Farmall Cub

Depending on what you read and where, the Cub engine in the 184 Loboy put out anywhere from 18-21HP. I don't think it's true.

A freshly rebuilt Cub engine will seem like a powerhouse compared to an old tired worn out engine.

What you have to keep in mind is that in hotrodding ANY engine, you get a PERCENTAGE of increased power with every improvement.

When you put a goal of getting "only" 5HP more out of a Cub engine, remember that you're trying to increase its output by over 50%!

It takes a LOT of work and parts to get 5HP more out of a small block V8 engine that puts out hundreds of HP. That's only about 1-2% increase.

Here, you're talking about 50% more. On a small block V8 when they want to increase the HP by 50%, they put on a blower or nitrous.

The relationship is proportional, not linear. 50% more horsepower out of a Cub engine takes the same kind of work and parts as 50% more horsepower out of a small block V8 engine.

the 184 and 185 loboy has around 16 HP at the PTO shaft with engine running at 2600 RPM.

Let me recap. Start with tune up. I have done plugs and wires, and generator. What else should I do for tune up? Then compression test. What should the compression test read? What about the smoke? Rings?

What else should I do for tune up?

Valve tappet clearance, ignition timing, clean the air cleaner. The operator's manual describes the procedures and a few more items to check. There is help in the "How To" section of this site.

What should the compression test read?

Take the compression tests, record the readings. Report the readings. We can tell you what the readings indicate.

What about the smoke? Rings?

Try the SeaFoam, see it it helps. You could very well need an engine overhaul, but lets wait and see the compression test results and if the SeaFoam works.

Matt Kirsch wrote:
Here, you're talking about 50% more. On a small block V8 when they want to increase the HP by 50%, they put on a blower or nitrous.

You now have me hoping that somebody somewhere has but a blower and some NoS bottles on a Cub. Doesn't matter if it's functional, would be hilarious to see!

Keep in mind that any attempt to increase power will risk finding the next weakest component in the system. I would suspect that if you juiced up your power, overloaded it and have enough traction, the transmission would be the next in line to detonate.

The entire back half of the tractor has been redone except for a paint job. Here's the rest of the story. I hope you have time. My dad has a cub lowboy it is an awesome tractor but hardly ever uses it. I had a 35 hp compact tractor with loader. My dad was looking for something like that. I asked him if he wanted to trade just to use not to own. He after a year he still wasn't sure. So I moved on and started looking for a cub of my own.
Phase 2
I have a great neighbor he's 80ish and has a great heart but can get carried away. one day i say to him "i'm looking for a farmall cub let me know if you see one". two days latter he tells me he bought me a farmall cub. I say what do you mean? He says i seen one at a garage sale and bought it for you. if you want it i paid a 1000. well what was i to do. i would not have bought the tractor. it was a mess. so i took it to a tractor repair guy. he is an awesome guy but a little vague on pricing. i should have pinned him down to a price but i didn't. we started from the back and worked are way forward. we got to the engine and i had 2000 more rapped up in the tractor. we started in on the engine and the front of the block was cracked and the casting that held the front end on was busted. we don't know how the front end didn't fall off. at this point you could imagine my wife. i have 3000 wrapped up in a tractor and the engine is not repairable. this guy can fix anything, truly fix anything and he said it was beyond repair. So we find an engine from a guy who had a cub lowboy that was sitting in a field forever for 250 dollars. we bolted it up and away we went. So that is the story. the bad part is i am in love with the tractor. i have more in it than it is worth but i can't part with it. so i really want to get it to the point where it doesn't struggle to mow grass. Keep the help coming.

The entire back half of the tractor has been redone except for a paint job. Here's the rest of the story. I hope you have time. My dad has a cub lowboy it is an awesome tractor but hardly ever uses it. I had a 35 hp compact tractor with loader. My dad was looking for something like that. I asked him if he wanted to trade just to use not to own. He after a year he still wasn't sure. So I moved on and started looking for a cub of my own.
Phase 2
I have a great neighbor he's 80ish and has a great heart but can get carried away. one day i say to him "i'm looking for a farmall cub let me know if you see one". two days latter he tells me he bought me a farmall cub. I say what do you mean? He says i seen one at a garage sale and bought it for you. if you want it i paid a 1000. well what was i to do. i would not have bought the tractor. it was a mess. so i took it to a tractor repair guy. he is an awesome guy but a little vague on pricing. i should have pinned him down to a price but i didn't. we started from the back and worked are way forward. we got to the engine and i had 2000 more rapped up in the tractor. we started in on the engine and the front of the block was cracked and the casting that held the front end on was busted. we don't know how the front end didn't fall off. at this point you could imagine my wife. i have 3000 wrapped up in a tractor and the engine is not repairable. this guy can fix anything, truly fix anything and he said it was beyond repair. So we find an engine from a guy who had a cub lowboy that was sitting in a field forever for 250 dollars. we bolted it up and away we went. So that is the story. the bad part is i am in love with the tractor. i have more in it than it is worth but i can't part with it. so i really want to get it to the point where it doesn't struggle to mow grass. Keep the help coming.

i forgot. My dad said that i could have his the day after i bought this one. i had also told my father i would have the tractor totally redone for him including paint job. LIfe.

You didn't mention which mower you are using. 59" mowers are harder to pull. Have you checked to see if blade(s) are slightly lower in front when parallel with tractor and deck is at mowing height?

It is a 5 foot mower with 3 blades. I don't know the make it came with my dads tractor. I also have the 4 foot mower single blade that came with the tractor when i bought it. I have not checked the tilt.

The 42 inch mower can use up to one half inch difference, the three blade, a quarter to three-eights inch. Deere makes a plastic gauge for setting blade height. Works well and not much money. I hav a pix of one on photo host but can't make my phone copy the URL.