Skip to main content

Farmall Carburetor and Ignition Knob

The carburetor was dripping gasoline yesterday after I stopped the engine. The leak is somewhere among three parts – the float, the needle valve which the float moves, and the seat for that needle valve. I drained the gasoline from the carburetor and cleaned the seat, the needle, and then adjusted the float so it has a bit more upward pressure on the needle. When I run the Cub again I will find out whether the adjustment was enough. The idle adjusting needle (there is only one adjusting needle on this simple carburetor) is open 1 ½ times. I will check the manual to learn whether that may be too much. I recall reading it is opened one full turn and then adjusted once the engine is warmed up.

 

Today I remembered to put the ignition knob on the ignition switch. The operating instructions are written on the face of the knob using an indelible marker. The knob screwed right on and I snugged it by holding the stem of the switch with needle nose pliers as I rotated the knob. It is tight and works just as it should.

 

The fuel line was too close to the curved tail pipe so I used a couple of twist’em ties to move it along the engine away from the exhaust pipe. I do not want the hose to lay against the exhaust and melt thus spilling hot gasoline on the hot exhaust. That might be too exciting.

 

Once I can borrow a trailer, I can take the Cub to Oscar the radiator man in town who can silver solder the over flow tube from the radiator. I am not ready to use a torch myself. Too many bad memories from the Vietnam war. I will have Oscar flush the radiator too. I could do it myself; however, he has 25 years experience and likely has access to chemicals and knowledge which I do not have.

 

In the next two days electrical parts will arrive so I can replace the light bulbs and lens gaskets for the three lights on this old Cub. The tail light will be the first to be tested as it is on the tractor. The other two lights are on the side of the hood which will not be put on until the radiator is repaired and the hydraulic system mounted. That last requires the hood to be out of the way.

 

Tractor Boy

 

Popular posts from this blog

Farmall Cub Switch Replacement

It was a cold, wet, dreary day in Central Texas. Perfect weather in which to replace the light switch I replaced last week. The first replacement was blowing a 20-amp fuse in less than a second when turned to the farthest right position. Fortunately, I had added a separate fuse holder to the circuitry when the replacement did not have a fuse position. I spoke with the nice folk at Farmall Cub Forever and ordered a three position six-volt switch which arrived a few days ago. This time I took pictures so you can see what I was doing. Again, I replaced one wire at a time. The switch has a protrusion which fits in a notch in the console, and I replaced it so the two were properly aligned. I discovered it was easier to take the console off this time, and I did not need a small monkey to reach in the confined space.  I did; however, forget that I placed a piece of board between the hydraulic housing and the hood/fuel tank. So, when I started up the Cub to see how well it would run, there...

Farmall Cub greasing

Replacing gear oil and greasing the ’49 Cub ought to be a straight forward task(s). Well it hasn’t been. The transmission fluid was tan, looking like tan paint. Folks on Yesterday’s Tractor Farmall forum said it meant water had got inside the transmission. I wonder whether this tractor was under water at one time. I bought a Spectricide brand insecticide pump, put kerosene in it, and flushed the transmission, then refilled with 90 weight gear oil. The gear oil looked like and had the consistency of thin honey. Pic 1300 shows the transmission filler plug. A lot easier to reach than the plug for emptying the transmission. Note it has a square head. All of these plugs are square headed. Three and a half pints later, the transmission was back together. After the transmission, I decided to check the steering gear oil. It was not tan. It was black as could be so I flushed the housing with kerosene again and refilled with ¾ pint of 90 weight gear oil and replaced the filler plug. Pic 1301 s...

Uncle Phil Cause of Death

Phil was hit and killed by a drunk who was driving on the wrong side of the road and then left the scene of the collision. The man then hid in the nearby woods. Authorities found him, took him to a hospital, then he was arrested and jailed (in Vanderburg county) and is awaiting extradition to Wabash County. I hope he stays in jail until convicted. Uncle Phil was totally innocent, minding his own business. I have known Phil since he was fifteen years old. That is a long time, sort of.