Farmall Cub

Went out to start Nellie ('47 Cub) last Tuesday during our first big snow storm and the ignition switch was near-frozen in the OFF position. Used a crescent wrench under the pull-cap and gently pried it out. Was able to start normally after that. Did it again yesterday.

This is the first time I can remember that happening. Perhaps water (condensation) got down inside it and froze at some point. We have had numerous sub-zero nights lately.

Anybody have a suggestion to remedy this? Thanks.

Hair dryer.

I struggled with that this year too, but only on the really cold days. When it was below zero I heated my switch with a MAPP gas torch held at length so as to not burn the paint in order to pull it out. This happened several times. I even had to heat it to shut it off. Now that it is not real cold, say 5-10 degrees I am able to pull it out by hand but it is pretty stiff. I brushed a little grease on the shaft just behind the knob but I don't know if it really helped. I'd be afraid to pry it out with something for fear of breaking something. Maybe a little WD-40 would help remove the moisture. I'm not sure how much more of this global warming I'll be able to take....

A common fault for us Canadians too. I too use a little propane torch to thaw things enough to pull the switch.

Jerry

ricky racer wrote:I'm not sure how much more of this global warming I'll be able to take....

Thanks, guys!

Stanton wrote:...
Anybody have a suggestion to remedy this?

Move south!!

Stanton, I used to have a small squeeze can of powdered graphite to lubricate locks with. On a couple of older cars that always seemed to eliminate the frozen door lock problem. Not sure whether it would help here or not.

Bob

My Farmall C has done this a few times this winter as well.
Did it again yesterday at -5F. I use either a small torch, or just rest a trouble light with a 100w bulb against it.
And like Ricky, if it's that cold when I go to shut it off, I've gotta do it again to push it back in.
Once I just left the switch on and used the choke to kill it.
Probably a good sign to stay off the tractor when it's below zero, but when there's work to do...

I have this happen even when the tractors are parked inside. I don't remember this ever happening back in the 50's and 60's with the same switch. I wonder if there was a lubricant in the switch originally that has dissipated over the years.

Keep a can of spray de-icer handy, it will also help prevent it from happening again.

Xperimental wrote:I wonder if there was a lubricant in the switch originally that has dissipated over the years.

An oil soaked felt ring around the stem.

You guys are freezing me to death just talking about it .. Burrrrr. When it is that cold everything is going to freeze.

Global Warming = extreme weather patterns: Exactly what is going happening.

By Friday it will be fixed. Saturday cured. 55 degrees.

Happened to "Louie" at the beginning of winter. Used a micro torch to thaw it out and made a little flap with duct tape to hang over the switch. Problem gone.

midmo wrote:By Friday it will be fixed. Saturday cured. 55 degrees.

Saw that last evening on the weather forecast: 50's for Saturday and Sunday. Every time I see a day forecasted for 50 degrees F in the midst of cold weather, I tell my wife, "That's paintin' weather." She just smiles...