Cold starting tractor problem

[ed in cny]

Used my Allis B just last Saturday to do some work and it ran well for nearly all the work I did with it. Getting later in the day and had just one more thing to finish and I stalled it. It"s a 42 with battery start but it needs electric work so it isn"t working and I have to crank it to start it. Cranking works well in the summer but by later fall things just don"t seem to work when starting it. I cranked till dark with just the occasional sputter but nothing. I had to leave it sitting where it was. I can"t get to it to pull it with the truck so that"s out. I also can"t get to it durring the week as I work well past daylight. So here"s the question. Is it ok on this old girl to use starter fluid to help get it going? Is it wise with crank starting? If not what else should I use? I"d like to get the old girl out of where it is and back in the barn so she can rest the winter out.
 

[old]

First off I'll ask what the electric problem is. Is the starter burned out or just bad wires??? If just bad wires or the starter button bad remove the button and then take a heavy battery type cable or jumper cable the go from the battery to the starter stud and spin it over that way. Most of these old hand start tractor give a guy fits when warm, I am lucky if my JD-B 1935 modal will start it warm but mos of the time starts pretty easy cold unless it is very very cold out an then with the 50W oil in it forget about it LOL
 

[ed in cny]

Old, part of the problem with the electric is that it was removed and then cobbered back in. It will not charge. I don"t have a battery to put in for it to turn over either at this time. Lastly it isn"t on my to do list just yet. I guess I got used to cranking and it works well enough to not bother.
 

[Ted in NE-OH]

Things that can contribute to hard starting.1)weak magneto 2) low compression 3)old gas 4)carburetor issues
 

[ed in cny]

True on all parts. I haven't really used the tractor since late October. However my main question was the ether. Is it wise to try it or even safe.
 

[DGK]

Take batt. out of car or truck, if side post turn 3/8s bolts in and jumper cables will crank it over good. Hope that helps.
 

[RalphWD45]

If you do use the starter fluid, then only use 1/4 turns with the crank, and only lifting up, and be ready to jump away. We are all familuar with broken arms from improper hand cranking. never spin the crank! I am sure you already know this. Have a good Christmas!
 

[ed in cny]

Well for the lazy person in me I'll give it a try.
 

[ed in cny]

I got a good bruise from doing the crank years ago. I understand stand away.
 

[old]

So then it has a mag so that is both good and bad. Does the impulse work as it should on the mag?? As for a battery you could just use jumper cables from your car or truck to spin it over no charging system needed on the tractor that way and you get a n easy start. If you can not get close to it take the battery to it one or 2 starts will not hurt your car or truck battery so you get the tractor running plus be able to drive home to boot. On my place I have few batteries but lots of machines so I play musical batteries all the time
 

[old]

You do know not to warp your thumb around the crank handle don't you??? Learned the keep the thumb and fingers side by side years ago and even then went to the hospital for a bad strained wrist from a B kicking back and getting me. Wore a brace for about 3 months from that one
 

[jon corbett]

a shot of ether wont hurt it a bit.
 

[BushogPapa]

I would install New Plugs, before I twisted the crank many more times...the ones in it may have fouled...

Ron..
 

[ed in cny]

Ok here's the latest on the problem. We had bad weather Saturday so that day was out. Blizzard conditions so I stayed in the house. Sunday was busy so that was out. I was able to get there Christmas day late. I turned the crank a few times with the choke on and noticed something. Normally if the choke is on and I turn it a coupe times gas will spit out the bottom of the carb (normal with this tractor). Anyways it didn't cranked a couple more times to be sure that it wasn't just that it was cold. Nothing. Checked the gas found it was empty. Well walked back to the barn found no gas left. Didn't want to get any and fuss with it so I have can to get more. Go figure all this time I though it was something other than the most normal thing. It should have been something I checked right off. Oh well live and learn.