fixing to mow a large area [ 15 acres] its just grass, i usually use my ford and brush hog for the job, but because the cub gives a nicer looking cut that the brush hog, [ this is a residential park] i was thinking about using it for the job, now this particular cub, when the radiator is filled up to the neck, will overflow about a quart of water during mowing i usually run it about 4 to 6 hours at a time, i understand it has the thermosiphon cooling system,the question is will it be too much for the little cub to run it 8 to 10 hours a day for around 3 days on this job? i realize im kind of pushing the cubs hp limits, but i dont want to hurt the tractor trying to do a nicer mowing job, the ford runs just fine 2nd question, has anybody added a in hose water pump to one of these, to make the water circulate or is that the totaly wrong idea?
- Thread starter ericlb
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Tom Fleming
Well-known Member
The cub as with the other Farmall tractors of the era were built to run and run, and run. As long as it has the proper amount of the correct weight oil, and the rad has coolant in it, you should be just fine.
All that said, there are lots of other things to consider like, does it have good oil pressure? Is the coolant system restricted?
However, if all things are good, running it 8-10 hours straight won't hurt it a bit. Unlike animals that need a rest, or faulty lubrication or cooling systems, a healthy engine is designed to run. Period.
Go for it........
All that said, there are lots of other things to consider like, does it have good oil pressure? Is the coolant system restricted?
However, if all things are good, running it 8-10 hours straight won't hurt it a bit. Unlike animals that need a rest, or faulty lubrication or cooling systems, a healthy engine is designed to run. Period.
Go for it........
uncle henry
Member
use it just give you and the tractor water breaks every couple hours
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Proper level is 2" from top of filler neck
Fritz Maurer
Well-known Member
There are no dumb questions. Only dumb answers. As Tom said, it'll run non-stop. I'd just like to throw in that the reason it pushed out the water is that the water expanded and some of it had to go. Take the screen off the front and make sure the radiator core is clear. Also a clean, dry, and reasonably tight fan belt.
If you are filling any of these old tractor to the neck it's going to push coolant out, the radiator is over full and as the coolant get hot it expands. If you are only loosing a quart in 4-6 hours yer fine. Just kep an eye on the temp gauge.
How are you pushing the limits? Max size mower deck? If the tractor is rated for the deck running 10 hours a day isn't pushing the HP limits.
Ever consider a finish mower deck for the Ford? I have one for my 8N that makes a nice cut.
RIck
John M
Well-known Member
- Location
- Nunyafn business
No temp gauge on a Cub!
Tom Fleming
Well-known Member
One last comment: NEVER NEVER put cold water in a hot engine. EVER.
Cast iron really doesn't like that..............plus, why put the same amount of water in that expansion pushed out? unless you have a leak somewhere else, you are fighting a losing battle that you will never win. There is an expansion overflow on these thermo syphon systems for a reason. A thermo syphon system behaves and is maintained differently than a pressurized system.......from a coolant level perspective.
As has been stated, expansion pushes a certain amount of water out. Normal, as designed, and NOT a problem. As long as the cooling system is relatively clean and the rad fins are clear, and the fan is working, there is NO worry.
Run it.
Cast iron really doesn't like that..............plus, why put the same amount of water in that expansion pushed out? unless you have a leak somewhere else, you are fighting a losing battle that you will never win. There is an expansion overflow on these thermo syphon systems for a reason. A thermo syphon system behaves and is maintained differently than a pressurized system.......from a coolant level perspective.
As has been stated, expansion pushes a certain amount of water out. Normal, as designed, and NOT a problem. As long as the cooling system is relatively clean and the rad fins are clear, and the fan is working, there is NO worry.
Run it.
i appreciate it guys, i know to never add cold water to a hot engine, my usual way is to do a complete check when i start up each time, MSHA, and the company i work for require it on any piece of equipment,at the plant and also filled out paper work that it was done, [ they have a fetish for paperwork lol,] and thats ingrained as a habit, hard to break for me , thats when i top off the water check the oil, gear lube ect and grease it, the cub has a danco c-2 which should have been the correct mower for it, [ 1948] most have told me when i was looking for a mower that the woods 59 was for a A or super A not a cub, i say pushing it as i do need to run the engine at 3/4 throttle or better to make it mow good, the blades are kept sharp, then it makes a modern riding lawn mower i have look like a pos, which it is, going to give the cub a try, for a park well its cut just looks better
Don't be afraid to run the Cub wide open for mowing. It'll run cooler because it's not lugging. It should be slightly more fuel efficient too. You'll also get the job done quicker.
