New to me tractor - things to ask?

JasonMG

New User
I'm on the edge of purchasing a home that was built in 1948 and I'm told that the original owner purchased what I believe to be an IH Cub (SN 47057) with a mower attachment that sits under it around that time. That tractor has been used to mow the lawn and do some light fieldwork ever since. Current owner is around 80 and still mows with it once a week.

I'm interested in figuring out what I should ask after when I speak with him on Monday. It obviously needs some work.

In terms of use, there is about two acres of lawn and another four or so that he clears twice a year (think meadow).

There's also a winding path through the back of the property which he clears, involving some decent hills.

Will post some pics shortly.
 
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Fix the leak, should not be very hard to do. Looks well cared for. Think what kind of cheesy big box store lawn mower you could buy for 3000 that would never do what
that cub can continue to do. If it is part of the sale, thank him deeply. Jim
 
I couldn't agree more with Janicholson thoughts on what you get with the Cub vs something new. I bought my unrestored Cub with a 59" Woods mower deck almost 30 years ago. I have really kind of abused it from a collectors perspective maybe. As the years went by it was loosing power and I would only get through about half of my yard work before it just died. The problem I found out later was more than likely the coil in the magneto. Mine is a 1947 or 48 model. Bought a rebuilt mag from a guy in Ohio {think} and now have plenty of power and can finish the whole project. Not sure how much yard I have but maybe .5 acre to 1 acre and it is rough non landscaped ground. For years I resharpened my blades finally replacing them after 25 yrs. Between that and the new mag it has all the power I need for running that deck. So far after almost 30 yrs I have replaced the starter, magneto and one set of blades {I am bad}. Mine is not painted or restored I use it as a pc of machinery. Change oil every 2 years. Uses no oil but hydraulic pump has given up and I did buy a kit for it but have not gone into it. My suggestion is to know the limitations and respect them. This is not a brush hog it is a finishing mower deck tractor combo. You can keep rough areas mowed if you keep up with it but don't think to hard about mowing an entire field of high grass. You might get away with it but why expect it to keep running and treat you right when you tax it too far? I have abused mine over the years and it owes me nothing. My Woods drive belt is looking kind of rough and may need to replace that soon. I check my oil every time I use it, never have to add any. I grease my deck and drive pulley on the rear of tractor every time I use it. The deck and the tractor just keeps on working with what I do. I have moved hay wagons and if they are empty no problem. Usually to lazy to get a tractor or skid steer. But I think my clutch may give out some day soon. Doesn't slip but not much pressure when depressed? Most all the equipment I own was worn out when I got it and most of it is still running and doing its thing. I grease my equipment religiously and try not to over tax things. I use it but try not to abuse it. I bale hay with an old worn out New Holland 273 which I have had as long as the Cub. Worn out bad when I bought it. I go slow unless conditions are near perfect. That thing keeps on going like the Cub. Neither are pretty but both work for a living and do a good job. The baler like the Cub has had some work done to it but the point is both will give you years of service if you do the minimum maintenance and treat them with some respect. Don't be afraid to make the stuff work hard, just don't force it to do what it can't or no longer can. If you have lots of extra money and time then just use it till it craps out on you and go buy another one? Hope this is encouraging about the Cub, I have nothing bad to say about mine and mine has been ridden hard. I keep it oiled and greased and under a roof. She is not pretty and most collectors would be saddened because of the almost rust patina and the remains of a faded decal/sticker on the hood. But the cold hard facts is this machine is used and has been used as a pc of equipment by me for 28-29 years. Has never saw a parade or tractor show. Neither my baler or this Cub owe me a dime for all the use and years I have gotten out of mine. Good luck and from the sounds of it I would take a gamble on the original owners tractor. Then honor the guy and ask him what his "routine" with the tractor and yard work is. If it has worked all this time for him it ought to work for you too. Regards, John.
 
It doesnt look too bad and I would sure keep it. They do a great mowing job. I had one that didnt have hydraulics so I chaned it to a A with a Wood and dearly love every minnute on the tractor mowing about 8 acres weekly. KEEP IT. gOOD ONES ARE HAD TO FIND
 
Whatever you end asking, take it with a grain of salt. You never know when memories get clouded, or the seller is outright lying to you.

On this one I would think it's unlikely that the 80 year old seller is going to tell you any lies, but odds are he doesn't remember everything exactly as it happened. "Never had an overhaul" because he forgot about the one that he had done in 1963. "Original paint" because he forgot they painted it when they did the overhaul.

It's a Cub, though, so about as simple as you can get, and every part is available new or used in abundance. You really can't go wrong.
 

Thanks for all the replies.

Maintenance history seems straightforward from what is known.

The magneto was replaced with an eBay unit he picked up about ten years ago.

He said there's a local shop in the next town over that works on them (Shop owner is apparently a fan and owns one) and he has a tune up every three years, had the rings replaced a few years back and changes the oil himself at least once or twice per year.

He also said he calls a service to handle the yard or waits until dusk if it's over about 85 and sunny as he doesn't like running it in high heat.

Agreed that he may not recall everything he's done to it, but he's a doctor and still sharp as a whip. He looks and acts at least ten years younger than he is.

No idea how old the tires are. The stamping on the side just says Made in USA and Nylon, along with the size. The rears aren't showing cracking but the fronts sure do. It's lived in a 1000 sq ft outbuilding its whole life.

About to start negotiations; hope it works out, looking forward to cleaning this up; working on cars is a hobby of mine.
 
One thing to note about that Cub - you mentioned some hills on the property. If you go straight uphill or straight downhill, you should be OK. BUT, due to the offset design, they can be dangerous on hills. If you do have to go sideways across a hill with it, make sure the engine is always on the uphill side. Offset tractors can have a bad tendency to roll over if you try to go sideways across a hill with the engine on the downhill side, due to the majority of the weight being on that side.
 
Thanks for the heads up. The property's hills are very slight where we mow, but I'll keep that in mind if I ever take it into the hilly area farther back.

As an update to the original post, we did buy the house and I've mowed with the Cub several times before winter hit.

It needs a carburetor cleaning or adjustment and has a very slow fuel leak at the sediment bowl, but other than that it's been great.

Really impressive how well the thing has held up, given that it's now 72 years old and still in full use.
 
I looked at a house just over 10 years ago that was for sale and had the same setup. It came with a cub that had been mowing the place for the last several decades and it was also parked in a basement garage under the house. You're not in KY, are you?
 
(quoted from post at 12:27:29 02/21/20) I looked at a house just over 10 years ago that was for sale and had the same setup. It came with a cub that had been mowing the place for the last several decades and it was also parked in a basement garage under the house. You're not in KY, are you?

No, this is in eastern Connecticut, about 20 minutes south of UConn Storrs.
 

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