Advice for a newbie 1940 model H owner?

[Lylat1an]

Now that my new-to-me tractor starts, runs, and drives; I would like to know what rating of gasoline is best to run in it, whether or not I should use non-ethanol fuel, what (if any) additives to use, and any other advice that might be of benefit.


There is a Chevron station in my area that sells non-ethanol premium-grade fuel, but no other grades without ethanol.

Is their Techron good in these old engines, or should I go with another brand?


My area's elevation is 610 feet above sea level if it helps.
 

[Dan in Ohio]

First be thankful your H is not a 1939 model. Seriously, non-ethanol fuel certainly will not hurt anything and may just help avoid some fuel system problems down the road. There is a good service manual
written by a guy that used to be on this forum, someone will tell you his name and how to get it as I can not remember (CRS).
 

[Dan in Ohio]

That manual was written by the late Pat Browning. Charles Linstrom has acquired the rights to his manuals and too has now passed,
a family member can get the Restoration Guide for you, not sure the following info is correct but it is as close as I can find.

Charles B. Lindstrom (ph 816-232-5868; www.charlesblindstrom.com).
 

[Mike M]

What's wrong with the 1939 model ?
 

[Loosehandle]

All my 2 cyl run fine on 15% ethenol, just don't fill tank and never use it. A JD H doesn't use much fuel.
 

[Dan in Ohio]

Mike,
Clooney is the one that always voiced his frustration with 1939 model. I have read where Pat Browning said that many parts where changed after the 1939 year and parts from that model would not work on the following year models. The H is one I do not have in my collection and no personal experience with.
 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Lindstrom passed away but a guy in Texas purchased the right to all his stuff except the manual.
 

[Mike M]

IIRC many parts from the later machines can be put into the early machines but you would have to replace as the whole assembly. The connecting rods and camshaft and clutch disk were the main ones I remember being different for 1939. The transmissions went through a few different changes over the years but that was mainly shaft size and spline count on the top shaft. Main issues came up when adding or repairing a PTO equipped model. But I'm pretty sure you could change it all out as an assembly from a later year model.
 

[dan_41jdh]

Yes, there were a number of major changes (for the better) with the introduction of the 1940 models. You mentioned the cam and clutch disc, which went from a straight-splined, free floating clutch disk (with a non-floating pulley) to a tapered-spline, fixed-location clutch disc and a pulley that floated axially to match the disc position. The main case was changed also to accommodate a four-bolt, adjustable LH cam bearing housing (previously was just a 3-bolt cap over the LH cam bearing inserted into the main case), as well as a number of internal transmission component changes (shifter forks and associated parts). Late in the 1939 production year, the flywheel was made larger and heavier, perhaps to smooth out those two-cylinder impulses a little better. And all those early "H" tractors lacked adequate oiling to the LH cam and governor bearings which wasn't permanently fixed until the later part of the 1940 model year. Regarding connecting rods, Deere gave up on using insert bearings on the "H" very early in the 1941 production year and went with shimmable babbitted bearings. Perhaps they got tired of farmers trying to file off bearing caps to adjust the rod bearings...