Possible new Cub owner needs advice

[RobD68]

I've been searching the forums up and down for the last two weeks, trying to learn everything I can about the Cub. I don't own one, but there is one I have my eye on. I am trying to decide if it is the right choice for me. I'm in my early 50s, not a mechanic, but pretty good with doing things especially if I have instructions or a nice YouTube video. I am not a welder or fabricator. So here is the story:

I live on 15 acres. Half is wooded with a small 1/4 acre pond. There are 3 acres that I mow with my JD 2010 X530 garden tractor. The rest is untouched field of goldenrod. A couple of years ago I picked up an old Troy Horse tiller and replaced the engine on it - it really eats the dirt now. This is what I have used to make a 1/4 acre deer food plot and also a small 800 square foot garden for the wife. She had good success this year and told me she wanted a bigger garden (3000 square feet), so I naturally thought that it was time to get a tractor!

Looked around, read a lot of forums, and saw the 47 Farmall Cub for $3K in pretty nice condition that came with the front blade, moldboard plow (193), cultivator, and disc harrow (23-a) and has the hydraulics option and very good tires but still a drawbar setup. Engine was rebuilt maybe 8 years ago by the PO to the current owner. I didn't check the block for cracks, but the engine sounded really nice to me when it was running. The size really appealed to me and had almost all of the attachments I would would be wanting. A loader would be the cherry on top dealing with the compost pile. A Cub would fit in my pole barn right behind my X530. Then a neighbor has a Farmall Super C (and an H with drawbar) across the road from me for sale for half the price and he just put a Fast Hitch on it from a scrap SC - but all 4 tires look really bad (lots of cracks) and it might not fit in my barn without having to get rid of some stuff.

More forum reading, the Cub/SA/SC aren't really good loader tractors. Not that I have to move much, but the compost pile is out back and the goat pen in the barn wouldn't be able to be cleaned with a loader anyway. I have the "tractor shovel" for the X530 and I can't even get that into the goat pen or navigate around in the barn with it. But that got me thinking - hmm, I have a garden tractor, what else can I do with that? Well, turns out I could spend $1600-$1800 (price of the SC) to put on the powered integral sleeve hitch and buy some new Brinly sleeve hitch implements (single moldboard plow, cultivator, tandem discs). My dad thinks I should do this instead of messing with tractors of his teenage years. Not going to be able to afford a new CUT or even a used one, they go for $10K or more and that is way out of my price range.

The 193 plow isn't totally worn down, but it seems as if the point and share have no replacements available. I didn't get the part number of the moldboard when I looked at it, did see an SC1 and HI515708R1 stamped on the moldboard. So once this plow is used up, its probably done. It does have the depth arm, it is complete.
The disc harrow is missing 3 of the discs and 1 could really use replacing. It seems as if these are still replaceable via Agri Supply.
The cultivator looks good, and it seems as if replacement shanks can still be obtained.
The blade has all the parts for front or belly mount.

Then the wife throws me a curveball and says she wants to do no-till gardening. Darn, there goes the easy approval of $ for a tractor. Hauling compost with the 17cu ft cart on the X530 is about the most machine work the garden is going to need, unless I'm missing something. Would be nice (and maybe more fun) to do my food plot with something more than the Horse tiller, especially since I want to put in a 2nd plot about the same size. I have the cultipacker that I can pull with the X530 after I till and seed.

Things I am wondering as I contemplate whether to live with the Horse tiller for breaking ground to start a garden/plot or go with tractor power:
1. When the attachments on the Cub are used up, that is pretty much it unless parts are available? The plow is what worries me the most.
2. There is a 3-point conversion on eBay for the Cub. Didn't see much forum mentions except for the Worksaver unit (as in avoid it). If I obtained a Cub without attachments, would this work well with a new/used 3-point plow? Seems as if a disc harrow or cultivator would work OK, the plow is the unknown as to how well it would work.
3. I don't like the SC across the street. New tires all around make it the same cost as the Cub with all the implements. And it seems like it would be too big for what I want to use it for. I'd probably have to convert the Fast Hitch to a 3-point as well in order to get implements, not finding much for used in the area, so even more $.
4. Any experience with sleeve hitch attachments on the garden tractor machines? Do they work for these smaller gardens? Watched a dozen or more YouTube videos of people doing a garden plot, they seem to sort of work. Definitely not the way to go for really big gardens. The rear HDAP tires on my X530 might make plowing difficult as they are pretty wide and would maybe track funny.
5. The Cub seems more of a want than a need. My X530 with 50lbs on each rear tire and 4 JD 45lb weights seems to do OK pulling a down tree out of the tree line so I can chainsaw it up and cart the pieces to the barn for splitting. A Cub isn't that much heavier for this task.

