Farmall H Won't Start

Try this quick check before you get to testing things: Shut off ignition, unlock brakes, put tractor in 5th gear. Get off and push backwards on rear tire real hard, maybe even rocking it. You should hear a "click" sound meaning starter gear had gotten jammed with the ring gear and you have just released it.

Or take off the 2 bolts holding starter on tractor. Chances are you will hear that click sound as you loosen the bolts.

Common problem with H's, I'm afraid, but worth owning one of these jewels. If this doesn't take care of the problem, then other advice posted here is the way to go.

A big 10 - 4 with Jim n Hal, charge the battery or try a substitute or jump start her first n see if its simply a battery problem versus any starter or switch or a bad ground or connection, then if she starts you can diagnose the other problems. If a different known good substitute battery or a recharge dont crank her (assuming the battery is okay, have it load tested), I would first remove n clean n wire brush then reattach each n every battery n starter n switch n cable n ground connection n see what happens. If still no cranking you would need to troubleshoot to isolate if its a starter or starter switch problem. If she cranks right up but after she sets a good while the battery gets drained it could be a faulty internal regulator diode inside the alternator (NOT the one in the external excitation circuit if such were used) or a minor wiring short or something else depending on what charging system was used. Jim gave ya a procedure to look for a discharge circuit. In the meantime you could use her then remove the battery cable so she dont discharge while setting until we find the problem.

John T