H and M fenders

James A · Apr 19, 2014

Every time I see an ad for an H or an M Farmall , it seems that nine out of ten do not have fenders. There must tens of thousands of fenders lying around somewhere. Is there a reason?

David G · Apr 19, 2014

I have fenders for my H, plan to keep them.

Paul from MI · Apr 19, 2014

Most places fenders were an option and were not purchased with a tractor. Here in Michigan state law required fenders so they were much more common.

pete 23 · Apr 19, 2014

I don't think they sold many fenders until on the latest ones and then those did get taken off and thrown in the corner of the shed. Dad's 52 H had them on for one day.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 19, 2014

I can not remember ever seeing a H or M with fenders in the field working or a JD A or B for that matter. I have a JD 530 that didn't have fenders so I put a set on it. The fenders are in the way of everything you try to do. I want to climb on from the back like I did for over 50 years but not with those fenders, in my way.

60 acre hillside · Apr 20, 2014

I put NEW fenders made for a JD 4020 on my M. I like the lights out on the fenders

FBH44 · Apr 20, 2014

I priced the official ones, couldn"t afford them, so I bought some used other-brands, cut them down, did welding, and installed them. Yes they are in the way getting on or off, but man you have some safety, something to hold onto, to brace yourself against. Wouldn"t do without them now.

rrlund · Apr 20, 2014

How many Olivers have you ever seen without fenders though? Very few I'd bet.

Case Nutty 1660 · Apr 20, 2014

speaking of them what is a good set worth? I have a set here I would like to sell but have no solid idea what to ask
thanks cnt

IaGary · Apr 20, 2014

In this area most H"s and M"s were also used as cultivator, planter and picker tractors. The fenders had to come off to mount some of these units to the tractor.

So the tractor was ordered without the fenders.

The first 10 or so tractors my Father bought were bought without fenders for this reason. This included 3 MMs,M,MD,450,460,2-560"s,706,806 and 856. Most all of those tractors were under a mounted picker at some time or other.

The first tractor we had with fenders on was the 966 after we had bought a combine. As I kid none of the neighbors had fenders as well including the 2 banger JD's for the same reasons.

Gary

Leroy · Apr 20, 2014

I do not see how it is possible that the fenders are in the way. Had them on the 41 Farmall H, 38 JD A, 46 JD B, 49 JD B, 51 JD A anf of course the Fords. Never a tractor without fenders. Not in way for cultivating and as soon as picker came off the fenders went back on.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 20, 2014

They were in the way for the early cultivators on the M's and H's.

notjustair · Apr 20, 2014

When I was young I didn't even realize they HAD fenders for the letter series farmalls. Never been on one that had them personally. They seem too close to me.

rustyfarmall · Apr 20, 2014

Fenders were an extra cost option. They did nothing to increase or enhance the performance or functionality of the tractor, so there was NO reason to spend the extra money. Keep in mind that farmers in general are a very frugal bunch, and quite unwilling to spend money on something that has no potential for a return on their investment.

I grew up around the Hs and Ms. Never saw one with fenders until I started attending a few tractor shows some time around 1998.

rrlund · Apr 20, 2014

I don't know how early the cultivator was on the H we had,but all you had to do to leave them on with the cultivator or loader was put spacers under them. The IH dealer told us that one. We put spacers under them and left them there,never took them off again.

M Nut · Apr 20, 2014

Seem to bring around that $200 mark in MN. Really nice $225, needing work more like $150.

oldtanker · Apr 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 07:25:26 04/20/14)
Fenders were an extra cost option. They did nothing to increase or enhance the performance or functionality of the tractor, so there was NO reason to spend the extra money. Keep in mind that farmers in general are a very frugal bunch, and quite unwilling to spend money on something that has no potential for a return on their investment.

I grew up around the Hs and Ms. Never saw one with fenders until I started attending a few tractor shows some time around 1998.

Rust hit that old nail. Most farmers if not all who were buying H's and M's new lived through the depression. They didn't spend a dime they didn't have to. Saw that same kind of attitude with the then older farmers when we moved into a farming area. My soon to be BIL and his father bought a new 826 that year. His dad paid for the tractor with new hub duals. My BIL wanted a cab and his dad thought it was a waste of money and told him that if he wanted a cab he, my BIL would have to pay for it. So they got it with factory diamond cab. That year his dad got caught out in a sudden shower on a day when it was about 45 out. He tried retrofitting any cheap junk cab he could find to their 3 560s after that. They never bought a tractor without a cab after. But the tight old man got his farming start in the later years of the depression. He was debt free in 72 and planned on staying that way. Lot of guys like him at one time or another purchased on price alone and fenders would have been something they could do without.

Rick

Case Nutty 1660 · Apr 20, 2014

thanks for the info I will post a pic of them

redforlife · Apr 21, 2014

Fenders for the letter series was an optional feature. Of coarse the tractor cost more with the fenders. 9 out of 10 H's and M's were probly sold from factory without fenders. So technically, no there are not thousands of these just laying around. I do not have a single set for my multiple tractors. I have set on an M that had fenders mounted like they were suppose to be. They really did cramp the driver for space. They kinda set in pretty tight to the seat. I personally like the space, and to be able to swing my legs around in all directions. Often drive with the tops of my feet on the back side of the plateform. Kinda partial to the nobs on the steering wheel's too even though they about break my hand from time to time. LOL

dej(Jed) · Apr 22, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:02:47 04/21/14) Fenders for the letter series was an optional feature. Of coarse the tractor cost more with the fenders. 9 out of 10 H's and M's were probly sold from factory without fenders. So technically, no there are not thousands of these just laying around. I do not have a single set for my multiple tractors. I have set on an M that had fenders mounted like they were suppose to be. They really did cramp the driver for space. They kinda set in pretty tight to the seat. I personally like the space, and to be able to swing my legs around in all directions. Often drive with the tops of my feet on the back side of the plateform. Kinda partial to the nobs on the steering wheel's too even though they about break my hand from time to time. LOL

I agree. I am 6'3" and fenders are a pain getting on and off .
I don't like being trapped on a tractor. If you ever did have to bail off you wouldn't be able to.

mkirsch · Apr 22, 2014

1. There are fender extensions to move the fenders out and give you more room.

2. The proper way get in the seat on a Farmall H or M is to swing your leg around BEHIND the seat, not through the front. You don't need to get both feet on the axle housing.

3. The fenders can't "trap" you on the tractor. They're at or below wheel level, and do not interfere with the platform.

If you're going to bail out, you're NOT going to have time to step down on to the axle housing. You're going to be jumping from the platform. The fenders will keep you from getting caught on the spinning tire as you jump.

The odds of you making a successful bailout are slim to none anyway. Most people won't realize they're going over until it's too late, and the older folks among us don't move that fast.

rustyfarmall · Apr 22, 2014

(quoted from post at 05:19:07 04/22/14) 1. There are fender extensions to move the fenders out and give you more room.

2. The proper way get in the seat on a Farmall H or M is to swing your leg around BEHIND the seat, not through the front. You don't need to get both feet on the axle housing.

3. The fenders can't "trap" you on the tractor. They're at or below wheel level, and do not interfere with the platform.

If you're going to bail out, you're NOT going to have time to step down on to the axle housing. You're going to be jumping from the platform. The fenders will keep you from getting caught on the spinning tire as you jump.

The odds of you making a successful bailout are slim to none anyway. Most people won't realize they're going over until it's too late, and the older folks among us don't move that fast.

I know several folks whose legs are not long enough to swing over the seat. Mine are, but the hips don't work so good anymore, so I have to step through in front of the seat.

H and M fenders

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