Thanks for reading this whole message. So many thoughts going through my head, I hope I put enough into the message. I can already guess that I will probably just stick with what I have, but as you can tell I'm still looking for good reasons to get a tractor.

Robert in Michigan

[Mht]

I can’t answer all your questions but I’ll try and give you some advice. I work two gardens, one at my house in town that is about 10,000 ft square that I do all my tillage with a Troy bilt horse tiller and it works great. This garden is fenced to keep deer out and therefore it’s not conducive to working with a tractor. My second garden is at my farm and it’s almost 2 acres. I plow and disc it with a 45 hp diesel tractor. Then all my planting and cultivating is done with two cub tractors. One has a belly mounted planter and fertilizer distributor and the other has cultivators and a fertilizer distributor as I hate changing implements around on cubs. I have a third cub with a belly mower and it does the mowing in areas that I want to look nicer than what the bushhog behind my diesel tractor gives me but are still rougher areas than I want to put my riding lawnmower into. As far as sleeve hitch implements go most I have had any experience with are too lightweight to effectively get anything done with. A pto drive tiller behind your John Deere would be a different story but I would hate to think what a decent one would cost. I believe a cub plow and disc would certainly be up to the task of a couple of quarter acre deer food plots and a large garden but I don’t actually have experience using them as I have a bigger tractor and implements for working up my ground. I also have about six acres of food plots at my farm. A no till garden is a noble idea but I would rather use mechanical cultivation than the chemicals that are required for most no till situations. Even with a cub to cultivate with I still have to use herbicides in my garden. If I had to garden without herbicides I wouldn’t bother but I’m not sure I would want to be dependent on just chemicals for weed control. I’m in North Carolina and cubs are readily available here for much lower prices than you mentioned. I could buy one around me with the equipment you mentioned for half to two thirds of your price. I’d do some more looking before spending 3 thousand. A loader on your John Deere would be the better option if you really want a loader but I would consider a loader on a cub or your John Deere nothing more than a motorized wheel barrow. Neither machine has enough weight to do any digging. My cubs are fun to use and very effective for my uses as stated above. I wouldn’t think of working my big garden without one. Just be forewarned, cubs are like potato chips, you can’t have just one. If I was in your situation I would be looking for a tiller to use behind the John Deere and a lower priced cub. Good luck with what ever route you choose

[Waif]

Welcome from Mi. Rob!

Aha , riding off in multiple directions regarding acquisition of another tractor are we? L.o.l..

A Cub is a horse. Or a mule.
But unique in design and capability too.
Half or more H.P. of your J.D.mower. But put them in a tug of war and let the Cubs bull gears work...

You need to figure out if you're going no till all around. A crimper (or depending on crop a plain roller or maybe even the cultipacker MIGHT work , but a proper crimper will work) , a seeder , and a way to mow (hello x530) and a sprayer , will cover a lot of ground. Your Deere should cover that.
I drag repeatedly to not spray. Not anti herbicide , I just don't use it. Deer don't care if I have some weeds. And this year they are browsing on forbs exposed from my mowing as my plot is fallow.

Cub loader is rated around 500 pounds. With my Wagner loader/trip bucket that seems rather optimistic.
I think of it as a glorified wheelbarrow. Don't want to test maximum break out force.
Finding a loader can get interesting. Then comes agreeing on a price.. Then installation....

Where a Cub can help is grading. Including snow. Towing. Leaving the J.D. to rest more. Then too , if the Deere is ever down , you'll still want a horse.

