Farmall cub 1957 Electrical problems

M

maximumquake

Member
Look I have a 1957 Farmall Cub; prior to this incident I have not had any problems with what I am about to describe. But the issue is the tractor is only running off the battery; when the battery dies the tractor shuts off; and will not run. Could it be the volatge regulator or the magneto? Also is there any way to check if these componets are bad with a volt meter or any type of tool. Also it started after I parked the tractor and I turned it off; but I left the ignition switch in the on postion and the ignition switch was left on the on position for about a week or two.
 
If anybody could help me out with this I would highly appreciate it I would like to get some answers tonight if possible; I need to finish cutting my grass and I would like to find out some type of info I have been searching the forums for info but I have not been able to find anything that matches my situation exactly.
 
I will try to help you with your problem. If your tractor shuts off when your batter goes dead then you mostlikley have a battery ignition system. If it had a magneto it would still run even though the battery went dead because a magneto is a self contained unit that makes its own electricity. Your first problem is that you left the ignition on for over a week. when doing this it is mostlikley that you have burnt the point up that are in the distributer. and maybe damaged the ignition coil. First thing is to charge the battery, then try to start the engine. you may have to replace the points and coil to get it to run. then after getting it to run you need to fix the charging system. this is why your battery goes deat after running. The most common probem with the charging system is the viltage regulator. there are two sets of contact points inside the regulator that become coroded after a extended peroid of use.. the contact can be cleaned and may solve the problem. if not then the regulator may also need replaced. also check to see if the generator belt is tight. if its loose it may be slipping causing your charging problem.
 
Well I am no electrical guru, but I have been learning while getting the issues with my 48 solved... but I will give it a shot

1. If you have a magneto then there are no issues about running the tractor without a battery. Since you are having issues then you do not have a magneto but the battery ignition package or essentially a distributor. If you had a magneto, a battery is superfluous except to assist in starting.

2. So, if you have a battery ignition then you probably have issues with the voltagte regualtor I think. Rather inexpensive fix I imagine. NAPA has em but cannot remember the part number at the moment.

3. If you left the ignition on and there was power to it, then possibly the points are a bit burned.. but that would make starting difficult or it would not start at all. Same with the condesor.. might be intemittent, but more likely it would be toasted.

It sounds like the battery is not getting charged...

One of the electrical guru's should see this soon.. I hope. In the meantime I would suggest reading the GSS-1411 Service Manual on the server or using one of the other electrical manuals there to help diagnose the problem There are a couple of really good IH manuals there.
 
Looks like Clark posted as I was finishing up. Glad to see that I am in the ballpark. Maybe the guru's are finally rubbing off on me and I am beginning to get it after all. :big smile:
 
First start at the battery, make sure it is fully charged. Consult the How To Forum on Battery testing just to make sure you have a fully charged and good battery before proceding to the next tests.

Next consult the How to Forum on testing the charging system and see if your charging system is operational. If not look at the How to forum on polarizing the generator as it could be just that simple when the battery goes dead from leaving the ignition on.

My guess is that you have a charging system problem that is not maintaining the battery. The next guess after doing the above tests succesfully would be the voltage regulator as the resistors could have burned up with you leaving the ignition on.

Let's get started and good luck.

Mark
 
I done lost a post some place. Guess 3 or 4 others posted at about the same time.

To get you mowing in the morning. Turn off the ignition switch and charge up the battery over night. See if the tractor will start in the morning. With a fully charged battery the Cub will run for a very long time, operating only the ignition system.

The other guys provided good advice.

Suggest down loading the operator's manual and the service manual. Click on manuals - upper right of this page. Lots of great information in these manuals.
 
I have downloaded the manuals and I actually printed them out then my dad said throw them away because he does not need them. I printed them out when I had a problem with the pto and; my dad said all the info in there is like the information my dad already has. My dad has a service manual and a instructions booklet the same type you get off of here but he got it from my uncle but it is for a low boy. I will print them out again and see what happens or actually I will just pull them up on the intrenet again and see what I can find then if I find some good info I will print them out because that is alot of paper to be wasting. Now I am going to tell my dad he is stupid for telling me to use the manuals I already printed out for scrap paper. No but I will print them out again and see what I can find out I am just running low on paper eventhough I do have a laser printer. The thing about it is when the battery is full charged; the tractor starts right up; but then as soon as the battery dies the motor shuts off. Also we have had problems with the tractor charging in the battery it does charge it some what but it does not charge it fully; it will not alow the battery to die; but it seems to only charge the battery to about 30 to 50 percent. Thanks for the info I will relay thing information to my dad and before he did replace the ignition coil. Also he did say it has a magnito ans my dad know a decent amount about that tractor; I am not saying you guys are wrong; he could be wrong but I am kinda sure it has a magneito I will double check also it is 6v
 
Cubguys dad; sorry I do not think that it is a charging problem everytime we put the tractor away the battery is not dead. But the charging system has not seemed to be working 100% as well as it should it seems to only be working at like 50%. But the thing is we never had this problem before until my dad left the ignition on for like a week. We had an issue with the battery not charging before like we would drive the tractor; all day then shut it off and try and turn it back on and the battery would be dead; my dad did something to resolve this issue. Now the thing is the tractor runs to the battery is dead. That why it brings me to my point that I do believe it has a magnito but I could be wrong; because as I said before it would run wih the battery dead and now it is running till the battery dies. My dad thinks it is either the magneto or the voltage regulator. But he could be wrong you guys know alot more then he does when it comes to cubs. But I dont know I will relay all this information to my dad and see what he thinks; I really do appreciate the help I am not trying to contradict what anyone is saying. But the thing is I dont think it is the points because when the battery is fully charged it starts right up and when the battery dies the tractor turns off and as I said before; we had an issue with the battery not charging and the tractor would run eventhough the battery was dead. Ok I am going to find out tomorrow for sure what exactly the tractor has on it just to make sure. Also I know before we replaced the ignition coil. When I find out what it has on it for sure I will post back asap and let you know. I really do appreciate the help though any help is appreciated; I could not of got my pto fixed without you guys and you guys on this forum saved me a couple grand. So everybody on here seems to be very knowledgeable and you guys have helped me and my dad out tremendously,
 
Well that is kind of familiar. Instructions.. nope don't need no :censored: instructions... until :oops: :roll: did I just assemble that upside down :oops: :arrow: :( scenarios... which make for great water cooler humour but really can be frustrating when you are trying to diagnose a problem. Seriously though, the manuals are a great help. Print off only the pages you need for the problem you are experiencing at the moment. That way if you get em greased up it is no big deal... you haven't medsed up a printed manual.

There are a number of excellent diagnostic How To's as Mark suggested (sorry Mark, I kinda forgot that.. :big shy: ) in the Cub Book of Knowledge as listed below. I would suggest printing them off as well so that you can have them close by the Cub as you work the problem through.


There is also these reference manuals in the Blue Ribbon Service Manual section:


I am sure if your Dad sat down with a cup of coffee and read some of the information there he would be able to solve the problem in rather short order. By taking a problem one step at a time, it usually becomes clear when diagnosing following the guidelines in the Service Manual or the troubleshooting charts in the Owner's Manual.
 
Thank you rudi you are right. My dad has a service manual; I just looked at it; it is for cubs and low-boy tractors dating around the year of our tractor I just need to print the service manual off here; but I will take a look at it tomorrow and see what it says but it is 106 am and I need to get up at 630 am to go to work cutting grass for the goverment; So thank you guys once again and you have a good night,
 
Probably a dead cell in the battery since you left it on for a week. Everytime I do that it kills the battery. Have the battery checked and go from there. :big afro:
 
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