Driving my Cub home--the Adventure!

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FarmLadyWannaB

Well-known member
I have had my Cub a week now :D :D and I wanted to tell the story of getting it home. It wasn't TOO eventful... except for, well, that little incident where I...

nearly flipped it over. :oops: :oops: :oops: Things like this prove that there is a God--or guardian angels looking after fools and newbies using equipment for the first time. (Under the topic of near-misses sometime I'll share the story of my husband and I chainsawing for the first time with our newly purchased used c'saw. Gulp. :shock: :o :oops: )

The Cub seller, Arthur, was most solicitous (i.e., worried) and offered to drive it home for me. I live 5-7 miles from him. The short way would have meant immediately going up a steep hill, and he wisely persuaded me to go the long way, which was flatter but meant a rather long jaunt on CT Rt. 44, our "main drag" two-lane road. I was pretty nervous, but I really wanted to drive it home myself. I wore a hunter-orange vest 'cause I couldn't find a SMV sign to buy and the state police are REAL picky around here. In brief, the Cub putt-putts along like a champ and I had no problem on the "main" roads, which have a pretty wide shoulder. Some people stared and waved and I totally enjoyed it! Lil runs like a charm! Even went into 3rd gear several times on the straight-away.... WHOA-OOOH :!: :!: :lol:

OK, for the amusement of all you tractor pros, it's confession time about that.... little incident. :oops: Well, I had just left Arthur's house on the back road and was trying to follow his directions, which were kind of hard to understand because he had an unlit cigar butt in his mouth the whole time. :wink: The road turned to dirt and I was supposed to turn left, but I mistook a farmer's paved long driveway for the left-turn road. I realized my mistake just after turning up (and I mean UP) the drive and decided to shift into reverse. This entailed clutching, going into neutral [BAD IDEA], and applying the brake.

:o :shock: :shock: What happened was: the Cub started rolling back down the drive and the brakes seemed to have no stopping power. :o :shock: :cry: Gee, there's no emoticon for sheer "fear." (The brakes worked fine except for this eventuality.) I tried steering to turn around so I'd be facing forward (engine on the uphill side, fortunately--I did remember that) but in the meantime the Cub went off the road and got stopped by the d'way bank and the rut alongside the pavement. We were leaning (engine uphill) at about a 60 degree angle (it felt worse) and I considered jumping off, but we seemed pretty stable. I shifted into first and edged forward, turning, and Lil easily lifted herself up and out and we got turned facing forward and most importantly IN GEAR. We were able to continue home uneventfully, but it was a powerful lesson :oops: :!: , and all your safety warnings are ringing in my ears.

Now, I do have a lot of extra weight in the rear wheels: weights + ca chloride. But I did expect the brakes to stop us from rolling back down and they didn't. :? SO I'm going to do some controlled experiments here at home so that I get more familiar with how the tractor will behave in difft situations. And the brake linings need to be checked (although they've not failed on other hills--but then I was in gear and, like I have always done with stick-shift cars, I tend to use the gears & the throttle to slow down before applying the brakes).

Anyway, PHEW! Lil's home and we're both unscathed, and I have the paper manuals and :arrow: :idea: I'm doing a LOT of reading. :!: Any tips you can share to help enlighten me on what happened :arrow: :o will be most appreciated, thank you. :)

Jocelyn, suitably humbled :roll: but :lol: lovin' the Cub
 
Jocelyn,
First and foremost, really glad your ok. I've had a couple of "incedents" on other tractors over the years....I think thats why I have this grey hair (combined with raising 2 sons) but I never had a problem with my cub. I'd check out the brakes very closely as you mentioned. I'd check all the adjustments and if I still wasn't satified I'd remove the final drives for a closer look, its well worth the effort to get your tractor to stop and be safe to operate.
I'm sure others will have additional advice aslo.
Glad you enjoyed the rest of your ride and had a uneventful rest of you trip!!

Ron
 
Keep in mind that the early style Cub brakes were very poor going backwards, even with everything is in perfect condition. When you try your "controlled experiments" be sure to test both pointing up hill and down hill.
 
Jocelyn,

You have an exciting experience to add to your collection!

I'll echo Jim's thought and amplify it a bit, to maybe help others avoid the same situation.

When the tractor is moving forward the drum tends to wrap the band, helping with braking effort. When travelling backward the opposite happens... the drum tends to unwrap the band, so the same amount of braking takes a LOT more pedal pressure.

Where this is MOST important is on loading ramps. Backing off a trailer can result in loss of control. :(
 
We're glad you made it home safely. The only mis-adventure I had driving my first cub home was that it had set out along the road with a for sale sign on it for a few weeks and it had a rather nice plush tie-on seat cover on it that had accumulated a rather copious amount of rain water which was not evident until after quite some time in the seat.
When I reached home and dis-mounted I wondered what the cool breeze was behind me. I was soaked! It also took about 2 weeks of good old summer sunshine to get that cushion dried out.
 
