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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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I know nothing...help please

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Scott Olsen

04-21-2008 18:30:55




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My father in law has an old H at the farm.My son was in the seat for a few minutes befor I got there to start it. Now it doesn't even click when I push the starter button. Is there any kind of kill switch or safety kill on an implement control somewhere he mita pushed that would do this?? It turned over earlier in the day...I put it on a 6 volt charger,hooked it up, and then didn't get a thing. What are the other control bottons on the floor by my feet next to the on/off switch? 1936 I think?

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LenNH

04-29-2008 09:03:59




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
A note on date: The H came out in 1939. The serial number is the key to the date of production. I have them in a file somewhere, and will look if you post the number here. I am sure others have this info, too, and will be happy to post the answer.
There were several changes made to these tractors, which may all look alike until you start looking at details. The very early models had a different seat bracket AND a slot in the top of the platform to allow the seat bracket to move up and down. Sometime in the mid-forties (I think), the starter switch was moved up to the left side of the steering post. Late-model H's had a PTO extension to allow for a "standard" PTO diameter (I believe this also included a standard distance from the PTO to the hitch point, but can't swear to this). Some of the fellows who work with these tractors all the time can probably provide other details that I don't know much about, such as changes to the electrical system and the replacement of the mag with a battery-operated ignition, which I believe became either available or standard on the late H production. Anyone who knows the details, please feel free to correct what I am saying, or provide more precise details as to dates and serial numbers.

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LenNH

04-28-2008 17:10:24




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Ditto on all the safety advice. Tractors can be dangerous if not used with care. Little like a table saw--keep a safe distance and keep your eyes open AND know how everything works.

A note on the starting problem. A bad battery connection is not always obvious from the outside, but cleaning the terminals often does the trick. The battery end is exposed to acid, and may be corroded inside the cable end where you can't see it.

The rocking treatment may loosen the Bendix drive, but if that continues to hang up AFTER you clean it and lube it a bit, then it is, as my daddy used to say, plumb wore out. The Bendix is a simple drive, but it was prone to hang up after a lot of wear. It actually drives the little gear through a spring. If the engine kicks back, the spring breaks and you have no starter until you replace the spring.

There were some minor changes in the placement of some of the controls over the years. The most obvious one was putting the starter switch up on the steering column. The original switch, way down low and in front of the gearshift lever, was hard to reach if you had a wide foot.
As one of the other writers said, you can trace most of the controls. The pulley control is a heavy rod with a 90-degree downward bend in it, and it comes through the pedestal under the gas tank. The rod goes to a lever above the pulley gearbox, under the gas tank. The choke rod is a husky wire with a round end to loop your finger around. Of course it goes right to the carb. The heavy rod coming up from the right side of the tractor and ending in a big bracket beside the steering wheel is the hydraulic power-lift lever (this was an option, and might not be on this tractor).
Lights and a starter were also optional on these tractors, at least at the beginning. Farmers would often save a few by not opting for these things, but I can tell you after years of cranking all kinds of old iron back then that I'd give almost anything not to have to crank.

The brake pedals can be locked together with a flipover lever on top of the left pedal (as I recall, it's on that side), and should be anytime the tractor is used in 5th gear, to avoid swerving and an upset. The little latch in the platform behind the left pedal is the parking lock. Push the pedal down and lift the latch. The latch will fall by itself when the pedal is pushed again.

I have a fair amount of info on this tractor, and would be happy to share it if you drop me a line. Can find some photos from old sales brochures, and I can probably send them through a scan. Write me if I can help. I don't claim to be an expert on tearing these things apart, but I spent a lot of time on two H's back in the 50s and 60s, and more recently, on a Super M, and have a pretty good idea what they're like to use.

One danger not often mentioned is overturing at high speed and on hillsides. These tractors are high, so that they will clear corn rows. The CG is high, and they are prone to overturning in a short, high-speed turn in fifth gear. They are also to be used with extreme caution on hillsides, for the same reason.

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Scott Olsen

04-22-2008 13:20:53




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Thank you ALL for your help...I will heed ALL of your advice..

Scott & Family



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trucker40

04-22-2008 09:39:18




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Starter might be hung.You can put it in high gear and rock it back and forth and it might come out,otherwise you have to loosen up the 2 bolts that hold it on and it should come loose.Old tractors like that do that a lot.Even old cars and trucks would do that,most of them had a standard transmission and the way to get the starter loose is put it in high gear and rock it,better have the switch off just in case so it doesnt start up and run over you. If its not that it could be the battery cables need to be cleaned,or a bad connection somewhere,most likely in the battery cables,or from the switch to the starter.

