Farmall cubs

[adventure_ingles]

I had someone offer me two Farmall cubs for a fourwheeler. I havent as of yet got the years or models of them yet. I just know they are older ones but illknow more when he emails me back.
I was just wondering if anybody knows anything about this type of tractor. Are they pretty reliable and are parts readily available? Are they decently easy to work on yourself?
Ive seen them before just dont know a whole lot about them.
Thanks

[DM]

Cubs came in several different models... They all have flat head 4 cyl gas motors in them makeing 10 hp... Some have pto, some don't. (not a std. 1-3/8 x 6 spline though) All have 3 speed trannys in them and depending on what you plan to use it for, they are geared a bit too high, and are a bit under powered.

First you need to state what it will be used for, and then i can answer about how it would suit your needs.

Not a bad little tractor but of limited use...

DM

[adventure_ingles]

Pretty much just for some plowing of my garden and some small fields i guess. If they are of limited use what are the uses for this little tractor? I have a good sized wagon- could these things pull it along pretty good on flatground or some smallish hills?
Im wasnt really looking for a tractor just got a fourwheeler i was tradin and was offered them. Dont need the fourwheeler but these tractors peaked my interest.
Thanks

[DM]

Pretty much just for some plowing of my garden and some small fields i guess. If they are of limited use what are the uses for this little tractor? I have a good sized wagon- could these things pull it along pretty good on flatground or some smallish hills?
Im wasnt really looking for a tractor just got a fourwheeler i was tradin and was offered them. Dont need the fourwheeler but these tractors peaked my interest.
Thanks

They made a mounted plow right for the cubs, if you get "that" plow, then they plow fairly good. They were designed to be a small farmers garden tractor, but you really needed to get the tools that were sold right for them. And they DID make a lot of different tools for the cubs.

BUT, some cubs were lo-boy models, and they really were made to be a lawn mower... Problem is, many didn't have live power, and all of them are under powered for mowing grass as they all have the same flat head motor...

If they have good tires on the back, and if they have some wheel weights on them, they probably would pull your wagon up a decent hill as long as the ground isn't too soft... Keep in mind, they don't have real big tires on them, and they are a light tractor.

You really need to post exactly what models they are, and then i can tell you more about them. A pict. and serial numbers would be good too.

DM

[Cuznguido]

Somewhat of a biased opinion here, but I think the cub is the best small garden tractor ever built. They will do far more than you would believe but they are SMALL and surely not overpowered. They are super for the garden and the yard because they are light and do not compact the ground. They make an excellent lawnmower with a belly mower. Parts are readily available and they are fairly easy to work on. They are usually very dependable. I have a larger tractor for heavy work, but for the garden etc and just ginning around the cub is the best. Now ask me what i really think about them. :) And NO the 8n ford is not better. Just in case somebody says it. :)

[DM]

I guess it depends on how thick your grass is... I mowed with a couple different cubs, and they are geared too fast for all but small mowers, and thin grass.

My grass is thick and grows fast, so they were underpowered for me. A church near here got rid or there's for the same reason.

DM

[adventure_ingles]

Thanks for the replies.
The guy I was going to trade with has now sold one of them and the other isnt in that great of shape so its a no trade. too bad.

[the_iron_horse]

Once a old timer told me that the only thing better than a Farmall Cub for cultivating was a mule.

[DM]

Once a old timer told me that the only thing better than a Farmall Cub for cultivating was a mule.
I guess he never cultivated with an Allis "G"...

DM

[Boris859]

*I guess he never cultivated with an Allis "G"...

*DM

first time I ever saw one of those I thought someone stole all the sheet metal..lol

[Eastex]

Some things to remember when getting a Farmall Cub, and I guess any of the offset tractors, is make sure the tools are included, such as the tool bars, plows, planters, cultivators etc. A complete planter assembly can cost $600 +. Without the tools, not a lot of value in them. I just had my dad's 1949 Cub restored, and spent way too much money. Parts for Cubs are real high.

