Low oil pressure on 1934 John Deere with match head sti

I have a 1934 John Deere A with no oil pressure. How do you remove the oil pump and does the flywheel needtobe removed to access the oil pump. Are parts available for the oil pump removal such as gaskets, gears etc? What would be the procedure to check for oil pressure problems? I understand this is a common problemin these early A s, but there are few experienced early 2 cylinder mechanis still around. Any help is appreciated.

If it is anything like my 1935 B you can take the top plate off and have a look see. There is a square brass coupler that drives the oil pump and they commonly break and if that is the case you will not have any oil pressure

The very early A had the oil pump behind the flywheel. Overfilling the crankcase with oil sometimes helps the pump get primed up. I do not know if the very early B had the pump behind the flywheel or if all Bs have the pump in the belly of the crankcase like Old mentioned.

My B which is serial number 9405 has it in the belly

Rich do you have any history on your B? The production register lists it as made 8-14-35 and sent to the Kansas City branch. That looks normal to me but the final destination is listed as T46964 instead of a specific town's name . Do you know anything about this? A few other B's have a number listed for a destination instead of a town.

Remove the oil pump cover and pack it full of grease. Reinstall the cover and see if it will have oil pressure. The oil lines in the crankcase have a packing on the nuts, might need to repack with graphite coated string.

I know it ended up being sold to some one in south east Kansas in 1935 and then it went back to a dealer some place in KS around 1940 which is when/where my grand father brought it and used it in the Seneca OK area up till around 1975 when my ad got it from him. It wa my mothers fathers tractor. I now own it and I even have the owners manual that came with it when it was new

(quoted from post at 15:36:08 05/27/21) Remove the oil pump cover and pack it full of grease. Reinstall the cover and see if it will have oil pressure. The oil lines in the crankcase have a packing on the nuts, might need to repack with graphite coated string.

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What type of grease? Wheel bearing grease or lighter weight?

Regular gun grease

This has been a topic a few times in the past, maybe beyond finding with search. Here is info. Seems to be a common problem with the side oil pump. Yes, flywheel has to come off to change gears. Can't remember if cover can be taken off with flywheel on or not. Packing with grease could cause blockage in filter or lines. Probably OK one time but as a regular action, wellll. Adding more oil to the crankcase is a good way to get pump primed. It was a long time ago when I had to do that. I think normal oil is 7 qts and I use 10 or maybe 12 to get primed. I made a dipstick to check the additional oil, drilled a hole under the breather filter and with the right piston near tdc, the dipstick would give oil level. I think it will run ok with some over fill. Have to figure that with the engine cover off. All this is from 30+ years ago. Years later I took the gears out and brazed the worn teeth, then with patience and a few barley pops and a new flat file, restored the tooth contour. Worked OK. Still have them. I did buy a set of new gears and installed them before they disappeared from the market. Haven't looked so I do not know if replacement gears are available anywhere. What is the sn of your tractor? I got 411057. The pix are of the repaired ones. Email if you have more ?? HTH George

Thank you

Thank you for the information and pictures. My SN is 412817, produced and shipped Oct. 1934 to Manor, Tx. I live in Manor, Tx presently.

George, was your tractor sold new locally? Trying to think who would have been the JD dealer near Geneva, NY then. Trying to think as to how far back Charles Converse and Son (probable relative to my wife) of Phelps went.

No, this tractor was on 36th W, south of Ave N, near Quartz Hill, Calif, West of Palmdale, resting by a joshua tree where it had been parked ten years, maybe more, maybe less, the owner couldn't remember for sure. And that was back in '85. Engine was loose. I couldn't believe the sn when I saw it but I got it. You are familiar with this area, be interesting to meet some time.

That's really unique...to have the tractor in the same place it was originally sold after 87 years. Great find. Does it still have the open fan shaft? Mine is and has a support near the fan to hold that end. Ford connecting rod and some metal welded together. One point to remember: When you remove the flywheel, look for the index marks between the crank and flywheel. Usually Vs pointing to each other. If you can find no marks, make some as there is only one correct way it goes on. Also, on some JD,there is a pin on the inside of flywheel that goes in a hole on a part further in. George

(quoted from post at 17:31:17 05/29/21) That's really unique...to have the tractor in the same place it was originally sold after 87 years. Great find. Does it still have the open fan shaft? Mine is and has a support near the fan to hold that end. Ford connecting rod and some metal welded together. One point to remember: When you remove the flywheel, look for the index marks between the crank and flywheel. Usually Vs pointing to each other. If you can find no marks, make some as there is only one correct way it goes on. Also, on some JD,there is a pin on the inside of flywheel that goes in a hole on a part further in. George

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Yes it has an open fanshaft. Looks to be very original. We were able to clean out the bottom of the main case, new oil filter with 3 gal oil with some Lucas Chain Lubricant in the soring ball valve and gotoil pressure after hand cranking to try to prime oil pump.. What a wonderful sight to see the match stick indicator standing at attention.
Thanks for your help and encouragement.
JD Al