1949 John Deere B - Our New Project

Picking up a 1949 John Deere B that has not run since the previous owner passed away about 8 years ago. Can we get the engine unstuck? Yes! Can we get it running? Not yet...but we will.

[@jackmcgill3150]

I'm so glad I ran across your video! I have a 1949 b. These days it's retired to raking hay and tractor shows. It's a fun tractor. I'll never sell it. I love it.

[@jonelsonster]

Yes, we actually plowed with our little B a few months ago. It did very well. I've always thought the B is, pound for pound, one of the best tractors of it's day. They can just pull and work hard. I like em.

[@keepcalmandfarmon5401]

Nice find! Can’t wait for part 2!

[@jonelsonster]

I should hopefully get the new video dropped on Saturday.

[@user-tn1hk6zm2freedom]

Best way to revive the piston rings is to spray 80 90 w gear in in the cylinders and try to start it. Worked for me. .

[@jonelsonster]

I'm glad it worked for you. The challenge with a horizontal engine is the oil pools at the bottom of the cylinder and can't reach all around the piston rings. On a vertical engine you have gravity to help pull the oil all around the cylinder and the entire ring.

[@scottscheuerman6170]

My 47 B has the round axle’s to I am going to put some new plug wires on mine they were supposed to have been changed and I changed the spark plugs but still running rough and yesterday in the dark you could see spark jumping off the wires so it won’t hurt to try it

[@jonelsonster]

With a magneto, you always have to have good copper core wires in good condition. Any "leaking" spark will kill performance fast.

[@davidgerber9907]

I wish they would all break loose that easy.

[@jonelsonster]

This is the first time I've ever successfully freed an engine. But even with it free, the internal condition wasn't very good and we are rebuilding the block and head right now as we speak

[@DanielFarmChannel]

Unlike the A, the B had the straight 6 starting in 1947. Curious to see how in the world you lost compression so suddenly. Looks in pretty decent shape otherwise. Hopefully they find the 3pt for you.

[@jonelsonster]

Good info. I just assumed the change to B transmissions was the same as it is for the A... Happening in about 49 or 50 (not sure of the exact year off there to of my head).

[@user-tn1hk6zm2freedom]

They are a low compression engine. The pistons stop coming up about 2" below the deck.

[@jonelsonster]

The issue here is that there was a lot of carbon buildup inside the combustion chamber. The acetone and ATF we put in the cylinder helped us get the engine free, but it also caused that carbon trash to get stuck in the valves... Boom, no compression. And when we your the engine assist there was a lot of wear and taper to the cylinder walls. No choice but to rebuild the engine.

[@user-tn1hk6zm2freedom]

Clean the rust off the coil mount and the coil and it will fire.

[@jonelsonster]

Can't fire without compression.

[@chevycamman455]

If you guys want another B, I'm selling one that I believe is either a 46 or 47? I'm not good with the serial number decoding (193556) it runs, but could use a tune up, was restored by previous owner and used mostly for parades and giving grandchildren rides.

[@jonelsonster]

Thanks, but we found one about 15 minutes away from our place.

[@davidwhisnant3230]

I believe 49.s were last with round alxe

[@jonelsonster]

That makes sense. This 49 had round axles and our old 52 had square axles, so I figured it was either 50 or 51.

[@johndeereboy1945]

Quick question about the cam follower guide. On my 1947 B, two of the bolts holding the cam follower guide in place seem to be floating, in a sense, whenever the tractor is running. My question is what would be the easiest way of going about taking a look at that and trying to fix it without tearing apart the entire tractor? I have a short on my channel walking around the tractor that shows what I mean. Thanks

[@DanielFarmChannel]

Do you mean the tappet assembly bolts under the valve cover? I'm struggling to understand what other bolts you could mean. And what do you mean by they are floating?

[@johndeereboy1945]

@@DanielFarmChannel the bolts holding the cam Follower guide inside the crankcase itself are not holding the guide in place properly. They’re tightened down as well as I can get them, but something inside the case isn’t right and the bolts do not seat snugly against the crankcase. I’ll link the short that I was talking about and time stamp where you can see what I’m talking about

[@johndeereboy1945]

kzbin.infoPY58SWyLmyM?feature=share At about halfway through the video you can start to see the bolts I’m talking about on top of the crank case

[@DanielFarmChannel]

@@johndeereboy1945 See if my video can help you out. I know I had it all apart but maybe you can see the workings or get an idea of what is wrong. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nISUdYhvoJKWp80

[@johndeereboy1945]

@@DanielFarmChannel yes the bolts holding what you call the cam follower assembly are the ones that are moving up and down. I guess my root question is how would I go about getting into the crankcase to assess without having to tear the entire engine apart, if possible?

[@bobmiller9018]

round axels 46 or 47

[@jonelsonster]

This one is a 1949. I could be wrong, but I think Deere switched to square axles on the B in 1950? Except for the high clearance models, which had a different rear axle casting (b2406r instead of b2405r) instead of that was always round (I think).

[@kennycriswell141]

Its a 47 or 48.

[@jonelsonster]

It is actually a 1949

[@kennycriswell141]

@@jonelsonster I thought I edited my comment. I added or possibly a early 49. Stupid technology lol