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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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farmall f 20 pulling tractor

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Chris Farmallf2

09-25-2007 21:31:38




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I have a 1937 farmall f 20 that has been in our family since the 50"s. We still use it around the farm to pull hay wagons around and run the auger during the harvest. I took it out to an antique pull this past summer with meager results. Does anybody out there have any hints/suggestions to get this old girl pulling hard? I"ve got everything tuned up with the zenith carb but don"t have a lot of knowledge on the mag and governor on these old hunks of iron. I put it on the dyno at the show and it came out to 23 hp (should be at 27 from factory). I also was unable to run 540 rpm on the pto and they had to look up the rated hp in the book with the rpm that I was able to turn. This tractor was restored about 10 years ago. It got new sleeves and a complete overhaul. It runs good under load but simply ran out of power very early in the pull...any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

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sammy the RED

09-29-2007 21:48:57




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
I know a guy that has a F-20 turning around 65-70 h.p.

When he pulls, he always has a spare axle with him.

Everyone moans when he shows up. third party image



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Mike Siless

09-27-2007 18:21:40




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
I've also got a '37 F-20 that I tried pulling for the first time this summer. Didn't do too well.....only a few inches. Too heavy for the #4500 class because the tires are loaded so borrowed some weights and pulled in the #5000. Like bringing a knife to a gun fight. Had plenty of motor, but those smaller diameter and really worn tires just dug a nice deep hole. Won for oldest tractor though!



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Len Rahilly

09-27-2007 13:50:18




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
I can dig up written info on the governor and timing, and will be glad to repro it and send. Don't get good results scanning, so would use snail mail.
You probably know there were 2 governors used, and their adjustments are different. The original governor was not "variable," which means that it doesn't do much governing if you throttle back. Sometime toward the end of production--1937, I think--IHC went over to a "variable" governor, which governs throughout much of the speed range of the engine. This is the governor with the notched rod left of the gas tank. There were several companies that produced aftermarket variable governors, too, but their control rods or levers look somewhat different. IHC also made a kit to replace the original governor, but its control rod was on the right (I used to own one of these).
Most of the F-20s I have seen in recent years have had the original (kerosene) manifold replaced, after the original burned through. You can spot the difference immediately. The kerosene manifold has an enormous heating area around the middle, to keep the fuel hot for good vaporization. A gasoline retrofit manifold does not have this big heating area, AND there is no lever to switch from hot to cold. The original manifold had a lever that you used to switch to "cold" for running gasoline.

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ET

09-27-2007 06:55:48




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
Is the governor set correctly for the high speed no load rpm's? A few rpm's can make a big differents. When it was on the dyno did you try ajusting the load needle in or out? If you try to make to much compression in these engines with no center main bearing they tend to flex the crank and eventualy break it.



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r4etired

09-26-2007 18:16:48




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
When I was a kid and we farmed with F-20's Dad would rotate the timing disc's one hole to advance the spark for plowing and discing, At that time he would also hang the crank in the barn so no one would try to hand crank it.



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teddy52food

09-26-2007 20:12:00




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to r4etired, 09-26-2007 18:16:48  
How did he get it started? Coast it down a hill?



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Nebraska Cowman

09-26-2007 11:11:35




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
I'd start by making sure the magneto is up to snuff. Make sure it is timed properly. Does yours have the original mag with manual advance?



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Chris Farmallf20

09-26-2007 11:22:19




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 09-26-2007 11:11:35  
It has an original magneto with manual advance...a rebuilt mag was put on it when it was restored about 10 years ago. Are there mags I should be looking for that would produce better performance? Thanks for the advice too on the governor. Please keep the comments coming!



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Thomas F. Stasa

09-29-2007 10:56:03




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-26-2007 11:22:19  
will aF 20 magneto fit a F 14 ? thank you tom



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JohnG(TX)

09-26-2007 10:52:50




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
There is an adjustment on the governor that can get you up to 540 RPM. I believe it was there to adjust the belt speed when using a thresher. Don't quote me on this, but I think if you were to turn it clockwise, it will increase the RPM. As far as more HP, you are kinda stuck with the stock setup. There are a few things you can do, like use a Heisler gasoline intake and cylinder head. Good luck finding a head. I have one, but the machine shop said it is now junk with a hole rusted through a chamber. If you have deep pockets, or are friendly with a machine shop, you can increase the bore to 4.00". shaving the head will help also. MSD ignition is probably not practical. Make sure your mag is hot and tight, and timed right. Smaller tires will also help in the pulls.

Good luck.

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James Williams

09-26-2007 03:39:55




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to Chris Farmallf20, 09-25-2007 21:31:38  
Chris,This is why these tractors are called antique.These tractors were updated to the letter series tractors which had more horse power with less weight.Keep in mind these tractors replaced horses.I love these old tractors and have a complete set of them,but there hard to compete with.

jimmy



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Chris Farmallf20

09-26-2007 09:59:11




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 Re: farmall f 20 pulling tractor in reply to James Williams, 09-26-2007 03:39:55  
Thanks for the post, Jimmy. I realize these are very old iron but I also was beat by 2 other f-20's in the 4500# class by a lot....one was a 1935 and man it ran good!!! I realize that these tractors will not have the power of the letter series tractors, however, I was pulling in an antique class (pre '39) and had a very hard time against other old iron.



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