Farmall Super C Overview
International Harvester built the Farmall Super C from 1951 through 1954 as a compact row-crop tractor with a 122.7 cu in (2.0 L) C-123 four-cylinder engine and a four-speed sliding-gear transmission. The operator manual covers gasoline, distillate, and kerosene versions, so fuel-system instructions and parts should be matched to the tractor rather than treated as interchangeable.
The Super C combined manual steering and mechanical disc brakes with Farmall Touch-Control hydraulics. A rear PTO and belt pulley were available, Hydraulic Remote Control could run a trailing-implement cylinder from the Touch-Control pump, and Fast-Hitch equipment appears on suitably equipped tractors.
Use the FC tractor serial plate on the right-side tool-box and seat support to identify the machine before ordering parts. Power figures below are also labelled by source: Nebraska Test 458 covers one gasoline, four-speed tractor tested in 1951 and does not define every Super C configuration.
Farmall Super C Quick Answers
- Production yearsThe Farmall Super C was produced from 1951 through 1954. Published year-start serials run from FC100001 for 1951 through FC187788 for 1954.
- Engine and fuel versionsThe operator manual identifies a 122.7 cu in C-123 four-cylinder and provides separate operating instructions for gasoline, distillate, and kerosene configurations. Confirm the installed fuel system before using fuel or starting procedures.
- How much horsepower does a Farmall Super C have?The 1951 gasoline, four-speed test tractor produced 20.72 maximum drawbar hp in second gear. The reviewed Test 458 transcription lists 23.67 maximum belt hp; that belt result is not a generic claimed PTO rating.
- How much does a Farmall Super C weigh?Published operating weight is 3,100 lb. The listed ballasted weight is 5,039 lb, so match wheel equipment and ballast before using either figure for transport or implement planning.
- Engine oil capacity and typeCrankcase capacity is 5 US qt. The operator manual specifies SAE 30 above 80 F, SAE 20 from 32 to 80 F, and SAE 10W below 32 F; change the oil and replace the filter element every 120 hours.
- Transmission oilUse SAE 80 regular-type gear lubricant. Capacity is 4.75 US gal without the PTO and belt pulley or 5 US gal with them. Change it at least yearly and do not exceed 1,000 operating hours.
- Serial number locationsThe FC tractor number is on a plate attached to the right-side tool box and seat support. The FCM engine number is stamped on the right side of the crankcase above the battery ignition unit.
- PTO, Touch-Control, and Fast-HitchThe transmission-driven rear PTO runs 539 rpm at full load and must be shifted with the engine clutch disengaged. Hydraulic Remote Control uses the Touch-Control pump, while Fast-Hitch applies only to equipped tractors.
- Electrical systemFactory starting-and-lighting equipment uses a 6-volt, positive-ground system with a generator and voltage regulator. Magneto-equipped tractors are also covered in the operator manual.
- Cooling and hydraulic fluidCooling-system capacity is approximately 15 US qt. The Touch-Control system calls for clean IH Touch-Control Fluid; generic hydraulic oil should not be substituted from an unsourced modern chart.
Engine and Power
The C-123 is a 122.7 cu in four-cylinder. The operator manual covers gasoline, distillate, and kerosene versions, while the Test 458 cards below apply only to the tested 1951 gasoline, four-speed tractor.
International Harvester operator-manual configurations
C-123 four-cylinder / gasoline, distillate, or kerosene configurations / 1,650 rpm governed speed
| Engine Family | International Harvester C-123, liquid-cooled four-cylinder |
|---|---|
| Fuel Configurations | gasoline, distillate, or kerosene; follow the instructions for the installed fuel system |
| Governed Speed | 1,650 rpm maximum full-load |
| Air Cleaner | oil-bath air cleaner |
| Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
Operator-manual engine service data
| Engine Oil Grades | SAE 30 above 80 F; SAE 20 from 32-80 F; SAE 10W below 32 F |
|---|---|
| Engine Oil And Filter | change crankcase oil and replace the filter element every 120 hours |
| Spark Plug Gap | .023 in; clean and check every 200-300 hours |
| Valve Clearance | .014 in with the engine warm; normally check every 400 hours |
Nebraska Test 458 — 1951 gasoline, four-speed tractor
| Belt Power Max | 23.67 hp / 17.7 kW maximum belt power; not a claimed PTO rating |
|---|---|
| Drawbar Power Max | 20.72 hp / 15.5 kW maximum drawbar power in second gear |
| Max Power Pull | 2,108 lb at 3.69 mph and 1,651 engine rpm |
| Max Power Slip | 5.59 percent |
| Ten Hour Power | 16.29 hp at the 10-hour rated load |
| Ten Hour Pull | 1,657 lb at 3.75 mph in second gear |
| Ten Hour Fuel Rate | 1.835 US gal/h |
| Ten Hour Efficiency | 8.88 hp-h/gal |
Manufacturer
Manufacture years
Engine
Displacement
Bore and stroke
Compression
Rated RPM
Transmission
The sliding-gear transmission has four forward ratios and one reverse. The installed PTO and belt-pulley equipment changes the transmission-case oil capacity from 4.75 to 5 US gal.
