Finding a mower for a Cub help

[Mht]

If your pastures are rock free a sickle bar mower might work too. They are a little more trouble to keep sharp and working properly but are designed to cut tall grass. They won’t work well with heavy brush but if working properly it will do a fine job on grass. I don’t know if they are more readily available but it might be an option for you. My farm is rolling hills with some fairly steep slopes and I try to work downhill as much as possible but I have no problems working across moderate slopes. Just remember to keep the left side of the tractor on the up hill side and find your comfort level on gentle slopes first. Setting the wheels to the widest setting is also helpful on hilly terrain. Nothing makes up for experience and common sense though. Good luck finding a mower and when you do I think you will find seat time mowing is a great way to spend the day

[cpy911]

Thanks Don. I will keep a look out and be ready to drive. Maybe I will end up with another Cub with mower combo, ha, ha. My Cub is supposed to arrive in two weeks. I figure mowing season is off right now, so it is a good time to pick one up.

Since you don't have the Cub yet, continue to look for a Woods 42 setup for a standard Cub. Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and, to a lesser extent, eBay are good places to keep an eye on. Be prepared to do a little driving if one turns up. UHaul rents trailers if you don't have a pickup. I'd look for a complete Touch Control setup while you're at it.

[Eugene]

I don't believe in financing anything other than real estate (my personal taste..not for everyone!) so a 30K tractor and mower setup is a long ways off.

Just because the tractor is free or cheap doesn't mean that it's going to be inexpensive.

Do some research. Investigate the cost of a mower, hydraulic system, etc.. What else do you want to do with a farm tractor? Plow and make a garden, farm crops, livestock?

[cpy911]

Seat time would be great! Glad to hear you are able to safely navigate some hills.
I thought about the sickle bar...might be an option.

If your pastures are rock free a sickle bar mower might work too. They are a little more trouble to keep sharp and working properly but are designed to cut tall grass. They won’t work well with heavy brush but if working properly it will do a fine job on grass. I don’t know if they are more readily available but it might be an option for you. My farm is rolling hills with some fairly steep slopes and I try to work downhill as much as possible but I have no problems working across moderate slopes. Just remember to keep the left side of the tractor on the up hill side and find your comfort level on gentle slopes first. Setting the wheels to the widest setting is also helpful on hilly terrain. Nothing makes up for experience and common sense though. Good luck finding a mower and when you do I think you will find seat time mowing is a great way to spend the day

[Jim Becker]

I see this option came up in a couple rapid posts while I was contemplating this and finding the link.

You might consider a sickle bar mower (Cub-22). What works best will depend on how much of what remains to be cut after the grazing. If you look for a sickle bar, pay close attention to condition of the cutter bar. If it needs extensive work, it can start to get expensive.

Here is a thread about that type mower you may find useful:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63884

[cpy911]

I don't believe in financing anything other than real estate (my personal taste..not for everyone!) so a 30K tractor and mower setup is a long ways off.

Just because the tractor is free or cheap doesn't mean that it's going to be inexpensive.

Do some research. Investigate the cost of a mower, hydraulic system, etc.. What else do you want to do with a farm tractor? Plow and make a garden, farm crops, livestock?

Right now, I just need to clip the pastures after grazing. Our garden area is small and I just have a manual tiller for that. I don't think hydraulics are needed in my case, I will set the mower height manually and go. Our road is asphalt (a whole other maintenance project filling the "butt" cracks!) so no grading a road is needed. We plan to have a few cows and growing grass (spraying, fertilizing, manure spreading, mowing) will be the tractor tasks.
It does seem ownership of a Cub versus a Kubota B series seems less expensive, but I am new to all of this and learning...it is free to me, so not a lot to lose.

[cpy911]

Amazing thread. Thanks.

I see this option came up in a couple rapid posts while I was contemplating this and finding the link.

You might consider a sickle bar mower (Cub-22). What works best will depend on how much of what remains to be cut after the grazing. If you look for a sickle bar, pay close attention to condition of the cutter bar. If it needs extensive work, it can start to get expensive.

Here is a thread about that type mower you may find useful:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63884

[Stanton]

Went back to find when you first started posting and I think this thread is it. So, welcome to the Forum, Justin! Sorry I missed it up to now.

