Farmall - Production Information

Production Information

Detailed tables of model names, years, engine displacements, horsepower ratings, production quantities, serial number ranges, and other statistics are available in reference books on the subject.

The Farmall Cub, A, B, 100, 130, and 140 models had the seat offset from the engine, allowing the operator to look directly at the ground under the tractor. This feature was called Culti-Vision because it was created to give the operator an excellent view of the cultivator teeth as they cultivated the vegetable row. (Cultivating in this context refers to breaking up the soil next to the vegetable row, which kills weeds by uprooting them and/or burying their leaves).

The Farmall A and B used a sliding-gear 4-speed transmission, while the larger, more powerful Farmall C, H, and M were fitted with a 5-speed transmission. The extra gears of the Farmall tractors helped maximize the engine's power band and road speed, giving a sales advantage over the competition.

IH Farmall Red became the standard Farmall tractor color after 1936, and was used through the 1970s. The only factory color variations known are Highway Yellow (generally used for municipalities), Demonstrator White, used for dealer demo models during the 1950s, and Demonstrator Gold - actually a red-and-gold color scheme used only during the International Demonstrator program in 1970. Farmalls in other shades are known to exist, these were most likely custom ordered from the factory. For large orders, any color scheme could be accommodated at the factory.

Although IHC's very first diesel-engine tractor was a "Standard" model WD-40 built from 1935–1940, the very first "Farmall" diesel tractor was the model MD released in 1941. Like many agricultural and construction/industrial diesel engines of the time, the early IHC diesels were not direct-start; the operator started the engine on gasoline, then manually switched it to diesel fuel after warming up the entire engine. This two-in-one engine design, also known as a "gas-diesel," was unique to IHC agricultural products from 1935–1958 and IHC construction/industrial products from 1935-early 1960s. Other companies used different yet elaborate means to crank & warm their diesels, such as a pony motor, compressed air, hot bulb, or black powder, among other things. The Farmall Super MD, Super M-TA Diesel, 400 Diesel, and 450 Diesel used the same IHC gasoline-start engine design as the MD, but with larger displacement (more cubic inches). The first Farmall tractor with a direct-start diesel was the model 350, which appeared in 1956. The 350 could also be ordered with a gasoline or LP-gas engine. The 350's direct-start diesel engine was built by Continental Motors. IH subsequently developed their own line of new direct-start diesel engines for the 460 and 560 tractors starting in 1958. Large competitors such as Deere and Caterpillar lagged at least two years behind IH in offering direct-start diesel products.

The Torque Amplifier (TA) was first introduced on the "improved" Super M of 1954, called the Super M-TA. It provided a double-reduction (low) gear ratio for each transmission gear (comparable to the two-speed rear axle on a commercial truck) that allowed for a quick downshift without using the clutch to gain torque at the drive wheels. The popular TA attachment was seen upon most of the new 300 and 400 Farmalls that first appeared in 1955, and on the 350 and 450 produced 1956-1958, and on later models thru the 1960s. Although the TA was appreciated on the Farmalls, IH also offered the TA's on the "Standard," "Utility," and "Industrial" tractor lines as well.

The Fast Hitch was IH's answer to the three-point hitch developed years earlier by Harry Ferguson, and featured on Ford-Ferguson tractors. The Fast Hitch was first offered as an option on the Super C. Fast Hitch was then an option on the 100, 200, 300, and 400 and some later models. However, even the Fast Hitch had three incompatible variants (100—single prong, 200—two small prongs, 300/400—two large prongs). IH discontinued the Fast Hitch in the 1960s after the three-point hitch was standardized and adopted by all manufacturers. There are kits available from a variety of sources that will either convert a Fast Hitch to a three-point, or add a three-point hitch to tractors that originally only had a fixed drawbar.

International Harvester was one of the earliest manufacturers to provide a stepless transmission in a row crop tractor. Introduced first as an option on 656 and 544 tractors, the hydrostatic transmission would become a defining feature of the 70 Hydro and 100 Hydro models.