New to tractors

James Dotson

New User
I just bought a 1955 Farmall. Would like some info on starting this tractor. It has a lever to engage the starter. The ignition switch has three positions, and the engine will turn over in all positions. Have not put gasoline in the tank yet. Also, noticed everyone talking about A letter following the word farmall. How do you know what modle? Looked up the serial number to find out the year. Any info will be appreciated. Thanks
 
A photo would tell all but I think you'd have to make a few more posts first. Any chrome numbers on the side of the hood? What does the serial number and prefix say? Narrow front or wide? I suspect you might have a 300 or 400 if a narrow front. There are some pretty good detectives on this site, give us a little more to go on then everyone can give you some pointers on how to get it going. Once you find out what it is, get a manual for it. It will tell you everything you need to know to get it running and how to operate it.

Good luck!
 
Post a few photos of the tractor and you will get a wealth of information in short order. Your description doesn't point to any specific model for me except 1955 is one year late to be a letter series model, Hal.
 
Here are some photos.
a99659.jpg

a99660.jpg

a99661.jpg
 
Thats a Farmall Cub. the 3 position switch is your light switch, more than likely, but who knows whats been changed. You should have one switch to pull out for the ignition, but like I said who knows whats been changed!
 
(quoted from post at 08:19:21 01/31/13) Thats a Farmall Cub. the 3 position switch is your light switch, more than likely, but who knows whats been changed. You should have one switch to pull out for the ignition, but like I said who knows whats been changed!

That push-pull switch SHOULD be right next to the light switch.
 
Yes it is next to the light switch. It looks just like the choke lever. What position does the ignition switch need to be in?
 
Sounds like the tractor has been modified (cobbled) over the years and is FAR from the original and correct set up. Detailed pictures of the Dash, serial number (plate on front steering housing), and some other info such as alternator or generator and 12 or 6 volt would also help. That tractor should have originally been red; not the yellow/white combo. Yellow/white came along in the mid 60's on a totally new new body style. That is also the incorrect seat for that tractor, so if you don't like it, that's why.

FYI, the choke lever is opposite the start lever and looks the same as the start lever. If you'll follow the linkage from the carburetor choke, you'll see where it goes. But like I said, who knows what has been changed!

We're here to help you!
 
You say you just bought it.....but have you heard it run? If you bought it non-running and it's been sitting for several months; you'll need to prime the oil pump first. Don't want to ruin a good tractor. The folks at www.farmallcub.com (forum) will be able to help you leaps and bounds too. That is all that site specializes in whereas here only a few of us have Cubs.
 

The Cub is the smallest of the "true tractors" made by IH at the time. Anything smaller was a garden tractor type. It should be about 15HP with a 4 cylinder water cooled engine and a 3 speed transmission. The starter pull rod is a loop on the right and the choke should be a similar loop on the left with a rod to the carburator. Ignition switch [u:d0b1ba4da1]should be[/u:d0b1ba4da1] a button pull switch. It would have been red when new, but probably was re-sold later by a dealer when Cubs were painted yellow and white... dealers always seem to think the latest paint scheme makes them look newer than they really are. Looks like your tie-rod is bent and probably has too much "toe-in"... that can be easily remedied by straightening the rod and should have a slight toe-in after that. Being that they are basically built like a small "farm tractor", they were a pretty sturdy little tractor.[/u]
 
(quoted from post at 00:20:19 02/01/13) Thanks.

No problem James. Glad to help! If you have any other questions I can be reached at [email protected]. I'll also give you my phone number if you want it. Just send me an email and I'll shoot it to you. I've got the service manuals, owners manuals, different variations of wiring diagrams, etc. for the Cub and have several Cubs myself; so I should be able to answer just about ANY question you may have. I don't mind sending you anything you need or guiding you through something.
 
There are many models of "Farmall." Farmall is what we would call a brand in this day and age. That's where the "A" or "Cub" comes from.

There was a tractor just called Farmall back in the 1920's, but then they decided they could make them in different sizes.

Usually the model of the tractor is displayed on the hood somewhere. Yours clearly says "FARMALL CUB" on the side of the hood, for example. Earlier models had stickers that could be covered up by a sloppy paint job, so identifying the tractor would be difficult for a novice.
 
A Farmall Cub was the first tractor I ever drove. When I was about 5 years old in 1947, Dad bought a Cub to help with chores around the farm. In thinking back, I also think Dad had me in mind when he got it and almost immediately I started helping with small jobs where I could drive it. First job I remember is "pulling the hay rope". Back in the day, putting hay up in the barn involved using a hay fork that ran on a track in the peak of the barn, You could "stab" 8 bales of hay with a "fork" on the hayrack at the end of the barn, and the "fork" would be pulled up by a "main rope" (through a series of pulleys) to the track, latch into a carrier and be pulled along the track to wherever you wanted to drop the bales. Then the guy on the hayrack would pull a "trip rope" to drop the bales. At that point whoever was driving the tractor pulling the main rope would stop and back up while the guy on the hayrack would pull the fork back with the trip rope. the Cub was a perfect size to do that job, and with the wide front end, you could strattle the rope without running over it with the front wheels. Sounds like a boring job, but to a small kid, anything to drive a tractor was fun, even if all you did was drive in a straight line for 100' or so, then back up and repeat, 9 times for a load of 72 bales. I have a picture around here somewhere of me sitting on that Cub, I believe the day it was delivered new.
Enjoy your Cub... they are a fun little tractor.
 
Wow a new guy nice ride you should seek a local tractor club for hands on help also ih collectors club has chapters don't know where your from my chapter 33 is a bunch of down to earth good old boys who will all they can to bring you up to speed hope to see you at a show some day good luck Rob
 
Thanks, We are in Southeast Texas. I just found out that the tractor is positive groung. I installed the battrey in backwards. Tried cranking it, and it wouldn't start. Read that it is positive ground, and reversed polatity, also re-polarized generator. Pulled breather tube off of carb, and hit it with starting fluid and it started right up. Hope I didn't do any harm to the electrical system.
 

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