Year? Now my early 47 Resto Thread.

[JimN]

I thought I would go ahead and turn this into my restoration thread. This will take a long while as it isn't my only project. But I really like this forum and appreciate all the good info. Since it is an early 1st year Cub, I would like to maintain/improve its originality..... This should be fun, and my dad who was born in 1929 and owns the tractor, will be helping with the process.
Back to my original thread.
Okay. The tractor is at my Dads place. I am curious what you all can tell from the only photo I have handy...... So what can you tell from this photo about the production date etc.? He acquired the tractor with a farm he bought in 1964, happens to be the year I was born.

tractor

[Glen]

Hi,
It looks like it is a 1947 - 1949 Cub, from where the switches are on the dash. They moved the light switch, with the large knob, up to the upper right after that.
Then they moved the ignition switch up to where the light switch is in your pic.

Below is a page from the 1947 Cub owner's manual showing the dash.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... age-04.jpg

Below is a page from the 1955 Cub owner's manual showing the newer dash arrangement.
There is no earlier 1950's owner's manual in Rudy's manuals with the newer arrangement to look at.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2004.jpg

It looks like someone enlarged the gear shift lever somehow, unless it is just the picture.
A pic of the right side and hood would be helpful.

[Barnyard]

Do you have the serial number? That will tell the year right off.

[Jim Becker]

The switch location moved when they went from the long ear to short ear dash panel, mid-1949. So the tractor likely predates that change. The hand lift and relatively small tires also suggest a fairly early model.

[JimN]

I know that the stickers said IH, McCormick Farmall, and had the circle Cub towards the front. The stickers have all been painted over. The data plate is missing. Is there a stamp of the serial number somewhere?
I think the engine casting date is 6-13-Q. So that would be 47 according to a chart I found. But the Q is rather weird.

[Bill Hudson]

The casting date is June 13, 1947. From the TM Tractor Parts page:

Engine Serial Numbers
Next, check the engine serial number, which is stamped into the cylinder block on a machined flat surface, just above the oil filler tube and below the valve tappet cover on the left side of the tractor. This number is within the same series of numbers as your tractor serial number, most of the time just a little higher. Use the engine serial number as a guide to help confirm your tractor's age. Additionally, when ordering certain engine parts, the serial number may be required. Use the engine serial number page as a reference.

The early Cubs, both the engine and tractor serial numbers matched. From what you have described, chances are pretty good that you have a real deal "Circle Cub."

Bill

[Don McCombs]

Look here for the engine serial number and post it. You may need to scrape a little paint.


Photo courtesy TM Tractor Parts

[Glen]

Hi,
I'm not sure if you have the Cub anymore, or not.
There is no tractor serial number stamped in the tractor, just on the plate.
Below is a page from the Cub owner's manual showing where the engine serial number is, you could look at that.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2002.jpg

Here is info about the casting codes from TM Tractor.

http://www.tmtractor.com/id/castdate_loc.htm

http://www.tmtractor.com/id/id_004.htm

Don posted 2 minutes before me. It looks like the choke rod in that TM Tractor pic is upside down, that is not the way it should go.

[JimN]

Lol. Yes. We have the Cub. I took some more photos earlier today, but that was before I knew where to find the engine serial number.

[JimN]

So this is what I can share so far with some photos taken yesterday:
The circle cub stickers are still there, just painted over.
Looks like original oil pressure gage?

Farmall Cub Gage.jpg (43.89 KiB) Viewed 849 times

Fine screen grille

Instrument panel

[staninlowerAL]

The ignition switch has been replaced with a toggle switch shown in your last picture. The tractor would originally have been equipped with a magneto and the switch is a grounding device to stop the engine. Any pictures of the distributor side? What is the serial number on the engine block boss behind the carb?

[Brandon Webb]

It is an early cub it has the fine mesh grill. Did you find the serial number?

[Glen]

Hi,
The oil pressure gauge looks like an original style.
Here is a new one TM Tractor sells, it is the original style for an early Cub, it says.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/en/2645fp.htm

Below is a 1947 Cub owner's manual. The experts on here recommend that people read it, it has much info about operation, maintenance, and lubrication. There are pics of how they originally look too.
They are showing a different IH on the gauge in the manual than the early style IHC, sometimes small things in the manuals have a different pic than was used in production. Usually the pics are the same though.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... index.html

[JimN]

Hi,
The oil pressure gauge looks like an original style.
Here is a new one TM Tractor sells, it is the original style for an early Cub, it says.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/en/2645fp.htm

Yeah, I think TM Tractor took the easy route when it came to making the bezels ....

[JimN]

Finally got around to cleaning paint off of the serial number.
FCUB M 1601