UB special vs ub

jr1983

Member
I thought I'd start another thread since I was pretty close to hijacking the last one. I'm wondering the differences between a ub and a ub special. What I have been able to find is a special has interchangeable front ends and a two letter designation so instead of a ubu you just had a ub. You could go from an adjustable wide front to a tricycle without pulling the front bolster. They were available with power steering (i thought they all had power steering) and they had a rear end gear common with a G. The power steering i know is true a friend of mine has a diesel tricycle front end with factory power steering. I knew every owner of the machine since new. I'll try to get a pic later. Are these the only differences and am i correct in saying that these are thing are correct?
 
The engine is different. The U and UB used a 283-A4 engine. The UB Special used a 283-C4 engine. This engine had an internal oil filter (like the 336 only slightly different). The front grill was different as well. The UB used the same grill as the later U. The UB Special used a flatt grill similar to the ZA. With the front end/bolster changes the Special I longer.
 
Not sure why power steering would be put on a narrow front. Kinda wimpy. Hood and side panels are different. Side panels are removable that is why many are missing. Crankcase and oil filter and housing unique to special. Cast rad top and bottom as rad has no top or bottom. Top casting like GB and bottom like 5 Star or M5. Grill is different. Small plate with 4 bolts on front usually missing. This is where E front end is mounted. Bolster similar to M5 where it has a piston across for steering. There was about 1500 U Specials made in 1956 that used same front end. UB'sp were made in 55 and 6. Most diesels used the American Bosch rotary injection pump. Ones for export used the Bosch inline which is a better pump.
 
I'm just curious if you've ever run a u t u?I'm not going to guarantee that mine is right but I recently Install the Schwartz front axle. It's tears 10 times easier than it did with the tricycle. My Allis Chalmers stuff was about the same way my tricycle front end is steers way harder than a wide front.
 
Have a UTU. Rest all wide. Ever plowed with a UTS? You can't steer unless moving. No Swartz ever here. UB's rare in wheat country.
 
I thought I'd ask because I heard you say that Everything up there was Wide front. Around here Everything is pretty much a U or an N front end So no I have not ever plowed with a u t s. The old-timers always told me that a wide front is a whole lot easier to plow with but I really don't know about that. A Schwartz front uses the utu front as a steering sector. It made my old tractor steer much easier but I haven't plowed with it yet.
 
Our farm had three UB Specials at one time, all with factory power steering. Power steering was nice with the additional weight of a six row front mounted cultivator.
 
Special had there own motor also. Oil filter system was only partial not a full flow filtering system. Not many parts were used on the 5 Star which followed. 2500 made and were unique.
 

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