Hello everybody

[MW LP]

Hello everybody,

I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts for a while now. My Dad left me a 1948 Cub which he owned since the early 50s. It has been around as far back as I can remember. It hasn't run for a few years, and this fall I decided it was time to overhaul the engine and try to restore the rest of the tractor while I'm at it. I haven't done any restorations before, so I'm sure there are going to be some questions.

Thanks in advance for your help...


Mike

[Barnyard]

Mike!
Since you've been following the forum for a while, you know this is the best place to get help with that restoration. Since it has been in your family most of it's life it sounds like you have a good Cub to work with. Enjoy it.

[beaconlight]

Hey Mike Welcome. The one major thing I use is the KISS system. Keep it simple stupid. In other words do the inexpensive simple things first.
Change oil. Make sure there is antifreeze (mix it first), will the engine turn over? Take the plugs out and with your finger over the plug hole check for compression (no need to get a tester) We are only trying to see if the valves close at this point. I always change plugs, rotor and dist cap when I change the points and condenser. On a strange to me engine I change them in place even if it seems I need three hands. (don't knock the timing off. Charge the battery or replace it. Check for poor or corroded wiring connections as well as cleaning the glass sediment bowl. Take the carburetor apart and clean the bowl and remove the brass hex sticking out of the bowl of the carb (the jet), use a piece of soft wire to clean it out. Re assemble everything (don't over tighten the top to the carb bowl) and give it a go. They usually pop off for me at this point. If it turns over and doesn't start I would recheck the points and then if still no go I would replace the coil.
Some will say I am a spend thrift and others say throwing money away on parts but I feel that if it sat a couple of years there was a reason and these parts as well as old fashioned copper Plug Wires (not the thread with graphite type) have to be replaced rather soon in your using the cub successfully.
Yes it may start and run smokey but the initial trick is to get it running and then we can do all sorts of tricks or tests to get it running well. No need to put big bucks in for an overhaul if it is not necessary.

[Barnyard]

Mike, if you add your city/state to your profile you may find someone here who lives close by and would be willing to give you a hand.

[johnbron]

Mike, if you add your city/state to your profile you may find someone here who lives close by and would be willing to give you a hand.

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I will second that.

[pete1941]

Welcome Mike, to the Cub Family and to the Farmall Cub Forum, know you will enjoy the Cub and hope you enjoy the Forum just as much. Pete

Oh and BTW, you might want to go ahead and get vaccinated for Cubacumulitus. It is very easy to become infected with this disease around here , Pete

[Rudi]

Mike:

First, to the greatest forum on the internet, and to the Cub Family. You will find that all the folks on this forum are kind, helpful and just full of Cub info and knowledge. They also happen to be the finest folks I have ever met

Hello everybody,

I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts for a while now. My Dad left me a 1948 Cub which he owned since the early 50s. It has been around as far back as I can remember. It hasn't run for a few years, and this fall I decided it was time to overhaul the engine and try to restore the rest of the tractor while I'm at it. I haven't done any restorations before, so I'm sure there are going to be some questions.

Thanks in advance for your help...


Mike

You are a very lucky person to be able to have your Dad's Cub. That is really cool.. I am sure everyone here will be glad to help in whatever questions you may have as you proceed down this particular path. Welcome to the Forum and to the Family

The Welcome Wagon is a relatively brief introduction to the information that is currently available on Cub tractors, and answers many of the common questions new members ask right of the bat. Although it is a bit overwhelming , it has been designed to actually be copied to a Word Processor such as Microsoft Word (which preserves the active links), and saved to your desktop for easy reference at a later date or when you have a bit more time to read all the information contained in the links below. Please do so, enjoy and I hope this will be a useful aid in learning more about your New Cub Tractor

Filling out your Profile is a real help. It just needs to be - State,City, County, a lot less than what is available in your local phone book. Knowing where you are will help in members offering to come help, when you are looking for parts - the area that would be useful to you etc., Also our CubFests, Mini-Fests or a simple KaffeeKlatsch/get together over coffee and a doughnut etc., to help each other benefits. Just a thought

