Questions about getting Grandpa's H to start

My Grandpa passed away earlier this year. He was a great man. He was 95 years old, still at home. He was a WWII vet, oil company worker (in the 50's) and farmer.. He was someone you could always count on to be there and to help.

Well, I'm going to try to fix up his Farmall H. I've been researching H's for a while, but this will still be my first go at something like this. Anyway, we need to haul it 300 miles to get it to my place, but before we do that I want to get it running. Hopefully going to his place a day before we want to haul it will be enough time to get it going.

My dad (his son-in-law) was at his place the other day and drained out the old fuel and put in some fresh gas. He also put a 12V battery on it (I think it is still 6V, but he didn't check and just put a 12V on it). It turned over but didn't fire. I plan on being there this coming weekend with a 6V to put in it. [b:fe5aa68490]Is there any chance a 12V would have damaged anything?[/b:fe5aa68490]

I plan on putting the new battery and new spark plugs in, clean out the sediment bowl and then try to get it started. [b:fe5aa68490]Anything else I should do before we try to get it started? [/b:fe5aa68490] I figure I'll deal with an oil change when I get it home. [b:fe5aa68490]Will I need to polarize the generator?[/b:fe5aa68490]

Dad said the radiator was empty. [b:fe5aa68490]Do I just use 50/50 antifreeze?[/b:fe5aa68490]

Well, I guess I'll stop with the questions. Below are some pictures from about a year ago.

The battery that is pictured is an 8 volt so yep still a 6 volt system with a band aid fix for poor starting. As for antifreeze I would mix my own and save you from buying half a gal of water at $3 per or more. As for a 12 volt battery hurting it no it will not unless you leave it on for a long time or run it a long time and even then all that will happen is you burn the points and or burn out the coil. Me I would check for spark which most likely is the problem and it needs the points cleaned and or replaced since just from sitting they will corrode and stop working

What is the box for by the side of the engine?? Looks like your going to have to replace alotta gaskets.

Take your volt meter along and with the points open and your ignition switch on check to see if you have battery voltage at your coil. Take some 320 wet or dry along and rub those points until shiny. Also take a gallon of raw antifreeze along with an clean empty gallon milk jug. That will give you 2 gallons of 50/50 mixed antifreeze. Do the mixing before filling the radiator. Hal

Good story, I recently did the same with my Grandfathers H.
Here is my advice as learned from the folks on this board. On
a six volt system it is absolutely key that all your wiring is
good and your connections are clean and shiny. When I
replaced the wiring harness and cleaned the connections
mine turned over faster than ever before. Secondly, clean out
the sediment bowl and fuel line. Mine was blocked with little
bits of debris. We took it off sprayed it with carb cleaner and
then blew it out with an air hose.

Been trying to buy my Grandpa's H since 1990 but I know where it is at. The 12 volt battery could make the 6 volt coil explode so you are smart to take a 6 volt battery. How long since the H last ran? With regards to the generator charging, the coil will not drain the battery very quickly. Should beable to load it up and get it home. Great you are going to fix it up in his honor!!!!

Being Summer for now just fill it with water until you get it home. Takes 4 gallons. If it was empty he either drained it or it might have a leak.

dump water in it to get it moved, no need to waste antifreeze until you get a chance to fix what leaks you want to, just drain the water back out before winter. probaly will need flushed anyways
clean the points, throw a ballast resistor in the wiring to the coil temporary
leave the tweleve volt battery in it as it will spin it over a lot faster and yes the starter will take it
main thing is to get it running long enough to move it
drain the sediment bowel and blow air backwards threw the fuel line to the tank
fresh gas
tie it down good on the trailer
make sure the trailer is wide enough or be prepared to reverse one wheel to narrow it down
good luck
Ron

6 volt coils only explode if you leave it turned on for a long time and not have it running but will last a very long time if you have it running BTDT many many many times over the years but also have had 2 or 3 explode when I left the ignition on and the engine not running. A trick to start a hard starting engine that has been switched to 12 volts if jumper the ballast resister out of the system to start it up then pull the jumper back off

Excellent tip!

The dodge car company has it set up in the older cars and truck that is that the start part of the ignition system by passed the ballast resister so as to give a hotter spark

I wouldn't even fool with trying to clean sediment bowls, fuel
lines, etc. Plumb in a hose from a clean 1 or 2 gallon can to the
carb to get it on the trailer Remember it is gravity feed so must
be higher than carb. check for spark, maybe clean points. thanks
for fixing grandpa tractor.

Keep in mind that there are no electronics on this tractor. No electronic ignition. No electronic fuel injection. It's all "analog." You won't be able to push the button and have it fire right off, though people have been known to get lucky.

Odds are you didn't hurt anything with the 12V battery for what little time the battery was connected.

Check for spark. Pull a spark plug, connect it back to the wire, and lay it against the engine block in a shadow. Have someone turn on the ignition and crank the starter while you watch for a nice blue spark. Yellow or no spark at all needs to be solved to make the tractor start.

If you look at the front tire you can see that he has been draining coolant out, or its been leaking. Just put water back in it for now. When ws the last time it ran, do you know? I this sounds strange, but there is something very familiar about that tractor! Have you chance posted pics of it before??

Some great tips and suggestions. Thanks everyone.

As far as the 12V battery goes. My Dad left it on the tractor, but the ignition switch is off. [b:a4d417d3ac]I assume that the coil is safe as long as the ignition switch is off, right???[/b:a4d417d3ac]

One more question: [b:a4d417d3ac]Do I need a special wrench to get the spark plugs out?[/b:a4d417d3ac] I know they are 7/8" and I have a deep well socket that I hope will work. My dad seems to remember needing a special wrench.

Oh, I've got my Grandpa's owners manual which has the delivery sheet filled out in the front with his signature. I am so glad I have it. My Grandpa told me before that it was $2200 when he bought it and he got $1000 for a 1941 H he traded in for it.

I'll try to answer some of your questions as well...
The box on the LH side is a home-made tool box. Just something my Grandpa put on there... One of his other additions is the empty can of coke. He had a sweet tooth

I did post these pictures before (about a 1 1/2 years ago).

Yeah, I probably have some seals to replace in my future

I'm guessing the last time it started was 2 or 3 years ago.

Yes, a thin wall socket is really a necessary item. There is usually very little clearance to the head casting, and a very thin wall is easy to make from a cheap pawn shop socket by grinding it to fit. I believe the point of the hex should be on more than a thin 1/8" from the outeside of the socket. Jim

You are fine with the ignition switch off.
I like the modified seat.
Those are Super H headlights.
A thin wall long 7/8 socket will get the spark plugs out.
At least the engine is loose. That is a huge plus!

Clean out the distributor cap and shine up the points. A 3/8" deep 7/8" six point socket will usually fit the plugs. Take them out, clean and reset the gap. Check for spark. Take the plug out of the float bowl on the carb and check for fuel.

Good luck with it.

Greg

The picture of the battery looks like an 8 volt battery.

As I get ready to head south 300 miles to get it I'm making a list of everything I need. It sure will make the weekend easier if it starts.

I've got a tilt bed tandem axle trailer lined up for the trip. Between the fenders is 82". [b:d5f515fa4b]Do you think that is wide enough?[/b:d5f515fa4b] If not, hopefully we can get the wheels to move on the axle.