How Well Will A 6 Volt Cub Start In Cold Weather?

[ricky racer]

I thought I'd make a video of my '53 Cub doing a cold start. I haven't used the Cub in a few days and it was supposed to get down to 0 degrees last night so I thought it would be a good time to do a cold start video. When I looked at the temperature on my phone this morning it had already warmed up to 7 degrees. Out in my unheated barn it was a balmy 20 degrees. I was hoping it would be colder for the sake of the video but it really doesn't make any difference what the temperature is, my Cub always starts right up, even at -20 degrees. Thank goodness we haven't been down that low yet!

[Barnyard]

Sounds good Rick. I can't understand why so many people want to switch to 12V.

[tmays]

Rick, enquiring minds want to know. If you haven’t been down to -20, how do you know it will start?

[Barnyard]

Rick, enquiring minds want to know. If you haven’t been down to -20, how do you know it will start?

Considering where Rick lives, I would venture to say he has experienced -20° temps. Perhaps he means he has not seen that this year.

[ricky racer]

Rick, enquiring minds want to know. If you haven’t been down to -20, how do you know it will start?

It hasn't been down to -20 this year but it sure has in the past. Last time when the temps were that low, I had an issue with the clutch shaft freezing. The Cub started right up but when I depressed the clutch pedal and then released it it just slowly moved into the engaged position, kind of like slow motion. During that stretch of cold weather I had to place a heat lamp under the tractor so the linkage wouldn't freeze up but I never had an issue with the old girl starting.

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

I do not worry about my cubs starting at 120, but it very seldom gets that cold here. Due to age and health I seldom use my tractors anymore when it is very cold, but when I did I never had a problem with them starting down to +10 degrees. to accomplish that on 6 volts I kept battery cables in top condition, and a maintainer on them. A fully charged and warm battery has much more cranking power than a cold partially charged one.

[Bob McCarty]

Beautiful Cub Rick. Is the ski pole on the left side part of the hydraulic angling for the blade?

[ricky racer]

Beautiful Cub Rick. Is the ski pole on the left side part of the hydraulic angling for the blade?

Yep! I take my Cub back to the woods a lot and often go for walks once I'm back there. I'm not as sure footed as I used to be so I use the trekking (ski) pole to help keep me from embarrassing face plants! It doesn't always work, but it helps! Man, it sucks getting old....

[Cub-Bud]

"When I looked at the temperature on my phone this morning it had already warmed up to 7 degrees."

We got down to 3 degrees here Tuesday night. Schools have been closed all week, along with most businesses. Sleet and snow complications.

[tmays]

Rick, enquiring minds want to know. If you haven’t been down to -20, how do you know it will start?

It hasn't been down to -20 this year but it sure has in the past. Last time when the temps were that low, I had an issue with the clutch shaft freezing. The Cub started right up but when I depressed the clutch pedal and then released it it just slowly moved into the engaged position, kind of like slow motion. During that stretch of cold weather I had to place a heat lamp under the tractor so the linkage wouldn't freeze up but I never had an issue with the old girl starting.

Gotcha . Been very cold here for this far south. Was 19 degrees here one evening this week. Went out and started the cub. Fired right up. But all I had was first and reverse. Assuming there was water in the tranny. After riding a few minutes I was able to get her in second. I was glad, cause I was cold by the time I got back home

[Peter Person]

Many years ago Nik Roble (kinelbor) posted a cold start video of his 1948(?) in New Sweden, Maine when the temp was well below zero. He had a straight pipe on it too. Fired right up!
Tried to find the video, but no luck.

[Stanton]

Working all the way! Nice Cub, Ricky. Thanks for sharing the video.

[Magnum]

Sounds good Rick. I can't understand why so many people want to switch to 12V.

+1 to this. I have an H , my grandfather bought brand H new after ww2 in 48 , been 6 v since new . It always starts , cubs and the A are the same .

[v w]

At one time I had quite a bit of cold start problems. My cub is still 6 volts. After sending the carb to Cecil for rebuild it started fine. I have not tried to cold start for a few years as I use the Cadet to clear the drive. The easiest starting older tractor I have ever seen was a 1939 H with a magneto. I would consider a 12 volt change to an M/super M however 2 batteries wired parallel does help with the increased amperage. Vern Rick, We showed -13 about a week ago.

[Frozenstate]

Mine starts up fine in temperatures just below zero. Every winter on some of the coldest days I go out just to see if it will start. I always set the throttle at about mid range when shutting it down and make sure the snowplow is set at a neutral spot without any stress on the hydraulics.
You need a good battery and connections.
I use a float charger that is made for 6 and 12 volts but only put it on occasionally.
10/30 Mobil one oil.
It always starts, no problem. I really want to keep my tractor all original, and with it tuned right, non ethanol clean fuel and a good battery I have never had any issues