electric starter

Nicholas C · May 6, 2022

Hi everyone. Just one more question and I'll leave everyone alone; for a while anyway lol. I'm a little curious about something. I think you could get my 1939 H with an optional electric start?? As of this moment, I have no interest in converting mine over, but how expensive would that be?? You would need a generator, voltage regular, starter, different flywheel??, battery, pulley, belt among probably other things, I haven't mentioned and don't know about. Can you buy a complete kit to do this?? Thank you, Nicholas C.

el6147 · May 6, 2022

likely less expensive to buy a complete salvage tractor.

pinball · May 6, 2022

not sure about a kit but are you sure about the flywheel. one line alternator about 70 bucks. 12 volt battery 100. starter probably 75 not sure why you need puley and belt. my 39 had electric start on it.

Rich'sToys · May 6, 2022

You do know he's talking about a John Deere H, right? Not a Farmall.

PJH · May 6, 2022

.
another idea

Geo-TH,In · May 7, 2022

In 1939 most tractors were 6 volt. If you find an old H with a starter it might be 6 volt, so you would need the 6v generator, VR, some way to put a pulley on the engine.. Keep in mind the H crankshaft is sideways. Flywheel on one side and the flat belt pulley on the other side. No clue how you would attach a pulley for the generator..
Good luck.

Mike(NEOhio) · May 7, 2022

The starter bracket also had a loop to cover the flywheel teeth. On a 39 it may not have the three bolt holes for the bracket. I doubt a kit ever existed. You could probably scrounge the parts together if you wanted to bad enough.

Richard G. · May 7, 2022

Pulley for the generator goes on fan shaft right behind fan.

Nicholas C · May 7, 2022

I was thinking the need for a pulley and fan belt, for the generator, keeping the battery charged. But then again, if only used for starting purposes, you could keep the battery on trickle charge. This was just something I was interested in knowing. I attend a monthly tractor pull contest and there are a few JD's there with electric start. One is I believe a 1938. I photographed them before but never concentrated on the starting system. I'll see them again this month and take a real close look. I'm working on finding the sweet spot for starting mine and getting close. I'm sure I'll be fine eventually, Nicholas C.

Geo-TH,In · May 7, 2022

Would there be a pulley if the tractor didn't come with a battery? Didn't some old tractors only have a mag and armstrong starter?

LittleD · May 8, 2022

Nicholas,

Electric of any form was not offered for the 1939 H it was not available until serial number 27000 about mid year 1941.

* electric start / lights
* Lights only
* Electric start

electric starter

Nicholas C

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el6147

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pinball

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Rich'sToys

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PJH

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Geo-TH,In

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Mike(NEOhio)

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Richard G.

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Nicholas C

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Geo-TH,In

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LittleD

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