Some parts are available . Implements too. The right implement price can beat rebuilding one. With big variations in prices depending on availability.
Some implements are scarce. My plow is worn , but no matter where it sits in a flower bed anyways. They are not scarce. Only condition need be a concern.
A three point would be the lightest if on a Cub. Just not what they were designed for.

The plow and disc are dicey on the outfit you eyeballed. Leaving you a blade and cultivator and drawbar .
Until when and IF you fix the tired out implements.

How much mad money you got? (Don't answer that.)
You'll need to put money into both tractors with time.
If you can afford it , there's your reasoning.

I recently acquired another tractor. Parked at home on the single acre , it's getting crowded. And I still need an outbuilding!
But next years hunting property work will be easier too. Making for more enjoyable seat time.

[RobD68]

Thanks for the advice so far. I guess I missed a few thoughts - I can't imagine the thoughts floating around in my wife's multi-tasking head!

Regarding the no-till garden - what my wife is telling me is that we put wood chips down in the walking paths which helps stop the weeds. Something about a "Back to Eden" method that I need to go read about. Then she and the boys just have to take care of the ones in the planted row. For planting, it won't be via tractor. That'll all be by hand, either via seed or starters. In the food plot, it is just a seed spreader as I walk around. Either way, we don't use chemicals on our soil.

I saw when Packer Max come out with their crimper attachment I was considering it until I saw the price. I'd rather have the wheel kit. I have a choke point that tends to get muddy on my way out back and I actually got my X530 stuck pulling it one year. Had to unhitch and pull the cultipacker out with a tow strap.

I agree the Cub loader is a glorified wheelbarrow. The same goes for the tractor shovel on the X530 (we call it the MowDozer). It doesn't dig, but it can move material faster than I can with a shovel. I'm thinking about the only thing I'd really use it for is on the compost pile when it needs to be moved/turned. In a pinch, it could be used as a blade in the winter to clear the 200ft driveway. I prefer the 47" two-stage snowblower on the front of the X530, it can really move the snow out of the way. The Cub blade front-mounted would be my backup in the event of Deere failure.

Not interested in mowing with the Cub, the X530 does great with the 54" deck. If it ever died and I couldn't fix it quickly, my dad would bring down his spare JD 345 for me to mow with. Yard is too bumpy for a zero-turn. I've mowed the food plots to a scalp with the X530, the G5 (or G6, I forget) Gator blades I have on the deck and 1 size smaller pulley really do a number on small shrubs and such that grow. It's like a floating wood chipper, though I won't hit anything bigger than an inch in diameter.

So it sounds like the Cub I found is a bit pricey, especially with 2 of the 4 implements being iffy. I'm not sure if the disc harrow needs more than just the discs. Again, I forgot to inspect it closer so I don't know if there is damage to the axle the discs are slid onto. I just know it has 7 in the front and 6 in the back, and he showed me the manual confirming it was an actual IH product and there should be 8 per row. That's why I wondered if the 3-point from TractorInnovations would be a good solution to put new implements on whatever Cub may purchase.

As for towing ability, the X530 does pretty good. I agree, it won't win against a Cub in a tug-of-war, which is why I kind of like the idea of owning a Cub. But the X530 pulled a 16' trailer loaded up with new metal for my pole barn roof. It has pulled some downed trees (stump not in ground) out of the tree line. It just needs the weights to get traction - I figure 800# as-is, 170 pounds with me in the seat, 100(50+50) on the rear wheels and 180 on the front to keep it from nosing up.

Mad money - I don't know, I'd like to stay in the $2K-$2.5K range (wife says $1 is good, haha). For under $2K I can do a full setup to the X530, but that would be sleeve hitch implements. A tiller on the back of the X530 is not a reality, last used one I saw for the X500 series was $900 and I think they are $1600 new. I like my Horse tiller, it takes me longer than a tractor but it does like to go through dirt and pretty easily. Doesn't jar my body like the old worn-out Ariens front-tine tiller from my grandpa.

I'm sure more thoughts will come to me as people make mention of things.

