Farmall Cub

I've been enjoying seeing the photos and videos of pushing and blowing snow with the Cubs. I haven't seen snow in years but back when I lived in snow country all I had was a snow shovel and a sore back. Anyway the video with the snow blower showed the grill covered to help the tractor run warmer and I got to thinking about how my Farmall A has shutters, not that I need them down here. I was told the tractor originally came from Ohio. My question, just out of curiousity, did they make cold weather shutters to fit the Cub?

No they did not. Although shutters were available as an individual option on the larger models, shutters typically were on tractors with the distillate/kerosene fuel options. Gasoline engines normally do fine without shutters. Since all Cubs came with gasoline engines, there was no real need to produce a shutter option for them.

Iowa winter tractor operation. Canvas radiator curtain on tractors without factory installed shutters. Used on gasoline tractors with heat houses to provide some heat off the engine to the operator. Couple of different styles. Operator had to dismount the tractor to open or close part of the curtain to keep the temperature gauge in operating range.

You could do something similar on the Cub. Heavy cloth or canvas and 4 short bungee cords.

Cub's thermosyphon cooling system operates at a very low temperature in cold weather. Some sort of partial radiator covering would improve engine efficiency by increasing the Cub's engine operating temperature. Just have to make sure there is sufficient air flow through the radiator to keep the engine/coolant from boiling.

The winter front used with a snow blower would be to prevent snow from packing the the grille screen and radiator core. The cloth cover could be shaken or beaten to remove accumulated snow if overheating would be realized.

Some automotive fan hub manufacturers prohibit the use of any type of covering due to damage caused by the fan being drawn forward end or side loading the bearings.

Edit: Spell Check

I've been running this setup on my 48 cub for several years now:



I originally made a full set of side curtains that also attach to the hood front to back, but I haven't needed them. The temp is perfect inside without them. If it was any warmer inside, I'd have to shed some clothes.

One time I noticed the cub getting hotter than usual and when I hopped off to investigate, I noticed the front flaps had come unhooked and closed completely.

Rick

Yeah Rick, that looks good and cozy. Use to do a little cold weather striper fishing on Lake Ouachita, and had a canvas cabin built for my 24 ft pontoon boat. Little heater, plenty of hot coffee, fresh pack of Viceroys, and me and the wife watch the sun come up.
Then we quite smoking and quite cold weather fishing.
Oh they young days.

Since a Cub has no thermostat in the cooling system, it will never reach proper operating temperature in very cold weather. I've always suggested partially covering the grill for cold weather operation, you'll be surprised how much better the tractor will run. The one Rick has is the Cadillac of covers but cardboard and bungee cords will work quite well. Just keep an eye on it for coolant pushing out.