Picked up an original 1957 RJ35-Lots of Pictures!

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331]

So I ended up catched up and doing some trading/buying with one of our members here last night. It is what I believe is a 1957 RJ35. The steering wheel apears to be wrong but not sure-who knows for sure? Fireman stopped by last night and checked it out with us and he realized that the hood mounts with 2 bolts on top (like the 55 and 56 RJ's) but also 2 bolts on each side (like the 59/59 RJ's). That was new to me. It is missing the belt guard and more importantly to me is the variable drive pulley. If anyone has that pulley they are willing to part with, please let me know. The motor is off the machine as it was not running however i will be getting it soon. It is a Clinton 1200. I will be posting lots of pictures as Clay (RJ35Hunter) is trying to come up with a timeline to help date the tractors and show the changes from early 55 to the 58 model year. If anyone would like to comment on the year or anything else, please do so. Thanks!

ps- yeah... I oil rubbed it !!! Shoot me Matt...

WHen I got it

.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,347]

Nice find Steve. I like the oiled up look .

Mike............

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331]

So I ended up catched up and doing some trading/buying with one of our members here last night. It is what I believe is a 1957 RJ35. The steering wheel apears to be wrong but not sure-who knows for sure? Fireman stopped by last night and checked it out with us and he realized that the hood mounts with 2 bolts on top (like the 55 and 56 RJ's) but also 2 bolts on each side (like the 59/59 RJ's). That was new to me. It is missing the belt guard and more importantly to me is the variable drive pulley. If anyone has that pulley they are willing to part with, please let me know. The motor is off the machine as it was not running however i will be getting it soon. It is a Clinton 1200. I will be posting lots of pictures as Clay (RJ35Hunter) is trying to come up with a timeline to help date the tractors and show the changes from early 55 to the 58 model year. If anyone would like to comment on the year or anything else, please do so. Thanks!

ps- yeah... I oil rubbed it !!! Shoot me Matt...

WHen I got it

.

[Rollerman 290]

Nice lookin 35 Steve, good to see them in there vintage clothes.

Not sure on the wheel, I've seen a few different types....but not one like that.

[fireman 1,021]

The steering wheel has the correct WH part number on it. We're pretty sure it's a 57. It has the structural channel steel frame and bumps on the backing plates facing towards the middle of the tractor in stead of the towards the tires. The hood has "Wheel-Horse" stamped in it. The hood stand has the extra turn downs on either side like the 58' & 59' does that makes the hood take four bolts to hold on. Steve has a confirmed 55' and a 56' and neither of these has this. Not sure why it has the cast steering wheel as they were supposedly fazed out in early 56'.

Again, all this just adds to the mystery!

[Rollerman 290]

The steering wheel has the correct WH part number on it.

Must be the grip tape throwing me off, if the part# is right that should be it.

Being these early RJ's are almost 60 years old...they will always have there secrets.

[Ken B 3,164]

Man you got these RJ 35's stored all over the place like a squirrel stashing away acorns. You don't even bother with them RJ 58's no more.

One of these days I'll find one. Nice score.

[buckrancher 2,679]

I'm going to say late 56 if the steering wheel is original to the tractor I thought most 57's used the rj58/59/60/61

style steering wheel but that they started stamping wheel hose in the hood some time in 56 after they got thier

patent on the name

Brian

[Lars 526]

nice one stevebo

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331]

Nope Ken... all the round hoods are indoors....

[Ken B 3,164]

You are going to have to make room or let something go if you keep rackin em up at this rate. Its startin to look REAL tight in there. (I might be cash heavy this Sunday) Lol!

[VinsRJ 721]

Steve that 1200 2184 is the same model number has my early production RJ58. That indicates to me that if the motor is original its more like a 57. The four hood mounting screws would also maybe indicate that its a 57. To bad you sold that 57 belt guard..... It should have been "In Stock"

[VinsRJ 721]

Also my early 58 1200 2184 serial number is a little futher along in production than yours. I'd call your RJ a 57.

[rj35hunter 283]

Steve, glad you got it & sound like you will get the original engine too! I'm jealous! I put in the serial # with my others and it is only 10 numbers lower than my 57 serial #!!!!! Yours has the same kind of tires, engine, etc. that mine does. My serial # is 5028920 on my clinton and yours is 5028910......that is very close together. The bumps on the right rear backing plate facing out instead of in is correct for the 57 models as it has the "updated" pawl setup over the previous years.....same as mine. On the new style they didn't need the bumps on the inside for the spring to hit, so they just flipped the plate around and welded it on backwards. Also, the extra 2 bolts in the hood and hood stand like a 58 is an update to the 57 model. My vote is that your rj is an early 57. I posted some pics of mine to compare. The first pic is when I got it and it had black wheels & red seat. This was before I knew for sure that most 57's did come this way, so I painted them cream like everyone says it is suppose to be.....which over time is proven not to be so. When I restore this one I will put it back to original with black wheels & red seat. Great find Steve!!!!!

Clay

[fireman 1,021]

My workshop once looked liked that! Now i'm down to a measly 2 round hoods :sad:

[speedyleedy 205]

It's a great find for what ever year it turns out to be ! :bow-blue:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331]

The member I bought it from has another 35 and he said the serial numbers were only 3 away from eachother. Clay, the seat spring on yours is backwards or is it really? My 56 with electric start came that way too. Wonder if that was right or not?

[rj35hunter 283]

Steve, when I got this one the seat spring was on backwards, but it isn't now. I think some people put them backwards by accident over time or to position the seat differently. I would love to see that other 35 and get the numbers off it.

Clay

[AMC RULES 37,132]

Wasn't that the one from ebay that came out of Cinnaminson NJ last week Steve?

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,331]

No, this one was purchased along with another 35 out of an old dealer where it sat for some time.

@Clay- he plans on getting that info to you at some point. He took both motors and is having a shop put together one good one. I will be getting what is left over and pretty sure it is the correct engine that came out of this one less carb etc.

[rj35hunter 283]

No, this one was purchased along with another 35 out of an old dealer where it sat for some time.

@Clay- he plans on getting that info to you at some point. He took both motors and is having a shop put together one good one. I will be getting what is left over and pretty sure it is the correct engine that came out of this one less carb etc.

I would say it is too by the serial #. It is too close to mine and the tractors are almost identical in options.

Clay

[Jake Kuhn 1,555]

Very nice Steve,I love how how the rj's look with the original paint,Jake

[grnlark 487]

Steve, my '57 has 4 bolts on the hood too.

[dandan111 31]

Nice find.

[JMW 3]

Nice find...She went to a good home