Flathead Pistons for H

[hunterguy92]

Can anyone offer any advice on why I shouldn?t rebuild my H engine
with flathead pistons? They do seem a little harder to find than the
stepped-heads, and I?ve also heard that stepped-heads may require
a distributor. My tractor currently has a magneto and I?d prefer to
keep it as-is.

The tractor will mostly be for parade-like purposes and maybe a little
hauling around my property.

 

[rustyfarmall]

Flat top pistons will be just fine. Stepped head will produce a bit more power, but for your purposes, more power is not needed.

 

[rustred]

don't see any problem, they can from factory like that.

 

[Oldiron29]

Flat head pistons work just fine, less compression than stepped head. Better and easier for hand crank starting.
Better for your original 6 volt starting system. the magneto will work with either piston. I no on my M put in stepped head pistons and 6 volt would no crank it had to switch to 12 volt to start it.

 

[mccormicksw4]

no reason you can't use flat tops
I have a set of NOS IH flat tops I would like to sell, I also have a set of NOS IH Firecraters for sale

 

[hunterguy92]

This is great advice, as I?d really like to keep my 6 volt system as well. I have seen rebuild kits with flat-head pistons on this site, but is there anywhere else you recommend looking?

 

[mccormicksw4]

(quoted from post at 11:52:45 09/20/19) This is great advice, as I?d really like to keep my 6 volt system as well. I have seen rebuild kits with flat-head pistons on this site, but is there anywhere else you recommend looking?

Me!
New-Old-Stock IH parts are superior quality to anything you will find made today

 

[Bob 7337]

does it smoke? just for parades why spend money to overhaul it?

 

[hunterguy92]

The engine has been seized for 20+ years and this tractor has significant sentimental value, so it?s getting a complete restoration.

 

[hunterguy92]

(quoted from post at 11:50:40 09/20/19) no reason you can't use flat tops
I have a set of NOS IH flat tops I would like to sell, I also have a set of NOS IH Firecraters for sale

I tried to send you a PM, but it doesn t seem to work at the moment. How much would you be looking to get for the NOS flat tops?

 

[the tractor vet]

well the main reason your tractor probable would not turn ov er is the fact that the starter was in need of a rebuild and dragging as i find with most and the other is you did not have a large enough 6 volt with enough cranking amps and heavy enough cables . The old M we had under the picker had compression and i mean compression due to the high alt pistons and a 400 gas head and a good starter and a group five 6 volt with double 00 cables with thirty weight oil and a five degree day she started hard but all it needed was one fan blade width to fire . Most people did not like the cost of a heavy duty group five truck battery or the price of the correct battery cables then whine about there tractor not wanting to start.

 

[mccormicksw4]

(quoted from post at 17:57:49 09/20/19)

(quoted from post at 11:50:40 09/20/19) no reason you can't use flat tops
I have a set of NOS IH flat tops I would like to sell, I also have a set of NOS IH Firecraters for sale

I tried to send you a PM, but it doesn t seem to work at the moment. How much would you be looking to get for the NOS flat tops?

this forum does not have functional PM option. Go into your profile and check the box ''ALWAYS SHOW EMAIL" you will then see a box at each post to email a member. It is secure BTW

 

[D Slater]

Don't know if the part is still available but IH did make a impulse coupling rotating unit complete for higher compression piston part # 377037R91 for H and M magneto tractors.

 

[the tractor vet]

Forgive me but i am and old HORSE POWER FREAK and if i am going to spend money and time doing a rebuild i am going for more pony power . This is me and the days of distalet or Kerosene are long dead and gone , to use that fuel you have to get the engine HOT and this lead to cracked heads and blocks of days gone by same as working the bag off a engine and shutting it down hot the temp rises after shut down even more when you don't cool them down . But again this is me .

 

[mccormicksw4]

if it was my tractor it would get a gas head ( if it doesn't have one now) and the domed pistons but is not mine and the OP can do what pleases him. , The head determined the fuel type not the pistons. The OP made no mention of burning distillate or kerosene just wants it for parades
just sayin'