International Farmall B/BN
Built: 1940–1948 · Series: FARMALL-LETTERS-Baureihe
More machines from model year 1940
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International Harvester Farmall Letter Series – A, B, C, H and M with the diesel MD: Loewy styling, four-cylinder engines rated 14–27 kW, 830–2,404 kg
International Harvester's Farmall Letters line is the famous 'Letter Series' of models A, B, C, H and M, introduced from 1939, whose bodywork, styled by Raymond Loewy, set the look of the American tractor industry. The letters rank the frame sizes in ascending order – A and B as small cultivating tractors, C as their further development, H as the mid-range, and M as the line's large tractor; the MD variant was the diesel-powered version of the M, the first mass-produced Farmall with a compression-ignition engine.
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The register lists 6 versions rated at 14 to 27.2 kW from four-cylinder engines of 1,853 to 4,059 cm³, kerb weights of 830 to 2,404 kg, and a length of 2,699 to 3,381 mm, a width of 1,419 to 2,146 mm and a height of 1,607 to 1,988 mm, at speeds of 1,400 to 1,650 rpm; the line is powered mostly by distillate, kerosene and petrol engines, with the MD model running on diesel.
The Letter Series shaped American agriculture of the 1940s and early 1950s, and with its narrow tricycle front axle it was especially suited to row-crop work in maize and cotton; it ranks among the most-built and, today, most-collected classic American tractors.
On these classics, check engine and carburettor condition, the clutch and gearbox, the rear-axle seals, and corrosion on the wings and sheet-metal parts; on the MD, also the injection pump and the petrol-powered starting engine for cold starts. Spares and reproductions for the Letter Series are available in large numbers through specialist IH and Farmall dealers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: International Harvester Farmall Letter Series
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | Destillat/Kerosin/Benzincorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 19 hp (14 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,400 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 1,853 cm³correct |
| Bore | 76.2 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 101.6 mmcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,740 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,013 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,651 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,848 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 830 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 4 V/1 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 6.00 x 12correct |
| Rear tyres | 8 x 24correct |
| Top speed | 17 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | offset designcorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 75.241 (BN: 14.967)correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 16.9 kW/t (14 kW / 0.8 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 6% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the International Farmall B/BN have?
The International Farmall B/BN delivers 19 hp.
How much does the International Farmall B/BN weigh?
The unladen weight is 830 kg.
What engine does the International Farmall B/BN have?
4 cylinders, 1,853 cm³ displacement, Destillat/Kerosin/Benzin.
How fast does the International Farmall B/BN go?
Top speed is 17 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the International Farmall B/BN?
2,740 mm × 2,013 mm × 1,651 mm.
When was the International Farmall B/BN built?
Production years: 1940–1948.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 21 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Other models in this series
Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
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