Stan-- my best friend, a farmer- has a JD B, and also an A--both date back before 1950, I think the A has a battery start- the B has the "Armstrong" flywheel set-up. Next time I see him, I'll ask about the cold and how it may have affected either one-I know neither has power steering- I've driven them a few times, and we have set one up with a buzz saw rig, big old belt off the flywheel- hand clutch- great idea--
As for frozen pipes, you most likely know this, but for others, here's one way to thaw a frozen pipe- if you have a Lincoln "Buzz box" transformer AC welder- set the amperage on 75- that will be in a circle on the front panel- on 75 amp. output, you get a 100% duty cycle- all the other settings are on a 20% duty cycle. Lincoln designed this with the farmers in mind-
Run the ground clamp to one end of the pipe run, and the stinger to the farther end- you can use cable extensions if you have them--to add to the developed length of the current flow-- turn on the machine, and monitor the pipe for temp change to your finger touch--
??- and I'll ask Andy about this, next time I'm up his way-- Would a crankcase oil heater, running off a 110V line, help against a block cracking in severe cold weather. RWTF
