1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
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1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
I started my journey here by diving into the main Cub forum and got a lot of help right away. And a huge thanks again to the wonderful members here for being so kind and helpful. After spending a couple weeks looking at the forums, trying to learn the site rules and getting the lay of the land I decided to start this thread on my tractor and keep my noteworthy updates here for those interested. I also have used Dropbox or Facebook to post links to pictures (habit of being an IT guy by trade) but wanted to take the time to resize my pictures and post them here so members don't have to click links to see them.
Backstory:
My fiancé and I were discussing the need for a small tractor with her Dad one day, so we could bush hog and drag the driveway. We'd had this discussion several times (due to the 3 acre jungle that makes up the front part of our property and the driveway that could tear the bottom out of a Sherman Tank LOL) and figured in the next year we'd budget it in. Out of the blue her Dad says, "You can have Paw-Paw's old tractor out there in the shed, it's just like mine". We both lit up because while it's only a little Cub with a belly mower it's certainly more than adequate for our immediate needs and it's a collectible, classic. His is a newer model, a yellow and white Cub, not sure of the year. When we got a look at the one under a small shed roof out back in the woods it turned out to be an older, red Farmall Cub with the belly mower and tool bars, sitting on 3 very flat tires with one missing front wheel. So July 4th weekend 2015, we found the missing wheel behind his house, rolled it out using his Cub, then used a larger tractor with a front bucket to lift the rear end up and winch it onto a trailer. Managed to get it home in good shape, only breaking off one skid from the belly mower.
Here she sits on the trailer
Once I got a better look at it I realized, like everything else her Dad owns, it's been jury-rigged and the electrical was a complete mess. He was one of the best diesel mechanics with Canal Barge Co but he's terrible with electrical systems and he doesn't care for his own equipment worth a darn since he retired. So after some cleaning this is what I came up with.
Identifying the tractor was a bit of a job. All the stampings were easily identified as 1949, but the ID plate was completely worn off and had been painted over at some point. Originally I thought the serial number was partly 008, but someone pointed out that was the "1800" max RPM and the plate had been reinstalled upside down. Taking advice from a couple members, I removed the plate and was able to decipher faint stamping, rubbed it with a pencil and eraser until I was able to make out the serial number as 94459.
I couldn't get the starter to turn so I took it to a local electrical shop and had it rebuilt. Meanwhile decoding the condition of the tractor with members we figured out the generator had been thrown away, the coil and a ballast resistor had been added so they could run it on 12V, and the distributor was mounted upside down and timed wrong. I removed the manifold and valve cover and started working on unsticking the valves, spraying penetrating oil into the ports and spark plug holes and turning the motor, working the valves carefully. Eventually I turned the engine so all valves were closed again, sprayed diesel into the cylinders and left the plugs in a few days to let it soak. Finally they all worked loose. Once I got the starter back I was able to turn it under power and verify the valves were closing. Then I got the distributor turned around and static timed. Next step was to figure out the electrical and fuel systems.
Backstory:
My fiancé and I were discussing the need for a small tractor with her Dad one day, so we could bush hog and drag the driveway. We'd had this discussion several times (due to the 3 acre jungle that makes up the front part of our property and the driveway that could tear the bottom out of a Sherman Tank LOL) and figured in the next year we'd budget it in. Out of the blue her Dad says, "You can have Paw-Paw's old tractor out there in the shed, it's just like mine". We both lit up because while it's only a little Cub with a belly mower it's certainly more than adequate for our immediate needs and it's a collectible, classic. His is a newer model, a yellow and white Cub, not sure of the year. When we got a look at the one under a small shed roof out back in the woods it turned out to be an older, red Farmall Cub with the belly mower and tool bars, sitting on 3 very flat tires with one missing front wheel. So July 4th weekend 2015, we found the missing wheel behind his house, rolled it out using his Cub, then used a larger tractor with a front bucket to lift the rear end up and winch it onto a trailer. Managed to get it home in good shape, only breaking off one skid from the belly mower.
