766 Man Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I see in the parts catalog a few different ones offered for SN 501-45370. Seems like all the ones I've seen locally have what I call the clevis mounts on the front corners. Now I have seen one with what I would call a smooth front like on a plain M. The clevis type no doubt would be for quick attach front equipment and a lot of those tractors around here cultivated crops. Could you put a clevis type bolster on a plain M? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWV Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Bolster with holes at front corners were used on SMTA, F-400 and F-450 gas and diesel. If you mount one on a non-diesel M the steering worm shaft will be to short and hood also. Radiator shroud was deeper and top and bottom radiator pipes a different, cast one and hose. Center support for worm shaft also had a slightly different angle. MD through SMD had a bolster shape like a M but the same dimensions for steering shaft placement as the bolsters with holes in corners. IH listed the bolster with holes for replacement on MD and SMD in later parts books. Except for hand crank parts the main difference in bolsters is the vertical steering shaft ends up being about 1-1/2 to 1-5/8 more forward than the no diesel ones on the M and SM. Don't know why IH made different front bolsters for so long before just making one for both engines. Early M bolsters had some difference. One thing to notice is early ones don't have the protrusion in casting at lower edge in line with vertical steering shaft. If you really want the late bolster on a M without other changes. Shorten the frame rails and drill new holes for the bolster mounting bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepoweshiekfarmalls Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 The stage 2 super M had the square front bolster with the holes in it. It was added at the same time the clutch housing was updated and went to the 3 hole starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
766 Man Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 So would a stage 2 bolster fit the earlier Super M? With a minimum of modification? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 2 hours ago, 766 Man said: So would a stage 2 bolster fit the earlier Super M? With a minimum of modification? I'll have to measure. There's a Stage 1 and a Stage 2 parked about 20' apart out in the machine building. Oh and a Farmall 400. My Stage 2 has a plain M grille on it. I really think it will bolt right on with zero modifications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Unfortunately, my Stage 2 Super M is an early one and still has the old style bolster. I did measure the 400 and the Stage 1 Super M. Both have frame rails exactly 37" long. The distance to the two cultivator mounting holes in the bolster is exactly 41-1/2" from the rear end of the frame rail to the center of the hole. The only way things could be different, is if the location of the steering box is further forward on the bolster itself. BY THE WAY, there are brackets that bolt to the older bolsters that give you the clevises. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWV Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 8 hours ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said: The stage 2 super M had the square front bolster with the holes in it. It was added at the same time the clutch housing was updated and went to the 3 hole starter. No stage 2 SM LP, distillate or Kerosene used the bolster like the SMTA, 400 or 450. Would have needed to use the same length hood as a SMTA. Compare the rear outside corners of the different bolsters. See how the castings have extra metal there for the two rear mounting bolts compared to a regular M and SM so casting extends more forward moving radiator and steering shaft along with it Frame rails are the same length on M through 450. On a SMTA with longer center housing the tank support was still the same distance behind engine as a M or SM. To make up for center housing length a bigger space between rear of fuel tank and steering post was left and a longer rear steering shaft used. Notice on SM and SMTA equipped with The engine driven pump and hydraulic unit under fuel tank, two sets of holes to mount rear tank support. Front holes were used on a SM and rear holes on a SMTA. SMTA through 450 gas use a longer hand crank rachet to reach crankshaft compared to a gas M or SM. Since radiator mounting was moved more forward from front of gas engines and grill bolts to radiator the hood needed to be longer on a SMTA gas. Diesel tractors already used the long hood because bolsters used on them were already moved forward because the diesel engines were longer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDpartsman Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 DWV I am going to have to measure the stage 1 Super M and the 400 and 450 that sit beside each other in my barn. I also know for a fact where a 450 is that had a regular M bolster put on it with no modification. The other thing is while different tractors I have a 1944 H that I put a bolster from a 300 on. Everyone told me it would never work but guess what outside of the hand crank mechanism needing swapped it fit's perfect on the old H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Kirsch Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 If the front bolsters gave the tractor extra length it would have to be in a pocket dimension somewhere because when I was out measuring yesterday I also tried eyeballing across the tape measure to the very front of the castings on both the SM and 400. They're roughly the same length, within an inch. The extra length on these tractors is in the TA housing, SMTA, 400, and 450. On the SMTA there is a several inch gap between the gas tank and the steering post on the deck. I won't stick my neck out and say the SMTA hood is no different from an M or SM, without proof, but I can't imagine how or why it would be. SMTA is one tractor Dad wanted but never got, otherwise I could put this to bed right here. On the SMTA, 400, 450, the steering shaft BEHIND the universal joint would be longer, due to the TA housing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWV Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 JD parts man the H through 350 is a different story. Late bare bolster works on all those tractors and was listed as the replacement bolster for all later on. Started use on some SH before the stage 2 SH. Frame rails were longer on the 300 and 350 but if I remember correct the same worm shaft was used due to center shaft support extended more forward on 300 and 350. On M and SM gas type the casting number on front bolsters was 9141 up to suffix DC. On MD and most super MD the casting number is 9131 to suffix DC. real late SMD could have 9131DD same number used on SMTA through 450 gas and diesel. 9131DD was the replacement number for MD and SMD in later parts books. Yes a 9131DD bolster will bolt on a SM gas but other parts would need changed along with it. If the 450 has a M looking bolster and no other mods it would be a 9131DC or lower suffix off a diesel. Hard to measure on a tractor but put a straight edge across in line with frame mounting holes. Then measure the different distance up to steering shaft and radiator mounting holes. Will measure about the same distance longer as the hoods on diesel and SMTA were made longer than a SM gas. Know a fellow that had a great looking SM and nice paint with the MD bolster but he put a SMTA hood on it. Also noticed a SMTA at auction with frame rails made shorter to install a regular length M gas hood. Also noticed a fellow on line asking a question about his SMTA project with a picture. Could tell the frame rail was shorter and ask about it. Answer was he couldn't find a SMTA hood at a decent price so using a M hood. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepoweshiekfarmalls Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Super MTA and MD hoods are longer. Exhaust holes are on opposite sides, otherwise identical. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWV Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 20 hours ago, JDpartsman said: DWV I am going to have to measure the stage 1 Super M and the 400 and 450 that sit beside each other in my barn. I also know for a fact where a 450 is that had a regular M bolster put on it with no modification. The other thing is while different tractors I have a 1944 H that I put a bolster from a 300 on. Everyone told me it would never work but guess what outside of the hand crank mechanism needing swapped it fit's perfect on the old H. Picture of regular bolster rear corner and extended bolster humps for rear frame mounting bolts. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy hall Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Don't argue with Dave. His word is the Gospel on Farmall tractors. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillman Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 2 minutes ago, randy hall said: Don't argue with Dave. His word is the Gospel on Farmall tractors. x2 a like isn't enough for that statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R190 Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 I had a little trouble discerning the pictures at first but if you look at the radiator mounting bolts hole are just about even with the front of the frame rail on the later bolster and about 2 inches or so back on the M bolster so the grille fits about the same hood doesnt though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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