Farmall 450 with early style fast hitch

[AmericanClassic]

I picked up this 56 model year 450 today and was curious about the fast hitch. Its got what I've found to be the early style on it with the singular lift arm on the left side and a broken off crank on the right side. So far I've not seen another (not looked real hard though) and after having read a thread on here from the mid-2000s, it appears the 450s should only have the later style? Also yes, the vibra shank is much to big for the little 450 🤣

[MacAR]

What's the serial number on it? I think a few of the early ones might have them, though mine is #650 and has the new style. Of course, there's no telling what might have happened over the years and what's been changed. 

[AmericanClassic]

13 minutes ago, MacAR said:

What's the serial number on it? I think a few of the early ones might have them, though mine is #650 and has the new style. Of course, there's no telling what might have happened over the years and what's been changed. 

I want to say its around 1018 or so...

[Matt Kirsch]

There's no law saying the tractor MUST be equipped with only original parts. It is very likely that someone installed a fast hitch off a 400 sometime in the last 70 years. It is entirely possible the original buyer transferred the 400 fast hitch off the tractor he traded in, either to save money or because he was dissatisfied with the new style hitch that lacks positive depth control.

[MacAR]

15 hours ago, AmericanClassic said:

I want to say its around 1018 or so...

I mean, it's possible. With IH you never say never because I've seen some odd things over the years. And like Matt said above, it's hard to say what the PO did before you got it. Odds are, someone either didn't like the new style for reasons stated, or busted the original one and replaced it with the only one they could find, or the third option: it was a drawbar tractor until someone else got hold of it and decided they wanted a fast hitch and stuck the first one they could find on it. 

[766 Man]

  The neighbor's 400 had the later hitch on it.  Been gone for 50 years so no looking at it for reference.  

[DWV]

Can't see enough of tractor to say for sure but looks like it may have started life as a early 400. Things could be switched and if not the steering wheel and rear cast wheel centers are original I belive so.

[AmericanClassic]

4 hours ago, DWV said:

Can't see enough of tractor to say for sure but looks like it may have started life as a early 400. Things could be switched and if not the steering wheel and rear cast wheel centers are original I belive so.

Hmm, im reasonably sure its a 450... though I guess I dont have the tractor at hand to tell for sure. I do know the serial was 1018 though fwiw

[Powered by IH]

9 minutes ago, AmericanClassic said:

Hmm, im reasonably sure its a 450... though I guess I dont have the tractor at hand to tell for sure. I do know the serial was 1018 though fwiw

How do you activate the starter? Do you use the key or is it a push button?

400's used the key, 450's used a push button.

[tombusenitz]

Where do you find fast hitch chisels and field cultivators at?

[brahamfireman]

22 minutes ago, tombusenitz said:

Where do you find fast hitch chisels and field cultivators at?

I found the fast hitch FC in west central WI a couple years ago. Wanted something to hang on the back of my 706.

His 450 pulled it but not super deep or fast. 

[brahamfireman]

40 minutes ago, AmericanClassic said:

Hmm, im reasonably sure its a 450... though I guess I dont have the tractor at hand to tell for sure. I do know the serial was 1018 though fwiw

Its 1018 D S but can't read anything else on it.

[Powered by IH]

On 10/24/2026 at 8:38 PM, AmericanClassic said:

I picked up this 56 model year 450 today and was curious about the fast hitch. Its got what I've found to be the early style on it with the singular lift arm on the left side and a broken off crank on the right side. So far I've not seen another (not looked real hard though) and after having read a thread on here from the mid-2000s, it appears the 450s should only have the later style? Also yes, the vibra shank is much to big for the little 450 🤣

Hold on, second post needed.

Is this tractor a diesel?

Nevermind, it is. Congratulations!

[Jeff-C-IL]

You have to be really careful buying 450's because there were a bunch of 400's that got white paint and the 450 metal emblem to make the neighbors think the owner bought a new tractor.  I'm just old enough to remember my dad and other older farmers talking about it when I was little.

[pt756]

Switching emblems around , neighbor didnt get along with his neighbor just across the road, so when he bought a John Deere 4230 he had a 4030 tag on it so he could show the neighbor how well his 80 horse tractor could do compared to his Fords at the time, both are long gone , but was quite a feud back and forth,

[iowaboy1965]

On 10/24/2026 at 8:38 PM, AmericanClassic said:

I picked up this 56 model year 450 today and was curious about the fast hitch. Its got what I've found to be the early style on it with the singular lift arm on the left side and a broken off crank on the right side. So far I've not seen another (not looked real hard though) and after having read a thread on here from the mid-2000s, it appears the 450s should only have the later style? Also yes, the vibra shank is much to big for the little 450 🤣

The early style had a 2nd cylinder that laid horizontal alongside the transmission to adjust the tilt angle of the hitch and implement attached to it. They all had 1 lift cylinder. 

