Left the can off H's muffler, rained last night

I wouldn't waste my money on a rain cap for a gasser. They just burn the crap on of the cap, in a matter of months it's all out of shape and by the time it's one year old the edges are burned off it. They last much better on diesels with cooler exhaust. Even with diesels you don't see many raincaps on new tractors any more. they all got an elbo on them now.

I'm a little old and it is hard to figure out when you are not going to use a tractor for a few days, so put the rain cap on it. When you are surprised by a summer rain storm it seems silly to go out in the morning to put a rain cap on.

Also, rusty mufflers can leak water into the muffler at the top seam and lock up an engine before the muffler really looks that bad.

Now you just stop and think about what you've said. You calaulate how much rain fall it would take to fill the cylinder of a H, M, 300 or 400, down a 2" pipe in a breeze. Unless the exhaust system has a leak, it would take close to a 15" rainfall. Hasn't been many of those in my lifetime across North America. I've seen 300 sit out in a 2" rainfall and never even blow black wet soot.

My point is the average tractor sitting out in the open, with a tight exhaust system will never get enough water overnight to hurt anything. Now if it's under a tree, beside the barn, places where water can be deflected, that is another matter. If you look at most manifolds, probably take an inch of rain before any water enters valve and on to cylinder. I will further contend that a tractor with proper exhaust system will not take in an inch of rainwater in a 1 inch rainfall. Air currents over the stack will prevent this

Finally, I'd be willing to bet money that every letter series Farmall out there sat around for a month or more when new with nothing over the exhaust. I can remember going to dealers, none of the tractors new or used had covers back in those days. How long did they sit at factory in distribution, etc. I grew up 2,000 miles from IH factories. My Super A is a 1953 model, and was not sold new until 1955. It was very common in the days of letter series Farmalls to see them take two years from factory to point of sale.

This whole thread is little more than people over reacting. Some folks must think the exhaust stack has a 3' funnel.

When two people have differing experiences, it is hard for them to understand the other viewpoint.

I know new Farmalls came without rain caps. I thought they had drain holes in the exhaust which may become plugged over time.

I know I have had a Super H lock up on starting after sitting out only one night in the rain, and we don't have 15-inch rains in Oklahoma.

I know loose exhaust pipes will collect all the water running down a muffler.

I know my Super H had and has a tight exhaust system.

I know the top of a muffler is as good a rain gauge as the little glass tubes. I meant, when I said "filled the cylinder" that it got enough water to exceed the compressed volume.

I know I am scared to leave a tractor our in the rain without a cap or can.

I know you do not embellish your stories and speak from your experience.

I think I am confused.

But tonight I'm planning on running past the IH dealer and picking one up a rain cap to put back on my M. It's going to the shop next week and I don't trust the old soup can will get put on. Hopefully it won't sit out over night but if it does I know there won't be any rain get in it.

It won't hurt anything sitting out a night but I don't like that black water raining down on me anymore than the next guy after it's sat out in the rain.

thanks,
mark

Dont' give it a second thought. Those old tractors were in the fields for over 20 years before the raincaps were even invented.

For every one that had a tomato can placed over the muffler, there were probably 1,000 that didn't. :>)

Allan

I threw these gussets together in a hurry one day because I was moving a lot of heavy dirt and didn't wanna loose my tracor.

If I were to do it over again, I would weld a plate dropping that front mounting point down about 8" and I would mount the rear point somewhere on the tractor instead of at the loader beam.

It doesn't matter how they are put together or what they look like, the point being, just snug the front of the tractor to the rear with the bracing running along and under her belly, which is the weak point.

Just something to take the load stress off that open-bottomed torque box.

Allan

Teh safest way to start on after a rain is to remove the spark plugs to blow excess water out.

If you have a cylinder with enough water you can do some damage by cranking it.

Glad your started up OK.

scotty