what I found.
The site states..."Compared to the Farmall A, the AI had a foot accelerator and a heavier front end. In addition, it was badged as an International, not a Farmall."
But in this photo, from the same site, it shows it with Farmall decals.
everything in this photo jives as well.
The yellow is different, kinda nice. The front axle shown in the pics is exactly what mine has.
My wife on the other hand thinks that painted yellow it looks like a clown mobile, the driver should have a red nose to drive it! A dog with a frilled collar should be running along side of it to make a parade. WOW, that was harsh. Gee hon, don't hold back.
Guess its gonna be red for at least awhile.
Either way its cool to know the tractors history. But what was with the A-cultivision decal that's on mine?
Here's a link.
http://www.tractordata.com/industrial-t ... er-ai.html
Mike.
Heres what I found.
The site states..."Compared to the Farmall A, the AI had a foot accelerator and a heavier front end. In addition, it was badged as an International, not a Farmall."
But in this photo, from the same site, it shows it with Farmall decals.
everything in this photo jives as well.
The yellow is different, kinda nice. The front axle shown in the pics is exactly what mine has.
My wife on the other hand thinks that painted yellow it looks like a clown mobile, the driver should have a red nose to drive it! A dog with a frilled collar should be running along side of it to make a parade.
WOW, that was harsh. Gee hon, don't hold back. Guess its gonna be red for at least awhile.
Either way its cool to know the tractors history. But what was with the A-cultivision decal that's on mine?
Here's a link.
http://www.tractordata.com/industrial-t ... er-ai.html
Mike.