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50 farmall h winter use

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Krey Keeney

10-30-2001 04:10:33




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I am the proud owner of beautiful 1950 Farmall H. With winter setting in, how can I best keep my H up and running all season long? I would love to use a block heater, but am having trouble finding a suitable one. The only choice seems to be a low powered magnetic unit. Also, is it safe to use a multi-grade oil such as 10w30 for winter use, or should I follow the manual's instruction and use SAE 20? Is SAE 20 still available anywhere? Thanks in advance for any response.

-Krey Keeney Milltown, Indiana

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Bob Kerr

10-30-2001 19:16:25




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
My old 1929 10-20 started last winter on a 5 degree day with no problem. It is hand crank and I just rolled the engine over one complete turn with the mag turned off and the choke closed. Then I opened the choke and turned on the mag. Fired up first pull just like it does on a 75 degree day. Sometimes in winter an engine with a battery and electric start will have problems starting because the starter will pull too much current and not leave enough for the coil to fire off a spark. I have talked to a few guys(old timers) who used the hand crank and just turned on the ignition switch if it didn't start right away with the starter(usually happens with a battery that is on the weak side). That way the battery has enough juice to fire the coil with a good hot spark.Then the generator doesn't have a bunch of charging to make up for and the engine will usually start with the starter just fine after the engine warms up.

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Hugh MacKay

10-30-2001 16:30:28




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
Keep those old 4 cylinder gas Farmalls well tuned and you will not need any heater to get it started. It will start when its a lot colder than you want to use it. A heater will certainly be benificial for engine life. I once started a 6volt Farmall 300, (no assists of any kind). The tractor was outside, the temperature -40F. I wish it hadnt started.



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Lyle Oakes

10-30-2001 15:41:23




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
I'm in northeastern Pa. and use Non-detergent SAE 30 wt., in my 1950 H with 6 volt system still on it and sometimes I wonder if it is going to start, but it has never failed me yet. Good Luck. Also it sits in a open shed.



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1PWRFULH

10-30-2001 14:13:39




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
My H gets used all winter and I have not a heater or anything. 10w-30 and a good 8 volt battery cranks it over good for any temperature around here which sometimes gets right around 5. Good Luck!

RC



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Bob M

10-30-2001 11:59:52




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
Krey - My stock (6 volt) '53 Super H starts reliably down to 0 degrees without any supplementary engine heater. (Below 0 I don't much care to be riding on it, so it doesn't matter whether it starts....)

I run 10W-30 or 15W-40 oil in the motor year round without problems. The motor cranks slow in cold weather, but it always starts. Just make sure the motor is in good tune, the battery is good, the generator/regulator are working, and the wiring is in good shape. Especially important are the battery cables - they must be properly sized and the connections clean and tight.

Also if you plan to run the tractor much in cold weather, be sure it's got a working thermostat. I find it helpful to provide a winter front to cover the radiator grille. Gives a quicker warmup and improves temperature control (less swings in coolant temp). You'll also get less crankcase dilution from raw gas and condensation, and the motor just seems to run better when it's at 160 - 180 degrees.

Now put on those Carhartt's and stay warm!!

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Gene Davis

10-30-2001 05:01:43




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 Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Krey Keeney, 10-30-2001 04:10:33  
Have you thought about a dipstick heater for the oil? J.C.Whitney used to sell them at one time. When you warm the oil it will be easier to crank over the engine. Gene Davis



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John F.

10-30-2001 20:01:27




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 Re: Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Gene Davis, 10-30-2001 05:01:43  
As far as a dipstick heater for a Farmall H goes, I've never seen a dipstick on a Farmall H. The ones I've seen have drain cocks in the side of the oil pan to check the level. A well tuned gas engine should never need a heater of any kind.



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paul

10-30-2001 12:04:22




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 Re: Re: 50 farmall h winter use in reply to Gene Davis, 10-30-2001 05:01:43  
Those dipsticks contact very little oil, I never liked them. They can cook the oil....

Our H has a headbolt heater on it. Seems to work fine. The headbolt must be older than I am....

When it had the magneto on it, would start wet or dry in winter, down to 10 below in winter without any heat. Not quite as good now with the points on it.

--->Paul



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