H Lower Bolster Orientation

On the H I just purchased, the lower bolster on the narrow front wheels is tilted forward when the tractor is viewed from the side. Is that the corrrect orientation? There is a 2-bolt flange on the rear of the top of the lower bolster where it mounts to the upper unit. What is this flange for? If I could reverse the lower bolster, the flange would be on the front and would make a good place to bolt a hitch plate to for pushing trailers, etc. Has anybody done this?

(quoted from post at 10:05:53 01/24/11) On the H I just purchased, the lower bolster on the narrow front wheels is tilted forward when the tractor is viewed from the side. Is that the corrrect orientation? There is a 2-bolt flange on the rear of the top of the lower bolster where it mounts to the upper unit. What is this flange for? If I could reverse the lower bolster, the flange would be on the front and would make a good place to bolt a hitch plate to for pushing trailers, etc. Has anybody done this?

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Your bolster is backwards. The 2 bolt flange is SUPPOSED to face forward. Yes, you can bolt a hitch plate to it. That is what it is for.

Just keep turning the wheel. My friends H has the full gear up top and they can spin the bolster all the way around. I can't do it on mine.

if you can sping the front end all the way around with the steering wheel, the stop bolt is missing. one of the 4 bolts that hold the tricycle to the lower bolster has a raised head. it runs in a slot on the lower bolster and will stop the tires from doing a 360. check if that bolt is there.

Yes, it is reversed from its correct position. There should be one "stop" bolt (taller head) to prevent the wheels from making a complete 360° rotation. The bolt should be in the front left hole (if memory is correct). Look under the casting to determine proper location.

As others point out your bolster pivot shaft is installed backward.

There SHOULD be a special extended head bolt in the right front hole in the flange (or left hole front? I forget...). The bolt's head runs loosely in a crescent-shaped slot cast in underside of the fixed bolster. This bolt/slot limits front wheel rotation to 90 deg left and right of straight.

Now IF the special steering stop bolt is missing AND your H has a full (360 deg) gear in the steering box, you can reverse the front end simply turning the steering wheel until the 2 hole flange is in front.

However if the steering stop bolt is present you'll need to go inside the steering gear box, remove the gear (it's on a tapered spline on top of the pivot shaft), lower the pivot shaft enough to give clearance to remove the stop bolt, rotate the pivot shaft 180 deg, then reinstall the stop bolt and gear.

And if the steering gear is the sector type (ie. "half moon" shaped) you will also need to rotate the gear 180 deg when reinstalling on the pivot shaft.

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Note! If the special steering stop bolt has been replaced with a standard head bolt, for safety I STRONGLY recommend getting the correct stop bolt installed!

Is it possible that the H once operated under a one row cotton picker? It was common to reverse the caster by turning the steering wheels around (180 degrees) when the tractor was operated in reverse. I remember that the tractors were a bear to drive if you forgot to reverse the steering wheels when you returned them to normal operation.

Check if there is a wedge between the pedestal and the vertical shaft.

The wedge is there to give the front wheels a little forward caster so they steer easier.

Unfortunately, it also makes the tractor more sensitive to front end wobble issues. Leaning the front end back reduces wobble but also makes the tractor harder to steer.

the wedge doesn't give negative caster. it cuts the angle in half just like the late production and supers.

If the bolster is backwards, the stop bolt can be removed by finding the hole in the housing above, pushing the bolt out, spin the wheels around with the steering wheel and swapping with a non stop bolt in the proper position. You'll have to remove the non stop bolt and put it where the stop bolt came out before replacing the stop bolt. This can be done without jacking up the tractor or opening the top to the bolster.

The flange with the holes is for a piece to attach to a rod that steers the rear wheel of a semimount plow. At least that's what the one on my dads H was used for.

Was the flange on the front of the bolster where a hitch plate could also be attached or was it on the rear and underneath the radiator, etc.?

Hitch could be mounted on bolster. Had neighbor back in the day that towed his H back and forth to farm on river behind his truck, about 5 miles each way. He took it slow and easy probaly 20 mph maximum. He would usually leave tractor there for several days.

(quoted from post at 18:30:08 01/24/11) Hitch could be mounted on bolster. Had neighbor back in the day that towed his H back and forth to farm on river behind his truck, about 5 miles each way. He took it slow and easy probaly 20 mph maximum. He would usually leave tractor there for several days.

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There is a company that sells hitches for that brand new today. Whenever splitting stands come up their name/website gets brought in the mix. I saw a guy bring his M to our county fair with a homemade get up using the bolster holes.