new tractor owner

I just bought 2 of my grandparent's tractors after they passed away and I'm hoping to get them running. The problem is I don't know anything about how they work other than what I've read up on in the past couple weeks. They've been sitting for around 20 years, but I believe were running when they were parked. They're a 1931 regular and a 1934 f-12. Both crank so they aren't locked up. I'm going to start with the regular and I'm planning on draining the oil, gas and coolant and replacing with new fluids. Also going to replace the spark plugs and clean out the carb. Is there anything else I should do? Or is there anything I should know before I work on it so I don't mess something up?

Congrats on a pair of nice tractors.The steel single fromt is somewhat rare.First,buy a full set of manuals.Owners,service,and parts.Valuable,necessary info you will need to know. 'Hit the books'first.Buy from this site,BinderBooks,others.Happy tractoring.

First thing, don't fix what doesn't need fixing. Unless the spark plugs are broken or totally nasty when you pull them, don't waste money on new ones. Check for spark, and if they spark, they're fine to use. If you don't have spark its most likely the magneto.

Same goes for the carburetor. If you're a novice at mechanical things, save the carburetor "cleaning" for if and when it is necessary.

Don't mess with the timing either. If the tractor was running, that didn't change.

Nice tractors
Change all the gasoline ,fluids and engine oil. If theres oil in radiator ,or antifreeze in oil you have to address that and correct .change oil in air cleaner
Use masking tape and marker ,label the spark plug wires 1 thu 4 . Remove plugs check them for fowling . Squirt some lite oil in each cylinder and crank over the engine with plugs out , several times to lube top of cylinders , put your thumb over each spark plug hole and hand crank engine to test for compression. If you cant reach the cylinders hole and crank have the wife or friend crank it to test . Pressure should push thumb out of spark plug hole.
I like to use 30 wt on the valve stems , rocker arm scto lube them . Remove
Ground the spark plugs one at a time on frame and crank over to check each for spark . Can use something like paper business card to clean points contact surface of magneto, chec k contact to see if the are pitted ,change them then.
Put a gallon of gas in it put spark pliugs back in order removed engine to correct tightening. ,and try to start it. Make sure its out of gear and chock wheels .

The clear input from DeltaRed and Barnyard is excellent. Because we have no Idea what you know or do not know, the following assumes nothing and is not an insult. Common knowledge is available here.

Things you should not do, then those to actually do:
1} Don't try to turn the engines. They are dry inside and need lube before turning.
2} Don't put fuel in them they are not even close to ready for that.
3} Don't take anything apart. there is nothing to gain exploring with surgery.
4} Don't pull start the tractors. (see #1)
5} Understand that the manuals do not deal with tractors that have been sitting for years.
6} Don't let someone else fix them. The lessons must be yours.

These were designed to be easily operated, and easily fixed.
They are dangerous when operated with little tractor operating experience, and easily broken.

1} Keep them out of weather for now. Be patient.
2A} Get tools that are appropriate. Buy high quality and a good spectrum from wrenches and sockets, to pliers and hammers.
2B} Expect to put 3 to 400 dollars into that effort. (see #6 above)
3} After the reading Remove the spark plugs and put 5cc of 3-in-1 oil into each hole with a plastic syringe, then put the plugs back.
(note others will tell you other mixtures or?, but this is simple and will work)
4) Look in the fuel tanks and determine if they must be cleaned, and as us if they do, different issues need different tactics.
5} Do use modern oil, you might have a difficult time finding the type specified in the manuals
6} They will run well and be happy on todays regular gasoline if the system is clean. there is no distillate available.
7} Drain the engine oil (the filter will be drained already) and change the filter/s.
8} Prelube the engine into an oil gallery with a pump oil can to get lube where it must be before cranking at all.
9} When asking us questions provide as much related history and detail as reasonable.

They look great, and have great potential. If anyone in the neighborhood, or relative knows them at all get their information and start a notebook on each. Engineering notebooks are best. they are bound books and have lines and grid. Don't tear out pages, or erase, just single stroke line out mistakes/errors. Use it to remember what was done when, and the materials used. You will wish this was already done, but it is a real treasure to add to the value of the restart and enjoyment of these fine steeds. Jim

See if you can find some local person, hopefully an IH collector/restorer who knows what they're doing, to give you a hand. Some would just volunteer their time to be able to help you bring these back to life. You'd get lots of pointers. Worth the price of a steak any day!

Thanks everyone for the input. A lot of great info. Im going to get some books and follow some of the advice given and see if I can get it running. Ill let you know how it goes

So I bought the manuals for the regular, but the magneto in the book is an e4a and the tractor has an f-4. Would anyone be willing to post copies of the pages for an f-4 magneto?

I looked through the manual and didnt see anything about this one lever on my regular. Does anyone know what it is? Its the red one in the picture

(quoted from post at 18:19:26 07/05/21) I looked through the manual and didnt see anything about this one lever on my regular. Does anyone know what it is? Its the red one in the picture

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That is for engaging the overdrive, that red box in front of the transmission. With the transmission in neutral, you pull that lever up to engage the overdrive so you can drive down the road faster, about 10-12 MPH. The 3 speed transmission is geared low for field work and this tractor would have been equipped with steel wheels originally so it did not have a fast road gear. Thus the add on overdrive with rubber tires and now you can drive it down the road.

This post was edited by Nebraska Kirk on 07/06/2021 at 09:46 am.

(quoted from post at 18:19:26 07/05/21) I looked through the manual and didnt see anything about this one lever on my regular. Does anyone know what it is? Its the red one in the picture

Click to expand...

That is for engaging the overdrive, that red box in front of the transmission.

(quoted from post at 16:19:29 06/29/21) So I bought the manuals for the regular, but the magneto in the book is an e4a and the tractor has an f-4. Would anyone be willing to post copies of the pages for an f-4 magneto?

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I have a .pdf file of IH magnetos but not sure if I am allowed to attach a file here.

you could contact me direct at kshansen(at)twcny(dot)rr(dot)com if you can figure out my email address from that!

PS might help if you could give a general idea where you are located, like south east Minnesota, that way you might find someone in your area who could help.

Sorry to of hear your loss but glad you are trying to save these tractors he must have spent time working on over the years!

This post was edited by kshansen on 07/06/2021 at 11:26 am.

(quoted from post at 15:17:24 07/06/21)

I have a .pdf file of IH magnetos but not sure if I am allowed to attach a file here.

you could contact me direct at kshansen(at)twcny(dot)rr(dot)com if you can figure out my email address from that!

PS might help if you could give a general idea where you are located, like south east Minnesota, that way you might find someone in your area who could help.

Sorry to of hear your loss but glad you are trying to save these tractors he must have spent time working on over the years!

This post was edited by kshansen on 07/06/2021 at 11:26 am.

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Ill go ahead and send you an email. Im located in northeastern Indiana. Ill see if I can update my profile to add it