Suburban Serial #

[sorekiwi 761]

Hi,

I picked up some Suburban bits off ebay today, and one of the items is a Suburban frame that has this sticker on it.

The frame has been painted, but the sticker is old(er) and has been masked off.

I've never seen one like this before, or in this location (Right hand frame rail).

Any opinions from the experts? B)

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

That should be a "later" 1961.

[DMESS 24]

Yep thats a 61. 551 or late 401.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

I can't determine the loacation, Where are the serial #'s normally located at?

Thanks Duke

[sorekiwi 761]

I can't determine the loacation, Where are the serial #'s normally located at?

Thanks Duke

I'll take a picture tomorrow.

This frame has the serial on the RHS frame rail about 5" form the front.

My RJ has what's left of a sticker on the LHS frame rail, about 3" from the front.

And my other round hoods have them on the dash tower.

While we are talking about serial #'s - has anyone worked out a good way to put the serial # onto one of Ed Mayhews decals?

[sorekiwi 761]

Here's the picture of where the serial # is on the suburban frame....

[BPjunk 184]

The early 60's aerial numbers were mounted as follows

a) The 1960 Suburban serial number was stamped into the shift pattern plate which also housed the throttle and choke levers.

In the early run of 1961 Suburbans some of the old serial number plates off 1960 Suburban were used. To use this 1960 serial number plate the top half with just the serial number was cut away from the shift pattern portion of the plate and mounted on the hood stand of the tractor by a single sheet metal screw (on the front of the hood stand).

c) The remaining part of 1961 a decal was used.

d) In 1962 the serial number was written on the shift pattern decal and once again in the early part of 1963 you will see Wheel Horses with a shift pattern decal that will have a prefix of "62" even though the year model is a 1963.

e) In the later part of 1963 the prefix was left off the shift pattern decal for the serial number.

f) In 1964 the serial number decal was just a white based decal with black lettering about the size of a postage stamp.

g) In 1965 the metal tag was started and used during the reamain years of the 1960's.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

[HorseFixer 2,013]

The early 60's aerial numbers were mounted as follows

a) The 1960 Suburban serial number was stamped into the shift pattern plate which also housed the throttle and choke levers.

In the early run of 1961 Suburbans some of the old serial number plates off 1960 Suburban were used. To use this 1960 serial number plate the top half with just the serial number was cut away from the shift pattern portion of the plate and mounted on the hood stand of the tractor by a single sheet metal screw (on the front of the hood stand).

c) The remaining part of 1961 a decal was used.

d) In 1962 the serial number was written on the shift pattern decal and once again in the early part of 1963 you will see Wheel Horses with a shift pattern decal that will have a prefix of "62" even though the year model is a 1963.

e) In the later part of 1963 the prefix was left off the shift pattern decal for the serial number.

f) In 1964 the serial number decal was just a white based decal with black lettering about the size of a postage stamp.

g) In 1965 the metal tag was started and used during the reamain years of the 1960's.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

Thanks Bill & SoreKiwi! Verry good Information. On my earlier tractors 58's to 61 I have only had one with original Tag on it. I even have found Sooooo many in the mid 60's that someone has remove the aluminum plates on the dash tower.

Duke

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

The early 60's aerial numbers were mounted as follows

f) In 1964 the serial number decal was just a white based decal with black lettering about the size of a postage stamp.

......except for the 754/854 models, which used the shift pattern / serial number decal mounted to the hood stand. (identical to the 1963 RH models)

[badbowtie 0]

I too have a suburban with a serial # decal in the same location with the #60419 on it, but whats really got me scratching my head is that all the 551s I have seen pictures of had a so called "battery box" in place of the firewall that supported the steering shaft. Mine has a firewall. Therefor there is no place for a battery. From what I have gathered all 551s were electric start. Thats why I kinda thought it was a 1960 something or other, but I cant argue with the fact that its a '61 because the serial # starts in the 60s the 1960 suburban serial #s were in the 20-30 range. Are all 551s electric start? Or were they recoil as well? Did they still use the Lauson H55D on the recoil start models? Also I need a hood and fenders for this tractor If anyone has one let me know. I bought a hood and fenders for this tractor unseen. The fenders holes dont line up with the holes on the tool box and is the incorrect hood I think its either a 59 RJ hood or a 1960 Suburban hood that has been cut just behind the levers.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

B)

That's a lot of questions needing answers, but you have come to the right place!