Many 400s were painted to look like a 450 to keep up with the neighbors. 

[AmericanClassic]

Well, it turns out it is actually a 400. The fast hitch does have the horizontal cylinder laying along side the transmission, or atleast the holes for it as the hitch is pinned in place. Looks like I need to find new badges for it and some red paint!

[MacAR]

17 minutes ago, AmericanClassic said:

Well, it turns out it is actually a 400. The fast hitch does have the horizontal cylinder laying along side the transmission, or atleast the holes for it as the hitch is pinned in place. Looks like I need to find new badges for it and some red paint!

No need for paint, just put some new badges on it. My 300 is painted red and white like the 50 series; I've had a lot of people say it's "wrong" over the years, but it was like that when I bought it and I like it. I don't know if you looked, but on the block the displacement will be stamped on a boss above the oil filter. A 400 will be 264, a 450 will be 281. It could be a 450 engine in a 400 chassis. The project 450 I'm working on now will probably get 400 emblems since that's what the parts tractors are, the sheet metal is all red with no white, and I'm too cheap to buy new ones! 

[AmericanClassic]

25 minutes ago, MacAR said:

No need for paint, just put some new badges on it. My 300 is painted red and white like the 50 series; I've had a lot of people say it's "wrong" over the years, but it was like that when I bought it and I like it. I don't know if you looked, but on the block the displacement will be stamped on a boss above the oil filter. A 400 will be 264, a 450 will be 281. It could be a 450 engine in a 400 chassis. The project 450 I'm working on now will probably get 400 emblems since that's what the parts tractors are, the sheet metal is all red with no white, and I'm too cheap to buy new ones! 

The hood is already in primer so it wouldn't be a big deal to spray it.

[snoshoe]

In my early days when we painted tractors for $50. That included paint and decals. I do not remember a single 3 or 400 coming out of the paint booth without a white grill and white decals on the side panels. People just preferred the look.

[DWV]

On 10/25/2026 at 9:17 PM, AmericanClassic said:

Hmm, im reasonably sure its a 450... though I guess I dont have the tractor at hand to tell for sure. I do know the serial was 1018 though fwiw

Provided the engine block is original look just below head and above injection pump for D-264 or D-281 stamped in followed by engine serial number. Picturing where to find date code and block cast number. 264 was used in the 400 and 281 in the 450. Three casting number suffixes were used on 400 blocks, R-3 early, then R-4 and R-5 late and 450 blocks. Several of the tractors can be found with replacement engines so date codes on engine and tractor not fitting the year can tip off a non-original. One of several other small things to notice if the clutch pedal has a stop bolt at lower end that can be adjusted for travel. 400 has them, 450 doesn't. Also, the t/a clutch operating shaft is a little different between the two tractors with different numbers on left end of shaft. Update forgot to say the later blocks have date code toward left rear behind or just above the fuel filters.

[MacAR]

8 hours ago, AmericanClassic said:

The hood is already in primer so it wouldn't be a big deal to spray it.

Fair enough. I personally prefer the two-tone look but it's not mine either! 

8 hours ago, snoshoe said:

In my early days when we painted tractors for $50. That included paint and decals. I do not remember a single 3 or 400 coming out of the paint booth without a white grill and white decals on the side panels. People just preferred the look.

Yup. Lots of 2/3/400's got the two-tone paint scheme at overhaul. I'm fairly certain there was an IH dealer program to have your tractor overhauled, steam cleaned, and painted sometime in the 50's and they'd paint them in the new color scheme. 

[brahamfireman]

I looked quick yesterday and the axles housings have 10-12-Z castings so it's a 54 model 400.

[ny bill o]

On 10/26/2026 at 12:07 PM, iowaboy1965 said:

The early style had a 2nd cylinder that laid horizontal alongside the transmission to adjust the tilt angle of the hitch and implement attached to it. They all had 1 lift cylinder. 

Many 400s were painted to look like a 450 to keep up with the neighbors. 

For my money, the early style FH had it all over the later style for ease of plowing control. My 400 has the later style FH and I hate it.

[MT Matt]

On 10/27/2026 at 5:51 AM, brahamfireman said:

I looked quick yesterday and the axles housings have 10-12-Z castings so it's a 54 model 400.

Probably not a 1954. That part was cast on that date but the serial number will tell the final assembly date or approximately. I have an early Super MTA and a section has a Y casting date.  Think it’s the ta section. Probably others too, just haven’t looked too closely.