Farmall cub

[CarmeloLabadie]

Looking at purchasing a cub with a belly mower. I don't know anything about them, it's just something I think I want. Can you tell me what to look for, or don't do it, or anything that would be helpful. I have found a few in my area, neither are running, 1 appears to have been left outside the tailpipe and air breathers are covered, the other was under a shed, and a 3rd looks very rough. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

[Stanton]

Welcome to the Forum! Since this is your first post, we moved it over to the Introduce Yourself section.

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

After you’ve logged your 2nd post on the Forum, 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.

Might also enjoy reading through this thread (even though it’s for a Cub, much can be applied to any tractor just brought home): How a New Cub Enthusiast Can Inspect a Cub for Possible Purchase

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

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:

• Pictures are limited to 500 KB file size. Use an image reducer app or program to downsize pics.
• 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.

[Eugene]

Welcome.

Any advice would be helpful.

Ask yourself what you are going to use the tractor for.

Do you have the time, money, space, tools, and experienced to work on the tractor?

Not to talk you out of purchasing a Cub, but it is frequently much less expensive to purchase a tractor in running, work ready, condition.

Sort of an edit. Stanton, the guy with the previous post, has a recent thread on his engine repair. Just sign on to the board, then click on Stanton's name, read his recent posts on the topic.

[Stanton]

Any advice would be helpful.

...Sort of an edit. Stanton, the guy with the previous post, has a recent thread on his engine repair. Just sign on to the board, then click on Stanton's name, read his recent posts on the topic.

Or the direct link is here: http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=111534

Engine overhauls can run up real fast...

[Eugene]

Engine overhauls can run up real fast...

50-60 year old tractors and the engine is not sleeved.

Most likely the engine has been over hauled at least once. The probability of a non-running Cub needing an engine overhaul is pretty high and that could include machine shop work to the engine. $$$$ and more $$$$.

[Glen]

Hi,
Here are some things to look at before buying a Cub.

Check the castings for cracks, or broken places on them.

There is a place on earlier Cubs where the engine block can crack. It is at the right front area of the block, where the front end bolts to the engine. Look closely for a crack there, it can be covered by dirt or grease.
Below is a pic of the area, a crack can happen in the corner, where the black oil is, near the cooling system hose. One bolt is not there that holds the front end on in the pic.

There are 5/8" threaded implement mounting bolt holes in places on Cubs.
You could check the threads in the implement mounting holes.
Sometimes the threads are worn, sometimes the threads are worn out and gone. Sometimes the holes are broken.
There are 2 pads on each side of the front area of the clutch housing. Each pad has 2 bolt holes.

There are 6 implement mounting bolt holes on each final drive. 2 on each final drive hold the drawbar on, it's important those holes are good to use a drawbar.

There are 2 implement mounting bolt holes at the bottom rear side of the large square hole under the steering gear. The square hole is for mounting some implements.

Cubs originally came with a cork in each implement mounting hole, I'm not sure if the 2 holes at the square hole had corks, they might not have. Some corks might still be in the Cub you look at. They might be painted over. They can look like a broken off bolt, but are not.
The corks are to keep out dirt.

If you aren't going to use the Cub with implements, it might not be important to you if all the threads in the holes are good.

Sometimes the left final drive bolts that hold it onto the transmission housing work loose, and people keep using the Cub, I guess, and the bolt holes and threads wear. Then the threads need repair.
People on here have needed to put in repair coils for the threads.
The final drive is held on with 6 bolts in a circle. 2 bolts are near the bottom of the bolt circle, they come loose also.
They need checking and tightening once in a while.
It's probably not impossible for the right side to have this problem, but I haven't seen it.
You could check the right side bolts too.

The 2nd and 3rd pics, from TM Tractor, show the drawbar and the bolts that hold it to the final drives.

[Mike in Louisiana]

Carmelo, welcome to the forum.
What are you going to use the mower for? There are several brands and types. The 59 inch mowers are more of a finish mower for your yard but the 42 inch Woods mower also does a fairly good job in your yard and it is good for the mowing the pasture ,making deer trails in the woods. You can also get implements to Farm with, grade Road‘s with its an all-around nice little tractor.

[Pap]

Welcome to the forum Carmelo. Good luck with your project.