Here is the Ultimate “H” Book
(Last Updated Dec 2009)
Four years of Research & Experimentation
Without Doubt – Our Best Book Ever!
The 3rd Edition
WHAT IS THIS BOOK? -- This 296‐page document is an expanded writing of the now‐popular 208‐page 2nd Edition.
To view Updates to prior printings of the 3rd Edition, click on this “SUPPLEMENT” link
SUPPLEMENT
BOOK HI-LIGHTS when Compared to 2nd Edition
1. The base chapters of Sheet Metal (2) Engine
(3) Transmission-PTO & Final Drive Chapter (4), Steering (5) and
Basic Tractor (6) now have the many significant updates as a result of further
experiments conducted during the year 2006 and 2007. The combined pages count
for these chapters rose from 105 to 122 pages in the process.
2. Electrical Chapter (7) now includes TOTAL
wiring diagram detail plus critical dressing of cables and harnesses. Figures
have been professionally re-drawn.
3. Carburetor Chapter (8) is the Book’s
Gemstone! Chapter 8 is expanded from 12 to 36 pages -- now includes
FULL OVERHAUL & inspection routines.
4. Two handy appendices (13 & 14) have been
added – polarizing the generator and an expansion of the engine lubricating
system to include that dreaded collapsed oil filter body!
COMPANION SOURCE
CD AVILABLE --
For those seeking the very handy “Office CD” version of the Restoration Guide 3rd Edition, the very source CD of this new book is also for sale. Ref the CD price in the eBook section below.
If purchased along with the book as a COMBO, you save! What is CD’s value? All of the illustrations that have color are
on the CD in full living color – providing greater clarity in many instances.
HERE IS A TYPICAL
LETTER:
Are you tired of generic manuals that really don’t give the user much information or guidance?
Try Pat Browning’s John Deere Model H Restoration Guide. You
certainly won’t be disappointed, and unlike most things related to old tractors,
it is a real value!
Mr. Browning is an award-winning author with years of
practical experience using and working on vintage John Deere tractors. He is
also an engineer and an educator as well; what a great combination!
The text is
well-written, easy to follow and understand, and covers virtually every
mechanical aspect of the John Deere Model H. An added bonus is the Guide is
full of useful tips and advice that apply to most other John Deere two-cylinder
tractors as well.
It is my
opinion this Guide is the best material on vintage John Deere tractors
available on the market today. I refer to mine several times a week and don’t
know how I ever got along without it.
Dave R., Oregon (January 2008)
Detailed Synopsis, Restoration Guide,
3rd Edition
The 3rd Edition! –This book contains all of the technical content of prior 1st & 2nd Editions, but without the errors & omissions! As someone told me, this edition is kind of like grandchildren. That man told me that if he’d known how enjoyable grandchildren would be, he’d have had them first! That is the way we here at JDHPUBS feel about this edition!
Other Credits – The 2nd Edition is still a best seller along with a 10-page listing of supplemental data. The 2nd Edition was featured in June 2006 Green Magazine, Product Review (http://www.jdhpubs.com/pdf/Green.pdf) and as a totally unsolicited Product Review in the January 2007 issue of Farm Show (http://www.jdhpubs.com/pdf/FarmShow.pdf).
A Companion Book -- Here we finally have a full-blown Restoration Manual for all variations of the John Deere Model ʺHʺ tractor, and serves as a “Companion Book” to the usual “Big Three” manual set cited in the following paragraph. This book is organized into nine chapters supported by fourteen appendices and a 740 + entry Subject Index listing. I’ve not counted the number of illustrations, but be assured there are plenty pictures and drawings to help you become eminently familiar with your JD ʺHʺ. It is highly recommended that you have this Book to read BEFORE you buy your first John Deere “H” Tractor. It could save you a bundle!
Errors We Have Made Along the Way – I have maintained a keen eye for grief that we, individual restorers, tend to bring upon ourselves. There are a number of ways this can happen – the list is topped by failing to plan and hasty preparation, quickly followed by inadequate tooling, poor techniques, being in a hurry; and then the biggie – tearing into a tractor without benefit of the manuals that are available. In addition to stressing planning, preparation and having the right manuals, this book includes a boatload of cost-saving tips for you as you get into your new tractor.
