I have a 1944 model B, hand start only, that I’m rebuilding. Mine originally came with rear rims for rubber tires, and it has a single front wheel, it was made for the California vegetable farmers.

You are in for an adventure. Last B I bought I am at last count into it for between four and five thousand. New block, pistons, head redone, new poured (babbit) rod and main bearings, every bearing in trans and rear end replaced, all the pto mechanism replaced, carb and magneto redone, new clutch bearings bushing drive disc. Got it running Sat the 18th after a years hard work. Had the thing for 5 years. New tires and paint to come. More money. Mine came from an auction too. Yessir a real money pit. Good luck...

During the war it was hard to get rubber so most tractors were on steel. Later farmers converted to rubber by cutting off the steel rim at the spoke and then welded a rubber tire rim to the spokes. That is what you have there, "steel cutoffs". Looks like you made out alright. Like you said, hasn't ran in a while but at some point someone put in the effort to make it run only to let it sit again. Looks like someone replaced the lower water pipe with a long piece of hose. Not original but probably less prone to leaking. Have fun with it. I love old hand starts. One more critical aspect is to make sure you have oil pressure. It's only like 10 psi but the coupler inside can break unknowingly, though rarely.

That is a very odd JD Model B. 1943 model JD tractors came out with a slanted dash, which displayed the gauges. Also starter and lights were offered as standered equipment. The battery was under the hood just behind the gauges and between the gauges and the gas tank. In 1939 JD introduced the styled tractor, and offered rubber tires as an option. Steel wheels were still stander-ed equipment at that time. In 1941 JD offered rubber tires as standered equipment and steel wheels were optional. Also all Steel wheels had spoke wheels and rubber tires had a steel wheel inside of the rim. You have a 1939 or 1940 model B JD tractor sir. In 1943 steels were no longer available because of WW2. JD did sell some steel wheels in 1943 only because JD still had inventory of them. But none were made after 1942.

Glad to see your collection growing! Looking forward to the videos about this one.

FYI. I’m pretty sure the Serial number tag is under the magneto. Looks like it’s there in the video.

Look below the mag should be the serial tag

The later john deere's have a serial number plate on the right side of engine. The small tank is for gasoline. The big tank is for tractor fuel. Start the tractor on gas let it warm up. Then switch it to tractor fuel. (Per my dad tractor fuel is like kerosene). Running gas only is hard on valves. With every big tank full of gas put in a quart of kerosene.

That brings back some memories for me. Had a 1937 John Deere model A. It’s not the same obviously but similar. It was a great tractor for us. Tons of power and it always started. Although it would’ve been nice to have electric start once in a while.

A great tractor. The gear box that the fan shaft is connected to is actually the governor housing.

Oh forgot mine is an early styled 39 model B.

I think it may be older then 1943 front tires I think my have been changed spokes like the back rims. But im no Deere junkie.

I'm about a year late to the party but the serial tag in suppose to be next to the MaG.

The small fuel tank is for gas and the large fuel tank is for kerosene. You started it on gas and switched it to tractor fuel or kerosene witch ever one you wanted to use.

I'm a bit partial to the green myself, though the biggest I've owned so far has been a 430 garden tractor and an X720 garden tractor. I would love to have a M, MT or 40 two cylinder JD. You might find this video from around 1948 interesting: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ndlxpKdy0MqtYpc.html