Operator-manual transmission, PTO, and hydraulic service
| Transmission Lubricant | SAE 80 regular-type gear lubricant for US, Canada, and Mexico |
|---|---|
| Transmission Change | at least once a year and no later than 1,000 operating hours |
| Pto Drive | transmission-driven; disengage the engine clutch before moving the PTO shifter |
| Pto Speed | 539 rpm under full load; 593 rpm at fast idle with no load |
| Hydraulic Fluid | IH Touch-Control Fluid; keep the fluid clean and free of water |
Transmission
Type
Gears
Clutch
Oil capacity
PTO and Hitch
The rear PTO is transmission-driven and turns 539 rpm under full load. Disengage the engine clutch before moving its shifter. Fast-Hitch details apply only to tractors carrying that equipment.
Rear PTO
Rear PTO type
Engine RPM
Rear hitch
Hydraulics
Farmall Touch-Control operates mounted implements. Optional Hydraulic Remote Control uses the same pump for a trailing-implement cylinder, and the manual specifies clean IH Touch-Control Fluid.
Type
Fluids, Battery, and Service Facts
The operator manual supplies the capacities and intervals here: 5 US qt of engine oil, about 15 US qt of coolant, temperature-based engine-oil grades, and a 120-hour oil-and-filter interval.
Fuel tank
Engine oil capacity
Coolant capacity
Battery volts
Tires and Dimensions
Overall width depends on the axle, wheel, and tread setting. The old 6-inch value was a belt-pulley face measurement; regular rear tread adjusts from 47 to 80 inches.
Wheelbase
Weight
Length
Width
Height
Front tire
Rear tire
Ag front
Ag rear
Electrical
Factory starting-and-lighting equipment is a 6-volt, positive-ground system with a generator and voltage regulator. Some tractors use magneto ignition instead of the battery ignition unit.
Ground
Charging system
Battery volts
Starter volts
Serial Number Lookup
Year-start numbers use the FC tractor prefix. Find the tractor plate on the right-side tool box and seat support; the separate FCM engine number is stamped on the right side of the crankcase.
1951
1952
1953
1954
Manuals and Documents
The International Harvester operator manual is the main source for controls, lubrication, capacities, service intervals, serial locations, PTO operation, Touch-Control, and electrical details. Read the fuel-specific instructions that match the tractor's gasoline, distillate, or kerosene setup.
Nebraska Test 458 is kept separate from model-wide specifications. Its drawbar and belt results describe one gasoline, four-speed tractor tested in 1951.
Operator manual
- McCormick Farmall Super C operator manualengine specifications, transmission details, maintenance, dimensions and weight
International Harvester operating, lubrication, maintenance, and specification instructions.
Read operator manual - Farmall Super C operator manual reprintoperation, maintenance, and specifications
Printed 98-page operator-manual reproduction.
View manual reprint
Parts catalog
- TC-44B Farmall Super C parts-catalog excerptparts matching
Twenty-one-page preview of the International Harvester parts catalog.
Open catalog excerpt - Complete TC-44B parts-catalog reproductionparts matching
Commercial 230-page parts-catalog reproduction.
View complete catalog - Case IH Farmall Super C parts diagramsparts matching
Dealer-hosted exploded parts diagrams.
Open parts diagrams
Tractor test report
- NTTL Test 458: McCormick Farmall Super Ctested performance
Official Test 458 record for the 1951 gasoline, four-speed McCormick Farmall Super C.
Open official test record - Archived drawbar table for Nebraska Test No. 458tested performance
Archived drawbar table for the gasoline, four-speed Super C tested in Nebraska Test 458.
Open archived table
Parts Checks Before Ordering
Start with the FC tractor number and FCM engine number, then match the fuel system, ignition type, PTO or belt-pulley equipment, Touch-Control or Remote Control equipment, and Fast-Hitch fitment. Those details matter more than the Super C badge alone when choosing parts.
The linked Jensales file is only a 21-page excerpt from the 230-page TC-44B catalog, so use it as a preview rather than a complete parts book. The full catalog or model-specific dealer diagrams are the safer route for current part-number matching.
Accuracy Note
Tractor specifications can vary by year, region, factory configuration, installed equipment, and later repairs. Match serial range, engine, transmission, PTO setup, and model code before ordering parts or doing service work.