1948 Farmall "M" Factory Power Steering

[98SimplicityBroadmoor]

Today I bought a 1948 Farmall M and it has factory power steering. I have never in my life seen a Farmall M with factory power steering, I know that the Super M had it as an option but not the normal M. I am wondering if any one has some facts on this like how many were made ect.

 

[kevinj]

I do not believe any of that vintage had factory power steering.

What makes you think it is factory????

 

[PHPaul]

I'm too lazy to do the research, but I agree. I'm pretty confident that factory PS was never offered on the M, and highly doubt it was available on the Super M.

Char-Lynn offered a retrofit kit that was VERY popular, and people tended to keep their M's and upgrade them with a big bore kit and power steering.

Again, I'm not positive, but that's the way I'd bet.

 

[Creamer]

I know I sure wish the Super MTA I grew up on had had power steering. Great tractor but it sure gave me a workout.

BTW - nice looking M.

 

[texas42]

We had a Farmall M on the farm I grew up on.
I don't think "factory power steering" was ever an option on the M.
In fact, after studying the OP's photo, the entire steering assembly looks different than I remember.
The factory steering on a wide front was all behind the axle. The OP's photo shows the steering arms, drag links etc. in front of the axle.
Still a nice looking M.

 

[98SimplicityBroadmoor]

I do not believe any of that vintage had factory power steering. What makes you think it is factory????

The reason I thought it was factory was because I guess the dealer I bought it from did some research and they were 100% positive it was factory. Also I am not positive it is a 1948 I am just going on what they told me when I bought it.

 

[TerryR]

We had a Farmall M on the farm I grew up on.
I don't think "factory power steering" was ever an option on the M.
In fact, after studying the OP's photo, the entire steering assembly looks different than I remember.
The factory steering on a wide front was all behind the axle. The OP's photo shows the steering arms, drag links etc. in front of the axle.

We had four H's and an M on the farm I grew up on. I never heard of power steering on them, but we never bought one new either.

I think the steering linkage on the axle is standard. There is no room for it behind - there is a large assembly that holds the pivot behind the center of the axle, and braces that come from the back of it that are attached to the axle by the nuts you see under the axle either side of center.

See for example this one: Finding the Family Farmall M

The wide front end on this photo above, the one posted by the OP, are the model we had on all our H's and the M. It bolts on with the heavy plate you see under the near corner of the OP's photo, and have a heavy casting that you can see in that photo extends down and holds the pivot shaft. The bracket in the center that controls the steering bolts on the bottom of the vertical shaft that mounts narrow front ends, ether single or dual models.

However, I do find this one, with a very different front end that has the links in the back: Restored 1941 Farmall M Tractor for sale

I am not positive it is a 1948 I am just going on what they told me when I bought it.

I don't know the year, but that seat with the large coil spring is a late model.

Terry

 

[RickB]

The reason I thought it was factory was because I guess the dealer I bought it from did some research and they were 100% positive it was factory. Also I am not positive it is a 1948 I am just going on what they told me when I bought it.

Dealer is 100% wrong. Period.

 

[texas42]

These are the wide fronts I remember on the M.

 

[RickB]

We had four H's and an M on the farm I grew up on. I never heard of power steering on them, but we never bought one new either.

I think the steering linkage on the axle is standard. There is no room for it behind - there is a large assembly that holds the pivot behind the center of the axle, and braces that come from the back of it that are attached to the axle by the nuts you see under the axle either side of center.

See for example this one: Finding the Family Farmall M

The wide front end on this photo above, the one posted by the OP, are the model we had on all our H's and the M. It bolts on with the heavy plate you see under the near corner of the OP's photo, and have a heavy casting that you can see in that photo extends down and holds the pivot shaft. The bracket in the center that controls the steering bolts on the bottom of the vertical shaft that mounts narrow front ends, ether single or dual models.

However, I do find this one, with a very different front end that has the links in the back: Restored 1941 Farmall M Tractor for sale


I don't know the year, but that seat with the large coil spring is a late model.

Terry

They are both aftermarket WFE's. The second appears to be a Schwartz, the first is unknown to me.