Change Drive Pulley On C3 Mower for Better Cutting

[JohnMihevic]

In 1974 I bought a new C3 mower from IH for my 1948 Cub. The drive pulley diameter is 7.75”. I use the Cub to mow 1 acre around the house and a 3 acre field in the back. Around the house I let the chains go loose to let the deck float on the ground for a nice “finish cut”. In the back field, I only mow a few times a year. In the spring the grass/weeds can get to 4 ft. tall. With the touch control to full up on the deck, the engine will load up and I am unable to mow in 1st gear.

I bought a NOS 6.5” Woods pulley (#3493) from Burch Store Tractors. I installed the pulley yesterday and did some mowing. The difference is amazing. I can now go through very tall grass without the tractor bogging down or stalling. Also, the mower blades start much easier, releasing the clutch is not as “touchy”. The trade off is a slower blade speed, however, I used it around the house in “finish cut” mode and the cut was just as good as with the 7.75” pulley. I wish I bought this smaller diameter pulley years ago.

John M.

[SONNY]

That was the first thing I did to mine! ---with only 9 hp you gotta make adjustments.----or cheat a little!

[ntrenn]

I tried the normal woods 42 pulley...7.5-8 inch long enough to know that my 63 would barely spin the blades up to speed. It sounded like a jet landing. Went right back to the 6.5 inch pulley and shelved the 8 inches for whenever I might put the woods 42 back on the tractor...which might be never...

[ricky racer]

Thanks for posting. That's something that many of us wouldn't have thought about doing.

[tst]

I do the same, you think you put a bigger engine in the cub with the smaller pulley