FINALLY got a cub!

[sgtbull]

Hello everyone. My name is Kelley Hulsey and I'm pleased to have joined this forum. I've been restoring tractors for nearly 25 years and I recently came up w/ a jewel of a tractor, a very original 1955 Cub. Its my 35th tractor. I've been wanting a cub since I first started messing with tractors, but never seemed to come up with one. I'm one of the founders of our local farm machinery club, the Southern Illinois Antique Power Club, based in Salem, Il. and at our last show, (our 19th year), a friend of mine had his cub there, and the interest was renewed. He called me a few days later and connected me with the owner of this gem. It came with the factory one point, a disc, plow, carrier, belly sickle mower, and front and rear weights. It runs and drives perfectly, has zero dents, nothing broken, nothing welded and nothing missing. Only the seat was badly rusted under the pad, and a couple of rear rim bolts were incorrect. I have plenty of other tractors to turn dirt with, and only want this one to parade and play with, so I'm pedalling the hitch, implements and weights to recoup my investment.
I purchased a drawbar and misc parts from Ralph Napier, who introduced me to this site, and to Ralph I'd like to say thanks. Swell guy, great seller and very knowledgable on these little buggers.
Called him to buy parts, and ended up talking for over an hour just about "tractors and stuff."
Personally, I'm married with 4 kids, a 13 yr old girl, an 11 yr old girl, and twin boys of 10. They all have claimed one, (or more) of my tractors and the latest cub is still up for grabs. I live well out in the country in southern Illinois, on my family farm and all the old tractors get a workout with regularity.
I'm a Sgt. with the Illinois State Police, having been with them for 22 yrs, and was a local officer for the city of Greenville, for about 3 years prior to that. I am currently the District FIrearms instructor, and teach numerous topics both at the academy and in our district. I am in charge of our two scales and a platoon of commercial vehicle officers. Its a great job, but in 4.5 yrs, I'lI get to retire and am looking forward to lots of shop time!
I tore my cub down today, (10/28/08) and intend to to an empty case up restoration. Even though it is in great shape, I know there are things that have to be addressed to avoid problems in the future, and to do a quality paint job, it has to come apart. So far, with the exception of the left brake pedal being all but fused to the brake shaft, everything has come apart easily, including the radiator bolts. By this time tomorrow, I hope to have it completely disassembled and be ordering parts.
Looks like a great site.... I'll be around.

[Joe Malinowski]

Nice to have new members welcome. This is a great site many of us are addicted, I have made many new friends here and I am sure you will find the same. I highly recommend the evening chat as well its a good way to meet members, a group is usually on there from around 9 pm on.

[Bigdog]

Kelley - welcome aboard! It's nice to get to know you. Make yourself at home and let us know if we can help in any way.

[Bill Hudson]

Kelley, Welcome to the forum. Enjoy the ride.

Bill

[Don McCombs]

Welcome to the forum, Kelley.

[Rudi]

Kelley:

Well, to the forum and the Cub Family...

Wow!.. 35 tractors that is a few.. How many of em all do you still have? Must be quite the herd.

Since you have been around the block a bit so to speak.. you already know your way around old iron and restoratiions - so there is very little I could add to help you out except to just point you to the Owener's and Blue Ribbon Service Manuals for the Cub and the Part's Catalogs.. for reference...

to Farmallcub.com Forum Family. And you have come to the right place for all things Cub related. If you click on the Site Rules, Regulations, & Important Information, it will point you to the Welcome Wagon wherein you will find links to many useful sites and topics. One of which is the Cub Manual Server where you will find a bunch of really useful links.

Keep us posted how you do, take lots of pics - we like pics around here.

Enjoy the Cub, I see your brood is enjoying the herd... Even though this is only your first Cub, I bet you will like everyone else probably have a very hard time stopping at 1 Cub.. these little tractors get addictive real quick

[sgtbull]

well, in response to how many I still have, there are only 9 in the shed...seems they come and go a bit, with the exception of a few that I really like. Too expensive to keep them all, so I redo one, play with it for a while, and if I find something else that interests me more, I may trade it or sell it outright and use the cash to buy another one... (plus a few shop tools:)
The ones i''ve restored, in order, are:
39 Farmall F-20
37 F-20
39 AC wc
53 AllisChalmers WD
41 John Deere B
53 Farmall Super H
39 John Deere A
40 Allis Chalmers B
38 Farmall F-14
36 F-12
39 John Deere H
40 John Deere H
40 John Deere B
38 John Deere B
36 John Deere B
36 John Deere A
54 John Deere 50
55 John Deere 70
59 John Deere 630
45 John Deere H
46 John Deere B
50 Ford 8 N
51 John Deere R
65 International 656
64 John Deere 4020
49 Ford 8 N
52 John Deere G
53 Farmall Super C
36 John Deere B
50 Ford 8 N
40 Farmall H
51 Ford 8N
55 Farmall 200

and a couple I can't think of right now.....

I still have the '40 Jd H, the '40 Farmall H, the 630, the first 1950 8N, the 36 JD B, the '40 JD B, the JD 70 and now this Cub.... Enough for each kid, and a couple extra!

[Denny Clayton]

Welcome aboard, Kelley. So you've explained where the sgt comes from, now what about the bull Is it what I think it is or did you ever watch the show "Night Court" back in the '80's?

[Jackman]

Welcome to the site ,,,,,,,, I bet you could give a lot of good advice on how to legally and safley haul a Cub. As a seasonal truck driver I go thru a few of road side inspection each winter and every once in awhile in the summer.....

[ScottyD'sdad]

Welcome to the forum. As you found out, Ralph is great for used parts. TM is excellent for new parts. Fast, excellent service. Tom will answer any questions, regarding parts. Lynn will process your order, before the sun comes up. Ed

[sgtbull]

Well, the "bull" part depends on who you talk to.... but the "official" version was that while in the academy, I had a M/Sgt drill instructor who was former Navy, and drew a connection between me and ADMIRAL BULL HALSEY... different spelling, but sounds the same. He couldn't spell very well, but you don't point things like that out to the DI.... unless you LIKE to do pushups... Again, that is the "official version." The REAL version usually requires a beer or two first, and honestly, probably would be better suited in another setting... but I promise you would laugh hard and you'd never forget it..... Its funny that I may run into an academy classmate that I haven't seem in many many years, and the first words they say are, "Hey Bull, how ya doin'?" Its a nickname that stuck fast.

[VinceD]

Well Bull, welcome to a great forum with fantastic people and more info than you can possibly imagine. Glad to have you aboard.

Keep your eye on your tractors. When your neighbor, Pony Master, sees that list - you will need a bigger lock and chain.

[RaymondDurban]

Welcome to the Forum!!

[redfin]

Welcome to the forum Sgtbull , I am sure you will like it here.

Jim

[phildidit]

welcome, can't wait to see some pics of your collection.