Here she sits on the trailer
Once I got a better look at it I realized, like everything else her Dad owns, it's been jury-rigged and the electrical was a complete mess. He was one of the best diesel mechanics with Canal Barge Co but he's terrible with electrical systems and he doesn't care for his own equipment worth a darn since he retired. So after some cleaning this is what I came up with.
Identifying the tractor was a bit of a job. All the stampings were easily identified as 1949, but the ID plate was completely worn off and had been painted over at some point. Originally I thought the serial number was partly 008, but someone pointed out that was the "1800" max RPM and the plate had been reinstalled upside down. Taking advice from a couple members, I removed the plate and was able to decipher faint stamping, rubbed it with a pencil and eraser until I was able to make out the serial number as 94459.
I couldn't get the starter to turn so I took it to a local electrical shop and had it rebuilt. Meanwhile decoding the condition of the tractor with members we figured out the generator had been thrown away, the coil and a ballast resistor had been added so they could run it on 12V, and the distributor was mounted upside down and timed wrong. I removed the manifold and valve cover and started working on unsticking the valves, spraying penetrating oil into the ports and spark plug holes and turning the motor, working the valves carefully. Eventually I turned the engine so all valves were closed again, sprayed diesel into the cylinders and left the plugs in a few days to let it soak. Finally they all worked loose. Once I got the starter back I was able to turn it under power and verify the valves were closing. Then I got the distributor turned around and static timed. Next step was to figure out the electrical and fuel systems.
IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
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Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Interesting read and glad you and your fiancee are the new keepers of one of the family Cubs. Cubs are great but even better when there is a family connection.
Confusion breeds Discussion which breeds Knowledge which breeds Confidence which breeds Friendship
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Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Doing great work on the old family Cub.
Keep us in the loop with updates and pics please,
Bernard,
Donegal Cub.
Keep us in the loop with updates and pics please,
Bernard,
Donegal Cub.
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- 10+ Years
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Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Sounds like it wont be to long before it goes to work.
1975 cub (LouAnn) serial # 245946, 1941 John Deere Model H
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Will Rogers
Good judgment comes from experience,
and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Will Rogers
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- 5+ Years
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:15 pm
- Zip Code: 39120
- Location: Mississippi, USA
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Over the weekend I got the Carb Kit installed. Think it's ready for a try.
Pays to let the pros do what they do best. Dad didn't have a 1" tap or die in his collection only 1/2" and 3/4". After trying to clean out the threads with a piece of pipe and making no progress I took the manifold and the black pipe I'd been given by a friend to the local machine shop and had them retap, cut and thread for me. $15
For comparison, the old piece of galvanized pipe they had barely screwed in and the new finished black pipe.
I have my Alternator Brackets, sediment bowl and hose kit in. Ammeter should be in today and I'm going to pick up some wire to get things hooked up this week. Will update with pics and info on the alternator kit soon.
Pays to let the pros do what they do best. Dad didn't have a 1" tap or die in his collection only 1/2" and 3/4". After trying to clean out the threads with a piece of pipe and making no progress I took the manifold and the black pipe I'd been given by a friend to the local machine shop and had them retap, cut and thread for me. $15
For comparison, the old piece of galvanized pipe they had barely screwed in and the new finished black pipe.
I have my Alternator Brackets, sediment bowl and hose kit in. Ammeter should be in today and I'm going to pick up some wire to get things hooked up this week. Will update with pics and info on the alternator kit soon.
IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 28706
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 8:37 pm
- Zip Code: E1A7J3
- Skype Name: R.H. "Rudi" Saueracker, SSM
- Tractors Owned: 1947 Cub "Granny"
1948 Cub "Ellie-Mae"
1968 Cub Lo-Boy
Dad's Putt-Putt
IH 129 CC
McCormick 100 Manure Spreader
McCormick 100-H Manure Spreader
Post Hole Digger
M-H #1 Potato Digger - Circle of Safety: Y
- Twitter ID: Rudi Saueracker, SSM
- Location: NB Dieppe, Canada
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Nice progress on the Cub so far. How long did you cut the Sked 40 pipe at?
