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Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

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Masmith
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Zip Code: 40165
Tractors Owned: 1957 Cub, 1958 International Lo Boy, 1961 Cub, 1962 LoBoy,
Location: Shepherdsville, KY

Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Masmith » Wed Apr 05, 2017 4:17 pm

While cutting grass today with the 1961 cub, 42" woods mower, it completely stalled when it got to the 7" tall thick grass. Blades are sharp and the tractor runs very good. This is the first year I've had an implement to use with a cub. It was very frustrating to say the least. Raising the deck up kept it going. I parked the cub and got out the 1963 Cub Cadet Original and 129. Both tractors cut the grass without issue and never slowed down. I have been in and out of the cub cadet hobby for about 10 years. Looks like the Cub and Loboy will be finding new homes. They are fun to look at and drive, but if I don't have a practical use for them they aren't much fun. I don't garden or take them to shows.
Mike

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baldwindiesel
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby baldwindiesel » Wed Apr 05, 2017 4:23 pm

What gear were you mowing in ?

Baldwindiesel

Masmith
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Posts: 107
Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:55 pm
Zip Code: 40165
Tractors Owned: 1957 Cub, 1958 International Lo Boy, 1961 Cub, 1962 LoBoy,
Location: Shepherdsville, KY

Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Masmith » Wed Apr 05, 2017 4:30 pm

first gear.
Mike

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Glen
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Tractors Owned: 1956 Farmall Cub with Fast Hitch, F-11 plow, Disc, Cultivator, Cub-22 mower
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Wa.

Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Glen » Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:32 pm

Hi,
You didn't say if you have tuned up the Cub engine. Having the timing set right is important so it will have power. It can sound good running with the timing off, just driving it, but running a mower it needs power.
If the Cub doesn't run the mower well, it probably needs a tune up, like a car engine needs, back in the days when they had distributors and points.
I would look at the points, they make a Cub start, or run bad if they are old and burned. The point surfaces should be flat and shiny.
The condenser, rotor, cap, spark plug wires, and spark plugs need checking. Fouled spark plugs can make Cubs start bad too. All those need to be good.
The timing has to be right for it to start and run right too, it should be checked with a timing light.
A compression test would be good to do, all 4 cylinders.
It shows how to replace the points in the Cub owner's manual, here is a page below showing it. The info is continued on the 2nd page.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2041.jpg

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2042.jpg

Here is a listing from TM Tractor for new points and condenser, if you want to see it.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/el/367fp.htm

I sit down next to the Cub with a lawn chair, get a good light, and put a large towel on the floor to catch any screws that I might drop. Then you need a really short screwdriver, and an 11/32 inch open end wrench for the nut holding the end of the point spring.
I have filed the points after taking them out, with a large flat file, then wipe off all cuttings with a clean rag, but new points are better if the old ones are burned.
With a rotary mower under the Cub, maybe you could let the mower down to the ground, and set a low stool or something on the mower, to sit on.

If it's original, it is common for the IH coil to get weak and make a weak spark, then the engine doesn't start or run right too. Then the coil needs replacing. TM Tractor has a listing for those too, you might need the new coil bracket, the newer coils are a bigger diameter than the original IH coils were. The original type coil is shown above in the owner's manual pics.

The valve clearance might need setting, the guys here say it is part of a good tune up. The valves have to be set with a feeler gauge. It tells how in the owner's manual, here is the page.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2055.jpg

The air cleaner needs cleaning, if it is partly plugged, that can make it have less power.
If the governor is not opening the carburetor throttle valve when it needs power, then it could have worn linkage, or be out of adjustment. :)
Last edited by Glen on Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Rjpoog1989
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Tractors Owned: 48 Cub

94 Wheelhorse 312-8

Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Rjpoog1989 » Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:53 pm

I felt about the same as you do, this time yesterday. Few adjustments to the governor linkage and my woods 59 is no longer a disappointment. Something is probably off, lots of good suggestions so far from others!
1948 McCormick Deering Farmall Cub:
- International L-54 blade
- Woods 59 mower
1994 Toro Wheel Horse 312-8: 42" rear discharge deck
Husqvarna 562XP chainsaw: 24" bar w/ skip tooth
Craftsman 18" chainsaw

technova
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby technova » Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:45 pm

