Lowboy front axle

[Dusty B]

What is the story on why some lowboy cubs have an adjustable front axle and some have a straight nonadjustable axle?? Does the entire front bolster have to be replaced to install an adjustable axle??

[Glen]

Hi,
The non adjustable front axle was standard on Cubs and LoBoys, the adjustable front axle was extra cost.
The housing the axles attach to is the same with either front axle.

The extra cost equipment is listed in the operator's manual.
Below is a page from the 1957 LoBoy operator's manual showing the adjustable front axle.

http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.clea ... e%2071.jpg

[lyle11]

I did this exact swap out from fixed to adjustable on a 1955 Lowboy. My Lowboy has a Woods 42 mower. Here is what I did:

1 - Lowered the mower and disconnected the linkage to take weight off
2 - Moved the mower a few inches rearward out of the way.
3 - Jacked up the tractor and supported it with a 1”X18” long pipe run through the opening in the Steering Gear Housing Base supported on each side by a jackstand. (Steel pipe you can get for about $5 at Menards or Home Depot.)
4 - Removed the axle pivot pin and dropped the fixed axle
5 - Installed the adjustable axle and secured it with the pivot pin.
6 - Put jack stands under the newly installed adjustable axle to support it.
7 - Removed the jack stands and pipe from the Steering Gear Housing Base
8 - Moved the spindles, etc. from the old axle to the new.

You need 4 jack stands for this method. I only supported the tractor using the Steering Gear Housing Base for a short time. So, it would make sense to make sure the pivot pin moves before you start since that can be a problem.

[Gary Dotson]

You'll also need to swap the tie rods, for adjustable ones.

[Dusty B]

AreThe spindles the same lengthOn the adjustable axle as on the fixed axle?? In other words can you Switch spindles, rims and all with the adjustable axle and just switch tie rods??

[Barnyard]

AreThe spindles the same lengthOn the adjustable axle as on the fixed axle?? In other words can you Switch spindles, rims and all with the adjustable axle and just switch tie rods??

Yes. http://savethecub.com/manuals/parts/cub ... -loboy.htm

[lyle11]

On my Lowboy, I added a Woods 42 mower, which requires the adjustable front axle. It has to be extended so the right front tire clears the mower deck. Mine had adjustable tie rods already on it. I didn’t look at the parts manual for the fixed front axle. I’m not sure if the tie rods have the hollow tie rod tubes with shorter rods or if they are solid with minor adjustment at the threaded end of the rod. I was able to get mine to work but they were barely long enough. I think Tim Talleur (tst) makes the new rods that slide into the tube if you need them.