53 Narrow Cub, what is it?

[WileysCub]

Greetings.
A new tractor to me. I use the 48 A-C B and 53 Ford Golden Jubilee on my farm. this is a 1953 Cub, but very narrow! I was going to replace the steering tubs since both were bent, however the short tub on the left looking at the front of the cub is welded where it was damaged. the main axle tube has a small repair weld on it, but as far as I can tell this is the way it came from the factory. it has 2 left foot brake peddles, with the right foot having the park paws riveted on it. very narrow floor board, with shifter under the seat. and the seat post bout centered the battery. the right side rear case is much shorter than my friends cub. it has been in Western North Carolina for the last 30 years that I know of, before that? just wondering what model Cub this is?

anyway, a few repairs, tune-up, fluid change and off the fields to work!

greg

[tst]

it did not come that way new, some one along the way made it shorter for their purpose, there are several around like that, you can return it to stock if you like with a few parts

[AL Farmall Boy]

Very cool. Reminds me of a vineyard cub

[Indy4570]

so its not a french cub? we know they were made very narrow, I do not know enough about them to ID this or not

[WileysCub]

what gets me is the right casting at the differential, I see no signs of modification. it appears to be a solid casting, just short! the floor pan is stamped no cut marks on outer edge. and the right brake peddle has the lock riveted on it, but its a left brake peddle... I hope to get it cleaned up soon and look for casting numbers.

[Jim Becker]

What does the serial plate say?

[WileysCub]

s/n 168890 J
I flipped the front wheels to get 36 in between the tires and the rear wheels are extended to max with 37 in between the tires, it does cultivate by raised plastic mulch beds, but just barley. next year I plan to flip the front and rear back to narrow and spread my beds to cultivate easier. but it works great for a 65 yr old machine!

[Steve Butram]

Looks like a Modified cub. i'm surprised that it is not noted on the serial tag.

[Cubfriend]

I have the parts to make one of these that I bought in Oregon several years ago. Only a few parts are modified. In Oregon they were reportedly used in strawberry fields.

[Jim Becker]

It about has to be a shop modification after it left the factory.

[Cubfriend]

Mine does appear to be a shop modification. I can see welds on some of the parts.