Proper height adjustment of the deck is also important. I do not remember the exact specs, but the front should b lower that the back.
If the front is higher the blades will recut the grass when they get to the back of the deck, doubling the workload.
49 Cub, 72 154 LoBoy

Waif
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Waif » Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:57 pm

Deck position on approach can matter.
I brush hogged and cut three foot fallow field areas by not taking a full deck width swath.
The front of deck raised higher than the rear helps. The rear higher by hydraulics is not an option to test on mine much without too short a cut in front the way it is set up.
Had it bogged out , I would have raised height more and made a repeated cut to reduce foliage height.
The tractor is what it is ,worked like any other equipment ,by it' s own standards and ability .
While always seeking to improve it's performance ,it works great for my needs so far.

Get yours tuned and dialed in before disowning it. Should be worth the effort should you sell it.

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LRiddle
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1951 Farmall Cub - Chesty

Woods 59 belly mower

54A blade

1956 Gravely L

Dozer blade

Tiller

Rotary Plow
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Tallmadge, OH

Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby LRiddle » Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:50 pm

I agree with the others. If it won't spin the mower in first gear, something must be off. I mow with a woods 59 on mine in second or even third gear sometimes, so the 42 shouldn't be a problem. The power is there, just need to find it.
Luke Riddle
Tallmadge, Ohio
1951 Cub - Chesty



"You can't believe everything you read on the internet." - Abraham Lincoln


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bofahs
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby bofahs » Wed Apr 05, 2017 9:11 pm

I'll second Glen's final comment about the governor. I'm SO embarrassed that I can't remember the name of the Wizard who tuned on mine at DSCF, but 7 inches of grass is not going to slow down my 42" Woods mower. Thank you, thank you!

Blades need to be sharp, I suppose, and the cutting edge is on the TOP side of the blade - looks weird, but it's correct. When the blade is at the front of the deck, it's 1/4" closer to the ground than the blade at the back of the deck. If that makes sense.

That said, I still think "governor"!

Charles (49) Mo
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Charles (49) Mo » Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:15 am

I'm pretty shure that this is a silly question. Are you 100% positive that you don't have the cutting blades in backwards? Upside down?

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Urbish
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Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 06, 2017 11:53 am

Charles (49) Mo wrote:I'm pretty shure that this is a silly question. Are you 100% positive that you don't have the cutting blades in backwards? Upside down?


Hah, when I bought my Cub, the previous owner had installed one blade upside-down/backward. It cut a LOT better once I realized his mistake.
Jim

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technova
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby technova » Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:03 pm

Do the Cub blades spin backwards compared to most mowers?
My Simplicity is backwards and takes special blades, can't remember the Cub as I
haven't used it for mowing for a few years.
49 Cub, 72 154 LoBoy

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Urbish
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Tractors Owned: ~
1958 International Cub LoBoy
1947 Farmall H
1946 Farmall B
1953 Willys CJ3B
2022 Massey Ferguson GC1723E Subcompact

Cub Loboy L-54 Leveling and Grader Blade
Circle of Safety: Y
Location: Manchester, MI

Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby Urbish » Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:05 pm

technova wrote:Do the Cub blades spin backwards compared to most mowers?
My Simplicity is backwards and takes special blades, can't remember the Cub as I
haven't used it for mowing for a few years.


The Woods 59 for the Cub is right hand discharge. I believe the 42 is as well.
Jim

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SONNY
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby SONNY » Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:41 pm

7" tall grass?---with a regular cub?? THIRD gear?----C,mon guys get real!!!! thanks; sonny

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ricky racer
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Re: Grass Cutting-cub disappointment

Postby ricky racer » Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:44 pm

Cub pto turns backwards from everything else.....
1929 Farmall Regular
1935 John Deere B
1937 John Deere A
1941 John Deere H
1952 John Deere B
1953 Farmall Cub


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