I never wanted a Cub, but here I am!

[Inspectorjoe]

Hi all. I'm glad to have found this forum and be accepted as a member.

I'm sure the subject line raised some peoples blood pressure, so let me explain. I've been collecting garden tractors for about 10 years, but always wanted a Farmall H. So a few years back, in my late 50's I decided life was too short, and made my dream a reality by buying a beautifully restored '42 with a factory wide front end. After having it a few years, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't too practical on a 1/3 acre lot in the suburbs, so I sold it and and resumed enjoying garden tractors.

Then about two weeks ago, I'm driving down the road, and a half mile from my house I see an old tractor in someone's front yard with a For Sale sign on it. The next day, I stopped to take a look on my way to work. I was amazed to find a circle Cub in it's original paint, bearing serial number 808. Dang! I never had any interest in Cubs (aside from buying Rachel Gingell's FARMALL CUB Encyclopedia at a Red Power Roundup and having her autograph it) but I had to have it. I spent the next few days trying to talk myself out of it, but was unsuccessful. My big issue was my wife - I had promised her 'no more tractors', but had broken that promise several times before. Finally, I decided to go for broke, and offered to sell all of my garden tractors in exchange for her blessing. She went for it. The next day I went and looked it over in detail and made a deal on it. The day after that, I paid for it and drove it home.

I'm ecstatic to have it. To be honest, I always thought Cubs were a little ugly with their asymmetrical shape, but I quickly got over that. I'm not going to do a thing to it cosmetic-wise - no boiled linseed oil, no WD-40, no clearcoat. I love it just as it is, bearing the cumulative marks of 76 years of service.

Did I mention that I love this thing?

I'd love to post a picture of it, but don't see how to do it. Perhaps new members can't, just as I can't upload a profile photo.

[Barnyard]

I'm sure the subject line raised some peoples blood pressure

I doubt that.

I was amazed to find a circle Cub in it's original paint, bearing serial number 808.

Good Find! You will like that.

I never had any interest in Cubs (aside from buying Rachel Gingell's FARMALL CUB Encyclopedia at a Red Power Roundup and having her autograph it) but I had to have it.

You will definitely learn a lot more on this forum than you will from one of her books.

I'm not going to do a thing to it cosmetic-wise

Good decision, they are only original once.

I'd love to post a picture of it, but don't see how to do it.

Just click on the attachments tab and add your file.

All in all, welcome to the forum. There are a great bunch of folks here who will readily answer any question you have. Add those answers will definitely be better than any book you might buy.

[Inspectorjoe]

You will definitely learn a lot more on this forum than you will from one of her books.

I don't doubt that since I was met with a deer-in-the-headlights look after asking her what I thought was a simple question about my H.

Just click on the attachments tab and add your file.

I see B, i, u, Quote, Code< List, List=, *, Img, URL, Normal, Font color, center, hr, s, strikethrough and youtube tabs, but not an attachment tab.

Thanks for the welcome!

[Inspectorjoe]

I now have an attachments tab! I think I needed to make two posts for it to appear.

Here's my Baby:

[Don McCombs]

I wouldn't change anything, either. How does it run?

[outdoors4evr]

Serial 808 was built when that factory equipment wasn't even dusty yet! Being the 307th cub off the line, that would probably have rolled off the line during the first week of production.

[Gary Dotson]

Welcome to the forum! I, too, commend your decision to keep it original. Really nice survivors are hard to find and generally get a lot of attention at shows. Being a very early Circle Cub survivor makes it just a little more special.

[Mike in Louisiana]

Welcome to the forum. Great find.

[staninlowerAL]

Looks like "turkey track" style rear tread tires. Great find, and welcome to the forum. Now that you have 2 posts you can access/download information from the manuals section located at the Quick links tab, top left corner of this page. Scroll down to pdf manuals and select whatever interests you. Stan

[Inspectorjoe]

I wouldn't change anything, either. How does it run?

It runs like a dream! I don't want to put much time on it before I do some in-depth PM, but it starts right up, idles smoothly, and ran strong on the drive home.

[Inspectorjoe]

Looks like "turkey track" style rear tread tires. Great find, and welcome to the forum. Now that you have 2 posts you can access/download information from the manuals section located at the Quick links tab, top left corner of this page. Scroll down to pdf manuals and select whatever interests you. Stan

Thanks for the welcome.

Unfortunately, the rears are mismatched, with Goodyear on the left and Armstrong on the right. On the plus side, both seem to have about 80% tread left and both are still shiny and smooth, with no weather-checking.

I already downloaded some manuals last night. I still hope to find one that covers adjustments to the manual lift. On mine, there's almost almost no travel between the blade up and down positions, so the helper spring is not helping at all.

[Inspectorjoe]

Serial 808 was built when that factory equipment wasn't even dusty yet! Being the 307th cub off the line, that would probably have rolled off the line during the first week of production.

I was thinking that, or maybe during the second week (it may have taken a little while to iron out the bugs and get up to full production speed).

I'm wondering how many are out there that are older than mine and still in their original paint.

[Dale Finch]

FYI...looks like you have a PTO pulley mounted for a sickle mower. If you don't have a sickle mower, and don't plan to get one, you can always sell that pulley for over $100, up to about $300!

Beautiful original Cub!! Welcome!

[staninlowerAL]

Interesting reading here about the Cub production run. Click on the first one, Cub Database. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87029

[SamsFarm]

I might be mistaken, but am thinkin that is the 308th one off the line!