At least nobody has said buy the Super C yet. I'm not totally against it, but I'm not so sure about this particular one. It's a 51, wide front, fast hitch was added recently. But there is some hydraulic control on the right side of the seat box so it wasn't 100% factory. The tires are seriously weather checked. It does have the rear tire weights. Last paint job was not professional, all the gauge glass is painted over. No serial number plate, and the box with the gauges has a huge gash in the metal. It would have to be converted to 3-point so I could put new (or find used) attachments, not much luck finding fast hitch implements. There is also a straight H sitting next to it for sale but I don't know the price. Tires are better and it looks to be in much better shape but it is a trike front. I don't think I need something this big.

[Don McCombs]

OK, here you go. Don’t buy the Super C. It’s way more tractor than you need, based on your list of tasks. You have done your research well. Being a Cub enthusiast myself, I’m going to play the devil’s advocate and say don’t buy the Cub, either. At least not the one you’ve been looking at. Too expensive for what you’d be getting. If I were in your shoes, I would find a good used tiller for your JD and be done with it. If you really want a Cub, keep looking. There are better deals out there.

[MiCarl]

You can probably get a share for the plow (depends on which moldboard). Based on the price I got for a share for my plow it'd be cheaper to buy a whole plow on craigslist just for the share. Most of them don't have much wear.

It's also quite a nuisance to change implements on a Cub, at least without a Fast Hitch. At your age you'll find it gets harder fast.

I love my Cub, but realistically it only gets used for plow days.

I have plowed with a sleeve hitch plow. They can work well if the tractor is heavy enough and it's set up properly.

[ricky racer]

Rob, first off, welcome to the best Cub Website on the planet!! Okay, now to the nitty gritty. You've got a great garden tractor with the X530. Why not just get a tiller for the X530? It will easily handle a tiller and you can find them used in the $500-$600 range on Craigslist. That would eliminate the need for the sleeve hitch and Brinly implements. You can prepare your food plots and till the wife's garden once she gets tired of doing the no till route. That's one less machine to try to keep running and the mower deck on your X is easy enough to take off and put on, plus you'd probably only be doing that a couple of times a year. The tiller will take up less space in your garage and can be stood up on end to take up even less space. The HDAP tires will work great for tilling too. Take the money you save and put it in a jar and start saving up for the SCUT you really want.

[Waif]

No till works when a cover crop is kept established. It's mulch vs wood chips.

Hey , the Mrs. wants wood chips , run em!
But the wrong chips will be acidic. Affecting P.H..


Scalping your plot to kill it will make it easier to get a seedbed on.
Getting a plot established with a cover crop to keep weeds at bay is a start to going no till. Which is doable.
Starting with soil tests and adding amendments before starting can decide what perennial(s) to go with.
And what annuals are compatible as nurse crops.

IF you were closer I'd turn you loose on a Cub to try out.
Much as they have great merit , you'd be weighing one against your other tractor. Nothing wrong or unusual there. With any brands or models.
One thing being though , you like your X530.
What potential gain might you find if you had two of them? Vs adding a different brand or model to the stable.

[Clemsonfor]

Thanks for the advice so far. I guess I missed a few thoughts - I can't imagine the thoughts floating around in my wife's multi-tasking head!

Regarding the no-till garden - what my wife is telling me is that we put wood chips down in the walking paths which helps stop the weeds. Something about a "Back to Eden" method that I need to go read about. Then she and the boys just have to take care of the ones in the planted row. For planting, it won't be via tractor. That'll all be by hand, either via seed or starters. In the food plot, it is just a seed spreader as I walk around. Either way, we don't use chemicals on our soil.

I saw when Packer Max come out with their crimper attachment I was considering it until I saw the price. I'd rather have the wheel kit. I have a choke point that tends to get muddy on my way out back and I actually got my X530 stuck pulling it one year. Had to unhitch and pull the cultipacker out with a tow strap.

I agree the Cub loader is a glorified wheelbarrow. The same goes for the tractor shovel on the X530 (we call it the MowDozer). It doesn't dig, but it can move material faster than I can with a shovel. I'm thinking about the only thing I'd really use it for is on the compost pile when it needs to be moved/turned. In a pinch, it could be used as a blade in the winter to clear the 200ft driveway. I prefer the 47" two-stage snowblower on the front of the X530, it can really move the snow out of the way. The Cub blade front-mounted would be my backup in the event of Deere failure.

