John Deere 40
Other Information
April 14, 1999 - I don't have a serial tag. I know that on the Dubuque tractors, the engine blocks were stamped with a number on the right front of the block, and that records were kept as to which serial numbers went with which blocks. However, to get all this information, you have to go through your Deere regional manager. The block number on my 40U is 108931.
I don't need an exact serial number, but I would like to try to get a rough idea of where the serial number would be. So, if you have a 40 of any style, would you please e-mail me your block number, your serial number, and your tractor style (U, T, W, S, etc.)? (Name and address is not required.) I believe this information could probably lead to a general conclusion as to what serial number (or range) my tractor falls in. (If you can't find your block number, this page should help you locate it.) If I get enough response, I will post this information on another page to help others. In the meantime, here is some more information that may help you find the age of your 40 Utility. (Updated June 8, 1999)
| June 8, 1999
A friend of mine who buys and sells tractors received a 40U today, so I went over and took a look. This was a very nice 40U, serial number 63986, block number 106556. My friend bought this out of Ontario, Canada. It was apparently built for export, as the decals on it include "Made in U.S.A.", and this was under the other decals that had been placed on it. This tractor was very straight, everything appeared to be generally correct. It had the lights and light brackets, the correct ignition/light switch, etc. The top-link was an after-market one. It ran pretty well, though it smoked just a little and the carb probably needs a rebuild. But overall it was a nice little tractor. Here is an interesting note: Both this tractor and my utility did not have long, angled shift levers like the parts book shows. Instead, the shift lever appeared to have been cut in thirds, the middle third thrown away, and the two ends welded together, resulting in a short, straight shift lever. On this tractor, the lever was short enough to work okay. On mine, the lever was just long enough to cause you to pinch your fingers between the steering wheel and the shift lever when in 1st gear, so I replaced it with the proper one. Has anyone else seen this, or seen some sort of pattern like this? Could this be something commonly done in Canada, as both tractors came out of Canada? If you have any ideas regarding this, let me know and I'll share them on this site. |
June 20, 1999 - Yesterday I went with my friend Scott from Vintage Tractor Sales to an auction sale at the James Joseph tractor yard just outside Napoleon, Ohio. There were 125+ tractors up for sale, about 30-40 that were running, the rest in various stages of disassembly, being sold for parts.
One of the parts tractors was a 40T, SN65315. It was only about 30% complete. It consisted of the engine (siezed, minus the head, carb, hydraulic pump, radiator and front bracketry), the centerframe and innards (including clutch), transmission, final drives and housings, and part of the hydraulic unit. It went for $125.
In the yard (but not up for auction) I also found the remains of another 40T, SN 72250. This was primarily only the dash and centerframe.
Of particular interest was the 40U that I also found. The block number was 98174. The serial tag was melted off. (Yes, that's right - melted.) This was definitly an early style Utility based on the grill and the drawbar assembly. This tractor is still mostly complete, probably because the parts will be of questionable value. This tractor had obviously been in a fire, and a VERY hot one at that.
For example, the front axle is still there, but don't buy this one if you need parts. This one got so hot that the axle softened and sagged, to the point where the front wheels sit at a 30-degree angle. The wheels themselves were twisted all out of shape. The fenders had folded over on themselves. The 3-point return spring was about three times its normal length.
Scott did buy a International 340 with a Woods belly mower for an excellent price. He also picked up a Ford "one-armed bandit" loader. We had a good day.