Farmall Cub

Hi - just joined the gang here. I have a 1954 Cub that was mostly a sentimental purchase because we had a '46 when I was a kid. The tractor has a Woods 59 mower deck and left/right land plows - forget what they are really called - but they allow you to plow without backing up the furrow - just raise one side, turn around, drop the otehr side. Never have used them.

Since I don't have time right now to do any gardening, the tractor has largely been relegated to being a lawnmower, and I just inherited a brandy-new 18 HP Simplicity mower with a 54 inch deck and snowblower...

Sooo - what I have been thinking of is doing some work on the old gal to give myself a project. The motor is strong, runs very well. The transmission is fine, rear end/diff is fine. Guess all the important parts are fine except the clutch which works but grinds like a coffee mill.

Where does one get started with basic restoration? I don't want to get all fanatical about having the exactly correct paint molecules on there, although it's mostly three colors - red, white and black by what I can figger. I haven't done any body work for more years than I'll admit to, so if there's a site or a book where there's a general guide to "how to", I'd certainly appreciate the advice. I used to do cars when younger, so I'm guessing that the body work has got to be easier - there's no rot to speak of, just rust so there's probably not going to be any welding or anything, just lots of sanding or bead blasting if I can get things small enough for my buddy's blasting booth...

Any advice or guidance would be appreciated - like I said, I'm not gonna get all nuts with "original" - just want to preserve the tractor and keep it functional. As far as I can tell, all the parts are on the tractor, even has the original manual. And I would surely love to get the lights working!

Thanks much...

Welcome to the list Larry And, congratulations on your new acquisition, it sounds wonderful.

I am like-minded in that I am not too overly particular about my paint molecules, but I do enjoy having the tractor being a "nice working model" as opposed to a "showpiece" or a "hunk of rust."

I would suggest that you've already identified your starting point - getting the lights working. There is a veritable plethora of information available on what is called "Rudi's Server", and if I recall correctly, the address is http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub (make sure that your "C" in Cub is uppercase.)

Hi Larry

Stay tuned. This is the website that will have the right answers for you. Allenlook says its therapy...I agree.. and fun too.

How much is a plethora anyhoo

uh-oh... another one catching the red/rusty iron disease. welcome aboard i started on Primer Pete wit hthe intention of doing some mechanicals and a working paint-up to cover the primer-n-rust. but somewhere along the way.....look what happened







now I 'NEED' another cub 'cause this one's too purty

artc...I think you said you painted Pete with imron

I have an imron cub too. If you get a drop on gasoline on that paint it makes a dull spot that won't hardly come off

Give BA a couple weeks and he will be like allenlook

Another Larry.... and almost a neighbor to boot. Bet ya did not go as far as I did to get yours! (just under 1000 miles)
I am in a similar position. Except I got the big pink slip just before going to get the Cub.... and since nothing will fit in my garage anymore (x-cab with 8' bed just too large on all dimensions to fit through the door) I have turned an oil change and tune up into a real project.

You came to the right place, these folks are absolutely awesome.

Larry in Newport, RI (AKA buzzardwing- cause nobody EVER uses that one)

ARTC:

Wow, nice job, how did you get the steering wheel converted from left hand drive to right hand drive.....musta been a lot of work, huh?

artc
I think that is a very nice looking cub.I was not aware there was a left and right handed steering.I must have been lucky I put a total of three bolsters on mine and they were all right side.

Hi All

Sorry, but I am a little slow and don't understand how the steering is on two different sides, and in the older photo the bar rear tires look like they are on backwards. I have been reading three years and have not seen anything like this, unless it was something done by you computer experts. Maybe it's time for new eye glasses. Paul K. in N.H.

artc,

Not only did you manage to swap the steering but you also lost the mower Great looking Cub

paul. when my web guy posted these pictures, he flipped the 'old' photo so it's backwards. he was looking to get a before and after photo of the same angle. i don't think he realized what he did, since he has no mechanical ability.

multiema
i have noticed that the paint under the gas cap subjected to gas fumes has loosened a little. i think it's the primer, not the imron. i took a utility knife and scored the paint under the cap and peeled the paint off, in an attempt to stop the problem before it gets to a visable area. we'll see

Take It Apart


TBAR