Not interested in mowing with the Cub, the X530 does great with the 54" deck. If it ever died and I couldn't fix it quickly, my dad would bring down his spare JD 345 for me to mow with. Yard is too bumpy for a zero-turn. I've mowed the food plots to a scalp with the X530, the G5 (or G6, I forget) Gator blades I have on the deck and 1 size smaller pulley really do a number on small shrubs and such that grow. It's like a floating wood chipper, though I won't hit anything bigger than an inch in diameter.

So it sounds like the Cub I found is a bit pricey, especially with 2 of the 4 implements being iffy. I'm not sure if the disc harrow needs more than just the discs. Again, I forgot to inspect it closer so I don't know if there is damage to the axle the discs are slid onto. I just know it has 7 in the front and 6 in the back, and he showed me the manual confirming it was an actual IH product and there should be 8 per row. That's why I wondered if the 3-point from TractorInnovations would be a good solution to put new implements on whatever Cub may purchase.

As for towing ability, the X530 does pretty good. I agree, it won't win against a Cub in a tug-of-war, which is why I kind of like the idea of owning a Cub. But the X530 pulled a 16' trailer loaded up with new metal for my pole barn roof. It has pulled some downed trees (stump not in ground) out of the tree line. It just needs the weights to get traction - I figure 800# as-is, 170 pounds with me in the seat, 100(50+50) on the rear wheels and 180 on the front to keep it from nosing up.

Mad money - I don't know, I'd like to stay in the $2K-$2.5K range (wife says $1 is good, haha). For under $2K I can do a full setup to the X530, but that would be sleeve hitch implements. A tiller on the back of the X530 is not a reality, last used one I saw for the X500 series was $900 and I think they are $1600 new. I like my Horse tiller, it takes me longer than a tractor but it does like to go through dirt and pretty easily. Doesn't jar my body like the old worn-out Ariens front-tine tiller from my grandpa.

I'm sure more thoughts will come to me as people make mention of things.

At least nobody has said buy the Super C yet. I'm not totally against it, but I'm not so sure about this particular one. It's a 51, wide front, fast hitch was added recently. But there is some hydraulic control on the right side of the seat box so it wasn't 100% factory. The tires are seriously weather checked. It does have the rear tire weights. Last paint job was not professional, all the gauge glass is painted over. No serial number plate, and the box with the gauges has a huge gash in the metal. It would have to be converted to 3-point so I could put new (or find used) attachments, not much luck finding fast hitch implements. There is also a straight H sitting next to it for sale but I don't know the price. Tires are better and it looks to be in much better shape but it is a trike front. I don't think I need something this big.

A couple thoughts after reading this. One tires being weather checked is not a big deal to a tractor. Three of mine on my Yanmar are that way. They run tubes. Its not like an automotive tire where a blow out or flat can get you killed at 75mph. Your going like 2-6mph if you get a flat it's just inconvenient. Tires will last checked, split , cracked for years.

And the harrow. If it's missing disk, there broken or that worn down I would guess it needs bearings and maybe an axle or two. Those take spool bearings probably which are big iron bearings that run in outer shells. All this stuff can be had at Agrisupply. It will add up though and you might have to fabricate it because I really don't know one way or they other but they may not be parts that will work as direct swaps with that disk harrow .

[RobD68]

Waif is right, I love my X530! I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for 6 years and put 300 hours on it. The first owner had it 5 years and put 200 hours on it. I've looked for another X530 but they still want close to what I paid for mine (which also included the 47" snowblower, the spreader, and the aerator).

He is also right about the cover crop and checking the soil. I have a bag of Winter Rye to put down as the cover crop.

So the Cub I was looking at is off the table of consideration with the implements needing more repair money than they are worth. I started looking for the tiller for the X530, not very many used ones out there right now.

