I got an H

I was over at the neighbor's house and we were talking when it came up that he had a Farmall tractor in the back yard. He wasn't even sure what model it was, so I went back and took a look. It was a 1940 H. It was rusty and the tires were mismatched but held air.

We talked for the last few weeks and he finally asked me what I would give for it. We settled on $500 and I took it home. It has some weights on the back and it is a dual fuel model. When I got it home, I checked and the engine turns.

It has no shutters, but it has the starter tank and correct hood.

It has a battery ignition, but no generator. I drained the gas tank and filled the radiator with water which held.

I will probably try and hook a good battery up to it today to see if it starts.

We will see.

I would squirt a little oil in the spark plug holes, and verify spark before trying to start.

Matt, It is Great that this this tractor is now yours and is Loose,, Battle Half over!!!!!!
But Before You start the tractor First time.
There is No Telling how long it sat! To satisfy your curiosity and peace of mind ...........
Please drop the pan, inspect the 1/2 in or so of Nastiness / Gunge in the bottom of the Pan. Look for Metal Filings and any thing that is Not suppose to be there. Wash out pan! Then Drop the Oil pump and wash it out the pump and screen.
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Do a visual inspection of bottom end, them button it all back together.
If you are easy about taking it off you will not need a new gasket.
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If there is some nastiness / Gunge in the pan You will not want all that crap circulating around in the motor when it is running.
2 yrs ago,I drug out of a fence row a 656-LP that sat for 4 yrs, (Owner Died) was Loose! I did the above procedure on it and Bob-Oh-Boy an I glad did! this tractor over 2 ins of Nastiness I cant describe in the Pan, Screen was over half Stopped up. It was a 2 hr project. and I satisfied my Curiosity and I Know The Bottom Side is Clean and Nothing is there to cause a problem.
There is Always a reason a tractor,Truck what ever gets parked You need to figure it out Why sometime. Hope this helps.
Later,
John A.

John I pulled the pan on a B250 that had sat for a long time,there was about two inches of what I would describe a black cream cheese..the worst stuff I ever seen,the people who owned this tractor weren't big on maintenance,the fuel filter was about the same . With everything cleaned up and a treatment of injector cleaner I had a good running tractor that raked hay and did a lot of odd jobs around.

I didn't think of doing that. I will drop the pan and squirt some oil in the cylinders before trying to start it.

I couldn't get to it tonight because I had to spread fertilizer before the rain hit. I will get back to it tomorrow.

By the way, it is a hydraulic delete tractor with the wood plugs in the side and the delete plate on the belly.

Michael, A Buddy of our here on the Boards, "Centex Farmall" put me on to it and My 656-LP made me a Believer! Black Cream cheese is the best description of that Nastiness I have heard!
Later,
John A.

Well, I dropped the pan and cleaned it out. It really wasn't bad. I had an extra filter element, so I changed the oil and filter.

I checked the spark and it seemed acceptable. I cleaned the spark plugs and shot some oil in the bores.

I put some fresh gas in it and tried to get the gas leaks under control. The old fuel bowl gasket leaks but not too bad for now.

The previous owner rigged the ignition switch and also installed a starter relay. I just cut the wire to the coil and clamped it to the battery and jumped the starter. After a little choke, it spit and sputtered for about 30 seconds.

After it smoothed out, I verified oil pressure on the gauge and it seemed to run great.

It lugs well and I drove it around in all gears.

I guess I will spend some money and get the alternator and ignition straightened out. I just wanted to make sure it ran before I spent any money on it.

Even if it didn't run, short of a casting cracked or something major it's extremely easy to get these things running, assuming everything is there. Can't go wrong with a $500 H. I'd have a yard full of them.

I just didn't want to dump a bunch of money in it if it wasn't worth it.

Luckily, it has proven that it is worth putting some money into it and I have ordered the alternator kit from Yesterday's Tractors. I also got a battery for it.

I am pretty sure I can finish wiring the rest of it on my own.

Thanks for all the help.