Cub smoking

grandpa Love · Jul 14, 2018

1950 farmall cub runs great but smokes bluish white smoke on start up. Also will smoke a bit when mowing tall grass going up hill. Anything to worry about? It seems worse after it sits for a week,but does clear up fairly quick.

grizz02 · Jul 14, 2018

valve guilds seals are tired make sure and check oil level more often

grandpa Love · Jul 14, 2018

Sorta why I'm not too worried,it doesn't use much oil. I guess a small amount smokes pretty good?

Dick L · Jul 14, 2018

Before I became very concerned I would run Seafoam for a year or two while changing the oil several times and adding Seafoam each time I changed oil. It could be valve guides but it could also be oil rings gummed up. I bought a Farmall C cheap 16 years ago that I had planned on overhauling because of smoking as you stated. A YT Taler tractor puller suggested Seafoam. Since the overhaul would have been down the road and the tractor started easy I gave it a try. I have used the C on the baler twice this year without smoke. Not even on start up. I have worked it hard every year on the disc and packer for a few hours. It has Seafoam in it now.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jul 14, 2018

beinga flat head, a cub has no valve seals, and guides would have to be really worn to allow the splash oil to get through them.

Dick L · Jul 14, 2018

It has been 45 years since I worked on a cub and forgot it was a flat head. I would still use Seafoam and work it. I guess there is other oils that would work the same as Seafoam but I have never tried them. The Z-Max demo's show it breaking down carbon and gunk but is a bit expensive for my pocket book.

Steve@Advance · Jul 14, 2018

A few things you can try...

Don't know what oil you run, but 15w-40 diesel oil is a popular oil for the old engines. Be sure the oil is not contaminated with fuel, which happens if running rich, the air filter is clogged, or the choke is not fully opening.

Be sure the crankcase vent is clean.

Running the oil level on the add mark instead of the full mark will help with oil consumption and crank seal leakage. Many older engines with loose bearings will refuse to hold oil to the full mark. Once it drops to the lower level the leaking and smoking will slow to a manageable amount. It takes some time to learn it's habits, just have to keep a close watch on it.

I know the Cub doesn't have a thermostat, and you don't want one on that system, but that is a consideration on an engine with a water pump. Keeping it up to temperature helps with oil consumption and keeping the engine clean.

johnlobb · Jul 14, 2018

I have had the same experience as Dick L and the Seafoam, but with an old B & S powered tiller. Seafoam in the crankcase pretty much stopped the smoking. Used according to mfgrs recommendations.

47fivewindow · Jul 14, 2018

The main thing to worry about is if you are losing hydraulic fluid. If the pump leaks into the oil into the engine it will thin the motor oil out and cause smoking and excessive engine wear. Other than that I wouldn't worry about a little smoke. As Dad said "it's old enough to smoke"

grandpa Love · Jul 14, 2018

It's got the "Arm Strong" lift. No hydraulics! So no worries! Definitely old enough to smoke! Lol

Cub smoking

grandpa Love

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grizz02

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grandpa Love

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Dick L

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john .?-!. cub owner

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Dick L

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Steve@Advance

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johnlobb

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47fivewindow

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grandpa Love

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