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.
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.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.
Cool. I'll try mowing in 2nd gear again next week and see how it does.
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.
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.
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.
Woods 59, 8’ high weeds (old overgrown pasture). It took two passes in first. One with the mowing deck about 18” up. The second all the way down. Mowed about 3 acres that way. It can be done but not the correct machine for the job. A sickle bar would have been a much better option!
The 1965 Cub and LoBoy operator's manual on here says in the specifications, on page 73, the maximum engine RPM is 2000 RPM, with no load.
