Posted by Maniak on December 23, 2008 at 08:44:11 from (208.14.191.91):
We are now the proud owners of a 1943 farmall h. We have been wanting a tractor to blade the road to the house and the driveway for some time. We just never got to the point of "needing" it.
Last week a friend of ours called and asked if we "wanted" a tractor. It was given to him (if he wanted it) but he lives in the city and really couldn't use it, or even store it. Soo.. he came by, grabbed our car hauler and brought the tractor to the house. It even came with a blade. It hasn't been run for a couple years but it "seems" to be in decent shape.
I am new to working on tractors, let alone vintage/antique (is 43 antique?). The tractor came with a 1:24 scale model of the tractor and a reprint of the owners manual. I've learned quite a bit just from reading over the manual a few times and having the manual meant I didn't have to keep walking outside to look at things in the dark...
Since we have only had an account for a few days I can't post pics directly.. But here is a link to the pics I took on the 1st night/day of ownership (before we did anything to it)..
It was perfect tinkering weather over the weekend (it was in the mid to high 60's and sunny) so I started looking things over.
I've dropped in a little ATF in the cylinders and turned it over by hand. It turned over easily (plugs out)..
It had a dead 6v group 45 batter in there (no battery box, it was held in by a battery hold down connected to plumbers tape underneath).
The starter tank has been removed :(
Front tires are in really rough shape.. Rears don't look "too bad"..)
starter button and magneto button have been replaced with a toggle switch and a different button + relay for starting)..
The carb leaks.. it looks like the gaskets are bad AND the float is stuck..
enough rambling.... :)
I do have a question.. The battery (dead 6v battery) was installed backwards (negative ground) which I know was wrong.. I can spin the starter using a 12v jump box (went directly to the starter) and it is a positive ground starter.. With that said.. Would installing and attempting to use the tractor with a battery installed backwards (I think they tried to start it, but I have no idea how long ago) burn up anything? I'm assuming I should re-polorize (sp?) the generator and I'm planning on replacing the points/condenser. Other than that and the normal fluid/filter things (and rebuild of the carb) is there anything I really need to watch out for before I start it for the 1st time?
Thanks for any input you can give.. I know there is quite a bit of into here.. I've only been able to sift through 10-20 pages worth of message threads and already I've learned quite a bit.. I know I'll need more info (like how to tell the different hitches apart etc, what type of motor do we have etc)...
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