It didn"t look all that bad to start with. Here is what I brought home. It was picked up at an auction for lilttle of nothing. The engine turned and the tin that was there didn't look too bad.
Got it home where it set for a couple of years. Put a battery in it one day and some fuel and it started up without not too much problem. I even got to drive it around the back yard some. A few extra wires, the wrong seat, generator missing, some flat tires. Not too bad??
After the fair last year (2002) I decided that I could have as nice a tractor as what I saw in the antique show so I started it up and backed it in the garage and went to work. It has been an interesting project and I have allot of pictures of it as I moved along.

I will post more as I get time. It will run again.

Greg you keep putting up pics, this is a fun thing to see an old one go bacxk together.

Greg,

Others that don't understand us would see a rusty piece of junk. But we can see the potential. It's a rewarding feeling to bring an old tractor out of retirement, especially if it looks as good as new. Good luck with your project!

Mark

HI grag my name is bob g fla im new to the web your 41 looks great 2 mo. ago i got a 49 AN that sat for 20 years in fla its rusty hood rotted thew gas tank austed out but i will restore her i do not have adigital cramer yet but well soon good luck on yours bob

Greg,

I know you'll have fun restoring this A. I've been restoring a 34, 35, and 45 A myself. My grandfather had a 49 A he bought new. My grandmother sold it but I have managed to get it back so I guess I'll be restoring that one as well. Good luck to you.

Randy

I think early styled electric start A's are the forgotten tractors. I bought one in 1995 and had it going for the local parade in 2000. You don't see them very often in shows. I think they are magnificent. Keep working on it and bring it back.
Don

The `A's` must have been great tractors if over 300,000 of them were made.Good luck with your `A` Greg!

I'm new to the tractor thing and I have a 41 A without electric start and cropped tires does this mean its unstyled?

Stokes,
1939 was the 1st year for styled. Unstyled has the radiator exposed, steering shaft exposed etc. Your 41 is "early" styled.

Doug

Stokes,
if the '41 A you are refering to is the AR in your pic then you have an unstyled. the difference between styled and unstyled is very simply a matter of looking at the radiator, Unstyled tractors have John Deere in raised letters on the top of the radiator. A styled tractor will have a sheetmetal grill hiding the radiator, the grill will also have horizontal slits kind of like gills.
HTH
Tim

MORE PICS!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice looking old "A" my favorite tractor, Show us more photos please.

Hello everybody,
I have been away for a while and haven?t been posting.
The work on this old gal was put on hold for a while but is back under way.

The engine needed a new block. Found a crack that could not be fixed. Found a good block and had it bored .045 over and fitted it with gas pistons.

Somebody had been in this engine before and had converted the connecting rods to insert type bearings. Unfortunately one of them had spun and ruined the crank. So the hunt for a good crank and rods began.

With the above taken care of the engine is now going back together and should come together nicely.

While I was down waiting to find the needed engine parts I began on the sheet metal. The hood had been cut and I wanted to fix that. Made a nice patch and welded it in place and was even able to put the roll in the edge of the opening. It looks like a factory opening for the stack now.

All the sheet metal is stripped and most has been straightened and now in primer.

I will post updated pictures for all to see soon. I have made sure to take them as I go.
This tractor should have probably been put to parts but what the heck.

Greg F.

PARTS???? Not when she can be brought back to her former beauty! Keep at it Greg, sounds like it's coming along great.