OldFarmall450
Member
I just bought a Farmall 450 gasoline to use on a small farm. It cranked fine several times before I bought it, no bottom end noises when cold, revved up and no heavy smoke. The owner said it was a solid tractor and used little oil and leaked less. He didn't pressure wash it, saying he wanted me to see what I was getting. The front tires are bad and need replacing, rear 90%. It has been converted to 12v, positive ground, and has a new battery, although a small one, walmart brand. I checked the oil and its between full and add.
Wednesday I picked it up and trailered it 2 1/2 hours. I cranked it to unload it and forgot to turn on gas; it ran less than a minute and died. I turned on the gas and it started again, ran a few seconds and died again. Then the motor wouldn't turn over; the starter only bumped when engaged.
A guy helping us said the motor had locked up...I told him to be quiet! We used another tractor and pulled the farmall off the trailer and it still wouldn't start. Pecked on the starter with hammer, nothing! We pushed the tractor a cpl feet in gear trying to see if starter bendix was stuck, no change.
Then we tried to pull start the tractor; the motor refused to turn over in all of the 5 gears. Now I'm starting to sweat as I keep hearing the motor is locked up from bystanders!
I pull the starter, praying it isn't working and the source of problems. It wasn't the problem; I grounded it and shorted the solenoid to the neg wire and the starter engaged and turned fine. I install the starter and nothing, it just bumps when engaged. I'm scared cause everyone is saying the motor is locked up and I have some expensive lawn art!!
The tractor didn't come with a crank, I thought I wouldn't need one; oh how wrong I was! I put a pipe wrench on the crankshaft pulley and shoved, thinking a 60 yr old motor wouldn't have THAT much compression. It didn't move so I put my foot on it and shoved harder. The motor pushed past what I'm certain was TDC and moved freely.
I started the motor no problem and drove it around, killing and cranking it several times.
SO...what the hack happened? I'm thinking the battery doesn't have enough cranking amps to start the motor from top dead center, or the starter is dragging.
I don't have a manual, there is what looks like an oil spout at the rear of the starter, but someone said its a vent. Which is it ?
Any info is welcomed.
ET
Wednesday I picked it up and trailered it 2 1/2 hours. I cranked it to unload it and forgot to turn on gas; it ran less than a minute and died. I turned on the gas and it started again, ran a few seconds and died again. Then the motor wouldn't turn over; the starter only bumped when engaged.
A guy helping us said the motor had locked up...I told him to be quiet! We used another tractor and pulled the farmall off the trailer and it still wouldn't start. Pecked on the starter with hammer, nothing! We pushed the tractor a cpl feet in gear trying to see if starter bendix was stuck, no change.
Then we tried to pull start the tractor; the motor refused to turn over in all of the 5 gears. Now I'm starting to sweat as I keep hearing the motor is locked up from bystanders!
I pull the starter, praying it isn't working and the source of problems. It wasn't the problem; I grounded it and shorted the solenoid to the neg wire and the starter engaged and turned fine. I install the starter and nothing, it just bumps when engaged. I'm scared cause everyone is saying the motor is locked up and I have some expensive lawn art!!
The tractor didn't come with a crank, I thought I wouldn't need one; oh how wrong I was! I put a pipe wrench on the crankshaft pulley and shoved, thinking a 60 yr old motor wouldn't have THAT much compression. It didn't move so I put my foot on it and shoved harder. The motor pushed past what I'm certain was TDC and moved freely.
I started the motor no problem and drove it around, killing and cranking it several times.
SO...what the hack happened? I'm thinking the battery doesn't have enough cranking amps to start the motor from top dead center, or the starter is dragging.
I don't have a manual, there is what looks like an oil spout at the rear of the starter, but someone said its a vent. Which is it ?
Any info is welcomed.
ET