All but one started

thdrduck · Dec 20, 2014

I was by the shed yesterday and thought it might be a good idea to see if the old girls would start then I would let them warm up a bit. It was about 20 outside and the 39 JD B started with the second roll of the flywheel

The 52 Alis WD popped right off and purred

The 40 Farmall H, no go :? , oh well, like they say: two outta three aint bad. Merry Christmas everyone!

Wemedeeres · Dec 20, 2014

I was out it the shed earlier this week showing a friend of mine my purchase from this past summer. I was really tempted to fire a couple of them up but didn't have much time to let them warm up. I don't know if it's true or just a wives tale but I thought I read on this forum that a few people didn't think it was good to start them up in the winter if it's cold and you don't have plans to use it. We used to use our M every day for chores. My grandpa told me my great grandpa used his F-20 about once a week in the winter, he remembered him getting warm water from the cook stove in the house. He'd pour it in the radiator and ax soon as he was done using the tractor he'd drain it out.

Dan in Ohio · Dec 20, 2014

This old girl started with a little coaxing, right at 30 degrees here today.

JMS/.MN · Dec 21, 2014

Yes, very common in the 40s-50s.....antifreeze cost money, even the old alcohol. We had 2-3 tractors then, Dad put AF in the one used over winter for barn cleaning, grinding feed....others were drained/parked til Spring.

FBH44 · Dec 21, 2014

My Farmall H starts on first half-roll of the engine, takes one second. BUT once a month it takes several rolls, and sometimes it cranks and cranks and cranks..... no go. I figure I'm not squinching my jaw just exactly correct... In your case I'd say she's just jealous, to be last.

DR. EVIL · Dec 21, 2014

Did you have the gas turned off? Or out of gas? A
Farm all will start when nothing else will.

Now ask me how many miles Dad & I pulled our newly
purchased styled '40 B to try to start it? Dad & I
both cranked that stupid flywheel till we couldn't
stand up anymore. Then pulled it over two miles and
barely got a pop out of it. We finally got it
running so we could flat tow it the 25 miles home.
Would have been a long cold drive home at 4-1/2 mph
in road gear in mid-December.

Yes, starting engines in cold weather is not good
for them. Raw gas, condensate water, etc. All
dillutes the engine oil and the oil never gets warm
enough in the short time it's run to boil out. If
you can't run the engine long & hard enough to get
it up to operating temp, don't start it!

jturbo10 · Dec 22, 2014

(quoted from post at 00:28:36 12/22/14) Did you have the gas turned off? Or out of gas? A
Farm all will start when nothing else will.

Now ask me how many miles Dad & I pulled our newly
purchased styled '40 B to try to start it? Dad & I
both cranked that stupid flywheel till we couldn't
stand up anymore. Then pulled it over two miles and
barely got a pop out of it. We finally got it
running so we could flat tow it the 25 miles home.
Would have been a long cold drive home at 4-1/2 mph
in road gear in mid-December.

Yes, starting engines in cold weather is not good
for them. Raw gas, condensate water, etc. All
dillutes the engine oil and the oil never gets warm
enough in the short time it's run to boil out. If
you can't run the engine long & hard enough to get
it up to operating temp, don't start it!

You have something wrong that needs attention. Old John Deere B's start in any weather if they are tuned correctly. When I was a kid we had an old 39 B hand start that was used for ranch chores twice a day 365 days a year and it started every time even down to -20 degrees and it was stored outside. I suggest you look at your mag, carb, or timing as something is amiss.

All but one started

thdrduck

Member

Wemedeeres

Member

Dan in Ohio

Well-known Member

JMS/.MN

Well-known Member

FBH44

Well-known Member

DR. EVIL

Well-known Member

jturbo10

Member

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