High crop/cotton picker axle housings on SMTA

CenTex Farmall · May 9, 2012

I've run across a SMTA that was a former cotton picker tractor. It has the axle housings with the round bolt flange on the wheel end. It also came on propane but has the east/west SM type tank. Also has some kind of gear reduction starter.

Do the axle housing add any value beyond the standard ones?

redgems · May 9, 2012

Nice find!
Mine has SM tank and had the 6volt gear reduction starter. I could not get parts for gear reduction so replaced starter and converted to 12v genny & starter and all looks original.
As for SM tank correct police say the long tank is the proper one ,probably so ,however, the SM tank looks so much nicer imho. Maybe its bacause I was used to seeing and using the SM's.
As for cotton picker axles being worth more ,I would say if they had the axle drops with them then deffinatly yes. but if its just the axle housings then no. I am in an old former cotton area and when old timers around here see the cotton housings on M's they react with ooh! came from a picker. meaning its had a hard life. However seeing them on a SMTA is rare .For Me she would be worth a little more. Just my 2 cents.
Tony

CenTex Farmall · May 9, 2012

Thanks,

I have two of the SM's with the east/west tank and SMTA's with the north/south tank but this is the first SMTA I've seen like that.

I haven't seen this one side by side with my SM's but the tank looks almost identical. I like the setup on my SM lp's. It's a different look since the tank is a little further away, but the same configuration.

Yeah, with the drop housings, one could build a high crop.

Wardner · May 9, 2012

There are two types of drop-boxes. I would think that the chain-drive would have more value but only to someone who has a High Clear tractor with busted housings.

It is impossible to build a High Clearance (SMTAV) with out the front axle. Those axles are considerably harder to find than the rear axle.

I don't think the hobby collector would a premium for a set of drop-boxes or a tractor equipped with them.

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This is the early type. The later axles (SMTAV) are tubular
<a href="http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/Wardner/?action=view&current=Picture44.jpg" target="_blank">

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I have a couple more of these drop boxes if anyone would like a pair.

<a href="http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/Wardner/?action=view&current=I-9055.jpg" target="_blank">

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rustcollector · May 9, 2012

OK, I'll bite. What is the drop housing for on the W? tractor you show in the third photo?
As a point of information, there were approximately 10,000 high drum IH cotton pickers produced, most on M or similar chassis. I can probably put anyone interested in a set of cotton picker drop housings in contact with someone who has them. I have two sets myself, but both would need bearings.

Wardner · May 9, 2012

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These are gate operators from an Army Corps of Engineers flood control dam that I rebuilt 15 years ago. They stand vertical and lift a seven ton double sided cast iron leaf gate via 60' of 6" steel stem. In one unusual winter season, all six gates developed cracks. The gates were replaced with SS single sided weldments. I sandblasted and painted at least 50 gates for the Corps. Each one had to be removed along with the stem brackets and the removable parts of the gate seal at the bottom of the well. Most of the work was rigging the parts in and out of the gatehouse.

<a href="http://s140.photobucket.com/albums/r16/Wardner/?action=view&current=gates085.jpg" target="_blank">

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Leaf gate undergoing demolition in my yard.

CenTex Farmall · May 9, 2012

All it has is part 2 in the top illustration. It's a long way from being a SMTA high crop.

I don't have any interest in a high crop or plans to build one but I was curious about those housings.

High crop/cotton picker axle housings on SMTA

CenTex Farmall

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redgems

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CenTex Farmall

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Wardner

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rustcollector

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Wardner

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CenTex Farmall

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