First time mowing with my Cub

[clintmo]

The Woods 42 is funny. It’ll cut thicket and 1” saplings without trouble. But it’ll bog down in thick, dense patches of grass in the yard. I don’t use mine for mowing the lawn unless I’m in a pinch. But any time I’m mowing anything with it, my left hand is ready to adjust the deck height as needed. And I can usually mow in 2nd. 3rd is not an option on the majority of my property.

Clint

 

[cdahl383]

The Woods 42 is funny. It’ll cut thicket and 1” saplings without trouble. But it’ll bog down in thick, dense patches of grass in the yard. I don’t use mine for mowing the lawn unless I’m in a pinch. But any time I’m mowing anything with it, my left hand is ready to adjust the deck height as needed. And I can usually mow in 2nd. 3rd is not an option on the majority of my property.

Clint

Yeah I kind of noticed that too. When I was at Bill's I cut down some really tall stuff and it went through it no problem. Some of my grass here at home is pretty thick though, so maybe that bogs it down more so than taller stuff that isn't as thick.

I'm going to try mowing the back section of our property next week in 2nd gear and see how it does. I can't see how anyone could mow in 3rd gear unless the ground was perfectly flat and smooth and the grass wasn't very tall or thick.

 

[tst]

not suppose to mow in 3rd gear

 

[cdahl383]

not suppose to mow in 3rd gear

I always thought 3rd gear was basically just for going back and forth or going down the road to get somewhere, not for actual work. When I used the dirt plow I kept it in 1st gear and same with the disc. I plow in 2nd gear sometimes if there isn't a ton of snow but most of the time I just plow in 1st gear.

 

[Glen]

My Cub has a magneto ignition.

Hi,
It's important that the ignition timing be set right, so the engine has as much power as it should. Especially when you are using a rotary mower, and need power to run it.
You can time the magneto like the Cub owner's manual says, or use a timing light when the engine is running. When the engine is running at slow idle speed, I think the mark on the front pulley should be about 3/8" - 1/2" before the pointer.
The magneto doesn't have any built in spark advance. When you start the engine, and the magneto is making snapping noises, the timing is being retarded, so it is firing at TDC.
Then when the engine starts, and the snapping stops, when the engine speeds up, the timing advances some. The manual says it is 13 degrees before TDC.
The timing would always be at 13 degrees before TDC when the snapping is not happening.
Below is a page from the 1950 Cub owner's manual telling how to time the magneto.
The timing light is easier, since the magneto is on the engine.
https://farmallcub.club/rudi/farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub Owner's Manuals/McCormick Farmall Cub Owner's Manual 1950/Page 32.jpg

If your Cub is 6 volts, and the timing light is 12 volts, you can connect the light to a 12 volt battery, it's probably brighter using 12 volts.

 

[inairam]

I do most of my mowing in 2nd. I really do not use 3rd for much of anything. I am cutting fields /pasture that is uneven. I have messed a good deal with the governors. My later cubs are usually set up for 2000-2200 max .

 

[cdahl383]

Hi,
It's important that the ignition timing be set right, so the engine has as much power as it should. Especially when you are using a rotary mower, and need power to run it.
You can time the magneto like the Cub owner's manual says, or use a timing light when the engine is running. When the engine is running at slow idle speed, I think the mark on the front pulley should be about 3/8" - 1/2" before the pointer.
The magneto doesn't have any built in spark advance. When you start the engine, and the magneto is making snapping noises, the timing is being retarded, so it is firing at TDC.
Then when the engine starts, and the snapping stops, when the engine speeds up, the timing advances some. The manual says it is 13 degrees before TDC.
The timing would always be at 13 degrees before TDC when the snapping is not happening.
Below is a page from the 1950 Cub owner's manual telling how to time the magneto.
The timing light is easier, since the magneto is on the engine.
https://farmallcub.club/rudi/farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub Owner's Manuals/McCormick Farmall Cub Owner's Manual 1950/Page 32.jpg

If your Cub is 6 volts, and the timing light is 12 volts, you can connect it to a 12 volt battery, it's probably brighter using 12 volts.

That's a good point. I've never checked the ignition timing on it since I bought it. It has always started up and ran good so I never really checked into it before. Maybe I'll check it and see where it's at.

13 degrees BTDC is the setting at both low and high idle? So there is no mechanical advance like in an older car? I guess you probably don't need it seeing how you're only going to 1800RPM or so.

 

[cdahl383]

I do most of my mowing in 2nd. I really do not use 3rd for much of anything. I am cutting fields /pasture that is uneven. I have messed a good deal with the governors. My later cubs are usually set up for 2000-2200 max .

Cool. I'll try mowing in 2nd gear again next week and see how it does.

I only use 3rd gear if I decide to take the tractor for a little ride down the dirt road by us for fun. Our yard is too bumpy in the back to use 3rd gear, even for just riding around. I used 1st gear for dirt plowing and discing.

 

[Glen]

I've never checked the ignition timing on it since I bought it.

It's a good idea to check the timing on any used tractor you buy.

13 degrees BTDC is the setting at both low and high idle?

Yes, the magneto should be set to that. Then it goes to 13 degrees BTDC whenever it is not making the snapping noise.

So there is no mechanical advance like in an older car?

The magneto doesn't have any advance parts in it.
The Battery Ignition unit, which came out in 1950 on Cubs does have an advance, it advances different amounts as you speed up the engine.

Before timing it, check and see if the front pulley has 1 mark. That is TDC.
IH started using 2 marks in the mid 1950's, I think. Some older pulleys have been replaced and could have 2 marks. The 2nd mark is 16 degrees BTDC.

 

[offrink]

Yeah, I don’t mow much in third gear but it does mow. Just bumpy and not the quality I want. I also can plow snow in third. It really helps the snow come off the blade. But I know my area very well and keep everything as tip top as I can. Most of the work is in second gear minus the areas that is to steep for second while mowing.

 

[Jim Becker]

First mark that passes the pointer is 16 degrees advance. The second is at TDC.

 

[hodge]

That does look like a lot of grass to mow! Just picked up a Farmall A with a Woods 59 mower myself and excited to get it going.

 

[cdahl383]

It's a good idea to check the timing on any used tractor you buy.


Yes, the magneto should be set to that. Then it goes to 13 degrees BTDC whenever it is not making the snapping noise.


The magneto doesn't have any advance parts in it.
The Battery Ignition unit, which came out in 1950 on Cubs does have an advance, it advances different amounts as you speed up the engine.

Before timing it, check and see if the front pulley has 1 mark. That is TDC.
IH started using 2 marks in the mid 1950's, I think. Some older pulleys have been replaced and could have 2 marks. The 2nd mark is 16 degrees BTDC.

Sounds like the magneto is similar to my old car where I run locked out timing since the cam duration is pretty wild. It just runs better with 32 degrees all the time vs messing with an advance curve.

 

[cdahl383]

That does look like a lot of grass to mow! Just picked up a Farmall A with a Woods 59 mower myself and excited to get it going.

Yeah I've been mowing it for 7 years with my riding mower. It does a good job, but I thought it would be fun to do some mowing with the Cub during the summer.

The Farmall A should do a good job too. It has more power than the Cub and a 59" deck is pretty wide!