Dipsticks? When?

[Super A]

I drug home a new-to-me 1954 Super A-1 (One, not Eye.) I have another one stashed away to restore (eventually) but this one might be a better candidate. The engine is original to the tractor, but it has a dipstick, which looks factory. Where the petcocks on the oil pan would be, there are cap screws blocking off the holes. It's not a power unit engine, it definitely belongs with the tractor. I got to looking on the Messick's website and it does show a dipstick but also has a notation to the effect of "for tractors equipped with....." For curiosity, I checked the Super C parts listing and it shows the same thing.

So, when did IH start offering dipsticks on the 113/123 tractor engines? Was it an option over the regular petcocks before dipsticks became standard?

thanks,
Al

[inairam]

My 130 has petcocks my 140s has dipsticks. Are you sure it is original to the tractors and not re-engined with a C-123?

[Super A]

My 130 has petcocks my 140s has dipsticks. Are you sure it is original to the tractors and not re-engined with a C-123?

The engine is definitely original to the tractor. Engine serial number and prefix falls right in line.

From input on some other forums, it's looking like it's possible that the dipstick was something that was phased in.

Interesting your 130 has petcocks. Our 230 has a dipstick!

Al

[inairam]

Now I am wondering if my 130 is the original engine. The patina would say so.

[Jim Becker]

Distillate engines would have had the petcocks even on later tractors like the 130. That option would have been rare on a 130.

[inairam]

Distillate engines would have had the petcocks even on later tractors like the 130. That option would have been rare on a 130.

which one would be rare the dip stick or petcocks?

[Jim Becker]

Distillate engines would have had the petcocks even on later tractors like the 130. That option would have been rare on a 130.

which one would be rare the dip stick or petcocks?

The distillate option would have been rare.

[inairam]

Jim, when would the dipsticks have been introduced on the C-123?

[Jim Becker]

They were regular equipment on the first number series tractors. Whether they were put on any of the immediately prior tractors or not is Al's original question. I don't know the answer. The later parts catalogs that he referenced do not make it clear either. Parts catalogs with 1954 issue dates would probably have the answer. Power units, both 113 and 123 typically had dip sticks from the start.

[49willard]

They were regular equipment on the first number series tractors. Whether they were put on any of the immediately prior tractors or not is Al's original question. I don't know the answer. The later parts catalogs that he referenced do not make it clear either. Parts catalogs with 1954 issue dates would probably have the answer. Power units, both 113 and 123 typically had dip sticks from the start.

My Super A does have a dipstick however the previous owner did do an engine replacement due to a crack in the original block (up forward). I am good with it, the engine is strong with 135-140 psi compression in all 4 cylinders. Is it a case where the blocks were different castings just for a dipstick hole?

[Jim Becker]

Power unit blocks were a different casting. Later tractor blocks were (as I recall) different for other reasons as well as the dipstick.

[Super A]

They were regular equipment on the first number series tractors. Whether they were put on any of the immediately prior tractors or not is Al's original question. I don't know the answer. The later parts catalogs that he referenced do not make it clear either. Parts catalogs with 1954 issue dates would probably have the answer. Power units, both 113 and 123 typically had dip sticks from the start.

I did find a '54 edition of the TC-39C parts book and it did not show a dipstick. Logic dictates that my dipstick might have been added later, but I still want to believe that maybe they were phasing them in at the end!

Al

[PoconoCub]

They were regular equipment on the first number series tractors. Whether they were put on any of the immediately prior tractors or not is Al's original question. I don't know the answer. The later parts catalogs that he referenced do not make it clear either. Parts catalogs with 1954 issue dates would probably have the answer. Power units, both 113 and 123 typically had dip sticks from the start.

I did find a '54 edition of the TC-39C parts book and it did not show a dipstick. Logic dictates that my dipstick might have been added later, but I still want to believe that maybe they were phasing them in at the end!

Al

Al I don't know if the engine in my 48 is original, but I have both a dipstick and pet cocks.