Confusion breeds Discussion which breeds Knowledge which breeds Confidence which breeds Friendship
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- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:15 pm
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- Location: Mississippi, USA
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Measuring the old pipe because it did clear the hood, and allowing a little extra I went with 18". I knew if it was too long I could chop it off myself since I do have access to a real pipe cutter that will cut larger diameters than 1" just didn't have the 1" tap or die. I didn't realize until you called it Sched 40 that they classified Iron or Steel pipe that way. I've always called Sched 40 the heavy PVC and Sched 80 the gray or dark PVC. Learn something new every day
. A friend who works in the A/C biz gave me about a 3' scrap of black iron pipe his plumber had on the truck.

IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 28706
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 8:37 pm
- Zip Code: E1A7J3
- Skype Name: R.H. "Rudi" Saueracker, SSM
- Tractors Owned: 1947 Cub "Granny"
1948 Cub "Ellie-Mae"
1968 Cub Lo-Boy
Dad's Putt-Putt
IH 129 CC
McCormick 100 Manure Spreader
McCormick 100-H Manure Spreader
Post Hole Digger
M-H #1 Potato Digger - Circle of Safety: Y
- Twitter ID: Rudi Saueracker, SSM
- Location: NB Dieppe, Canada
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
a lot won't agree with this and a lot will ... at 18" you are just about the right height for the C-60 to sound really good simply with the straight pipe. Use a rain cap though ..
Ellie just purrs and with the straight pipe it is a soothing sound. With the muffler on, I find it is too tall to get around my trees even on the road .. and it is way too quiet for my likes. I love the sound of a well tuned Cub with a straight pipe
Ellie just purrs and with the straight pipe it is a soothing sound. With the muffler on, I find it is too tall to get around my trees even on the road .. and it is way too quiet for my likes. I love the sound of a well tuned Cub with a straight pipe

Confusion breeds Discussion which breeds Knowledge which breeds Confidence which breeds Friendship
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- 5+ Years
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:15 pm
- Zip Code: 39120
- Location: Mississippi, USA
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
I've planned to get a muffler on it after I have it running and all, but if it sounds nice without one I'll put a rain cap on it and call it a day 
It's been so long since I heard one running I can't remember.

It's been so long since I heard one running I can't remember.
IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 7760
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:56 am
- Zip Code: 64070
- Tractors Owned: 1942 Farmall AV, serial #87025
1947 Farmall Circle Cub, serial #2116
1948 Farmall Cub, serial #46066 - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Lone Jack, MO
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Enjoyed reading your thread. Nice that you have a family Cub and are dedicated to getting it working again. I see far too many Cubs just sitting in someone's backyard, partially covered with tarps, not doing a thing...then I turn away from my rear window and shake my head. 
Seriously though, if you decide to put on a muffler, you'll probably be cutting that 18" exhaust pipe down a little. Otherwise, it'll be sticking up pretty high!
Keep us posted on your progress and THANK YOU for adding pictures along the way!

cavingreer wrote:I've planned to get a muffler on it after I have it running and all, but if it sounds nice without one I'll put a rain cap on it and call it a day
It's been so long since I heard one running I can't remember.
Seriously though, if you decide to put on a muffler, you'll probably be cutting that 18" exhaust pipe down a little. Otherwise, it'll be sticking up pretty high!
Keep us posted on your progress and THANK YOU for adding pictures along the way!
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- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:34 am
- Zip Code: 27517
- Tractors Owned: '51 Cub #140966 "Bruno" with Woods 59 mower
'55 Cub #187541 "Betty" with Fast Hitch
'55 Cub #190482 "Ben" with Woods 42 mower
'55 Cub #191739 "Bertha" with Woods 42 mower
'56 Cub #194370 "Boris" with Mott Flail mower - Circle of Safety: Y
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Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
If it has not been run in a while, be sure to "Prime the Oil Pump"! A search should turn up several posts on it...easy but very important! Have fun with your project!!
