If you are really lucky, that dealer would still be around and have records of the sale. If you're lucky you may be able to trace it back to the original buyer and the original dealer. Your best chance at finding your tractor's history is to talk to the person you purchased it from. You cannot find the exact date of construction, original dealer, or previous owners. In general, you cannot determine anything but the year from the serial number of an older tractor. Some people have found that they can read the number off the back side of the plateĪ serial number is not a tractor's life story Another method is to color the number with a marker and then quickly wipe it off, hoping to leave ink in the stamping. Place a piece of tissue paper over the plate and rub gently with charcoal or a pencil. If the plate has faded very badly, try making a rubbing of the imprint. Also, ensure you have read the entire number. Make sure you do not confuse a 7 for a 1. On older tractors, the serial number plate has often faded.

This information is generally more useful, because major changes would have been made to a model at the start of the production year, not on January 1. Serial number lists almost always show the production year, not the actual calendar year the tractor was built. A tractor built in October of 1955 would have been considered a '1956' model. The new production year usually starts around September. Tractors, just like automobiles, are manufactured on a model or production year. Tractor serial number, and not one of these other numbers. Various components may have parts or casting numbers. The engine, front axle, and cab may all have their own serial numbers.

There are usually a lot of different numbers on a tractor.

John deere 17 serial number lookup