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gene bender

04-22-2008 04:14:13




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Your starter is locked up just loosen the two bolts that hold it in place and the cable going to it. Look at the end where the bendix is and it probably needs a little cleaning and lube acouple squirts of wd-40 will be ok. Now if the cables are clean on both ends it should turn over easy. Train those kids not to play on a tractor. You dont let them set behind the wheel of your car and turn switches.

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Gary,kansas

04-21-2008 22:25:38




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
If it's got a tool box, wrench's to fit the bolts to slide out the battery box, and to fit all cable connections and a battery brush are a must if it's like ours. The H seems to make the film that causes lack of contact especially if it sets. Glad to see the young one has interest, what a better time for safety instruction than now. Good Luck.



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Tom Windsor

04-21-2008 19:46:48




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 welcome aboard...all of us--we all suffer the same in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Having said this, these guys can give good advice!



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mkirsch

04-21-2008 21:24:51




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 Re: welcome aboard...all of us--we all suffer the same in reply to Tom Windsor, 04-21-2008 19:46:48  
Scott,

Take these responses in the way they are meant, as SERIOUS responses expressing SERIOUS concern over your safety and your kids' safety. You're getting "hollered at," nothing more. It's not malicious or unfriendly, it's in fact quite the opposite. It's out of genuine concern.

You probably know that the tractor isn't a toy, but what you don't realize is how easily you or your kids can get hurt or killed around that tractor, especially if you don't know what you're doing.

Yes, even the age of the tractor matters. The fact that you're not even close on the tractor's age just further displays how little you understand about it, and raises the level of concern.
The tractor has NO safety equipment whatsoever, and must be treated with all due respect. A small kid playing with the switches and swinging his legs as he sits in the seat could easily cause the tractor to start up and start moving. He panics, tries to jump off, and gets run over... It happens. More than people care to admit. That's why you should never let your kid play on the tractor.

This tractor may or may not have these controls, along with possibly many more that could've been added by your father in law or a previous owner over the years:

1. Starter button

2. Ignition switch
3. Light control knob

4. Carburetor choke rod

5. Belt pully drive engagement rod

6. Hydraulic control rod(s)

On a "naked" tractor like this, everything is out in the open and easily traced. You should be able to figure out what rod goes where pretty easily.

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Mo Wildman

04-21-2008 19:15:17




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
The farmall H was built 1939 to 1952- 53.Like the other fellow said check the connections & the starter may be stuck in the flywheel .Good Luck



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riverbend

04-21-2008 19:14:34




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
1) See if your father in law has the Operator's Manual. 2) Read it.
3) Don't let your kids play on tractors (especially if you don't know anything about them).

Now, having said that, the starter drive is probably jammed in the ring gear.

Greg



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GeneMO

04-21-2008 19:10:01




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
Remember, it is POSITIVE ground! Or at least it should be. Clean the bat. cable ends first, then work your way to the starter, cleaning until you find the culprit. As someone else mentioned, the starter often locks on those ole tractors.

You can unbolt the starter and wiggle it a little, or rock it by putting in 5th and rocking the rear wheels a little. Make sure switch is off and no one in the way, just in case.


Gene

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Jimmy King

04-21-2008 21:43:30




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to GeneMO, 04-21-2008 19:10:01  
Or if you have a hand crank just engage it and bump if hard if the starter is locked it will release it.



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ihc49

04-21-2008 19:04:23




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Scott Olsen, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
most probable cause would be batt. cable. it has happened to me , tractor started one minute and next time nothing, nadda, sippo, like what the hell is going on here.it was the end of cable that bolts to the starter.this is one problem i fixed with a hammer!unbolted it from starter and gave the end a few hits to recrimp it.worked like a damm after, just like in 1949.and still starting good.



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tn terry t

04-21-2008 18:47:45




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 Re: I know nothing...help please in reply to Redsm, 04-21-2008 18:30:55  
hello there there are no safety switches on the old h you need to check all the connections on the starter also sometimes the switch will mess up also the starter may be stuck in this case loosen the bolts and shake the starter around aint much that can be wrong



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