10+ year stilling vintage tractor start up project

[Paul Homebug]

Mean time what do i need to do to check if this thing runs? its been sitting for a while..battery is toast n connectors to it aswell...

 

[MIKE R]

Cool thank you again! I'll take a look tommorow.

You will probably have to change all the fluids, spark plugs, new fuel, clean the carburetor, new battery, possibly some new points, wiring like you already motioned. You could try cranking it over with the hand crank if you have one for it or try pulling it with another tractor or vehicle to start it. I'd go through and check everything over before trying to start it. Others will have different opinions. It's easier to fix a minor problem then to fix a big problem later on.

 

[Paul Homebug]

I can prolly do all that, except what are points? i found this video which is helping show me some things.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWpnv4RUKAk&context=C322f02dADOEgsToPDskKRR_C8E-hp18aOX_mLqVrO]How to Take Apart A 1950 Farmall Cub Tractor - YouTube[/ame]

 

[flusher]

Mean time what do i need to do to check if this thing runs? its been sitting for a while..battery is toast n connectors to it aswell...

I'd be real surprised if that thing runs as is. It's a Farmall Cub that's been sitting in field storage for quite a while and is in really rough condition. The engine could be stuck (i.e. crankshaft won't turn because the pistons are siezed in the cylinders).

Here's what my 1948 Farmall Cub looked like when I got it about 2 years ago.



Compression was low (50-60 psi) so I reseated the valves which got it up to about 75-80 psi. Still too low (should be 110-130 psi). So the engine comes out of the tractor this week and gets shipped to the engine shop for a rebuild.

 

[Paul Homebug]

what does one do when the engine is stuck? i just want to get this thing running not restore it.

 

[Paul Homebug]

Nice tractor btw.

 

[flusher]

what does one do when the engine is stuck? i just want to get this thing running not restore it.

If it's truly stuck, you can try putting penetrating oil (PB Blaster) or automatic transmission fluid in each cylinder, waiting a few days for the fluid to work, put the tractor in gear, and push on the rear wheels to see if the tractor rolls at all (I'm assuming the starter/electrical system isn't working so you can't crank the engine with the starter). If not, the engine is stuck and has to be rebuilt. Usually that means removing the engine from the tractor and sending it to the engine shop for whatever machining work is necessary to get it going again.

 

[flusher]

Here's what the engine in my 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF tractor looked like when I removed the head (4 cylinder Hercules engine, ~25 hp).



The engine had no compression on 3 cylinders and 30 psi on the fourth. It went to the engine shop for a complete rebuild (valves, valve guides, pistons, rings, cylinders rebored, crankshaft remachined, new crank bearings, flywheel remachined -- $800 parts, $800 labor). That's why buying old tractors can be a real crap shoot. In this case, I really wanted the BF for my collection, so I paid the price to get it running.

 

[Soundguy]

i'd get some atf and soak the cyls, and then after a couple days try to roll it over with the plugs out.. if the engine is free.. then move on to cleaning or repalcing the breaker contacts 9 points ).. unless it is a battery ignition, in which case.. maybe.. just maybee, cleaning will do it if it was sealed up good.

 

[Paul Homebug]

bp blaster ok. whats atf? i gotta start taking the tractor apart if i wanna soak the cyclinders?