Minneapolis Moline A4T
Tractor Production Data by Brian Gonyea
Minneapolis-Moline built the A4T tractors from October 1969 through May 1972 in both the A4T-1400 and A4T-1600 versions with a total of 1,676 being produced in that time.
The first production unit was A4T-1400 diesel 43900002 built 10/31/1969. 43900001 came off the line 4 days later. A4T-1600 production started 1/21/1970 with LP tractor 45700001. The first two A4T-1600 diesels 45600001 & 2 were produced 1/26/1970 but diesel production did not resume again until 8/10/1970. The A4T-1400 diesels were still being produced when the A4T-1600 LP went into production but the bulk of A4T-1600 diesel production did not start until the A4T-1400 was finished on 4/31/1970. This gives a glimpse into how Moline scheduled their tractor production.
There were 247 A4T-1400 diesels produced. The D504A-6
engine at 139 hp was used in the 1400. The 1400 was not available in an LP
version. Available factory installed
options on the 1400 included: several tire sizes, high altitude injection pump,
deluxe road king seat, diesel starting aid, 1000 rpm PTO and a turbocharger –
also referred to as an altitude compensator – which raised engine output to 154
hp. A 3pt hitch was not available on
the A4T-1400. Dealer order guides in
1970 list an optional cab for the A4T-1400 (same option as later A4T-1600) but
none were installed at the factory.
Production records
indicate only one Oliver 2455 was produced. This unit came off the line in
December 1969 and was possibly used for the 1970 Oliver literature
pictures. The literature picture
matches the option content on the one unit called out. Ledgers show it as originally built with
"Oliver" decals then later rebuilt and shipped to an MM dealer order
code in September 1970. This unit may
have been repainted red before being shipped to an MM dealer. This same Oliver literature states the
availability of a 169 hp LP-gas engine in the 2455, but no A4T-1400 or 2455
were built with LP engines.
|
Size |
Qty |
% |
|
18.4-34 R1 base |
87 |
35.2% |
|
18.4-34 R2 Rice |
1 |
0.4% |
|
18.4-38 R1 |
94 |
38.1% |
|
18.4-38 R2 Rice |
1 |
0.4% |
|
23.1-30 R1 |
34 |
13.8% |
|
23.1-30 R2 Rice |
23 |
9.3% |
|
23.1-34 R1 |
3 |
1.2% |
|
24.5-32 R1 |
4 |
1.6% |
|
Option |
Qty |
% |
|
1000 PTO |
57 |
23.1% |
|
Turbo Charger |
50 |
20.2% |
|
Altitude Dsl Pump |
36 |
14.6% |
|
Diesel Starting Aid |
32 |
13.0% |
|
Deluxe Roadking Seat |
24 |
9.7% |
There were 239 A4T-1600 LP produced. The serial
numbers actually went as high as 257, but 13 of these were converted into
A4T-1600 diesel models and 5 serial numbers were cancelled. Hence, the total production was 239. The 504B-6 rated at 169 engine hp @ 2200 rpm
and 135 PTO hp @ 1800 rpm was the base engine in the 1600 LP. Available options
on the 1600 LP included: several tire sizes, deluxe road king seat, 3pt, 1000
rpm PTO, cab and 800-6 engine. Open
station tractors came with fenders front and rear. Rear fenders were optional on cab tractors but none were
installed at the factory according to production records. There were 63 Oliver 2655 LP versions
produced. In addition, there were a
total of 71 Moline and Oliver tractors factory equipped with the 800-6 LP
engine.
|
Size |
Qty |
% |
|
18.4-34 R1 base |
81 |
33.9% |
|
18.4-38 R1 |
65 |
27.2% |
|
20.8-38 R1 |
2 |
0.8% |
|
20.8-38 R2 Rice |
3 |
1.3% |
|
23.1-30 R1 |
46 |
19.2% |
|
23.1-30 R2 Rice |
30 |
12.6% |
|
23.1-34 R1 |
7 |
2.9% |
|
23.1-34 R2 Rice |
2 |
0.8% |
|
24.5-32 R1 |
3 |
1.3% |
|
Option |
Qty |
% |
|
Cab |
124 |
51.9% |
|
Open Station |
115 |
48.1% |
|
1000 PTO |
105 |
43.9% |
|
3 pt |
104 |
43.5% |
|
3 pt & PTO |
89 |
37.2% |
|
Deluxe Roadking Seat |
115 |
48.1% |
|
Engine |
Qty |
% |
|
A4T-1600 w/ 504B LP |
150 |
62.8% |
|
A4T-1600 w/ 800 LP |
26 |
10.9% |
|
2655 w/ 504B LP |
18 |
7.5% |
|
2655 w/ 800 LP |
45 |
18.8% |
There were 1190 A4T-1600 diesels produced. The D585-6
engine was rated at 169 engine hp @ 2200 rpm and 143 PTO hp @ 1800 rpm.
