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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Novice needs help with a Farmall H.

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Brad from PA

10-12-2005 09:53:13




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I have worked on farms and either used a new Massey-Ferguson tractor, or an old Ford 8N. I need to do some work using a Farmall H (probably about 1955-60) and for the life of me, I can not get it started, and I know it was running just recently. Is there some obvious trick - that Farmall folks know - that I am missing? I know the 8N has a kill switch on the fuel line, and I looked for one on the Farmall but did not see any. What else might I be missing? I did get close to starting it, but not quite. By the way, I do know that there is fresh gas in the tank! Also, after trying to start it a few times, it suddenly stopped turning over altogether, and it would do nothing at all when I hit the start button. Any idea what I did wrong? I know the battery still has plenty of juice because the headlights turn on with just as much power as ever. Any guidance someone could give would be greatly appreciated. By the way, there are people here that I could ask, but they would tease me mercilessly about it if i did! Thank you!!! Brad from PA

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Josh H

10-12-2005 19:07:02




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
Brad,
I think that if you have trouble getting the tractor started it would really really be a good idea to just ask someone there. They might tease you, but that is a lot better than realizing that the tractor is as hard to drive as it is to start, once your driving it. If your not comfortable, asking is way better than getting hurt. I am pretty familiar with tractors, but if i'm driving one thats new to me, I don't hesitate to ask questions.
Josh

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Brad from PA

10-12-2005 13:34:12




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
Thanks everyone for your replies - I appreciate it! I think I found the main problem - the on-off ignition switch on the right side of the steering column is unmarked, and I mistook it for a choke! So, I started with it out, and then put it in thinking I was releasing the choke but in actuality killing the ignition - and from what some of you mentioned, flooding the engine in the process! Now my only question is this (and forgive me if it is a dumb one): where is the choke actually located? Thanks again; I can not wait to drive it!

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Jay (ND)

10-12-2005 14:00:14




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 13:34:12  
Sounds like you figured it out. The choke is a rod about 1/8" thick with a loop on the end. It's on the left side of the steering column. If you look at your carb, and follow the rod back to the steering column, that would be the beast. Good luck!



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Nat

10-12-2005 12:38:22




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
There's no real trick to it. If the tractor is tuned up, all you need to do is pull out the ignition switch, advance the throttle a little, and hit the starter button.

Most require a quick blip of choke at the right time to get it to fire, then careful feathering of the choke to keep the engine running until it warms up a little.

When you hit the starter button now with the lights on, do they dim? If not, the starter button contacts have gotten burned, and aren't making a connection anymore. If the battery is dead, the lights will go out completely when you hit the button.

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farmallhal

10-12-2005 10:18:57




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
Brad, there is a kill/on-off switch which you must pull out to provide battery power to the coil so it will start. It is located on the right side of the steering post down low and on the support casting for the belly hydraulic pump control rod. If it is an original switch it will say "pull to run and push to stop" on the knob. If it is no longer original a switch could be anywhere and of any type. If the starter just does not energize any longer it can be several things. Could be a bad connection at the starter cable at the switch, starter motor or battery. Could be the starter is locked up with the ring gear on the flywheel in which case you need to remove the starter mounting bolts and jiggle the starter motor so the starter drive can free up and retract.
You already have a post which goes into the possible flood condition and could very well be the case if it was cranked some time which the switch in the off position. All of my three Farmalls have a uniquely different starting set up with use a choke, position of the throttle, etc. Find that on-off switch before doing anything else and it should start if the starter is free. Good luck and enjoy you Farmall moment. Hal

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brainerd dave

10-12-2005 10:04:40




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
Put a charger on the battery overnight just the same. Lights don't draw much power to work. Your starter does. Check your cable connections, and like Jay says, easy on the choke.



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Carol Faw

10-12-2005 12:17:35




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall 450 in reply to brainerd dave, 10-12-2005 10:04:40  
How do I shut off the PTO on a Farmall 450?



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Nat

10-12-2005 12:45:05




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall 450 in reply to Carol Faw, 10-12-2005 12:17:35  
The lever is on the right side of the seat. Push it forward until it locks. If the PTO doesn't stop, it's broken and needs to be fixed.



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brainerd dave

10-12-2005 10:13:27




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to brainerd dave, 10-12-2005 10:04:40  
You may have also hit a flat spot on your starter armature. I've had occasional luck "burping" the starter to try and bump it off the dead spot, but more often than not, I've had to rebuild the starter.



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Jay (ND)

10-12-2005 09:56:30




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Brad from PA, 10-12-2005 09:53:13  
$5 says you flooded it. They flood easily. On both my M and my new H, I open the throttle about 1/4 to 1/3, hit the starter and pull open the choke for maybe 2 seconds. More than that and they will flood.



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jimmer

10-12-2005 11:07:01




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to Jay (ND), 10-12-2005 09:56:30  
Make sure the gas shut off is opened all the way. Close completely by turning clockwise. Open counter clockwise. It will be located underneath the middle of the gas tank. Pull on the choke rod & make sure that the ignition switch is pulled out. If you have a hand crank, you can use it if battery is weak but genny must work well to supply voltage to dist.

BTW - The H production was stopped in 1953. So it is older than you give credit...

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Janicholson

10-12-2005 15:13:16




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 Re: Novice needs help with a Farmall H. in reply to jimmer, 10-12-2005 11:07:01  
The jambed starter idea is sound advice. This is a continuing saga. Many many IH Farmalls do it. Putting it in High gear and violently rocking the rear wheel often frees the starter without wrenches.
See archives for advice on stuck starters.
JimN



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