what EXACTLY do I have?

Model: IA Serial #: FAA166326

This tractor has the "square" front axle and also has the foot throttle.

The "badge" on the nose piece is "International"

NO hydraulics...therefore NOT a "Super A"

Do I have an "A"... Cultivision A...or something else??. What is an "A-I"??

What Operator Manual do I need?? I have a manual for Super A/AV and can kinda/sorta read between the lines, but would really like to have the correct book.

Thanks...RICK

Without a photo, I would have to say an A-I. The square tube front axle and the foot throttle are options you would see on an A-I. "I" standing for industrial."spelling". Neat little tractors. I would doubt they had their own manual but someone may correct me on that.

Thanks Paul.

I'm inclined to think "industrial" also....the "International" nose badge and "square" front axle.

I would also say it is an A-I, and by the S/N it is a '46.
Should be the same owner's manual, I&T book and parts books as the Farmall A.

Yep an AI is an industrial A built a tad bit heavier then the common A and was probably owned by the state etc and used for mowing along the side of hwys etc.

OLD: Your answer kinda/sorta confirms what I know of this tractor's history.

It was purchased by a Children's Home Farm from NC Highway dept in 1957 and had a pneumatic lift system with side mount mower. My Dad purchased the tractor from the Children's Home Farm after he retired in 1967. (Dad had been the farm mgr. there for 40 years). The pneumatic/vacuum lift system was removed/discarded after he retired but before he purchased the tractor around 1971 or '72.

I'm somewhat "emotionally attached" to this tractor as it was what I learned to drive on when a kid growing up on the Children's Home Farm. I also learned (self-taught, I might add!!) to "cuss" while using the tractor to spray alfalfa crop one summer because something would happen periodically to make engine pop and sputter. It came to the Children's Home Farm with 10 ply motor grader tires on the rear and would jar your teeth over the least little bump. I've spent many hours on this tractor raking hay...pulling spray rig...and even baling hay/straw...and "cussing" fairly frequently all the while!!

Right now..."It ran when parked" under shed 10-12 years ago. Motor is NOT stuck as of 2 months ago...but is not running at this time.

Thanks for replies. I guess I'll try to find a book for the "A" and set aside book I have for Super A/AV.

Rick

If I had that tractor I would no matter what fill the cylinders with ATF. The reason for that is so the rings will free up and also to help clean off any rust that will be on the cylinder walls ad also stop any more from forming.
You say baling what did you have a baler with its own engine since I know an A does not have the power to both power a baler and pull it also. Years ago I would use my B to test a baler because of the lack of power so as to be less likely to brake something if the baler had a problem. The B would spin it ok but if you tried to feed it with hay pulling or sitting still the B would stall out for lack of HP needed to work a baler

IH 45/46(??) baler dropping the bales on the ground. I had to use the "A" because the 340 Farmall was often doing other stuff. Yeah...the baler was ALL the tractor wanted (weight and PTO) and I quickly learned to pay attention to what I was doing!!

Thanks for advice on ATF.

Rick

You have a 1946 International, not Farmall, industrial A. IHC industrial tractors of that era were called International, row crop tractors were called Farmall (the Farmall A was a one row tractor), and standard type tractors were called McCormick or McCormick Deering.

Harold H

Yes, exactly what Harold said. It is an "International A" rather than a "Farmall A". There was no such thing as an "AI" or an "IA". The only differences between it and a Farmall are the things you identified. There was an Operator's Manual different than the one for a Farmall A although the contents was pretty similar. Several of the early manuals were shared between the Famall and International models. By 1946 I think they were pretty well separated.

They were commonly bought by local highway departments with the highway mower, same configuration as you describe.