What year is my Cub?

[Sailor]

Last month I responded to a request by Trent M for engine serial no's, I included the part # also. He informed me that the part# indicated the engine was manufactured in 1950. Believing I had a 1948 model (my serial number is 16812) I grabbed my magnifying glass and paint scraper and went looking for the truth. Here's what I found:
Engine-
Serial #: 115096
Part #: 251341R2
Cast #: 5-15-T (Mar 15, 1950)

Torque Tube-
Cast #: 3-9-M (Mar 9, 1966)

Transmission-
Part#: 351530R1
Cast#: ?-2-O (? 2, 1968)

Axle Extd-
Cast#: 8-7-O (Aug 7, 1978)

Left Final-
Cast#: 1-9-R (Jan 9, 1948)

Right Final-
Cast#: 1-12-R (Jan 12, 1948)

Touch Control-
Part#: 354383R1
Cast#: 1-17-T (Jan 17, 1950)

I failed to include the bolster info because I don't know what a "bolster" is.

So, if someone asks me "what year is your Cub", what do I tell them? I guess I could sing them that old song by Johnny Cash and his car he put together with parts he stole from work.

[Barnyard]

The bolster is what the radiator bolts to.

[ScottyD'sdad]

Had a few parts changed, over the years!
Ed

[Hengy]

Shoot! Looks like a 1968 tractor by the axle extension tube and Tranny. It almost looks that they took two tractors (both with issues) and married the front half of one to the back half of the other!

[Sailor]

And to make it even more interesting, the floor board and pedals were once painted yellow!

The next show I take it to, I'm going to see if there is a "special" category for my oddball.

Thanks Barnyard, I'll see if I can find those numbers.

[RaymondDurban]

......

Transmission-
Part#: 351530R1
Cast#: ?-2-O (? 2, 1968)

Axle Extd-
Cast#: 8-7-O (Aug 7, 1978)

........

Touch Control-
Part#: 354383R1
Cast#: 1-17-T (Jan 17, 1950)

.....

Your transmission and axle extension are actually "Q" codes, which along with your tractor SN would lead me to believe you have a 1948 Cub with a replaced engine and torque tube. Touch control was not available when your tractor rolled off the assembly line, so it is normal for a Cub from the era yours was made to have a later dated hydraulic system.

The numbers from the bolster can not be seen without some disassembly.

[Scrivet]

.....So, if someone asks me "what year is your Cub", what do I tell them? .........

ALL of them!

........Your transmission and axle extension are actually "Q" codes, which along with your tractor SN would lead me to believe you have a 1948 Cub with a replaced engine and torque tube. Touch control was not available when your tractor rolled off the assembly line, so it is normal for a Cub from the era yours was made to have a later dated hydraulic system.............

Well shucks! I liked it better the other way!

[Sailor]

......

Transmission-
Part#: 351530R1
Cast#: ?-2-O (? 2, 1968)

Axle Extd-
Cast#: 8-7-O (Aug 7, 1978)

........

Touch Control-
Part#: 354383R1
Cast#: 1-17-T (Jan 17, 1950)

.....

Your transmission and axle extension are actually "Q" codes, which along with your tractor SN would lead me to believe you have a 1948 Cub with a replaced engine and torque tube. Touch control was not available when your tractor rolled off the assembly line, so it is normal for a Cub from the era yours was made to have a later dated hydraulic system.

The numbers from the bolster can not be seen without some disassembly.

Thanks for clearing that up Raymond. I was more than a little disappointed when I thought that my Cub wasn't a "real" '48, but I guess finding a Cub, without some replacements parts, would be pretty rare thing.

I'm thinking you have to remove the radiator to see the numbers on the bolster and after looking at the condition of the bolts holding the radiator on, I'm not looking forward to that.

[Barnyard]

I'm thinking you have to remove the radiator to see the numbers on the bolster

The numbers are on the under side. No radiator removal required.


Image from TM Tractor Parts.

[Sailor]

Thanks again, Barnyard.