Farmall H

[willy44]

Hello everyone I have a 1952 Farmall H that I am trying to get running. It has't ran in 30 years and before that wasn't ran much. The owner died and it has sat in the barn until I cam along and bought it.

That being said the engine oil had separated so I changed it. Then I moved back to change the transmission gear oil, it is the consistency of a thick pudding so it needs to be changed. The manual says above freezing to use 90w oil and below freezing to use 80w oil. So I was wondering if it is a good idea to just use 80-90w gear oil. I went to Napa and got 6 gallons of the Napa premium 80-90 and was going to change it until I heard of the GL rating that could harm certain metals, and that mineral gear oil would be better. I don't know for certain though what to use.

So my question is, is there any reason why I shouldn't or cant use NAPA 80-90w gear oil in my farmall H, will it do any harm to anything or work just fine?

 

[300UGUY]

I don't think it will do any harm. These old girls are pretty tough. YTMAG has a good Farmall forum.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I use 80-90 in my old Farmalls and I've not ever heard of anyone having a problem using it... I mean, you aren't going to go plow 40 acre fields with it!

SR

 

[deerseeker001]

I used International HY-Tran for my H works great.

 

[willy44]

Sounds good, I didn't think that it would do any harm. These old tractors were made to last that's for sure. Hopefully I can get the gear oil changed tomorrow and have it running by the end of the week. I can't wait to hear it fire up for the first time.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

I take it the engine is "free"? If it is, that's amazing after all this time...I'm betting the rings will need a workout to become freed up though...anyhow, good luck, let us know how it goes...PS:, check the gas tank, its probably pretty rusted up...suggest you take the fuel line off at the carb and run some gas thru the tank to make sure that there are no obstructions in the line...also take off the fuel "bulb" and clean it...soak the gasket, before putting it back together...BobG in VA

 

[willy44]

Amazingly enough the engine is free, I had to jack up one rear wheel and put it in fourth gear and turn it to break it loose but it did free up. The tank isn't rusted either, there was some varnish in it from the old fuel but its just as shiny as I had hoped. I did take off the bulb and cleaned it, and then let gas run through the system and out of the carburetor drain plug until I was satisfied that all of the dirt and varnish was gone. I am going to go over and see if I can get spark out of it, hopefully I can.

 

[deerseeker001]

That sounds promising.

 

[willy44]

Ok so I went over to see if I could get it to give up a spark, I couldnt get it to spark by hand cranking it. The battery is completely dead, it hasnt been changed since the tractor ran. It has the origional 6 volt system and I was wondering if it was possible to run that system without a battery. I know the magneto tractors could but I think you have to have a good battery for a generator system to get enough power to spark. Any thoughts? ( yes i had the switch pulled out to "run" haha, made that mistake before)

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You can run 12V through the starter... Put a 12V batt. in it, turn it over, then pull a plug and see if it's getting fuel. If it has spark and fuel it should start...

I've started them after they sat years and years, that way...

Just don't turn on any lights if it has any, and 12V won't hurt a thing...

SR

 

[willy44]

I did not know that you could run 12 volt to the starter know that you mention it I think it could work. The only problem I could foresee is 12 volt might make the starter run to fast or too hot, now this is just my thoughts I am by no means an expert. will 12 volt mess with the electrical system as far as the ignition system goes distributor switches or any thing else, the lights make sense since they will be blown out by 12 volt. I just like to be cautious with these old tractors that have been siting, never know what the have in store for you, especially when you're not the original owner. How would you jump it, like jumping a truck just positive to positive and negative to negative or is there some other procedure for jumping 12 volt with volt?

 

[rockarosa]

I had an old 1952 Farmall H. Rather than hand crank it when the 6 volt battery was dead, I would get the portable 12 volt jumper box and jump start it. Never had a problem. Finally sold it and bought a New Holland.

 

[whitepine2]

I would change it over to 12 volt and disconnect the lights also change the distributer to an electric
type. Did this to my M and have been running it this way for 30 some years with the 6 volt starter.
change out the generator with an alternator a small one like a Toyota should fit under the hood just fine and never look back. Good Luck

 

[Diamondpilot]

We jump start old 6 volt Ford tractors all the time from the truck. We even converted a few with a 12 volt battery, coil, light bulbs, and a single wire GM 12si alternator.

Biggest issue is going to negative ground prom positive. The starter spins and handles the extra power like a champ!


Chris

 

[tessiers]

If you have help I would pull it to start it, those starters were not made to whirl over on 12v, they will work but they will also overheat faster. If it has a magneto it doesn't need a battery or generator, just needs to turn. If it is a coil ignition it will need power from somewhere, either generator or battery. If it has a 6v coil and you put 12v to it, it will work for a while but burn out, you either need a resistor or a 12v coil to run it long term. As stated the 12v boost will not hurt much except lights but if you want to convert there may be other things to consider. I find if you have an engine that has not been started in a while just the heat produced from compression will help release the rings, so I like to pull them to get them turning, plus its way easier on the starter.

Just my 2 cents, maybe worth what you gave for it.

 

[farm boy00]

With 12v battery to a 6v system. What you do is
Switch wires going to battery. Pos.(battery)-neg. (tractor)
Neg.(battery)-pos.(tractor)
Been running my allis like that all summer