Ok, so here is the spiel :

I would suggest that you read this thread: New Members and Visitors, Please READ Prior to Posting. There are many great links to informative pages such as the ATIS FAQ's 1 and ATIS FAQ's 2, The Best of H.L. Chauvin who has written very interesting articles on troubleshooting common problems with your Cub. One of the other projects we have been working on and it will be a continuing effort is the The Cub Book of Knowledge. This the the place to go to get all the quick links to some very good articles written by many members of the forum on solving some of the problems we encounter as we repair, maintain and up-grade our Cubs. Keep looking for this to grow.


Also, you might want to visit the Cub Manual Server as there is tons of info on servicing, maintaining and re-building your Cub. In addition to this basic information, there are also a number of other useful tools available on the server. There is the Specialty Services page which has contact info for neat stuff like getting your seats recovered, buying quality Decals, Serial Number tags and a host of other neat items. Also there are the Parts Pages - both Used Parts Suppliers and New Parts Suppliers pages with links to quality dealers. I am always looking for YOUR favourite dealers for New and Used Parts to include here. These pages are intended to complement our Official FarmallCub.com Website Sponsors:

JP Tractor Salvage
Ralph's Cubs
TM Tractor Parts
cubguy47

I would also recommend that you visit Binder Books and purchase the three most important manuals you can own for Maintenance, Repair and Rebuilding your Cub. These are the Owner's Manual, the GSS-1411 Service Manual and the TC-37F Parts Manual. Although they are available on the Cub Manual Server, it is better if you also have your own paper copy. Binder Books is the only Authorized IH Publication Reprint House and they have the best quality manuals available. Most other's are not of the same quality. Just a personal thought here, the I&T Shop Manuals, although helpful in some areas, really are not sufficient for the job. If you wish though, they are good additional reference works.

IF you really want to get the skinny on all things Cub, might I suggest you get a copy of Ken Updike's Farmall Cub and Cub Cadet's . While you are at it Original Farmall Cub and Cub Cadet is Ken's latest addition to the series. Along with Guy Fay's Letter Series Originality Guide, these are three must have's in anyone's collection.

In addition to the above information, don't forget to check out the various articles that are available to help with your Repair, Restore, Rebuild or just your Maintenance Projects. There are a number of sub pages such as Electrolysis or Rust Zapper's, Maintenance Tips, Jigs and Techniques, Implement and Part Sketches and of course the Paint, Decals & Other Finish Questions which has the Paint Chart and the Paint Committee Decisions links.

Oh, and while the program still lasts.. you might want to check the Announcement: Navistar Free Gas Cap Offer - On-Line Form thread at the top of the Cub Forum and send away for the new style safety cap before that program runs out as well. The program has been extended and no new definite end-date has been announced at this point. It is an extension only and may end rather quickly depending on available stocks. Please do take advantage of this offer and get the new safety caps

I truly hope that you enjoy your Cub and that you will be a frequent contributor to the forum. Again, to the Cub Family

[Jeff Silvey]

Welcome Mike. You will enjoy this site. Alot of great info & help.
Jeff

[iamfranswa]

Welcome, I have been here about a year and could not say enough about the people and the community!

[1835wayne]

Mike, I am just down the road in the Fish Lake area........

Let me know if you need help!!

[Joe Malinowski]

Hi Mike
As you have been told you have come to the right place as you have seen its about more than the cubs. You will meet some great helpful people here.

[Eagle]

I am also a new comer to the group, but what great information I have obtained.

[John(videodoc)]

Hi mike and welcome to the forumn. Mark your calender for DOCFEST coming up in April. It will be an opportunity to learn a lot about cubs and meet several of the people here on the board. It will take place at my place in paris, il, which isnt too far from you. be watching the announcements sections for the announcement in a month or so. John

[redfin]

Hi Mike

Welcome to the forum.

[Jim Roy]

Welcome Mike
You are at the right place. everyone is great here and willing to answer any question you may have. Just ask and join in.
Jim