1939 Model H

[thessler]

I would seem that way , with zero compression.
one way or the other, I’m going to pull the pistons and know exactly what I have.
Tom

 

[ole fred]

In the first post, he said that the pushrods were bent. Normally, bent pushrods means the cam/crank timing is way off. Still, I would think that the two cylinder John Deere's would have a large enough combustion chamber that the valves couldn't hit the pistons.

 

[rustred]

In the first post, he said that the pushrods were bent. Normally, bent pushrods means the cam/crank timing is way off. Still, I would think that the two cylinder John Deere's would have a large enough combustion chamber that the valves couldn't hit the pistons.

i took it to mean the valves were stuck , not enough info.

 

[thessler]

Yes valves were stuck, accounting for the bent push rods.
Tom

 

[Watthour]

I had a couple stuck valves over the years, but never on the lone '42H. A '36 B was a moderately easy fix, but it broke a rocker instead of bending a pushrod. The worst was a '30 D, needing to remove the radiator, fuel tank, sheet metal, and rocker box just to access the valves/guides.

That re-affirmed the notion that these things were never made to sit as barn-queens, but need to get out and move around on occasion.