First time mowing with my Cub

[cdahl383]

Mowed some grass on our property for the first time with my Cub today. I picked up a nice Woods 42 mower from the Barnyard Bash this weekend and got it mounted and hooked up. It did a really nice job!

I tried mowing in first and second gear and it seemed to prefer first gear. I did mow for a while in second gear, but at one point it seemed to bog down a bit, so I just went back to first gear and it was fine. I think I'll have to look at my throttle assembly as it tends to creep back on me after a while, so I have to push it forward for full throttle again, etc.

It was fun using the Cub for mowing but it's definitely a lot slower than my riding mower I usually use haha! But that's okay, I wanted to use the Cub more often, so now I can mow some grass occasionally with it and get more seat time which was my original goal.

As far as the cutting height goes, I tried to match where my riding mower was set at which was about 3". I got it to cut where it was a really close match and then set my touch control stopper at that point so I can be consistent with mowing height.

 

[staninlowerAL]

Good looking rig. You probably already know this but make sure that the mower is set about 1 inch lower in the front than at the rear at your 3 inch cutting height so you only cut the grass once! And keep the blades sharp, too. That's the way to get the best performance from your mower. JMHO Stan

 

[Barebones]

That looks like a lot of grass to cut - especially in first gear. Gotta love it. Tractor looks great!

 

[ajhbike]

Nice looking rig....that is a lot of grass

 

[inairam]

You should not have any issues cutting a lawn in 2nd gear with the woods 42

This is an older post of mine and what I cut with a woods 42 https://farmallcub.com/community/threads/got-to-love-a-woods-42-and-a-well-tuned-cub.105332/

 

[B. White]

It might be slow, but I bet it burns less fuel than my 60" zero turn.

 

[Board shortener Tom]

It might be slow, but I bet it burns less fuel than my 60" zero turn.

I hear that! We just picked up a 48" zero turn with a 22 hp b&s on it. It's a super gas hog!

 

[Gary Dotson]

Looks good Carl, how did the steering work out, nice and tight, I hope.

 

[cdahl383]

Good looking rig. You probably already know this but make sure that the mower is set about 1 inch lower in the front than at the rear at your 3 inch cutting height so you only cut the grass once! And keep the blades sharp, too. That's the way to get the best performance from your mower. JMHO Stan

Thanks! Yeah I need to double check that and make sure it's not level which would cause it to strain more. The blades looked pretty good from what I could tell.

 

[cdahl383]

That looks like a lot of grass to cut - especially in first gear. Gotta love it. Tractor looks great!

Thanks! There's more to do in the back. I might cut that later on with the Cub. I did the perimeter with my riding mower as we have a creek and chicken pens to cut around. I don't want to tip over into the creek haha!

 

[cdahl383]

You should not have any issues cutting a lawn in 2nd gear with the woods 42

This is an older post of mine and what I cut with a woods 42 https://farmallcub.com/community/threads/got-to-love-a-woods-42-and-a-well-tuned-cub.105332/

It was cutting fine for a while in second gear but then at some point it sort of started to bog down. Part of the issue is I think my throttle lever is slipping back over time as I'm cutting, so it may not have had enough throttle to power through it. I may need to file those little teeth the throttle lever rests back on so it doesn't slip off. I also need to make sure the front of the mower deck is lower than the rear. I'll give it another try later today and see how it does.

I did cut some really tall stuff at Bill's when I was testing it out and it cut through that just fine. Some of it was up near the floor of he tractor and it went through it just fine.

 

[cdahl383]

It might be slow, but I bet it burns less fuel than my 60" zero turn.

Yeah I think first gear is around 2mph and second gear is maybe 3mph? Neither one is very fast haha! I think my riding mower does 5-6mph.

I actually forgot to check how much fuel I had in the tank before I started mowing. It didn't have much before I brought it to the Barnyard Bash as I knew I'd be pulling the hood off and didn't want a ton of fuel in the tank. But it has never seemed to use much fuel for anything else I've used it for (dirt plowing, discing, snow plowing, or just riding around, etc).

 

[cdahl383]

I hear that! We just picked up a 48" zero turn with a 22 hp b&s on it. It's a super gas hog!

I have an 8 year old Cub Cadet LT1 with a 46" deck and a Kohler twin 725cc engine. I cut around 2 acres every week. It has a 3 gallon tank and I can top it off and finish the whole thing with fuel to spare. It must use about 2 gallons or so to cut 2 acres. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. That's all I've ever used so I have no other point of reference.

I did have an older Cub Cadet with a little 11hp Briggs & Stratton single on it and it seemed to use more fuel than my newer Cub Cadet. I may not have had the carb dialed in very good though. It ran well to me so I just left it alone.

 

[cdahl383]

Looks good Carl, how did the steering work out, nice and tight, I hope.

Thanks Gary! The steering works well! It wasn't really too bad before either, but it does seem to be tighter now with less slop. The main thing is it no longer leaks. Before it used to leak pretty bad when it got warmer out and the gear oil got warmer/thinner. I'd have to keep a drip pan under the steering gearbox in the garage. I just checked this morning and it's still bone dry under there! Those new seals and gaskets did the trick!

