Winterize my H?

[Egon]

Animals like getting fed in order to gain weight and stay alive. The Farmer just naturally responds to this need as this is his business.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

If it's -25F I'm only going out for animal care (admittedly several times due to freezing water buckets and their need for extra calories in such temps). If it's -25C I will not be running a tractor or anything else!

My tractor is parked indoors, although it's an old corncrib and not entirely wind proof. Is condensation still a big enough problem that I need to cover the grill?

If this is a normal year I don't expect any real air temps below -10F. The coldest I can ever remember was -28F in 1994.

Condensation can and does form on the outside of metal objects whenever the humidity dictates. You can actually see the beads of water on the block and trans when this happens. Guess what, if its on the outside, its also on the inside. Also when you start and run for just a few minutes the warmth of the engine and the surrounding cold create the condensation on the outside (you may not notice it as it evaporates away) as well as the inside. Thing is, the inside doesn't evaporate away nearly as fast, so any moisture left goes right into the oil, giving it a grayish look. so the the answer is yes, cover the grill. Trust me, if your water pump is working at all, you can't overheat the H. You can check your water pump buy starting the tractor and taking off the radiator cap. You will see water pumping up in there or at least quite a movement of the water once the thermostat opens. BobG in VA

 

[jimmysisson]

I agree about the starting, my old A would start one or two pulls up on the crank any weather, and it was clapped out and nearly used up. Also agree minus 25 is pretty cold for asking a tractor to actually move - anything that was wet is hard as a rock, and freezes around tires and buckets tight as anything. Gotta feed the critters but on small scale better by hand at those temps.
Jim

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

LOL, every old IH we had on our farm was parked on a hill. If you stalled it out in the field you were done until someone cam eout to give you a tow...

 

[roxynoodle]

This doesn't have anything to do with winterizing but I finally have a gear shift knob now and I replaced the seat bushings. I don't know if replace is the right word since 2 were missing... there was a piece of heater hose shoved in there! So I now have a stable seat and hopefully don't have to worry about anyone falling off of it. I also managed to come up with a new jar precleaner. The old one was very damaged where the jar screwed in and had a huge dent in the top of it. Been keeping my eyes open for a PTO shield and battery box (preferably original and reasonably priced).

 

[BobG_in_VA]

As far as the battery box and PTO shields are concerned, good luck to find an original in decent shape that is reasonably priced. Only way I believe you can put all that together is find an H in a barn that has that stuff and the "old guy" that owns it doesn't want it anymore...and tells you to pls take it. I've got an orginal battery box for a Super C that we've had for 40 years (in the shop/not on a tractor). I use it to hold bolts now, as I wouldn't part with it for less than $65 w/o the top. Suggest you try and find a replica on ebay--which you will still pay about $65 for....I understand an orginal IH muffler for any of the letter series goes for upwards of $100 USED! (actually has an IH logo on the muffler). good luck in your search. Merry Christmas! BobG in VA

 

[roxynoodle]

All true. I may very well end up with reproduction parts as far as the battery box and PTO shield. I've been watching ebay daily and looking at ads in antique tractor magazines. I'm also keeping my eyes out as I drive around for any H's in non running condition for which I may be able to get parts from.

Merry Christmas and thanks everyone for your info and insight! I know I'll be looking for your experience and guidance when I actually get to restoring it.