Oh, and bring it to the Deep South CubFest (DSCF) next year. You will meet lots of knowledgeable forum members and families, learn a lot about these cubs, maybe get some problem resolved on yours, and eat some GREAT food!!!
Mr E and Gang do it right!!!
DSCF Info:
http://www.dscubfest.com/
General Cubfest info:
http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81945
Oh, and bring it to the Deep South CubFest (DSCF) next year. You will meet lots of knowledgeable forum members and families, learn a lot about these cubs, maybe get some problem resolved on yours, and eat some GREAT food!!!
Mr E and Gang do it right!!!

DSCF Info:
http://www.dscubfest.com/
General Cubfest info:
http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=81945
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- 5+ Years
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:15 pm
- Zip Code: 39120
- Location: Mississippi, USA
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Dale I have priming the oil pump on my list right under "change every fluid that's been sitting in it for 15 years" haha.
And DSCF is on my list for next year. She won't be nearly as pretty as most but by then she should be fully functional.
SO today I cleaned out the threads on the tensioner arm bolt hole, did a test mounting of the alternator bracket and arm. Only problem I'm seeing is the tensioner arm lands dead in the middle of the alternator instead of either front or back of the bolt hole. I've contacted Charlie Uthke (charliesrepair.com) to verify if I need to grind off the spacer in his kit to match it up or if the water neck has some play in it if I loosen it up. I haven't broken it loose to see because frankly it's perfectly sealed and I didn't want to mess with it, but I'm sure you guys can answer that as well? If the water neck has about 1/4" or so of play in it that would line it right up.
And DSCF is on my list for next year. She won't be nearly as pretty as most but by then she should be fully functional.
SO today I cleaned out the threads on the tensioner arm bolt hole, did a test mounting of the alternator bracket and arm. Only problem I'm seeing is the tensioner arm lands dead in the middle of the alternator instead of either front or back of the bolt hole. I've contacted Charlie Uthke (charliesrepair.com) to verify if I need to grind off the spacer in his kit to match it up or if the water neck has some play in it if I loosen it up. I haven't broken it loose to see because frankly it's perfectly sealed and I didn't want to mess with it, but I'm sure you guys can answer that as well? If the water neck has about 1/4" or so of play in it that would line it right up.
IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
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Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
I don't think you will find enough play in the water outlet to correct the alignment. Maybe consider a "z" bend in the tensoner arm or cut and weld it back together with the appropriate spacer in between the 2 pieces. Of course that's easy for me to say since I haven't seen what you are working with. How does the pulleys line up for the belt? Easier to make other adjustments to make sure the belt is lined up.
Stan in LA (lower AL)
USAF & Reserves, Reg ARMY, ARMY NG (AL)
USAF & Reserves, Reg ARMY, ARMY NG (AL)
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- 5+ Years
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:15 pm
- Zip Code: 39120
- Location: Mississippi, USA
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
I have to measure and pick up the belt now that I have it set in place. Then I'll a much better idea. His bracket has about 3/4" adjustment slots. I'll post pics soon.
IT Guy by day, Rockstar by night, Amateur tractor restorer on occasion 
1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"

1949 Farmall Cub #94459 - Restoration Thread
"Organized chaos is better than no chaos at all"
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 6558
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:34 am
- Zip Code: 27517
- Tractors Owned: '51 Cub #140966 "Bruno" with Woods 59 mower
'55 Cub #187541 "Betty" with Fast Hitch
'55 Cub #190482 "Ben" with Woods 42 mower
'55 Cub #191739 "Bertha" with Woods 42 mower
'56 Cub #194370 "Boris" with Mott Flail mower - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: NC, Chapel Hill
Re: 1949 Cub Natchez MS Updates
Some of the alternator conversions I have seen used spacers in various locations. I have done two, and since I had two different brackets, I used two different combinations of spacers/standoffs. Make sure you clear the spinning fins on the alternator.
This was one of mine. Brackets were from Clint:
This was one of mine. Brackets were from Clint:
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