[Farmall] !@#$% cub oil leaks / gears grinding

[Mike Sloane]

Hello, Dave. I hope this isn't the Cub that I sold you, but if it is, I 
guess you have put a few hours on it in the last several years.

While you probably could do the front seal without taking everything 
apart, the leak you have through the transmission access cover sounds to 
me like the front transmission seal is shot, and you will have to split 
the tractor to do that seal. The front transmission seal is very easy to 
replace and not expensive. But you don't have to drop the pan. It also 
sounds like your clutch may be due for some work as well, so you might 
as well just "bite the bullet" and do everything at once. Since you 
depend on the Cubs for your livelihood, this is a good time of year to 
do everything right and be ready for spring. The condition of your 
transmission fluid suggests that you might as well just drain the old 
stuff out and replace it with new 90 wt - you have water from years of 
condensation. You should probably drain and refill the final drives 
while you are at it.

The good news is that splitting the Cub is not a terribly difficult job 
and is something that you can do with average hand tools. I suggest that 
you invest in a Cub service manual from Binder Books 
<www.binderbooks.com>, as the manual walks you through the procedures 
very nicely. The only thing I do differently from the manual is use 
hunks of wood cribbing to support the engine under the pan, rather than 
the special steel stands that were apparently part of every IH shop's 
equipment. You also need a couple of tapered wood wedges, but that is 
something an experienced woodworker like you either has or can make in a 
minute. The wedges are driven between the axle and the lower engine 
casting to keep the front of the tractor from tipping to the side when 
you remove the back half. What I usually do is remove the drive shaft 
and use it for a pilot when installing the clutch, then put it back in 
when I put the tractor back together. The most expensive piece (aside 
from a complete clutch assembly), if you have to replace it, is the 
throw-out "bearing", which is actually a graphite ring and needs to be 
greased from time to time through that access hatch. If you replace it, 
be sure to install it with the zerk fitting facing down...

One of the nice things about the Cub PTO is that you can engage the pto 
and use a Vice-Grip wrench on the output splines to turn the input shaft 
when you are putting things back together. I use one of those 
inexpensive 1-ton rolling floor jacks to support the back half of the 
tractor, which makes it easy to move the back half around and position 
it for putting back together.

Contact me off-line for any further information,

Mike

david purpura wrote:
> Hello and regards, all.  I have some oil leaks that I need to deal
> with over the winter, and thought I'd ask if there's anything I
> should know before I start, etc.
> 
> The front main seal is leaking.  Can this be removed and replaced
> externally?  In other words, can I just pull the radiator and crank
> pulley and somehow pull the seal?  Is there any special tool /
> technique?
> 
> Second - there's a pretty good leak from the clutch access cover -
> seems to happen especially after a good load - plowing or harrowing -
> it's a nice foamy, mochachino color, and I'm guessing it's coming
> from the rear end.  I assume there's a front seal there that's
> leaking.  What does that r&r entail?
> 
> Third - the gears grind when shifting, unless the engine speed is
> dropped way down.  Is there an adjustment to the clutch that'll give
> it more throw?  There's no bearing noise or anything.
> 
> Other than those problems, the tractor runs great and while I know
> it's a great time for a major teardown, I'd like to avoid it if
> possible.  I'm not looking for any new projects right now...  :-)
> 
> Thanks for any help with the above.  I had the tractor set to 54"
> wheel spacing all summer for cultivation.  I just narrowed it back
> down and forgot what a pleasure it is to drive - much easier
> steering, much more maneuverability.  I suppose I've waited long
> enough and will have to get the snow plow and chains mounted now...
> 
> dave


-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
mikesloane at verizon.net
Website: <www.geocities.com/mikesloane>
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

"What is past is prologue." William Shakespeare (1564-1616)


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