Farmall H Starting Quandary

Kevin Little · May 26, 2013

Got my H home last week and I put on new plugs, wires, and a distributor cap. Battery has a good charge, but when I try to turn it over, I get nothing. It's my first Farmall, where do you all suggest I start to track down the problem? I know the battery cables are nothing great, should I start with the cables and just work my way towards the starter from there?

TIA

kevinj54 · May 26, 2013

You need to get your meter and do some testing.....

Dave_Id · May 26, 2013

What do you mean, you get nothing? Is it 6 volt? If it's 6volt, you should have at least size 0 (aught), I liked using 00, (double aught), in order for it to spin over properly. You also may have a bad ground somewhere... make sure all connections are clean, bare metal contact.

Kevin Little · May 26, 2013

Sorry, forgot to put down that it is a 6 volt system. Meter shows a good charge at the battery and the lights work, just no click or anything when I press the starter button. I'll get a new set of cables and start going down the line and see if I can find the break in the circuit.

jimmyjoe · May 26, 2013

Starter could be jammed, loosen the bolts on
starter see if it loosens up.

steve alderman · May 26, 2013

if it has a hand crank put that in and see if you spin the motor with that if not then undo the 2 bolts on the starter about half way and pull the starter out

Farmallhal · May 26, 2013

Kevin, If you have a battery cable issue your best positive ground for the 6 volt system will be to the closest 1/2" starter to frame bolt. Use 00 size cable with soldered terminals with the end attaching to the starter bolt sized to the bolt. I also find using an external tooth lock washer (the kind that bites into the metal) between the bolt head and battery ground cable terminal for better contact. With everything being clean and bright throughout the battery to starter circuit that is about as good as it can get. A fully charged 6 volt battery should be 6.3 volts or greater from my experience. Hope this helps and keep us advised as to your progress, Hal.

Kevin Little · May 26, 2013

Thanks Hal! I'll start going through it tomorrow and see what I find. If nothing else, it looks like a good cleaning of each contact would be a big step in the right direction.

Zachary Hoyt · May 26, 2013

I would check the voltage on the battery side of the switch and then
push the button and check the voltage on the starter side of the
switch. The switches are not very good quality anymore in my
experience, I have had to replace a few of them. If that is the
problem you can get them at any auto parts store or TSC or places
like that.
Zach

FBH44 · May 27, 2013

Run the battery ground strap directly over TO the starter mount bolt; that way you avoid all those rusty frame joints and bolt connectins.

kevinj54 · May 27, 2013

(quoted from post at 20:49:24 05/26/13)
Sorry, forgot to put down that it is a 6 volt system. Meter shows a good charge at the battery and the lights work, just no click or anything when I press the starter button. I'll get a new set of cables and start going down the line and see if I can find the break in the circuit.

You can use that meter to see where you lose voltage in the circuit???????????????

You MAY stumble onto the issue if you change enough parts. :?

kevinj54 · May 27, 2013

(quoted from post at 22:23:14 05/26/13) I would check the voltage on the battery side of the switch and then
push the button and check the voltage on the starter side of the
switch. The switches are not very good quality anymore in my
experience, I have had to replace a few of them. If that is the
problem you can get them at any auto parts store or TSC or places
like that.
Zach

All good points but I have seen a few issues with the starter stud, meter will show volts at the stud and no amp draw. Basically an open circuit.

No amount of new cables & switches will fix that.

SadFarmall · May 27, 2013

I had a similar problem with my H after I fitted everything new to it. I used it for a couple of days and the nut holding the negative lead to the starter came just loose enough that nothing happened. It all LOOKED fine, but when I moved the wire around I saw the connection slip under the nut. One tweak with a spanner and all was well again. Sometimes the problem is not complicated, but tricky to spot. Do all the easy things first and then move onto the harder ones.
SadFarmall

David G · May 27, 2013

I have replaced 2 of the push button switches, finally put in a solenoid. The tend to get corrosion and high resistance in them.

HenryO · May 27, 2013

Dont forget. 6 Volt systems are POSITIVE ground and must be a good one.

WI Dave · May 28, 2013

I had the exact same problem as SadFarmall. Loose stud on the starter.

Kevin Little · May 28, 2013

Family obligations and a fly fishing show this weekend to get ready for, may be the beginning of the week before I get onto it. I'll check that first, along with a new set of cables. Old ones are pretty roached.

Farmall H Starting Quandary

Kevin Little

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kevinj54

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Dave_Id

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Kevin Little

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jimmyjoe

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steve alderman

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Farmallhal

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Kevin Little

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Zachary Hoyt

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FBH44

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kevinj54

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kevinj54

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SadFarmall

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David G

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HenryO

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Kevin Little

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