And don't worry, that radiator petcock is still holding up too with no leaks since I tightened it the right way haha!

 

[ntrenn]

I’ve never seen a woods 42 in person with the factory paint. Nice looking!!
I mowed with a 42 for ages. It’s great for both lawn and pasture. Mostly in second gear.
I’ve since moved to 59s for the yard. It feels to me like the 42 pulls harder than the 59…May just be me. (59 takes way less time too)
On the throttle segment, unbolt it, weld up the points and either get out your die grinder or your 3 sided file. Good to give a similar treatment to the lever too.
Then…test your no-load governed speed. I found my mowing tractor to be down about 1700…I adjusted it up to 2000….10% faster mowing for free. Seems to lug down less too.

 

[cdahl383]

I’ve never seen a woods 42 in person with the factory paint. Nice looking!!
I mowed with a 42 for ages. It’s great for both lawn and pasture. Mostly in second gear.
I’ve since moved to 59s for the yard. It feels to me like the 42 pulls harder than the 59…May just be me. (59 takes way less time too)
On the throttle segment, unbolt it, weld up the points and either get out your die grinder or your 3 sided file. Good to give a similar treatment to the lever too.
Then…test your no-load governed speed. I found my mowing tractor to be down about 1700…I adjusted it up to 2000….10% faster mowing for free. Seems to lug down less too.

I’ll try mowing in second gear again next time I mow with it.

The 59 would take up too much space and not fit in my lean to next to the motorcycles. I figured the 42 would be easier on the Cub as well.

I thought the max rpm on the Cubs was 1800rpm? I’m sure they could go a little more than that, but 1800rpm would probably keep it running forever.

How do you adjust the governor speed?

 

[Glen]

I thought the max rpm on the Cubs was 1800rpm?

Hi,
Yes, the maximum engine RPM is supposed to be 1800 RPM for Cubs made up to Cub serial number 192113, which was made in mid 1955. The speed is on the serial number plate on the earlier Cubs.
The maximum engine RPM beginning at 192113, is 2016 RPM, the operator's manual for Cubs made then says.

How do you adjust the governor speed?

If the Cub has a Battery Ignition unit, I would check the RPM with an automotive test tachometer.
They have said on here one with a pointer and dial works better for a Cub.
The high speed adjustment bolt is on top of the governor, it has a lock nut you have to loosen to turn it. The bolt originally has a wire through the head of it to keep people from changing the adjustment.
The wire may or may not be there.
If you want to speed up the RPM some, the throttle has to have one or more notches that are not used, the lever has to move ahead more to speed up the engine more than it goes now.
Below is a picture from TM Tractor Parts showing the high speed adjustment bolt.

 

[offrink]

I cut with my woods 59” belly mower and a majority is in 2nd gear. Dry summers I can mow in 3rd. For me 1st is for precision cutting and steep inclines. I do have places in my property that when running straight up hill in first gear full throttle while mowing and it darn near stalls out. I have to lift the mower which takes pressure off the belt and lets the rpm’s recover. I mow 5 acres.

And fuel usage, at 1800rpms the fcub uses 0.9 gallons of fuel per hour. I mow around 1200-1350 rpms and 4 gallons (half tank) I can mow all 5 acres.

 

[cdahl383]

Hi,
Yes, the maximum engine RPM is supposed to be 1800 RPM for Cubs made up to Cub serial number 192113, which was made in mid 1955. The speed is on the serial number plate on the earlier Cubs.
The maximum engine RPM beginning at 192113, is 2016 RPM, the operator's manual for Cubs made then says.


If the Cub has a Battery Ignition unit, I would check the RPM with an automotive test tachometer.
They have said on here one with a pointer and dial works better for a Cub.
The high speed adjustment bolt is on top of the governor, it has a lock nut you have to loosen to turn it. The bolt originally has a wire through the head of it to keep people from changing the adjustment.
The wire may or may not be there.
If you want to speed up the RPM some, the throttle has to have one or more notches that are not used, the lever has to move ahead more to speed up the engine more than it goes now.
Below is a picture from TM Tractor Parts showing the high speed adjustment bolt.

I see. I don't want to raise the max RPM, was just curious how that worked.

My Cub has a magneto ignition. I'll see if I can file the teeth a bit on the throttle lever so it stays in place better.

 

[cdahl383]

I cut with my woods 59” belly mower and a majority is in 2nd gear. Dry summers I can mow in 3rd. For me 1st is for precision cutting and steep inclines. I do have places in my property that when running straight up hill in first gear full throttle while mowing and it darn near stalls out. I have to lift the mower which takes pressure off the belt and lets the rpm’s recover. I mow 5 acres.

And fuel usage, at 1800rpms the fcub uses 0.9 gallons of fuel per hour. I mow around 1200-1350 rpms and 4 gallons (half tank) I can mow all 5 acres.

You mow in third gear with a 59" deck? That's really flying. The grass must not be too thick or tall I would assume.

I'm going to try mowing in 2nd gear again next time and see how it does. I can't see mowing in 3rd gear on my property as it's too bumpy out in the back. I might go flying off the tractor haha! It would be nice to mow in 2nd gear though. I need to double check my deck too and make sure the front is a bit lower than the rear.