Farmall Cub

Anybody know a source for the mesh (screen) for the grill on a 61 model? Was this different to that on the earlier models? Seems like there are bunch of people that cell the mesh for an earlier model, but can't find anyone that sells the mesh for later models.

Thanks

Hi David

I have a 61 and took the mesh off and thought this looks like a piece of what I call hardware cloth, I had some left over from another job and it looks just the same. I think the sqaures are 1/4 inch. I have some problems so I have not put mine back together yet. Some folks may call in 1/4 inch square spaced chiken wire, I don't know, but at a hardware I worked at I cut hundreds of pieces of it for folks and we sold it as hardware cloth. Paul K. in N.H.

Paul -- thanks. I agree 1/4" squares - same on mine. Thanks for the lead to the hardware store. Seems like all I could think of was a more expensive solution. What do they use hardware cloth for? David

Hi David

Some folks use it to make rabbit cages, they may use larger squares on the bottom so the waste can fall through to a tray or to the ground and be cleaned up. Some folks use it to keep rodents out of places, maybe over something glass that has been broken more than once by a baseball or basketball, as long as it is not going to trap someone from getting out if they needed to. I don't know if we need to clean it down with anything before we paint it as it may have a oil film on it from manufacturing, not sure. Paul K in N.H.

David
The mesh on the earlier cubs is a double weave with 3/16 squares,I have to get it special made .In fact I am waiting for some now,very expensive,I use it to make the older grilles.I believe yours is a different type from what I have seen.

I looked at a '47 grill last weekend. an original, i believe, from the tips Jim Becker has alerted us to, etc. it was on a serial number in the 4100 region and was a much SMALLER mesh size than normal. someone told the owner that it was a '47 only mesh size.

anyone have anything to support that? i don't believe i've read anything on this board about it.

Art,

The early '47 had a finer mesh screen, but it was changed to what later became the standard during the year. I think the original mesh was 8/inch and was changed to 5/inch... for reasons I have always thought were silly. As far as I know, all screens from then on were 5/inch unless the screen has been replaced. I'm guilty of replacing some with standard 1/4" hardware cloth (4/inch), but I don't think IH ever used it.

Steinertractorparts.com is one place that sells the 5/inch screen... but it is pricey.

My early '47 had the fine screen grille.

[quote="George Willer"]

The early '47 had a finer mesh screen, but it was changed to what later became the standard during the year.
I think the original mesh was 8/inch and was changed to 5/inch... for reasons I have always thought were silly.

George ya got me curious now. What was the reason the mesh size was changed that you considered silly. I always wondered if it was an air-flow problem by clogging easier but that was only a guess thought that had skimmed through my mind.

Bronson,

Yes, that what I have always heard... the fine screen plugged too easily and restricted air flow. So... provide a coarser screen so the stuff can pass through and plug the radiator core instead. Now, to clean it, the grille must be removed. It always seemed silly to me.

Air flow was also the reason I've heard for discontinuing what most of us consider the nicest looking grille.

George, I agree with you on that being a silly reason. It seems that cleaning the screen makes more sense than having to remove it to clean the radiator. I think I know where one of those fine mesh grilles are on an old piece of unused rusty piece of equipment. I-H Combine or? but it has a Cub power unit on it that somebody stole the carb off of.

Turkey wire grill

George Willer wrote:Air flow was also the reason I've heard for discontinuing what most of us consider the nicest looking grille.

I never heard anything either way but always assumed the later screen was stiffer and less prone to getting bend up. Never tried bending them to test the theory either.

Jim Becker wrote:

George Willer wrote:Air flow was also the reason I've heard for discontinuing what most of us consider the nicest looking grille.

I never heard anything either way but always assumed the later screen was stiffer and less prone to getting bend up. Never tried bending them to test the theory either.

Jim,

I don't think that's the case. I sold mine 5 years ago, so I can't check it but just looked at Frobl's at Cub Fest. I think the wire size is the same and there is more of it, so the early one really should be stiffer. I did have to do a lot of body work on mine to get it straight and it seemed substantial, as I remember.