This is a bit of a mystery tractor. Everything is run of the mill 3J but it is a direct start. Has 8 volt charging system and the 8 volt battery was still in the box. The dash is completely different than the standard 3J but what is odd is that the gauges are not the full face gauges. The other thing is that the battery box, though well built does not look to be quite to Cat standards of the time. It does have a primer pump. 
  The story goes that the owner (since passed) said they bought it as a factory direct start. Starter went out in 61 and they took it in for repairs and there it has sat for all these years. I swear that I saw 2 of these at the Tulare show. This old mystery is getting pretty much a full restoration.  

   
 

I am sure many of us cannot wait to see the completed unit, as you have done some exceptionally nice restorations.
What is that second pulley turning? A generator or hydraulic pump? Thanks for sharing. JM

that is a 12 volt battery. 2 volts per cell???

Thanks Juiceman, that extra pulley runs the generator. The customer wants it done right, so I am paying special attention to detail. The running gear is pretty dang good other than the rollers and sprockets  The tin is pretty darn straight but by no means perfect. The motor has some issues at this point. The crank either needs turning or undersized bearings. And they may not exist. That means the crank will have to be built up and turned down to standard. Somebody had been in this motor before. There are the tell tale mechanics punch marks for rod orientation. There is a weld repair at the lower liner seal land. Not sure if a rod came loose at one time and dinged it. Or maybe freeze crack .Never seen that from a freeze there, but things happen. Haven't looked at it to close yet. It is at the machine shop being cleaned. I will post pics as we go along
  

bursitis wrote:

that is a 12 volt battery. 2 volts per cell??? 
 bursitis, I believe you are right. Never gave it much thought. Was struck me as different.
 

Back in the late 40's/early 50's putting an 8 volt battery in some cars In northern climates was actually fairly common. Also some cars had a long 6 volt battery like that, Models of Buick comes to mind, and possibly Pontiac

I once saw a D3400 gen set that was both pony and direct start so it was not unheard of at the time.

bursitis wrote:

that is a 12 volt battery. 2 volts per cell???
 

Yes each battery cell has 2.2 volts. From what I have read the stationary engines (generators, pumps) were some of the first setups to start as emergency backup (start on there own). In the early 30's the battery sizes were in several combinations, they had 6V, 12V, 24V, and 32V or sometimes called 30V