1939 John Deere B oil

[mgoff15]

My father recently gave me his 1939 John Deere B. Trying to find info on how to check the oil level. Also when I get it running it spits oil all over the tractor. The oil on the disk makes it hard to get it started. It's only me so I don't have anybody to pull start it.

 

[Soundguy]

My 50 B is in mothballs.. it's been a decade since i even started it. I'll check the 1.5" thick / 90$ manual when i get home.. I think i still have it int he bookshelf somewhere...

 

[mfreund]

I think you need to close the relief petcocks after you get it started. That should cure the oil on the disk(flywheel).

 

[mgoff15]

Thank you mfreund for this info. this did help the situation considerably. But I am still trying to find out how to check the oil. I believe I have found where the oil is drained and the oil filter goes, but I'm not too sure where the oil is added. There seems to be some kind of vent cap above where I believe the drain is, but I am still unsure how much oil and how I know if it is full. There doesn't appear to be any kind of dip stick.

 

[Soundguy]

if I ever find my manual I can scan some pages out of it.

 

[Dapolksjj]

Thank you mfreund for this info. this did help the situation considerably. But I am still trying to find out how to check the oil. I believe I have found where the oil is drained and the oil filter goes, but I'm not too sure where the oil is added. There seems to be some kind of vent cap above where I believe the drain is, but I am still unsure how much oil and how I know if it is full. There doesn't appear to be any kind of dip stick.

On the clutch side about half-way down the side of the crankcase just ahead of the clutch case is a protrusion about 3/4". You apply a proper sized wrench to the outermost part of that protrusion and loosen it. Do not remove it. If oil drips from the fitting after you've loosened the outermost bolt, you have enough oil in the crankcase. If no oil drips, add 30W oil until oil drips as I've described earlier. The oil fill cap may be no more than a large threaded pipe cap near the clutch lever.

 

[855guy]

Dapolksjj got it right!! (even down to the oil fill!) It's been over 50 years since I ran one of these beauties, but spent many hours on a 39 'B'. That one would fly- should have had a seat belt!!

 

[carterbeauford]

your local JD dealer should have a reproduction owner's manual for your B for about $15-$20, best money you will ever spend on this kind of tractor. where is the oil coming from? the left side crank seal is a common source of oil leaks on these machines, it's not that terribly hard to replace.

 

[Soundguy]

and for about 90$ you can get a print on demand service manual. nice and thick..

 

[flusher]

Thank you mfreund for this info. this did help the situation considerably. But I am still trying to find out how to check the oil. I believe I have found where the oil is drained and the oil filter goes, but I'm not too sure where the oil is added. There seems to be some kind of vent cap above where I believe the drain is, but I am still unsure how much oil and how I know if it is full. There doesn't appear to be any kind of dip stick.

My JD B operator manual (p. 24) shows the oil breather stack (a crankcase breather) that contains the oil filter. You remove the breather stack, remove the filter and pour the new oil into the crankcase through the bottom of the breather stack where the filter is located. There's an oil level test cock on the side of the crankcase that you open, then pour in the new oil until oil drips out of the test cock.

I'll know a lot more about this procedure next week when my 1949 JD B wide front is delivered to my place

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/john-deere-vintage-tractors/253866-john-deere-b-1949-wide.html


Good luck