Chris,
      I double checked the serial number and the one I posted is correct. The tractor does have the hydraulic cooler pump mounted to the front of the engine. 1973 would be about right. It would have to be the spring of 1974 when I bought it. I'm not really surprised that the serial # doesn't jibe. This whole tractor seems to have been thrown together out of whatever they had laying around. 18.4 X 38 /13.6 x 24 tires were ordered, it came with 18.4 x 34's on the back. The 4WD unit gear ratios were for 23.1 X 30 rear tires. It really needs 14.9 X 26 front tires to get the ratio right. I'm currently using 16.9 X 24's on the front. they come pretty close to the outside diameter of the 14.9 X 26 tires. The motor burned a couple of quarts of oil a day from new. The T.M. said &quot;Oh, don't worry. It's common for the 1955's to burn that much until they are broken in. Give it a thousand hours and see what happens.&quot; By a thousand hours it was down to a quart a day and by 1900 hours the broken rings (2 on one cylinder) had worn enough of a gouge in the liner that they disinigrated and broke a chunk out of a piston. Spun a bearing, too. Like I said, I'm not surprised at the goofy serial number. Thanks for the info.

                                                 Don