Basic instructions on how to start a tractor

PrettyPaisley · #1 05/20/12, 01:23 PM

without a key.

It's mine, I promise. I didn't steal it.

The guy who built our barn started it with his pocket knife but he's gone back to Virginia and I need to start it again. And I am not sure how to tell if it takes gas or diesel. It's a Ford 1973 or 1974.

I know when he started it for me he showed me how drive it and I think I can figure it out once I get back on it, I just don't know how to start it. Like, is there a clutch I have to step on like a stick shift car? A choke, like I used to have to wiggle when we had a go cart in the 5th grade? Just any little secret that might help me get it moving so we can use it to tighten a fence the goats knocked over.

Thanks! Wish me luck, too!

rockhound · #2 05/20/12, 01:31 PM

Smell the gas tank first. Does it smell like gas or diesel? Go to a dealer and get a new lock cylinder and key. Somebody at the dealership will tell you the rest, from a photo if need be.

Sawmill Jim · #3 05/20/12, 01:58 PM

If you should short out the starter to start it and it is in gear it will run over someone or something .

Sounds like it is a diesel hard to start a gas burner without the key in on position without extra wires ran . Lot of those tractors used the same key . Check ebay for ford tractor parts .

Or
Discount Tractor Parts and Manuals for Older and Antique Tractors

unregistered41671 · #4 05/20/12, 02:04 PM

If you are not familiar with a tractor, it may not hurt to get some more lessons. There sure are lots of injuries and deaths related to farm tractors.
http://depts.washington.edu/trsafety...ctorFatals.pdf

Evaluation of Farm Tractor-Related Fatalities : The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

uncle Will in In. · #5 05/20/12, 02:07 PM

If you are the only one that will be opperating it, you had better leave it alone until you can get an instructer there with you. Your health or even life is far more important than any goat fence ever was.

Darstcreek · #6 05/20/12, 02:13 PM

IF YOU TRY TO START IT make sure its NOT In GEAR , if it starts in gear it could run over you ...

mink · #7 05/20/12, 06:06 PM

push the clutch in, stick a screwdriver in the key hole and turn it like a regular key. put the shift lever in the middle so it will wiggleleft to right, thats neutral..best bet is to have someone come and put a new key switch in for you

Catalpa · #8 05/20/12, 06:17 PM

If you're starting from the point of not knowing if it is gas or diesel, and whether or not it has a clutch, the best thing to do would be to take pictures of it, the motor, and the controls, and get the model number off it and go to a local dealership and start asking questions. Then once you have a few basic ideas, find a friend or neighbor that understands tractors to give you a few lessons. Tractors are fun and valuable things that make chores a lot easier, but they can also hurt you if you don't know what you're doing.

farminghandyman · #9 05/20/12, 06:55 PM

gas engines have spark plugs, and a distributor and spark plug wires, diesels do not,

luvrulz · #10 05/20/12, 07:51 PM

She's in NC - any of your bright guys out there close by to help with instructions??

unregistered41671 · #11 05/20/12, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrulz

She's in NC - any of your bright guys out there close by to help with instructions??

Bright guys??? Is that supposed to be some sort of slur?

indianjoe · #12 05/20/12, 08:05 PM

Most fords those years are diesel, but do not try to start it unless you have someone experienced there, you could get hurt.

Hagler's Farm · #13 05/20/12, 08:20 PM

I can't help you too much on the specifics of yours, but the basic starting procedure for my 55 Ford is Ignition on, push in clutch, make sure it's in neutral, pull choke, push starter button then whack starter with hammer.

Release starter button upon firing.

TNHermit · #14 05/20/12, 08:39 PM

Make sure BEFORE you do anything that if you push in the clutch before you even start it that it is setting level and not going to roll forward or backward. Lock the two brake pedals on the right side. There should be a lever on the right side of the seat or maybe under it. Then you can push in the clutch and put it in nuetral and try and start it. Like was said you may be able to use a small flat screw driver to turn it on

Getting some instruction is a very good idea. And you can probably get a PDF of the instruction manual online.

luvrulz · #15 05/20/12, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Possum Belly

Bright guys??? Is that supposed to be some sort of slur?

Not at all - y'all guys had some good suggestions for her, but it's kind of like helping someone change a tire over the phone....hard to do. Surely, there has to be a fella closer to her that give her some help!! :-)

I have a newer diesel JD and am no help with the old Fords....or I'd be helping out....

luvrulz · #16 05/20/12, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

without a key.

It's mine, I promise. I didn't steal it.

The guy who built our barn started it with his pocket knife but he's gone back to Virginia and I need to start it again. And I am not sure how to tell if it takes gas or diesel. It's a Ford 1973 or 1974.

I know when he started it for me he showed me how drive it and I think I can figure it out once I get back on it, I just don't know how to start it. Like, is there a clutch I have to step on like a stick shift car? A choke, like I used to have to wiggle when we had a go cart in the 5th grade? Just any little secret that might help me get it moving so we can use it to tighten a fence the goats knocked over.

Thanks! Wish me luck, too!

You know, the Ford tractor place might have a master key or something like that...? Won't hurt to call them.

Sawmill Jim · #17 05/20/12, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrulz

Not at all - y'all guys had some good suggestions for her, but it's kind of like helping someone change a tire over the phone....hard to do. Surely, there has to be a fella closer to her that give her some help!! :-)

I have a newer diesel JD and am no help with the old Fords....or I'd be helping out....

More like getting a hair cut over the phone

PrettyPaisley · #18 05/20/12, 10:14 PM

I found a place I can get a key online. And a manual.

I didn't know it would be that hard. I figured just making sure it had fuel and all the buttons were pushed right and I'd be off and running. When he had it started for me the last time he told me to just jump on and go (just like my daddy would have done) and I did. I didn't go too fast, it wasn't too scary. I wandered around the front yard looking for something productive to do with it-and now that I need it I can't figure out how to start it!

I'll see what I can come up with. There are several nice people around here; when I called the feed store hysterical because I couldn't figure out how to get my cow to hold still so I could milk her, they sent a guy over to help. I'll see if I can find someone else close by who could do the same in exchange for a brush goat or something.

Thanks !

Hagler's Farm · #19 05/21/12, 08:02 AM

It's really not that technical, it's just that tractors, particularly old ones without any safeties can very easily be deadly if you don't know what your doing. Once someone shows you how to do it you'll realize both how easy it is and what to do to be safe.

**fordson major** · #20 05/21/12, 08:43 AM

theres no local tractor fixer around? all our fords have the same key, easy for someone else with a key too steal yours!