I'll try not to make this too wordy, but this is my first post from as a long-time appreciative lurker on this site forum. I'll try to give a short background. I grew up a Red Guy on a small farm in MN where dad still uses a host of tractors from his generation and Grandpa's (IH/Farmall A, C, H's, M's, 560, 806, & 856). Of my own, at my property now I have a B with a Woods mower (how else can you make lawn mowing fun?) and an M with a Du-al loader for pushing snow.
I've always been fascinated by the old 2-banger John Deeres. I've wanted a parade tractor for a long time, as well as something I could turn some dirt with and use for cutting long grass and making a vegetable garden.
So I committed the Ultimate Sin and recently bought a '56 model 50. My father-in-law, who's worked at the local Case-IH dealer for a couple decades, didn't speak to me for a week. My Dad, who I think still loves me, didn't speak to me for 6 days. But... it is a gorgeous tractor and decked out with all the upgrade options from the era, with the exception of the 800 series 3-pt hitch as (I think) was available at the time. The old-timer I bought it from was really good and generous enough to include an operator's manual, parts book, and the general service manual, which I have been reading through many of these last nights. I will no doubt have many more questions in the future, but the main thing I'd like some advice on is tips for starting it up in colder climates. It's been warm up here so far, relatively speaking, with a temp around 32F and I thought I'd let the old girl run for a bit on a nice day like today. It was hard starting in the 50F range last month when I bought it.
Today, I clicked the ignition switch on to the first notch, pulled the choke, nudged the throttle a bit past low idle and pressed the starter pedal. It fired right away then died. I cranked many times with varying levels of throttle and choke to no avail. So then I pulled the plug to the carburetor bowl to see if there was gas. There was a bowl full that I drained. So then I hit the starter with an empty bowl to make sure the auto gas shut-off at the sediment/filter bowl was working under oil pressure. Much to my surprise it fired right-off and I killed the ignition as gas started surging out of the carburetor plug shortly after. I re-installed the plug and tried again. Nothing for many more cranks of the starter. Finally I got it to fire on full choke again, maybe out of coincidence. Seems to run best for the first minute or so on half choke before I can let if off all the way and run on its own. Once its going for a bit, low idle and wide open throttle are right on the money at 600/1375rpm.
So, what I'm asking is how do you guys go about your starting sequence for these old 2 cyl wonders?
How much throttle do you give it to start?
How much choke?
Do you begin with a drained carburetor? (That seems weird)
Does having the Power-Trol hydraulics and/or PTO engagement switch turned off make a difference for starting? The previous owner said he always had these switches engaged to on all the time.
I have been spoiled by my Farmall M. Down to -15F it has never failed to fire right up, often times with no choke. What are your John Deere tricks?
I've always been fascinated by the old 2-banger John Deeres. I've wanted a parade tractor for a long time, as well as something I could turn some dirt with and use for cutting long grass and making a vegetable garden.
So I committed the Ultimate Sin and recently bought a '56 model 50. My father-in-law, who's worked at the local Case-IH dealer for a couple decades, didn't speak to me for a week. My Dad, who I think still loves me, didn't speak to me for 6 days. But... it is a gorgeous tractor and decked out with all the upgrade options from the era, with the exception of the 800 series 3-pt hitch as (I think) was available at the time. The old-timer I bought it from was really good and generous enough to include an operator's manual, parts book, and the general service manual, which I have been reading through many of these last nights. I will no doubt have many more questions in the future, but the main thing I'd like some advice on is tips for starting it up in colder climates. It's been warm up here so far, relatively speaking, with a temp around 32F and I thought I'd let the old girl run for a bit on a nice day like today. It was hard starting in the 50F range last month when I bought it.
Today, I clicked the ignition switch on to the first notch, pulled the choke, nudged the throttle a bit past low idle and pressed the starter pedal. It fired right away then died. I cranked many times with varying levels of throttle and choke to no avail. So then I pulled the plug to the carburetor bowl to see if there was gas. There was a bowl full that I drained. So then I hit the starter with an empty bowl to make sure the auto gas shut-off at the sediment/filter bowl was working under oil pressure. Much to my surprise it fired right-off and I killed the ignition as gas started surging out of the carburetor plug shortly after. I re-installed the plug and tried again. Nothing for many more cranks of the starter. Finally I got it to fire on full choke again, maybe out of coincidence. Seems to run best for the first minute or so on half choke before I can let if off all the way and run on its own. Once its going for a bit, low idle and wide open throttle are right on the money at 600/1375rpm.
So, what I'm asking is how do you guys go about your starting sequence for these old 2 cyl wonders?
How much throttle do you give it to start?
How much choke?
Do you begin with a drained carburetor? (That seems weird)
Does having the Power-Trol hydraulics and/or PTO engagement switch turned off make a difference for starting? The previous owner said he always had these switches engaged to on all the time.
I have been spoiled by my Farmall M. Down to -15F it has never failed to fire right up, often times with no choke. What are your John Deere tricks?
And makes sense. I guess that hadn't occurred to me that there's double the chance of firing off with double the number of cylinders for my familiar Red machines. I've seen most of the Farmalls around here with water heaters of various sorts, including what I've got on my M, but most of the Green machines around my circle of friends are shed queens that only come out in the summer and 3 days before a parade. I'm going to partake in that too, but I also want my 50 to do some honest work for me any time of year. I may look into plumbing a heater plug into it. Do you have any pictures or advice on how this is normally done on a JD 2 cyl?
