Sweet Chariot
New member
I am thinking about buying a 1948 ih cub tractor with a 4 foot sickle bar mower. What things do I check on the tractor/mower to avoid buying a lemon or a bunch of problems? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
I am thinking about buying a 1948 ih cub tractor with a 4 foot sickle bar mower. What things do I check on the tractor/mower to avoid buying a lemon or a bunch of problems? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Too bad this wasn't posted yesterday. I was at the fair today and saw at least 6 cubs there(only 1 Lowboy though). I could have looked at them to see the point you are talking about.Check for welds on the engine block. Look carefully at the lower right front part of the block where the front bolster radiator/axle assembly bolts onto the block. The coolant hose from the block to the radiator goes through a ring-shaped ear that's part of the engine block casting. This ear is a known weak point on the early Cub blocks (1947-mid 1950s) that can be cracked partially or completely through with only the bolts on the front engine cover holding the ear in place.
My 1947 Cub has this problem. The block is trash since it's not possible to weld the broken piece back onto the block. I now have a parts tractor instead of one that's running.
You can find more info on this problem in the Cub websites.
Good luck.
I am thinking about buying a 1948 ih cub tractor with a 4 foot sickle bar mower. What things do I check on the tractor/mower to avoid buying a lemon or a bunch of problems? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
I can't answer all the questions, but the Ethanol gasoline is hard on the 'original' 'O' rings if there are any in that tractor carb. They had to redesign the rubber O rings so they wouldn't disintegrate.I am now considering a restored 1940 Farmall A for $1600, with a 7 foot sickle bar mower for $400. Are the potential engine block problems the same as for the 1948 Farmall cubs? Are there specific problems to the Farmall A I should be aware of? Also, how do the old tractors like this do with ethanol laden gasoline? Thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions.