my first 154

[Keith L]

I have had 16 Cubs and still have 8 and have restored 5 of those. I use them quite often. I have been mowing 4 acres with #669 '55 loboy for two years. My point is I know Cubs very well but this is my first 154. I know some of you have disdain for them but I just started tearing mine down for a rebuild and so far I think this is going to be the coolest mowing tractor ever! I really like the way it is designed. A bit more power and a live PTO.
Anyway here is my first question. The rear floatation tires are in pretty nice shape, but I was able to buy a brand new set at a flea market for a reasonable price and will probably change them out. Does anyone know if the floatation turf tires are tubeless?

[RaymondDurban]

The rear floatation tires are in pretty nice shape, but I was able to buy a brand new set at a flea market for a reasonable price and will probably change them out. Does anyone know if the floatation turf tires are tubeless?

You can mount them either way if new and your rims are in good shape. The brand new 13.50-16.1 Firestone's on one of my 154's are tubeless. It also is written on the tire as such. It is also a 10 ply tire and I more than likely would never notice if all the air leaked out of them. I think the old Firestones tires were 6 ply.

[John(videodoc)]

congrats and good luck with your new purchase

[BigBill]

Are you going to rebuild the engine when you restore it? If you are I would do the 185/184 upgrade to the higher horsepower, like to high compression pistons ect. Its a big difference in power and very noticable over the fcub.

[Keith L]

Thanks for you help guys. Yes this one has the clutch / pto problems but I am committed to repairing as I think it will be worth it. Hamiltonbob already has some parts on the way. I am going to rebuild the engine. I haven't torn into it yet. I don't quite understand the power upgrades to the engine yet. My parts manual for 154. 184, 185 only lists one piston. Aluminum dome top.

[BigBill]

I believe its the zenith carb too for the more HP engines.

[RaymondDurban]

The later IH carbs have a larger throat than the older ones, quite a bit of differance. Here is a comparison between a 1970 IH carb off of a 154 Lowboy compared to a 1948 FCub.

Older FCub on the left, newer 154 Lowboy on right

There is quite a bit of differance between the carbs. You can tell from the photos that the throat is much larger in the carb on the right. The fuel discharge nozzle is also larger, as is the metering jet (not in photo). Some may also notice the difference between the two lower bowl casitings in the bowl pressure passage. If the only thing the Zenith carb has in its favor is the larger throat and larger jets, then surely the 'upgraded' IH carb can't be too far behind in performance. This is why is it is important to keep the Carbs together as a matching set, and don't mix-match upper an lower castings between newer and older carbs.

[Keith L]

Interesting about the IH carb. I knew the choke lever on the left of the carb was different to accept a cable instead of the rod. The engine work will be a little later. I am starting with the trans/final drives. New brakes, seals and clutch.

[BigBill]

The larger carb has more CFM's (flow) and it = more power if all the other upgrades are done with it. My fcub has the zenith carb and i'm not sure which one it has.

I wonder if the carb parts can be purchased to upgrade it between the zeniths?

How many tractor builders cut the heads for more compression? Some of the artilces i read are just silly how much material they remove from the head surface. Normally i would cut it only around .010" just to make sure its flat when rebuilding any engine just to play it safe. Some of these tractor pullers are talking .200" to .250" (1/4") thats scary to me.