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plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:25 am
by ad356
i didnt think 1st gear is fast enough to effectively plow, but you guys are right it's much safer and easier on the tractor. they push quite well using 1st gear. i had a pup of a time starting my tractor, it just didnt want to go. it would fire and die this cycle continued repeatedly until it finally stay running, once it was running it ran great. i dont really like this because it think it beats up on the flywheel. i wish i could make it start easier

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:37 am
by Former Member
I would bet that with the heat of the engine, cold wet temperatures etc.. you are getting condensation in your carburetor and manifold. It is taking several tries to get them warm enough to dry out. Next time you shut it down, turn off the fuel and let the tractor die, then turn off the ignition.

Also, Stabil or seafoam in the fuel in the winter is a definite plus.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:23 am
by Rudi
I pretty much agree with Dale's assessment. I had this issue with Ellie yesterday as I plowed the driveway cleaning up after the Massey did most of the grunt work on a very wet 38 cm's of new fallen snow -- (that is 15" for all the non-metric folks :wink: ). Ellie sounded like she was running on 3 cylinders and was missing a lot. After about 40 minutes she finally fully smoothed out and ran normally. Way too much moisture/condensation as temps were above 0C or 32F - light rain causing the difficulty both with the snow and with the Cub.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:18 am
by Bigdog
If you haven't already done so, a tune up will likely help your starting issue.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:58 am
by Johnny Lindqvist
That's funny, I noticed all the same things. I let mine warm up longer this morning than I did last night but it took three or four tries to start it. I will try shutting off the fuel and letting her die next time that sounds like a good idea. I always keep my battery on a maintenance charge otherwise I doubt it would start (my battery is weak). I think the moisture explains the chugging I had once in a while last night when releasing the clutch to fast. It sounded like it was missing a couple cylinders as well but only during those circumstances. I was curious about 1st or 2nd gear though but wasn't going to ask. I did my entire driveway and first but at the very end tried second while cleaning up and it was much fast but I suppose I will refrain from doing that if you guys think the wear and tear is to much in 2nd.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:20 am
by Scrivet
Johnny Lindqvist wrote:......... I was curious about 1st or 2nd gear though but wasn't going to ask. I did my entire driveway and first but at the very end tried second while cleaning up and it was much fast but I suppose I will refrain from doing that if you guys think the wear and tear is to much in 2nd.
I plow in all three (not at the same time :lol: ). It really depends on the conditions. How deep is the snow? How wet its the snow? How rough is the ground (paved or gravel)? How well does your Cub run? How afraid are you of breaking something? So any of the three gears is appropriate depending on circumstances. As far as worrying about breaking something, I don't go out trying to but they're machines and things break. As far as wear and tear, they're machines and things wear out and have to be replaced/fixed on occasion. I don't worry/obsess about something for ten years to coax another couple months out of it before it needs attention. Just don't let me catch you with your foot glued to one of my clutch pedals though. :x

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:36 am
by Rudi
Johnny:

Johnny Lindqvist wrote:I was curious about 1st or 2nd gear though but wasn't going to ask. I did my entire driveway and first but at the very end tried second while cleaning up and it was much fast but I suppose I will refrain from doing that if you guys think the wear and tear is to much in 2nd.


The wear and tear on your Cub should be minimal as long as you stay within it's operating envelope. I stand behind what I posted in this thread - Re: is this abusing the tractor?

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:38 pm
by Johnny Lindqvist
Cool, Yeah my driveway is an old parking lot for the dairy workers so it's got plenty of ruts. I didn't push to much and when it did hang up the spring on the plow did it's job. Another question. What puts more stress on the the engine; running say 1st gear low rpm vs hi rpm under load and so on and whats the comparison 1st gear vs second in the same scenario?

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:24 pm
by Former Member
Rev it up and let it go- the governor will do the rest. If you are spinning too much, back off on the throttle, let the governor do it's job. The only time you are pushing too hard, is if you kill the engine. Just restart and go again

Don't worry bout it, your cub likes to work hard, and the harder you work it, the better it likes it. Just don't get a running start in 3rd gear and hit a frozen snow bank. Use some common sence and you will have no problems.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:01 am
by awander
Dale Shaw wrote:Rev it up and let it go- the governor will do the rest. If you are spinning too much, back off on the throttle, let the governor do it's job. The only time you are pushing too hard, is if you kill the engine. Just restart and go again

Don't worry bout it, your cub likes to work hard, and the harder you work it, the better it likes it. Just don't get a running start in 3rd gear and hit a frozen snow bank. Use some common sence and you will have no problems.


I agree with Dale. I am amazed at the amount of work a Cub can do-and how hard you can work them.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:36 pm
by Buzzard Wing
Can't hurt to pop the distributor cap and make sure it's dry too. I agree a tune-up could be worthwhile. A Cub should start on the first or second try.... if not, something is wrong.

Re: plowing in 1st gear is much better

Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:34 am
by nwhitman
I'm plowing 3/4 mile gravel drive some with a pretty steep hill. Blade is cocked all the way to the right with the right side running one adjustment hole lower than the left. I use all three gears. 1st is the only way to get up the hill, especially for 1st run. 2nd is best for general work but once the ground is frozen and smooth underneath 3rd is the only way to make the snow fly. 1st and 2nd just pile it up nice and tall, which in my situation makes a hollow into which blowing snow collects. It's like a snow fence - right in the wrong place.

Nick