Engine overhaul?

[Dusti Snider]

If it doesn't smoke, has no blow by, good oil pressure...then I wouldn't mess with it. Valve adjustment, thorough ignition tuneup and checkout, and governor adjustment should make a big difference and cost very little if anything.

For the record, "Otis" smokes, has blow-by but carries very good oil pressure, and dribbles and drools gear oil.However it starts and runs very, very well.

[Bob McCarty]

Posco, Do you have an itemized list of what was done to your Cub during the 4 months it was with the tractor mechanic? If not, you might want to contact him (non -confrontationally) and see if you can get that info. Did he oil the fan hub, generator, grease the throwout bearing, repack the front hubs, change the gear oil in the tranny and rear finals, change the oil in the air cleaner, adjust the valves, drop and clean the oil pan, install new ignition parts, etc.? Some of those things are easy to check, but need to be done if they weren't before. What was he asked to do? Was it just to get the Cub running, or to do a "full service" on it? Your Cub may be in better shape than you think, even though you have found one or two areas that needed attention. Just my 2 cents.

Bob

[Mike in Louisiana]

Posco, what makes you think it needs the overhaul?

The tractors age. It's a 1950 Cub and my thinking is after that many years on her, she is apt to need some work and if I'm going to dig into it, I might just as well dig deep.
I think...I repeat THINK I've found someone capable and trustworthy enough to do the work. It's beyond the scope of my knowledge to do the work myself. If anyone knows of someone in Maine who they would recommend without reservation to do the work, I'm all ears.

The engine might have been overhauled before you got it.

[Eugene]

1950 Cub, engine has more than likely been overhauled at least once and probably twice, specially if this were a farm tractor.

Agree with others, complete engine and tractor problem diagnosis before we open up the engine for a overhaul.

[Papa's Cub]

Posco, you are right about buying a second cub for "yourself" could lead to a divorce or worse. That was a fear of mine as well, my wife just didn't understand why I needed or wanted another cub. So, I did the next best thing. I bought her one of her own and one in a lot better shape than mine. Now I've never confronted her, and probably never will, but when it's time to mow grass I've noticed she walks right by our craftsman to climb up on her cub ( Tom Boy ). Anyhow, it worked for me. Good luck with your Cub. Tom.

[bythepond88]

I refused to accept that you lack the knowledge to do the work yourself, especially given that you are already experienced in a mechanical trade. Engine dis-assembly/reassembly is not difficult and does not require specialty tools beyond a torque wrench and a feeler guage (this is assuming you let a machine shop take the measurements regarding wear). The first major mechanical task I tried was rebuilding my MG's engine from the block up, with a book in one hand and a wrench in the other. It worked.

That being said, I agree with the others that you haven't really given evidence (other than age) that a rebuild is necessary. Start with a dry/wet compression test. If you get good numbers there and she is holding oil pressure, and is not otherwise making alarming noises, save your money.

[Posco]

Uses oil or drips oil?

That's a good question, Mike. It's going somewhere but it is not evidenced in the form of smoke. I added abut a quart this weekend and that's the first oil I've put to it since I changed the oil and filter last fall.

[Posco]

Posco, Do you have an itemized list of what was done to your Cub during the 4 months it was with the tractor mechanic? If not, you might want to contact him (non -confrontationally) and see if you can get that info. Did he oil the fan hub, generator, grease the throwout bearing, repack the front hubs, change the gear oil in the tranny and rear finals, change the oil in the air cleaner, adjust the valves, drop and clean the oil pan, install new ignition parts, etc.? Some of those things are easy to check, but need to be done if they weren't before. What was he asked to do? Was it just to get the Cub running, or to do a "full service" on it? Your Cub may be in better shape than you think, even though you have found one or two areas that needed attention. Just my 2 cents.

Bob

It was a running Cub, Bob. I asked him to do the carb (leaking fuel), governor, steering gear housing gasket, repair a broken weld on my plow and locate me some chains. I drained and replaced ALL the fluids when I first bought the tractor including oiling the fan hub. I pulled to cups off the front tires and packed them with grease. I put new plugs in it...going back to the Autolite after reading the 'Champion' thread.

I haven't touched the oil in the breather nor dropped the oil pan. Not yet. No valve work. Claims he went through the distributor but I can't say for sure. The governor (engine) didn't surge until he "fixed" it. I rewired it A to Z, new alternator and battery. He had my tractor for almost four months. I told he to take his time and not feel pressured, I wanted it done right. He took me at part of my word.