Calling all "O" experts

jaynjeep · #1 11-27-2016, 11:06 PM

Hey Guys,

I have a late (June 63) production Original. We have known the tractor well since it was new.. The original owner bought it as a recoil start but later had the IH dealer add the electric start kit. The tractor to this day is still very original and unchanged.. still retains the K161T Rope start engine.

My question is the air cleaner.. Mine has the 70 style dry paper element.. and according to the original purchaser it came that way... It was like that when we bought the tractor in the late 70's for sure.

I read that IH knew the oil bath had some efficiency issues and planned to change the 70/100 series to dry cleaners.

My theory... some of the last Originals may have started getting the newer filter??

Anyone else have a late Original that left the factory with a paper filter?

Comments, experiences, and knowledge welcomed.

J-Mech · #2 11-27-2016, 11:47 PM

That is a good question..... I do not know the answer. I do suppose that it could have came that way. I have seen a lot of O's with the paper element, but always just assumed they had been changed over. He doesn't by some luck have the original sale bill does he? (I don't usually save stuff like that, but some people do....)

jaynjeep · #3 11-27-2016, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Mech

That is a good question..... I do not know the answer. I do suppose that it could have came that way. I have seen a lot of O's with the paper element, but always just assumed they had been changed over. He doesn't by some luck have the original sale bill does he? (I don't usually save stuff like that, but some people do....)

Jon,

The original owner passed away 20 years ago.. He did give me some verbal history in the late 70's about the tractor. I asked him about the paper air cleaner... he said that is the way it rolled out of the showroom.. As far as he knew the only thing changed/modified was the addition of the electric start kit several years after it was new.

I did read somewhere that IH was not satisfied with the performance of the oil bath and requested a change to dry paper during pre production on the 70/100... just don't have proof how soon it happened

J-Mech · #4 11-28-2016, 12:04 AM

I'm doubting that performance was the issue..... maintenance may have been. IH was making the switch to paper elements about that time. Plus, the automotive world was already using them. I'm sure they had some warranty claims due to the oil bath's being ran dry. The truth of the matter is, that an oil bath cleaner is far superior to dry... it's just messing and a pain to deal with. They do a much better job at filtration though.

jaynjeep · #5 11-28-2016, 12:10 AM

I agree the oil bath is better at getting dirt...if it is serviced properly... im sure most weren't.. Paper canister style had to be way cheaper also...

I just wondered if the switch actually came near the end of the Originals but before the intro of the new series?

J-Mech · #6 11-28-2016, 12:26 AM

Well, it's very possible, but I don't know if they did or not.
I DO know that we have seen change overs like this in other series tractors. For example: The 1X8/9's came out with yellow engines. But, in the later machines it was common to see them with a black original engine. The assumption is that Kohler or IH started painting them black getting ready for the QL series.

ambrola · #7 11-28-2016, 02:39 PM

I don't think a late 63 Original would have came with a re-coil start? It sounds like it has had some changes over it's life time. I also think the fuel filter would have been the oil bath, not the later one.

ironman · #8 11-28-2016, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambrola

I don't think a late 63 Original would have came with a re-coil start? It sounds like it has had some changes over it's life time. I also think the fuel filter would have been the oil bath, not the later one.

It's true. Oil bath fuel filters are few and far between.

jaynjeep · #9 11-28-2016, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ambrola

I don't think a late 63 Original would have came with a re-coil start? It sounds like it has had some changes over it's life time. I also think the fuel filter would have been the oil bath, not the later one.

Ronnie,

I know the recoil was original... we have known the tractor since new.. Original owner told me he bought it new with recoil. as he got older he had issues cranking it.. he had the electric start kit added in the late 60's or early 70's. He also told me that nothing else had been modified or changed.. My question was the dry air cleaner... I wondered if anyone had another late Original that had the dry air cleaner.. We have owned this little tractor since the late 70's... it is very original and untouched... My thoughts were that IH had already specified a change to Kohler for the model 70 that was coming up and I wondered if they started putting dry aircleaners on some of the very late Originals?

Alvy · #10 11-28-2016, 07:34 PM

Jay can you share the serial with us? I'm assuming it's in the 50k or 60k range without looking at a chart? That might let some O guys that have the same or later Serials let you know. Or maybe find that old registry site or another one with serials and pics and see if they did or not. Just some ideas, I'm curious too