mid 70's Cub Un-Breakable, unbelievable

[Groove Critter]

We met some real nice folks stopping to look at a cub today. I know I still have a lot to learn about these tractors even after all the work my tractors have undergone -but I want to know if anyone here could tell me how long a well maintained throwout bearing can possibly last?

I don't mean to call this guy out on this but I refuse to believe that a mid 70's cub can go without a new clutch or throw out bearing for all those years ; used to bottom plow a small plot and to mow w/ woods 59. Maybe he just wasn't recalling some of the maintenance?

Short of a broken radiator (w/ no broken bolts during change-out) in the past, this thing is rusty and has had no problems at all he says. Not even a head gasket or carb rebuild before -now I must be getting your reading attention ahe? We did not see any large pinkish animals flying with wings while we were there either .

Cub Veteran input is much appreciated please? Life of a well maintained clutch & throw-out bearing?
Dave

[walt thomason]

My 1948 cub just got it's throw out bearing replace 2 years ago for what it is worth

[tst]

replaced the clutch in my 50 cub in 69, still being used today
Tim

[Eugene]

Guy's claim is quite possible. Tractor age is not a factor, maintenance and type of usage is.

[John B.]

Critter,
My 1966 still has the orignal clutch and throw-out bearing plus about everything else except carb. Only thing wrong w/ orignal
carb is warped top section.
John

[outdoors4evr]

Use is a factor, not age. Without a functioning hour meter, there is no way to tell how 'worn out' a tractor is without removing the head.
Throwout bearings and clutches wear most during the transitions between clutch engaged and clutch disengaged. A tractor, even with a lot of hours on it may not have performed a lot of clutch cycles depending on how it was used. Some tasks require a lot more clutch action than others.
(example, running a saw versus pushing snow)

Mythbusters - Plausible

[Mike in Louisiana]

my 75 cub is still all original.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My 48, which has gotten pretty heavy use since I got it received it's first throwout bearing and pressure plate in approx. 1998 or so. My 49, which was used almost exclusively to mow with a Woods 42 got it's first throwout about 5 years ago, and still has original clutch. Engine has been bored one time. The 49 has had the carb replaced, and the mag changed to a distributor due to a mechanic (working for previous owner) that claimed to do an overhaul (just ringed it when it needed rebored),and did not know how to time the governor gear.due

[bythepond88]

My 59 is still on her original TOB. I replaced the clutch disk when I overhauled the engine, cause it wasn't that expensive (unlike the TOB). When I checked the original disk against the replacement, it wasn't more than half worn, so it's on the shelf in case the current one self-destructs.

[gitractorman]

Yep, both my 77 and 51 Cubs had the original TOBs. Tractors had never been split. I would guess that both are still going strong. The 77 was used by a church to plow snow in southern Ohio, so it saw relatively little use. The 51 was used on a farm here in WNY, but he only had a snow blade for it, so again, it saw little use. Running a mower deck is probably the biggest reason for wearing out a TOB, just from all the stopping, backing, turning, etc. Also, when folks mow lawns, they tend to leave their foot on the clutch, especially in lawns with lots of trees. This really tears up a TOB.

[pickerandsinger]

My 57 lo boy according to the PO has the original clutch in it......

[Buzzard Wing]

Watch how people drive.... you can see why some are always replacing brakes and others rarely do. Same with a TOB and Clutch, as GI says many people ride a clutch and that is hard on it. So is starting with the clutch pedal down.

With my Lo Boy there is a lot of clutch use (=wear) mowing tight quarters and plowing a short driveway.

[PVF1799]

Rex '48 got a new clutch and throwout bearing in the early 1980's. Pretty good service life I'd say.

[outdoors4evr]

Pretty good service life I'd say.

Agreed! Getting 30+ years out of a tractor part when the whole tractor was designed for something like a 10 year lifespan.
American old iron of course - overdesigned and still enjoying it!

[Lt.Mike]

As the saying goes, they made things better back then. Really!
I don't think "planned obsolescence" was in anyones vocabulary in those days.