That said, this 8 hp monster was designed for the small farmer. Some here in East Texas farmed up to 40 acres with them. This year, I have one '52 that I used to plant, just learning, and am getting another ready for cultivating. But I also have bought a Super A, about 18 hp, that may be used for the cultivating. Farmalls can be addictive.

[Cuznguido]

Go to farmallcub.com. What cannot be found there, whether equipment or advice, is not worth knowing or having, when it comes to cubs. I know many of the guys there and they are a great bunch. Like I said earlier, they are the best small scale tractor ever built. The work they can do will amaze you--for something so small and OLD.

[MrGreenJeans]

I like our little cub and my uncle has a lowboy. We switch out attachments and it works out good for us. Some things can be hard to find for them. Been looking for a rotovator for a while. Have the bellymower and side cutter. Four diffrent plows. Fine little tractors.

[Cuznguido]

Mr. Greenjeans, I don't mean to meddle, but I doubt that you would be happy with a rotary tiller hooked onto your cub. It just does not have the necessary muscle or the weight to make one very useful (as well as I like them).

[DM]

Actually, "rotavator" is the name Howard (a German brand) calls their tillers, as Howard makes mostly "field" tillers... Field tillers are an industrial version of the garden tiller. It will do much more than a garden tiller, and it's a lot more machine than a garden tiller.

Cubs just don't have the power to to run a Howard rotavator, even if Howard made a rotavator for a cub, and they don't.

To really be a good "tiller" tractor, that will break up new sod, and do a good job at it, you need a tractor with more than 10hp, and it needs to have a "slow" enough gear in the tranny to do a good job. Most old tractors are geared too high, even in first gear, to be a "decent" tiller tractor.

BTW, Howard did make an add on gearbox for old Fords to slow them down for tiller use...

DM

[MrGreenJeans]

Thank,s for the info. Your right about the cub gear box, after some research on a tractor forum. Going to look around for something with a little more h.p. for tiller. Still keep the cub around it,s home.

[Okie-Dokie]

Not exactly true about they all have the same engine. Almost, but not quite. My Farmall Super A (A designates a wide front end,Super indicates the larger fourteen hp flathead engine). Still not much hp for serious farm work. It is geared pretty fast for mowing, especially trying to mow around an area with lots of trees and such. Mine is equiped with the one bottom turning plow, a 6Ft. Woods belly mower, a 5ft cycle mower, and I have a trailer equiped with a 300 gal. sprayer that I use to control broad leaf weeds in the field of horse quality hay I bale and sell to the several wealthy horse owner types in the area. Really an easy task to change out from the belly mower to the plow assy. About 15 minutes, tops. Repair parts have never been a problem at all. I would not choose this tractor if it was going to be the only tractor I had. I would go with a bigger more powerfull machine.

[DM]

Not exactly true about they all have the same engine. Almost, but not quite. My Farmall Super A (A designates a wide front end,Super indicates the larger fourteen hp flathead engine). Still not much hp for serious farm work. It is geared pretty fast for mowing, especially trying to mow around an area with lots of trees and such. Mine is equiped with the one bottom turning plow, a 6Ft. Woods belly mower, a 5ft cycle mower, and I have a trailer equiped with a 300 gal. sprayer that I use to control broad leaf weeds in the field of horse quality hay I bale and sell to the several wealthy horse owner types in the area. Really an easy task to change out from the belly mower to the plow assy. About 15 minutes, tops. Repair parts have never been a problem at all. I would not choose this tractor if it was going to be the only tractor I had. I would go with a bigger more powerfull machine.

Hi Oakie,

I don't quite understand your post.

The "A" was a "model", not just a "wide front designation". All "cubs" are flat head, all "A's" are over head valve. All "A's" did have a wide front though, as did ALL Cubs.

The "super" A's had more power than the std. "A's" (plus hydraulics) and later ones, i do believe had more than 14hp. Cubs were 10hp, and those horses were smaller than the A's... lol A's have a 4 speed tranny, Cubs have a 3 speed.

Anyway, there's a HUGE difference in these two tractor models!

DM