Farmall Cub

Are there any tricks to check the state of bearings in the transmission and rear axles without major disassembly? I'm trying to decide if the rusty teeth in the transmission are causing the "knocking" noise when I drive the cub in first, second, and reverse or if it could be a bearing. When I'm going down the road at top speed there is no noise at all coming from the transmission. I really don' t think it makes any noise at all in third gear.

Have you checked for loose bolts on the rear wheels, hub to rim and hub to axle?

Try to isolate the source of the knock. Jack and block up one rear tire the tractor. Transmission out of gear rotate the rear tire. Then lock (fasten) down the clutch pedal. Transmission in each gear, rotate the rear tire.

I have tightened all fasteners pertaining to the wheels. I also lifted it off the ground and rotated the axles as you described. It seems the noise is most noticeable when I rotate the right wheel (right if you were sitting in the seat) forward. It is not as noticeable if I rotate the wheel backwards. I have done this with the wheels on and the wheels off and the noise is the same.

I feel as if it were the gears causing this issue it would do it in all the gears since they all have rusted teeth on them

Might be right final drive bearings.
Ed

Gears wouldn't knock unless they were missing teeth.