Did the PTO guards on the B switch from the sleeve to the square type shown below in 1939 or 1940? I'm asking because this tractor is a '39, and while it has the correct early style hydraulic plow lift, it has this style guard. I'm not sure if this tractor originally had hydraulic lift or not and I'd like to make it pretty close to original. I feel like there's a pretty good chance that someone swapped the PTO/hydraulic/belt pulley unit from another tractor onto this one. If the guard wasn't used until '40 then I'd be 99% sure this tractor didn't come from the factory with hydraulics.

The pump has a later serial number on it, but I'm sure it's a rebuild because it still has some green paint stuck to the outside of it. It works great, but I have a hand lift plow and cultivator and I'm thinking that I'll take the hydraulic block off plate from my '40 and put it on this tractor. The '40 is kind of hacked up since someone added electric start, so I don't feel bad about throwing whatever works onto it (hydraulics, foot brakes, the WC seat from the '39... etc.) and swapping the correct B seat, steering wheel, etc. onto the 1939. When I finally get around to it, it should be a nice show/work tractor.

Yes, it has had random stuff welded to the lift and PTO guard...

The later 40 B did come with electric start, but still had hand brakes. Bob

Someone welded up a pretty impressive bracket for the generator on the '40; I wish it had come from the factory with electric start but I can't pick and choose.

So about 1940 was when AC started making all of the rear end covers with the opening for the hydraulic pump, and the block-off plate if you didn't get hydraulics? Prior to that, if you ordered a tractor with PTO and belt pulley but without hydraulics they might have been like that '39 cover you have, R Aiken. And that tractor might not have the lobes on the PTO shaft for driving a pump, I suspect. Just guessing here.