The 1961 Wheel Horse 551 was the only mid-engine model to use the two piece Uni-Drive transmission.

The 400, 550, and 401 models used the same (basically) 3 piece Uni-Drive transmission as the RJ-58/59 tractors. (cast center section with bolt-on steel sides with tubular axle housings.)

If your tractor has an original stamped hoodstand, it is not a 551.

Here's a question for you:

Is the clutch/brake pedal made from flat steel, or is it cast iron?

If you can post pictures, it can be identified much easier.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I am going to throw in a question here too.... anyone know approximately how many tractors were produced from 1960-1963? The serial numbers go all over the board... my 1960 400 is #33445, and my 603 is 37470... so where did these 6xxxx numbers come from and what are they supposed to designate?

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I am going to throw in a question here too.... anyone know approximately how many tractors were produced from 1960-1963? The serial numbers go all over the board... my 1960 400 is #33445, and my 603 is 37470... which is only 4025 different. Surely they made more than 4000 tractors in three years... that's only like 3 or 4 per day? Also where did these 6xxxx numbers come from and what are they supposed to designate? Were they using different numbers for recoil tractors and electric starts? ?? B)

[DMESS 24]

Jason, from my observations (and these are just loosely based observations mind you) it would seem the serial numbers ran sequentialy from 1958 till 1961. They then started over again in 1962 continuing upwards until the new format used in 1965. My assumption is that the reasoning was production moving to the new plant and what is considered "major engineering changes" for 1962. It is interesting that Ed Cole seems to have the ability to decipher production of some models so there must be SOME relevance to serial numbers/models.

If you look at enough RJ's, Suburbans, and 1962 and later RH's you start to see the pattern I'm referencing with the numbers.

[linen beige 15]

The '62s and early '63s had a 62 prefix, which would take them out of any sequence used before then. Did they start over in mid '63, or just pick back up where they had left off when they started the prefix in '62?

[DMESS 24]

I think they just dropped the prefix and kept right on going.

[pond195520032003 27]

B) badbowtie, and :whistle:

[linen beige 15]

I think they just dropped the prefix and kept right on going.

If you drop the prefix you end up with a four digit number. Do you mean that they just picked back up after the pre-prefixed ones? B)

[DMESS 24]

Oh, and to answer your question Jason, I've seen RJ's in the 3000-4000 range, 62's in the 1000-3000 range, but no single, double or triple digits in either. Now we do have an RJ58 that sure would have been interesting to know the serial number on. It's a smooth tranny, round hub, leather boot and I'm quite certain it is out of the first run of RJ58's.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Interesting... my 603 was built in May of 1963 and does not have a prefix.

Dustin... I'd like to see a pic of this leather boot if you ever get a moment. I've never seen one.

[DMESS 24]

Jason, my 603 is 62-21836. I think they kept the serial numbers in sequence and just dropped the 62 prefix. Seeing how the 62- is printed on the tag I'd bet they had them made up this way for 1962, had too many left and then used them up into 1963 and said the heck with putting a year prefix on them after that. B)

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I would support that theory. Sounds very logical. We all know how Wheel Horse felt about using up parts surplus from the prior year! B)

[linen beige 15]

Jason, my 603 is 62-21836. I think they kept the serial numbers in sequence and just dropped the 62 prefix. Seeing how the 62- is printed on the tag I'd bet they had them made up this way for 1962, had too many left and then used them up into 1963 and said the heck with putting a year prefix on them after that.

My 702 is 62-8654. Since minus the prefix it is lower than the '61s, it makes me think they started over in '62. I've not seen any with less than four digits, so maybe they started the '62s at 62-1000? If they just dropped the sequence after they ran out of those tags, did they continue that sequence without the prefix? Or, since that may have duplicated some pre '62 numbers, did they start over where the pre '62s left off?

[linen beige 15]

I just answered my own question guys! After I posted this I checked a serial number plate from a '60 suburban I have in the parts cabinet. It's 40241. That is higher than Jason's 603. So WH probably duplicated some serial numbers.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

It's all starting to make a little more sense now...

Hey Jim... just for giggles... what's the s/n on your unmolested 58?