Technical Data -- This book includes many references to Field Service Bulletins and to earlier ʺDIRʺ series technical books -- both issued by Deere & Co. over the years. Some are of interesting historical value while others bear significant & needed technical data not found in any of the three manuals you should also have: Operators Manual (either OMR2011, or DIR276), Parts Catalog (Some form of PC304) and a Service Manual (either this author’s Service Guide or JD-4 I&T Shop Service Manual). These “Big Three” manuals are available through this website in one form or another.
Chapter
1 - Basics, Tooling and Facility -- Restoration and its variations are discussed
along with approaches to initial cleaning, choices you should make up front
with emphasis of writing your plan, and the concept of a journal is introduced.
Planning should include where you will look for needed parts, services and
supplies; and arranging for storage during tear down. Emphasis is placed
safety, protecting parts of high value, care and identification of special
fasteners, and on the method of restoring fasteners. Serial tags (plates) are
addressed plus what a Production Record is and how to obtain one for your
tractor. Tooling you will need is
defined along with two versions of a flywheel wrench, one of which you can
make. Near-complete listings of tooling are provided along with a “virtual
facility” outline to help you “see” what is needed. The chapter closes with a partial listing of JD ʺHʺ
parts that have become scarce and costly -- to guide you in working
with them – to appreciating their value!
Chapter
2 - Sheet Metal -- This chapter was prepared apart from the ʺmain
tractorʺ chapters in response to so many questions fielded over the years,
and includes guidance for removing, reworking and reinstalling sheet metal and
associated elements of the tractor like fuel tanks, shutter controls and
gauges. Three major parts into the chapter deal with fuel systems and pitfalls
to avoid, the right gauges for your JD ʺHʺ tractor (yes -
gauges are year-dependent), and decals. Yes, as it turns out, both gauges
& decals are production-year dependent. Decals are easy to misplace,
and this chapter provides the guidance you need in decal placement.
Chapter
3 - The Engine -- The chapter opens with a wide range of basic
information to help the reader get to know the JD ʺHʺ power plant!
Topics include but are not limited to the lube system, crankcase ventilation,
air filtering, carburetion, cooling, anti-freeze issues, gasket data,
torque values, compression testing, replication, importance of thrust washers,
and inspection criteria to apply. Technical discussion is intense so far as the
cylinder head, block, pistons, rings & bearings are concerned. An
in-depth study is presented of the governor and its four distinct LH
bearing housing configurations along with methods of dealing with fan drive
gear and pinion adjustments and measurements for backlash and heel. Fan shaft
disassembly and overhaul is also addressed briefly. A late major section
addresses the clutch as a system to include general operation, disassembly and
special inspection points. The chapter closes with the essence of engine
restoration -- engine run up -- all systems check.
Chapter
4 - Transmission, Final Drive & PTO -- This chapter opens
with an overview of the JD ʺHʺ drive train, from crankshaft, through
the clutch & transmission, to the final drive. The concept of a reduction
gear & sliding shaft -- typical in JD drive trains, is
explained. In this chapter, the style changes. For the transmission, the text includes a process plan style approach
(step-by-step) to tear-down and rebuild -- too often omitted
from most technical manuals. Much effort was included to assist the reader in
tear down, overhaul and reinstallation of the rear axle assemblies where the
tractorʹs braking system presents many with special challenges. The
chapter also examines renewal of the rear main case oil seals, total overhaul
of the gear shifter (typically in a shambles on 60+ year old tractors), and a
series of tips dealing with the JD ʺHʺ power shaft --
very tricky here! Failing to follow a
strict removal routine of the power shaft can result in catastrophic damage to
the main case.
Chapter
5 - Steering and Front Ends -- This chapter also differs in style from the
others. It opens with basic techniques for steering wheel restoration, defines
basic steering criteria, explores the usual causes of loose steering and
suggests remedies available to the restorer. Once past the general area of
discussion, this text uses three sections to deal with ʺHʺ, ʺHNʺ
and ʺHNHʺ systems, again, swings into process plan style, four
sections to address ʺHWHʺ tractors, followed by two sections
applicable to all variations dealing with front wheel and hubs, and finally
steering mechanism adjustments. As usual, several tips are provided to guide
the reader along the way.
