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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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IH 300 always hard to start

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Danny the black

02-01-2008 06:03:34




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I have my Granddads 300 row crop tractor that he bought new in '56. For the history of the tractor it has always been hard to start, and you only get one chance a day. Starts best without the choke. Sometimes it starts right up. If it does not start by the second time it hits (30 seconds of cranking) you may as well wait till tomorrow. It wont even start if you pull it. Dont even think about it if the temp is below 40* without warming it up with a heater. I have replaced the plugs, points, condenser, plug wires, cap, roter and coil. I have not replaced the cables alltho they are not original. It has a six volt system. The only thing that helps is to replace the battery and then your chances are better for about one year. I use it about three times a month. Once it starts it runs great and will start for the rest of the day, most of the time, but better park it on a hill just to be sure. It is also hard to start hot. Is this just the nature of a six volt system or am I missing something?

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va. transplant

02-05-2008 11:32:46




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
I had problems with mine for awhile. It was 'converted' to 12 volts with a resistor before the points. Warm weather I had no problems starting it. Everyone else seemed to have problems. During the winter, I would put a magnetic heater on the oil pan and then usually no problems starting after an hour or if in a hurry, I would hook up the jumper cables to the truck. I finally decided to convert to a mag and have not had any problems since. Just wasn't getting enough juice to the points to create a strong spark.

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kossuth

02-02-2008 20:02:51




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to dtk, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
It almost sounds like the carb might be out alittle along with other issues. You'll need to probiably rebuild the carb. Also, if it is that hard to start I would be suspect the electrical system needs some attention too. I almost wonder if you are not getting a real hot spark. A weak spark could be from a number of things. Two that come to mind which you haven't mentioned attending to are the ignition switch and the little insulator from the coil to the distributer that the points are attached to. It could be cracked and it's leaking and arching in there messing with your timing. Just by doing some simple tests with a multimeter will help a bunch.

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Andy Motteberg

02-02-2008 12:47:34




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
May need a carburetor rebuild. Take off the carb and clean it and put in a kit. Adjust it and put it on with new gaskets. Make sure the gaskets surfaces are clean. Make sure the manifold to carb bolts are tight. Make sure you have the right type of plugs, (Champion D18Y or Autolite 3116) and copper core plug wires. If this does not work, try converting it to 12 volts. Add a resistor or you will damage the ignition. My H always started hard if it did at all until I converted to 12 volts, later I switch to a magneto, so it did not make much difference if it is 6 or 12 volts.

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Danny the blacksmith

02-01-2008 19:20:43




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
Thanks for the replys. I plan to replace the cables next. I do have an amp meter I can test it with. The tractor runs good, no smoke, and good power. My Dad did a valve job on it about 30 years ago. I would say it gets less than 50 hours use a year. Sometimes, when starting with the crank, it takes less than one half turn and its running. Thats on the first pull, cold engine, no choke, 1/2 throttle and 65 + degree day. If it dont start on the third pull you may as well make new plans for the day. It may hit the first time and the second but after that your chances are slim. Feels like its totaly dead.

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Paul in MN

02-01-2008 10:42:49




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
If it does NOT need the choke to start, I would be suspicious of the carb. It sounds like it is flooding way too easily. When these engines are flooded they are not easy to pull the flood through, but just go away for a day or 2. When I flood my 300U, I have to pull the spark plugs and heat the electrode end with the burnzomatic torch and crank the engine around a few times without the plugs in to ventilate the cylinders. Then it is like starting "fresh".

Do you have ethanol gas mix (10%) in the fuel tank? That stuff will draw water vapor from the air and not want to fire at all. I have had that problem....looks like gas, smells sorta like gas, but doesn't fire. If that is the problem, it can be started with ether and then will run on the crappy gas mix.

Some years ago, I 12 volted my 300 and it has become about 100 times more reliable. In super cold weather with no heater, it seems that the valves may be moving too slowly in their bores and all sorts of strange things happen, but starting is NOT one of them. I have had this problem in sub zero temps, but only on 1 or maybe 2 cylinders. I find that to be a mystery.

Good Luck with your challenge.

Paul in MN

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agpilot

02-01-2008 12:09:19




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Paul in MN, 02-01-2008 10:42:49  
Paul in MN: I'll go along with your comment about Danny saying it needs no choke. He could just use the shut-off-gas under the gas tank to kill the engine by running carb dry befor shutting off the electric switch. Then turn gas on just befor starting the next day that he needs to use it. No expence to try running the carb dry after using it and waiting to turn the gas back on next time it's needed. Many don't have mantaince or testing tools at all. Just my suggestion. ag

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Brownie450

02-01-2008 08:39:12




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
Has this 300 been overhauled? Have you done a compression check? Check the intake manifold gasket. Since it runs well after starting, the carb shouldn't be suspect. While it is running, pull the coil wire out of the distributor cap enough to make the spark jump a 3/16" gap. If it's not a hot blue spark, go looking into the distributor [points/ condenser] for any trouble there.



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Carlton

02-03-2008 20:18:40




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Brownie450, 02-01-2008 08:39:12  
I have a farmall 300 row crop and it wasn't stating on the first turn of the key, the distributor cap was wet and corroded,cleaned it adn it started up in 10 degree weather first crack.

Carl



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El Toro

02-01-2008 06:42:10




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
I think Jim has pin pointed the problem. I would
replace all the battery cables with 00 cables. You need to have your battery load tested too. Replace it if has a weak cell. You probably aren't getting battery voltage to your ignition
coil. If your wire from the ignition switch to the coil is cracked replace it and from the coil to the distributor. If your starter is requiring
too much battery voltage there's probably not enough left for the ignition. Hal

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Janicholson

02-01-2008 06:29:53




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
Low voltage to the starter and Ignition at starting is the mos likely issue. This assumes the mentioned parts are in adjustment, and the timing is on.
The first tool in my box to be pulled out is a starter draw meter. It is cheap <$20 and so very easy to use. It is just placed against a battery cable and looked at while cranking.
The tractor should be pulling about 275 to 350 amps while cranking. If there is more than this, it is probably a dragging starter motor, or other starter grief. (rebuilding the motor is easy) if it is less than that amount, the cables might be small in copper (not necessarily rubber)and/or the battery is low in CCA or weak from age. The cheap meter pays for itself instantly. Cables must be double0 (00Gauge) they must be copper with soldered on terminal ends. There are gell batteries (pricy but great) with high CCA (maybe 800 or more that fit the bat box) that will twist off a 10" hawthorne tree at the stump. Good luck. JimN

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tractorsam

02-01-2008 06:12:09




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to Danny the blacksmith, 02-01-2008 06:03:34  
Not sure what but you"re missing something. I reckon the gas start Farmall"s are one of the best starting tractors that you"ll ever come across. Unless you flood them they"re pretty forgiving. Good luck, tractorsam



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steveormary

02-01-2008 16:29:19




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 Re: IH 300 always hard to start in reply to tractorsam, 02-01-2008 06:12:09  
When starting my M or 300 I would leave the choke open and then use it after the engine started to keep it running untill it warmed up.


stevormary



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