[AT] It's a Cub!

[George Willer]

Karl,

I finally received your message 9 hours after it was sent!

I enjoyed your account of your first experience with yours, especially the 
account of the first startup.  I wrote about establishing oil pressure in 
another note.

Congratulations on your elevation to the true elite!  The Cub is the single 
tractor that probably has the largest group of followers on the internet. 
Many fine folks are ready to offer advice on anything Cub related that may 
come up... most of it helpful.  ATIS has a special place for Cub 
discussion... the first list Spencer started as a spin-off from this one:
http://www.atis.net/cgi-bin/FarmallCub.pl

Another site you may find valuable is farmallcub.com:
http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1

Cubs do have a weak point that makes them vulnerable to damage from towing 
from the front axle... especially from jerking.  Just so you know yours 
hasn't been damaged, here's where to look.
http://members.toast.net/gwill/album/Tractors/Special%5FDetails/Cub_block.jpg

Many folks poke fun at the Cubs because of their low HP.  Mine have more 
than 125 HP, it just takes a lot of drivers!  :-)

George Willer

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <HaliganBar at aol.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 12:16 AM
Subject: [AT] It's a Cub!


Well, It finally happened...I finally have joined the elite of society. Yes,
that is correct I now own a @$#!* Cub. The deal has actually been in the 
works
since last year but, today it was unceremoniously dragged home behind the
MF202.

My plan had been to get it running and drive it home (about a mile) but, the
tractor hasn't run in almost a year so I knew I was in for a challenge. I 
set
off with a handful of tools and other implements of destruction with high
hopes of getting the little Cub to roar to life. Everything started off on a
positive note, all the tires had air in them, there was oil in the engine, 
water in
the radiator, only 2 mouse nests (not in critical locations), and gas didn't
leak all over the ground when I poured a gallon into the tank.

With soaring expectations I turned on the ignition, pulled the starter rod
and....nothing. The battery was most sincerely dead. Not to worry, I ran to 
the
truck, grabbed my battery charger and hooked it up. Uh oh, the reverse
polarity light lit up...inspite of the fact the red lead was attached to the 
positive
terminal and the black lead was clamped to the negative post. Time for plan
"B"! I jumped into the truck, ran home, and grabbed a 6v battery in my
garage....back to the cub and installed it. A yank on the starter rod and it 
turned
right over..and over ...and over. Not even a pop. Dang...time for plan "C."

I ran back home, fired up the MF202 loader, threw my 15 year old daughter on
the back, and headed over to the Cub again. I used a cargo strap to raise 
the
belly mower and hold it in place. We then pushed the Cub out of the garage 
and
hooked a chain from the hoe frame on the MF to the front axle on the Cub. I
gave Caitlin some very fast driving lessons on the loader, then I hopped on 
the
Cub, and off we went down the road. She did a great job of towing and only
jerked me once. As we left the driveway the PO shouted, "you'll have to 
drive it
back if you ever get her going again"...I thought that was some bad karma.

I was planning on using the Cub engine to provide braking so I left the
tractor in gear and kept my foot on the clutch for the ride home. A couple 
of times
on the ride I turned on the ignition and tried to pop start it but, no dice
and I shut off the ignition. As we approached our house I finally released 
the
clutch to slow me for the first time on the trip. Holy mackerel...it fired
right up! Someone had installed the ignition toggle switch upside down. I
quickly shut off the motor so I didn't plow into the back of the MF and we 
pulled
into the riding ring.

I disconnected the tow chain and started it again. I let it run for about 15
seconds and shut it off due to the screech coming from the front of the
engine. I topped off the hydraulic fluid (thinking dry hyd. pump) and tried
again...still making the noise. I did manage to identify it as coming from 
the fan. I
filled the fan reservoir with oil and lubed the magneto bearing cup just in
case. Ta da, no more noise and I noticed, no oil pressure on the 
gauge...dang!

I ran out of time to play with it because I had to leave for work. Tomorrow
I'll throw a new oil gauge on it and see if that does the trick. I'm 
cautiously
optimistic this is the problem because the engine was not making any "I'm 
not
getting any oil so I'll grind myself into little pieces" noises. As for the
particulars..it's a 1949 Cub with a C-2(?) belly mower under it. Everything
seems to work (except the oil pressure gauge) but I will have some seals to
replace as well as the front tires.

All things considered...I'm pretty happy with the latest addition to the
herd....I hope that doesn't change......

Karl

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