Standard equipment and available options were the same as the A4T-1600 LP
models. Only 1 cab tractor is shown to
have rear fenders installed at the factory.
561 Oliver 2655 diesels were produced.
The majority of the last year of production (1972) were built as Oliver
2655 models. The last two units made
were Moline A4T-1600 models.
|
Size |
Qty |
% |
|
18.4-34 base |
427 |
35.9% |
|
18.4-34 R2 Rice |
2 |
0.2% |
|
18.4-38 R1 |
221 |
18.6% |
|
18.4-38 R2 Rice |
5 |
0.4% |
|
20.8-38 R1 |
25 |
2.1% |
|
20.8-38 R2 Rice |
11 |
0.9% |
|
23.1-30 R1 |
296 |
24.9% |
|
23.1-30 R2 Rice |
102 |
8.6% |
|
23.1-34 R1 |
60 |
5.0% |
|
23.1-34 R2 Rice |
10 |
0.8% |
|
24.5-32 R1 |
21 |
1.8% |
|
24.5-32 R2 Rice |
10 |
0.8% |
|
Option |
Qty |
% |
|
Cab |
1056 |
88.7% |
|
Open Station |
134 |
11.3% |
|
1000 PTO |
477 |
40.1% |
|
3 pt |
448 |
37.6% |
|
3 pt & PTO |
300 |
25.2% |
|
Deluxe Roadking Seat |
639 |
53.7% |
In mid 1971, starting with serial numbers 45700158
and 45600363, Moline changed the standard equipment on the A4T-1600 tractors to
include: cab, manifold heater (diesel) and park brake light. A long list of dealer installed options were
also available including cab heater and air conditioner, cab upholstery
package, additional remote valves, quick hitch, wheel weights and rear fenders
to name a few.
The Plainsman version was intended to be sold to both
MM and Oliver dealers. Literature shows Plainsman versions of both the A4T-1400
and 1600, but production records do not indicate how many were built as
Plainsman models in the red, white and blue color scheme. This same literature only shows the
Plainsman in the early style bubble nose grill configuration, but the existence
of a later flat grill Plainsman is possible.
Based on a company internal correspondence letter dated March 8,1971
from W.S. Coleman states:
“As a result of the survey of the field people made
by R.R. Hipwell and D.E. Paulsen, we are making a firm decision to keep the A4T
red for Minneapolis-Moline and Canadian distribution. We will provide the A4T as a 2655 to Oliver in green per their
orders.
The red A4T’s for MM will be labeled
Minneapolis-Moline unless a dealer indicates his desire for the Plainsman
label.”
The grill configuration was changed from bubble nose
to flat grill and the 3pt upper lift arms were changed to an improved clevis
type joint at the following serial number breaks per repair catalog PCR-2214:
A4T 1400 – 43900247 (April 1970)
A4T1600 diesel – 45600263 (March 1971)
A4T1600 LP – 45700133 (February 1971)
The axle hubs were also changed to taper lock design
at the following serial number breaks:
A4T 1400 – 43900247 (April 1970)
A4T1600 diesel – 45600003 (August 1970)
A4T1600 LP – 45700113 (July 1970)
Based on this, it appears all A4T-1400 production
were bubble nose with clamp type axle hubs except for the very last unit
produced (43900247). I’m told by Moline engineering sources involved with A4T
production that this is most likely a typo in the parts manual as these changes
were implemented after A4T-1400 production had ended. It also appears that all
factory 800 LP equipped A4T-1600 were the later flat grille type since the first
tractor equipped with this option was produced in May 1971.
I’d like to thank former MM engineer Mike Verhulst
and Floyd County Museum curator Mary Ann Townsend for their help in making this
article possible. My intent is for this
article to be the first in a series based on the factory production records
housed at the Floyd County Museum in Charles City, Iowa.
A very important part of these articles are the
dealer order guides which give a description and price for all the available
options on each tractor model. A
compilation of these order guides is on file at the Floyd County Museum. Mike
Verhulst started by donating copies of what price lists he had to the Floyd
County Museum and I’ve supplemented that list with copies of what I have in my
collection. The goal is to have a
complete collection of dealer order price lists on file at the Floyd County
Museum. There are still many holes, to
be filled, in the dealer order guide information and without this information
articles like this would not be possible.
Floyd County also uses these price lists when individuals request serial
number information on their specific tractor.
The more complete the list, the better the information will be to the
collector community. If you have copies
of any dealer order guides to share, please contact me at bgonyea@centurylink.net. With your
help I’m hoping to make these articles as informative and enjoyable as
possible.