IIRC that's the 42" cut "stopsign" style mower, which is a perfect match for a Cub. You might go slightly batty mowing 15 acres 42" at a time at 3.2MPH, but it will get the job done.
Is this a one-time deal? The problem with lawn mowing is that a job that takes 3+ days, by the time you finish the last, the first will need mowing again!
Cubs were designed to run 12-16 hours a day wide open plowing, and mowing is a much lighter load. However, you're talking about a 33-65 year old tractor here. Who knows where it is in the engine's life cycle? Who knows what the conditions of the gears and bearings in the drivetrain are? Who knows what the coolant passages look like? It could do the job for years, or it could fall over on its face after an hour. That's the reality of dealing with antique tractors, unfortunately.
That said, nothing ventured, nothing gained...
IIRC that's the 42" cut "stopsign" style mower, which is a perfect match for a Cub. You might go slightly batty mowing 15 acres 42" at a time at 3.2MPH, but it will get the job done.
Is this a one-time deal? The problem with lawn mowing is that a job that takes 3+ days, by the time you finish the last, the first will need mowing again!
Cubs were designed to run 12-16 hours a day wide open plowing, and mowing is a much lighter load. However, you're talking about a 33-65 year old tractor here. Who knows where it is in the engine's life cycle? Who knows what the conditions of the gears and bearings in the drivetrain are? Who knows what the coolant passages look like? It could do the job for years, or it could fall over on its face after an hour. That's the reality of dealing with antique tractors, unfortunately.
That said, nothing ventured, nothing gained...
Wow!! 15 acres with a Cub!!! I don't think you will harm the Cub if it is in good working condition. As others said, they were made to work. However, trying to keep 15 acres of grass mowed and looking nice is going to be nearly a full time job. Your rear end is going to wear out before the Cub!
We used to mow almost 25 acres with a 64 cub lo-boy an a 5 ft 3 blade IH belly mower. Took a long time but did a really nice job. Ran it wide open an the only time we had any overheating trouble was during dandelion season when the puffs would cover the radiator screen without someone noticing. Enjoy your seat time. Should be a walk in the park for the cub. :Grin. Pun intended. Kippster
Rusty wheel
Well-known Member
I mowed a 15 acre wheat stubble field with a 48 cub and the four foot sickle bar mower. That was 60 years ago. Never had a problem. Mowed in second gear, Took three days I think.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
As said in the first posted answers, it should cover the Rad tubes when cold, (maybe a half inch or so deep (possibly an inch) when running and up to temp, it will expand to near full. Do not refill it, just use it like that. (it is the design) Jim
LITTLE RED
Member
I have been mowing pastures and field fence rows for about 15years with my 52 cub and a woods 42in mower I also like the job it does plus i can get closer to my fences with it I dont worry about it overheating even at 100 deg. f its made to work long hours with very little fuel
Eric mowers are designed to run a minumum blade tips speed to get a proper cut. Running at half throttle isn't giving you the tip speed you need. That deck and any of the 3 point 540 rpm decks are desighed to run at 540 PTO speed. That means very close to max engine speed. Also make sure the deck is slightly nose down. If it's nose up you are cutting twice at both the highest blade in the front and again at the back end that is lower.
I run a Woods RM59 on my 8N. I can mow about 4 acres an hour in first and can mow in 2nd too. But the Ford is fast in first and with trees and shrubs 2nd is just too fast to be safe. As long as the bades are reasonably sharp I get a really nice cut too.
Rick
the cubs in great shape engine wise and power train i may need to change out 1 bearing in the trans this winter as its starting to talk a little , i usully mow this park with a jubilee, and brush hog [ blades sharpened for grass] but this is the last cut of the season and i thought it just try to make it look nicer, the cub seat actuall rides better than the jubilee as the leafe spring of the ford is about bottomed out i need to get a new one while the coil on the cub has some travel left when im on it
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