JOYCELYN,
AFTER READING YOUR POST, FIRST GLAD YOU OR "LIL" WASN'T HURT. SECOND I PROMISE I DID NOT LOL. OKAY, MAYBE JUST A LITTLE. ANYWAYS, IF ONCE YOU HAD REACHED THE POINT AT THE HILL WHERE YOU DECIDED TO STOP, YOU COULD HAVE PUT "LIL" IN REVERSE GEAR. THE GEARING IN REVERSE IS SUCH, THAT IT WOULD HAVE SLOWED YOUR DOWNHILL SPEED, AND ALONG WITH BRAKING SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THE TRACTOR. I COMMEND YOU FOR NOT GETTING TOO FEARFULL OF " LIL" AND GETTING RIGHT BACK UP THERE. GOOD JOB :!:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
SOMEDAYS I GET BRAINSTORMS 8) SOMEDAYS JUST CLOUDS :roll:
 
Jocelyn:

ditto.gif
to everything said above. Some glad that you were able to make it home safe. I know your heart was beating a mile a minute there for a bit, and it probably took some time for it to settle down. Very glad that all that resulted was a scare and you were not hurt and no damage to 'Lil :!: :shock: :D

Ellie's brakes are not exactly all that great either.. as George and Jim noted that braking in reverse is not exactly well, braking, but more akin to a slight slowing down as opposed to stopping :shock: :? :shock: :roll: :!: :shock: :lol: :lol: But rest assured, it will come with experience. You will find that "sweet spot" where 'Lil is more under your control as you get practice.

But I can just see that grin on your face as you were driving her home. I still feel that way whenever I take Ellie out for a road trip to family or friends farms down the road a piece. It is nice when you neighbours smile, wave and yell out encouragement as we pass by..... :!: :arrow: :wink: :lol: :lol: It is Very, very 8) 8) 8)
 
The brakes could have some oil buildup on them that will only make things worse. As others have said, brakes going backward dont work too well. I have to step down on my brakes really hard when backing off my trailer. It wont stop it, but keeps it slow. Have fun with the new tractor. Send some pictures! 8) 8)

NIK
 
Also glad to hear you're OK.

It reminds me of the first thing I was ever told about tractor safety. I had driven small lawn tractors, mostly Gravelys (with no brakes anyway). When I first got on a farm tractor, the farmer, my grandfather's age, showed me the levers and then, when I pointed out what I figured was the brakes, he gave me the golden rule- "Never, ever assume that the brakes on a tractor work (they didnt' on that one!). On the many tractors since, that's save my hide more than anything else whether pulling heavy loads, plowing snow or just driving around the yard. On the old rigs, even in perfect order (and when is that?) they just aren't stong enough.

Enjoy your new Cub!
 
The first thing I want to know about any unfamiliar equipment is how to stop it. The later Cubs with double-acting brakes were much better. My old Bobcat loader has no brakes at all. A parking brake was optional, that is the only brake available and mine does not have that. For loading and unloading tractors, I use no brakes. Lowest gear, low throttle, leave clutch engaged, let the engine control the speed while on the ramps. At that point, my control is the steering. While on the ramps, applying brakes unevenly could be a disaster. As so many of you know, applying tractor brakes absolutely evenly is not easily done.
 
Glad you made it home safe :!: Once you are rollin its almost impossible to get it into any gear :oops: On many jobs our brake is the blade. You did not say if the was anything hooked to the tractor. I have a woods 42" mower with no wheels on it and I tend to use that as a parking brake.

Billy
 
Jocelyn:

When I read your earlier post I was thinking you would tell a story about the front end starting to wobble and the tractor being almost unsteerable. Or the rear tires beening out of round. Or towing a wagon and the wagon's tongue and 5th wheel wobbled throwing the rear of the tractor back and forth across the road. Or, or.

Glad you are unharmed.

Eugene
 
Wow, your experience brought out some good, hard earned, lessons. I know I was pretty nervous getting my red Cub off the trailer.... not running, garage behind me, no rod on one brake and it turns out the other had no lining as was packed with some kind of greasy swill... so don't count on the brakes was on my mind then.

I am sure you will enjoy the new member of the family... and certain you have found some great folks to hang around with here!
 
A wonderful story with a lesson attached. As has been noted, early Cubs
do not stop well in reverse. THE reason why I back mine onto my tilt
trailer. Trying to drive it on, it just rolled back with all the pressure I
could put on the brakes. Backing it on also allows better braking when
off-loading. Best of luck with your CUB and I know all the experts on the
forum (myself excluded) will get you through whatever you may
encounter. (they have for me) :D

Bill
 
Hey Joselyn...GREAT incedent...THANKS for sharing it with us :wink: I share your "LOVE FOR THE OPEN ROAD" of tractor travel. I've NEVER been flipped off by drivers here in Tennessee (the way I was in New Jersey) so I'm thankful that your roadtrip was not highlighted that way :oops:

It doesn't matter whether or not your tractor is restored...DRIVIN' a Cub on a country road is an experience that's hard to top :!: :wink: I'm glad you arrived home safely with "Lil"...and somehow I just KNOW that your dreamin' up ideas to take ANOTHER roadtrip with her :wink: As the Esso folks used to say (when they were tryin' to get folks to buy their gas at 50 cents a gallon)...HAPPY MOTORING :!: :wink:
 
:arrow: :arrow: :idea: :!: :( :) :D :D

OH-H-H-H-H! Now I understand what happened :!: THANK YOU :!: especially for the Golden Rule: "never ASSUME that the brakes will work."

And you're sure right, Country. I'm already trying to think up an excuse... soon as I get that SMV sign so our over-eager State Police don't give me a ticket. :wink: Someone gave you the bird in New Jersey :!: :?: :!: :?: Why, that is AWFUL. (I'm from New Jersey and I hereby apologize on behalf of those jerks.) But then, I know little girls who were honked at, yelled at, harrassed by veering cars, and shot at :!: while riding their horses alongside a country road in Hawaii. (Aloha to you too, buddy.) Go figgah!
 
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