Anyone who has bought a non-runner like this Farmall Cub at an auction knows the gamble. The price is low for a reason, and you only find out what that reason is once it is sitting in your shop.
The heavy equipment crew behind @C_CEQUIPMENT took that gamble on a 1948 Farmall Cub. Kevin, one of the crew, won it for $450 from the dead row, the line of non-running machines at a farm auction. Then the shop set out to see what they had bought.
The crew had a special reason to get it going. They planned to donate the little tractor, along with their running Farmall H, to a silent auction at a benefit in memory of Hunter, a member of their team who passed away. They said the proceeds would go to a local school.
Signs Somebody Had Already Been Here
On first look, the Cub had some newer parts, including a replacement carburetor. That worried the crew rather than reassuring them. Someone had welded the engine block, there was no radiator cap, and the spark plugs were three different brands.
As they took it apart, the list grew. The section of frame that holds the radiator showed a crack they had missed at the auction. The fuel tank had scale in the bottom. Later, they found someone had fitted the intake manifold with three gaskets, two on one side and one on the other.
“Feel like somebody’s been here and they gave up on us.”
Pull-Starting The Farmall Cub With A Golf Cart
The Cub turned over and had some compression, so they gave it a try with a temporary fuel supply and a 12-volt battery on what they believe is a 6-volt starter. The starter would not stay engaged.
So they did what plenty of old farm hands have done. They hooked the tractor to a golf cart and towed it around the yard to spin the engine. The Cub fired and ran in bursts, then kept dying.
New Parts, And A Better Run
Next, the crew cleaned the fuel tank and ordered a new fuel bowl, spark plugs, plug wires and a radiator cap from the parts store. They also tested the magneto kill switch and found it was not working properly, so they replaced it. With the manifold back on a single set of gaskets and a tall exhaust stack poking through the hood, they tried again.
This time the Cub started and ran on its own, though it still struggled. The crew suspects the new replacement carburetor is part of the trouble.
Bubbles At The Head Gasket
Then they noticed coolant bubbling at the side of the cylinder head while the engine ran. Shining a light on it confirmed what they feared.
“Yeah, it’s bubbling out the head gasket.”
They believe the front cylinder is losing compression. Someone may have run water in it at some point, they say, and the head could even have a crack. They also noticed signs the head bolts had been off recently, which suggested to them that an earlier owner had already been down this road.
What To Check Before Bidding On A Non-Running Tractor
- Walk around it slowly. Cracks and welds on the frame or block are easy to miss in a crowded auction yard.
- Be cautious of new parts on a non-runner. They can mean somebody tried to fix it and gave up.
- Look at the spark plugs and wiring. Mismatched parts hint at quick fixes.
- Ask whether it turns over, then check the oil and coolant for water or milkiness.
- Budget for a head gasket and a carburetor on any old engine that has sat.
Where Things Stand
The Farmall Cub runs, though not well, and it still needs at least a head gasket. The crew decided they did not have time to rebuild it before the benefit, so they planned to send it to the silent auction with its problems known. While editing the video, the crew said they might still order a head gasket and a better carburetor and try once more before the show.
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