Take some time and read through a few threads to acquaint yourself with the Forum:

• Welcome Wagon
• How to Upload Pictures to a Post
• Forum Picture Posting And Other Interesting Things You Can Do
• Using the Forum

Don't know if you have any of the manuals to your Cub, but now that you’ve logged your 2nd post, you'll have access to the all the PDF Manuals on this site. There’s a few ways to do that:

• From a desktop or laptop, go to "Quick Links" in the upper left corner of your screen. Hit that and a pull-down appears where you'll find "PDF Manuals".
• You can also go to “Cub Info” in the upper toolbar, then hit “Rudi’s Manuals”. From there, you can access a variety of information.
• If you're using a phone, go to the "Links Directory" (second category down the main page). Once in "Links Directory" , scroll down to the second section "Tractor Parts & Manuals" and you'll find them there.

You'll be able to download an Owner's Manual (very strongly recommended) and any service manuals that interest you. Implement Manuals are also available.

We’d encourage you to take the Safety Test located in the Safety Forum: http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=68084

Might also enjoy reading through this thread (which will apply to your new-to-you Cub): What to do with a Cub you just brought home

There are a lot of good threads dealing with Cub repair and maintenance in the How To Forum. Located here: http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=11

Take some pictures of your Cub after you get it home and post them, we’d like to see it.

Since you were in question as to what year your Cub was made, there should be a serial number plate, located on the front, right side of the tractor where the steering rod connects to the front end. That number may be entered in the "What Year is My Cub?" category located here: http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/app.php/page/cub-information
There are also casting dates on your cast iron pieces that you may cross reference here: http://www.tmtractor.com/id/id_001.htm

Remember:
• When you have a specific question, start a new thread in the appropriate sub-forum.
• Before posting, use the Preview button before hitting Submit--it'll show you exactly what your post will look like, including pictures.
• When adding your comments to a thread, be sure to look at the date of the last poster. If it’s more than a 6 months old, the posters are probably not going to see it. Consider starting a new thread.

Glad you joined us.

[Dale Finch]

As I said previously, my Woods 42 mowers do a great job. I have often mowed fields that looked like the 2nd video above. Basically, if the tractor can get over/push through the weeds, it can whack it down, even small saplings. It may not be as fast or maneuverable as the zero turns, but it can sure be fun to see those weeds, that are taller than the tractor, get cut down! You may have to go back to chop up the stiff ones that only got knocked down, but I love mine!

Be aware, that the last time I checked, Fastenal was once again shipping palleted items to select stores, and since you have very little money invested in your tractor so far, you should be able to justify spending a bit to get a good COMPLETE mower shipped to you.
https://www.fastenal.com/en/22/blue-lane-freight

[Dale Finch]

I usually try to mow BEFORE the pastures get this high, but my cubs seem to do OK!!
https://youtu.be/xKhec6agDps
https://youtu.be/00o30UasdUA
https://youtu.be/1FUHUL4U6Ko

[cpy911]

Nice videos! Amazing what the Cub can do! I checked with Fastenal and they are not yet shipping between East and West zones.

As I said previously, my Woods 42 mowers do a great job. I have often mowed fields that looked like the 2nd video above. Basically, if the tractor can get over/push through the weeds, it can whack it down, even small saplings. It may not be as fast or maneuverable as the zero turns, but it can sure be fun to see those weeds, that are taller than the tractor, get cut down! You may have to go back to chop up the stiff ones that only got knocked down, but I love mine!

Be aware, that the last time I checked, Fastenal was once again shipping palleted items to select stores, and since you have very little money invested in your tractor so far, you should be able to justify spending a bit to get a good COMPLETE mower shipped to you.
https://www.fastenal.com/en/22/blue-lane-freight

[SONNY]

have a sickle mower and 42 here---- quit using them after getting sunstar 20's ---- still trying to fix the 185 again, only got to use it for a few hours this year starter/gen went out this time and parts 185 starter is also bad and no other way to start it.
Have in past mowed down standing corn stalks with cub and 42,--had to make a lot of passes to chop them up but got the job done.

[Bob McCarty]

There is a publication, "Western Antique Iron Trader" that is mostly classified ads. You can place one without subscribing. Might get you some leads that are closer to where you live.

[ntrenn]

Back in my pasture mowing days, you wanted a sickle bar mower because you could cover so much more ground than a bush hog and you could reach over the top of sinkholes.
If I only could afford one mower for a cub, it would be a woods 42. It will do most everything you need in second gear from pasture to trailblazing.
When you get your second cub, you’ll find a woods 59 and just mow twice as often.
On your third cub...

[cpy911]

This has been a great thread! Thank you all for your input!