Yesterday didn't go as planned!

super99 · Mar 23, 2014

I had a tandem load of rock hauled in and dumped a couple of weeks ago for my driveway. I dumped some of it the worst parts so we could get thru until it dried and settled some. My plan was to finish spreading it yesterday. Tried to start the Farmall 400 with the loader, nothing. Figured the battery was dead, so I put the charger on it and worked on the planter and a few other projects for a couple of hours. I tried to start it again, no go. Tried to short across the solenoid, just sparks, so the starter came off. Checking it over, I noticed a bolt jammed in the nose of the starter. Got it apart, and one bolt came out of the bendix and jambed it up. Took it apart, threads are stripped off the bolt. Called a friend with Farmalls to see if he had a used one laying around. He didn't. Started building my wife a flower planter out of a couple of pallets. Got to where I needed the jig saw to cut some notches in a board, can't find any blades for it. I'm getting cold, so it's time to quit. Came in and looked around on the internet, only place I could find one was on this site for about $36 plus shipping. Looks like I will give them some business. Worked all day and didn't get much accomplished, but I'm still tired! Chris

farmerwithmutt · Mar 23, 2014

Had a guy who worked for the county had a driveway like yours but he dropped in whats called breaker run that was bad fist size rock bounced in and out the after that settled and was pounded down put gravel on top best driveway ever the bigger rock under the gravel kept the gravel from sinking into the mud i guess he knew something

rrlund · Mar 23, 2014

$36 ain't a bad price. I needed one for the 1550 in 2012,paid $51 for it. Needed another one for the 1600 last year,had gone up to $56. I've got a couple of those parts that you need laying around. I keep breaking the springs. That last one I bought is driving me nuts. It's not machined quite right and when it returns,it sticks. I took it apart and did some grinding on it but it's still not right. It just spins way too much of the time. I have to keep trying until it kicks in or hit the starter with a hammer.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 23, 2014

Yeah but your $56.00 one may last 10 years longer. That being said I would just re-tap it for the next larger size bolt and grind some off the head of the bolt. I seem to have better luck repairing old parts than buying new parts.

rrlund · Mar 23, 2014

I doubt it. They both came from A&I,the quality of this one is junk. I need to find out where onefarmer got that replacement that he bought. It's made different and doesn't have that big spring on it.

fordfarming · Mar 23, 2014

Why didn't you pull start it and do your drive Then park it on the barn hill till you get parts

onefarmer · Mar 23, 2014

Randy, I got mine right from the IH dealer.

Bob Bancroft · Mar 23, 2014

I agree with rusted. Too bad to replace working parts. If you can't find the special bolt nearby, make one! Maybe even put a spot of weld where it joins the bushing, as the bushing threads may well be compromised.
Also- don't limit your search to IH. Lots of companies used those parts. I replaced them by the dozens for AC tractors.

JML755 · Mar 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:19:05 03/23/14) Had a guy who worked for the county had a driveway like yours but he dropped in whats called breaker run that was bad fist size rock bounced in and out the after that settled and was pounded down put gravel on top best driveway ever the bigger rock under the gravel kept the gravel from sinking into the mud i guess he knew something

yup,
that's what I did on the first 600' of the driveway I put in. After burying my p/u up to the axles twice in the mud of some vacant property I had bought, the d/w was a BIG priority. Dug down 12", removing the topsoil, put in fist size broken country (6" or so) then topped it with smaller size. The crushed concrete packs like cement and is half the cost of limestone. The crusher quit making the bigger stuff so the rest of the d/w is 12" of the smaller stone. It works just as well. And it eliminated one problem of rebar and wire sticking out of some of the larger pieces in the first portion of the d/w. Got one flat tire from it, picked up a couple of buckets of wire mesh and pieces w/ wire stuck in it for a while. Driveway is like cement if you keep the water off of it. Got one low spot where water settles and it's a little soft.

JML755 · Mar 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:19:05 03/23/14) Had a guy who worked for the county had a driveway like yours but he dropped in whats called breaker run that was bad fist size rock bounced in and out the after that settled and was pounded down put gravel on top best driveway ever the bigger rock under the gravel kept the gravel from sinking into the mud i guess he knew something

yup,
that's what I did on the first 600' of the driveway I put in. After burying my p/u up to the axles twice in the mud of some vacant property I had bought, the d/w was a BIG priority. Dug down 12", removing the topsoil, put in fist size broken country (6" or so) then topped it with smaller size. The crushed concrete packs like cement and is half the cost of limestone. The crusher quit making the bigger stuff so the rest of the d/w is 12" of the smaller stone. It works just as well. And it eliminated one problem of rebar and wire sticking out of some of the larger pieces in the first portion of the d/w. Got one flat tire from it, picked up a couple of buckets of wire mesh and pieces w/ wire stuck in it for a while. Driveway is like cement if you keep the water off of it. Got one low spot where water settles and it's a little soft.

JML755 · Mar 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:19:05 03/23/14) Had a guy who worked for the county had a driveway like yours but he dropped in whats called breaker run that was bad fist size rock bounced in and out the after that settled and was pounded down put gravel on top best driveway ever the bigger rock under the gravel kept the gravel from sinking into the mud i guess he knew something

yup,
that's what I did on the first 600' of the driveway I put in. After burying my p/u up to the axles twice in the mud of some vacant property I had bought, the d/w was a BIG priority. Dug down 12", removing the topsoil, put in fist size broken country (6" or so) then topped it with smaller size. The crushed concrete packs like cement and is half the cost of limestone. The crusher quit making the bigger stuff so the rest of the d/w is 12" of the smaller stone. It works just as well. And it eliminated one problem of rebar and wire sticking out of some of the larger pieces in the first portion of the d/w. Got one flat tire from it, picked up a couple of buckets of wire mesh and pieces w/ wire stuck in it for a while. Driveway is like cement if you keep the water off of it. Got one low spot where water settles and it's a little soft.

super99 · Mar 23, 2014

Tough to do by yourself, you wanna come over and give me a pull?

Wayne in MN · Mar 23, 2014

Highly recommend installing the new style starter drive; the extra cost is worth every penny.

larry@stinescorner · Mar 23, 2014

I have gravel.,but its not in the driveway after this winter,its on the side,in the field,and on the lawn

fordfarming · Mar 23, 2014

Sure I ll help what time. And where am I going?

rrlund · Mar 23, 2014

I wonder if that shaft size and everything is the same as on the Oliver? Maybe I should take it apart and take everything to Janson's one of these days when I go to St Louis.
This morning was the last straw with that thing anyway. It's sitting in front of the shop. I'm going to take that spring and put on the two old halves and see if I can make a good one that works.

David G · Mar 23, 2014

Get one of the new style drives. They engage a lot softer, especially at 12V.

Janicholson · Mar 23, 2014

The new drive style will not need the bolts, and costs about the same as fixing your old one. Jim

rrlund · Mar 23, 2014

Does anybody know why one of those springs would be twisted about 90 degrees? I put a new one in a few months back,took it apart this morning because it was giving me fits not kicking in and it's twisted,sprung out of shape and the bolts don't line up like the ones in the picture. They sit about 90 degrees off.
I put the drive gear from another one in it and it works fine now,but the spring is still twisted.

Janicholson · Mar 23, 2014

Tempering springs on Friday or the last 5 minutes of a shift. If it is on a Farmall, (or maybe others as well the new style drive with a cushion on the pinion is way better. Jim

just another old geezer · Mar 23, 2014

If you need the tractor now, and it has a pulley, you can always pulley start it from another tractor with a pulley.

Yesterday didn't go as planned!

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