So is Clemsonfor thinking that franken Super C is a consideration item? I don't want something too heavy or too big, thinking soil compaction issues. I wish it was a Super A instead, as that is a lot closer to the Cub but with some extra power.

And yes, this is an awesome forum! I won't say the best, but it is definitely up there on the ones I am a member of. If I do end up owning a Farmall, I can see spending a lot more time here reading and learning.

[Pap]

Welcome to the forum Robert. Sounds like you got some decisions to make.
Good luck with your project.

[ricky racer]

So the Cub I was looking at is off the table of consideration with the implements needing more repair money than they are worth. I started looking for the tiller for the X530, not very many used ones out there right now.

Here is a hydraulic driven one down by me but dang, it's expensive!! There are belt driven ones that will work on your X530 out there in the $500-$600 range.

https://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/grd/d/ ... 25355.html

[RobD68]

Ricky - Yeah, I've been through Craigslist and Marketplace searching. I'm OK with the belt driven 30" model, though the hydraulic one would be really nice since it would be the width of my tractor. Either way, they are all expensive right now just like everything else due to COVID.

[Clemsonfor]

Waif is right, I love my X530! I'm the 2nd owner and have had it for 6 years and put 300 hours on it. The first owner had it 5 years and put 200 hours on it. I've looked for another X530 but they still want close to what I paid for mine (which also included the 47" snowblower, the spreader, and the aerator).

He is also right about the cover crop and checking the soil. I have a bag of Winter Rye to put down as the cover crop.

So the Cub I was looking at is off the table of consideration with the implements needing more repair money than they are worth. I started looking for the tiller for the X530, not very many used ones out there right now.

So is Clemsonfor thinking that franken Super C is a consideration item? I don't want something too heavy or too big, thinking soil compaction issues. I wish it was a Super A instead, as that is a lot closer to the Cub but with some extra power.

And yes, this is an awesome forum! I won't say the best, but it is definitely up there on the ones I am a member of. If I do end up owning a Farmall, I can see spending a lot more time here reading and learning.

Don't worry about the compaction. Just don't go into it when it's too wet or don't go in it too often. I though am also not saying the super c is a good choice. You need to weigh that with the ability to get implements for it. Like you said if you want to convert to 3pt what will that cost and implements are not really cheap either so your price will go up by each implement you want.

[RobD68]

Heading in the right direction, I think.

Found a used Power Integral Hitch for my X530, so I'll have sleeve hitch capability. Only thing missing is the spacer where it connects to the rockshaft, so I need to place a call to Deere's special parts department as it doesn't turn up in any google search I do. It came with the Brinly rear blade as part of the package. I also found a very good shape Brinly single moldboard plow (only 1/2 mile from my house!) to add to my collection.

I have given up on finding a JD tiller for the X530, everyone wants way too much for them right now. $600-$800 for a used one that doesn't include any of the lifting parts. Just going to give my Troy Horse more love.

Now the fun part, and I know everyone here understands this, I found a Cub to buy. Just couldn't get the itch out of my system. Going to be picking up a 1965 IH Cub this week and it comes with the IH 60" belly mower. Puts out a little black smoke when running, but it has not been used much the last two years and might need some Seafoam and a few parts. My 16yo says he wants to help me tune it up and get it working right. I'll be a learning experience for the both of us and a lot of future searching here in the forums. The mower deck is missing one caster wheel. Tires look good, has AG on the rear instead of turf. If my X530 ever goes down, I'll have this to mow my 3 acres with until the parts arrive to fix the Deere. I'll probably run it every week to do my pathways out and about my 15 acres to keep the engine happy. Eventually it can mow the clover in my future food plots, as it can go to 6" high and my X530 tops out at 4".

I have video of it running and a few pics, but haven't seen it in person yet. I'll give it the once-over following the wonderful thread about what to look for. For only the third of the price of that first 48 Cub I looked at with all the garden attachments, I think I'll be very happy. Nice thing is it should be 12V from the factory so won't have to find a 6V battery. Like the Red color better, but I'll take the 18 years worth of improvements made during production over color. This one will still look good in a parade, if I ever get that far.

So thanks for all the help and advice given so far! Looking forward to showing off the new purchase after I get it home.