Chapter
6 -- Basic Tractor -- This chapter comes in to address a series of
subject areas not neatly collectable into ʺsectionsʺ of a tractor to
include rear wheel removal and restoration, some notes on tires, a history of
the pan seat used on JD ʺHʺ tractors along with variations over the
years. Discussion of the seat also includes tips on making your old cracked and
beat up seat serviceable again. Drawbars -- here is another history
lesson along with encouragement to be creative in making repairs --
from lessons learned. Work-arounds are encouraged along with making a
journal entry of the path
chosen
& why. Full inspection of the main case includes examination of the PTO
forward bearing boss and drawbar mounting holes. Techniques of repair are
discussed. Full description and operation of the JD ʺHʺ hydraulic
lift system comes in this chapter along with basic guidance for overhaul. A
collection of ʺOperating Tipsʺ and ʺFrequently Asked
Questionsʺ round out the text portion of this chapter, and are followed by
three summary pages which list the JD ʺHʺ specs, various equipments
for the ʺHʺ, and a partial list of special fasteners --
those with JD Part Numbers assigned. The list of special fasteners includes a
narrative description of each to assist you during build-up.
Chapter
7 -- The Electrical System -- This chapter opens with a listing of
original equipment installed on your ʺHʺ, and a major section dealing with generators, starters and
lighting systems -- how they operate and how to troubleshoot them.
Also included are a wiring diagram and a wire run list for the ʺHʺ --
both super easy to read, and informative enough to guide you in fabricating
your own new harnesses. Troubleshooting of the John Deere 6-volt generating
system follows general discussion. Magneto discussion has been expanded to
provide insight into how one works & magneto timing -- along
with how to troubleshoot a magneto-based ignition system. At the chapter’s end you will find over two
pages of photographs and a drawing to help guide you in building and routing of
the two wiring harnesses and battery cable.
Chapter
8 - Carburetors -- This is a brief chapter starting with a complete
narration telling you how the DLTX-26/46 carburetor works --
defining the two separate ʺcircuitsʺ for idle and load fuel.
Diagnosing tractor failures involving the carburetor are explored to include
some simple no-wrench tests you can perform. A series of complaints by
John Deere tractor owners is listed along with responses. This section ends with a tip from John Deere
Engineering that may help owners with a hard-starting tractor. The most significant addition over this
Book’s 2nd Edition is a 23-page section in Chapter 8 providing
detailed, step-by-step instructions for complete overhaul of your carburetor.
This section is equivalent to another of this author’s publications,
“Carburetor Overhaul”. So – this is
like having a second book for the price of one!
Chapter
9 - Paint and Painting -- This chapter combines the authorʹs experience
along with tales from others plus some theory and technology. A wide range of
coatings is discussed to include aerosol canned paint, primers, ʺrust
convertersʺ and filler primers. Paint hardeners and the profound health
issues they bring to bear are presented. Painting equipment includes safety
devices to be used when using two & three-part paint solutions.
Automotive type paints are compared to paints obtained from your John Deere
Dealer, along with what it takes to make the JD paint have the deep shine; that
ʺwet lookʺ. John Deere factory painting methods are briefly
discussed, and compared with those for ʺshow tractorʺ painting. The
chapter winds down with some neat additions for your tractor, in both narrative
and pictorial form. At the very end of the chapter you will find some
interesting letters between the author and others in quest of paint problem
solutions over the years.
The Appendices and Subject Index -- There are fourteen appendices taking up 45 pages following the nine basic chapters, some of which are reference data and some more laden with instructional content. Their titles generally reveal both content and purpose. They are: performance criteria references, standard torque values, a short vendor listing, gasket data for the ʺHʺ, renew crankshaft and main bearings plus cam gear backlash, engine and clutch build up, inspection criteria in general, the 1939 ʺHʺ tractor, a sample journal page, how to paint a JD ʺHʺ, adding a PTO to a non-PTO tractor, rear wheel removal, polarizing a generator, and the engine lubrication system. Those dealing with the engine are in process plan format complete with torque values and quality control inspection points. The subject index contains just over 740 line items making this book very well cross-referenced. ++++