Farmall Cub wont crank

[cubman1]

Hi. I have a 1959 farmall cub that I haven't started in a couple of years. I put a new battery on it and pulled the starter and it turned over pretty fast. About two weeks later I tried it again. Nothing. I know its not the battery. can someone help me please?

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Check the contacts on the starter switch for corrosion.

 

[DABSGT]

Cub is a fairly simple tractor. I would first check your battery there may be a short killed it. If battery is good check ground I believe it should be positive ground on the 59 cub also check wire to starter. A bad or dirty connection is another possibility.

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[cubman1]

so the positive cable is the ground?

 

[DJ54]

Yes, the positive post is the ground, if it is still the original 6V system.

Most definitely check the battery to see if it is charged. The voltage regulator may have stuck, and allowed the battery to drain.

 

[cubman1]

where is the voltage regulator?

 

[cubman1]

thanks for your help guys. I put the charger on the battery and it was pretty close to being dead. I hope this solves why it wont even turn over!

 

[DABSGT]

thanks for your help guys. I put the charger on the battery and it was pretty close to being dead. I hope this solves why it wont even turn over!

If the new Battery went dead so soon look for the short or reason it went dead so you don't have to charge your cub every time you want to use it.

 

[cubman1]

It wasn't the battery. I have it fully charged and hooked up to the cub. I pulled the starter and nothing happened

 

[DJ54]

Check the ground cable, where it mounts, and even check the crimped on ends. They can be corroded, or even loose on the inside of the crimped end. If someone has replaced the original cables with smaller automotive type cables, those crimped on ends can cause problems.

And, as mentioned check the contacts under the cap of the starter button, on top of the starter. Two screws should hold it on.

I'd guess the regulator stuck, and let the battery run down. As to the location, not real sure, as I don't have one, but all of my tractors a size bigger, either has them mounted directly on the generator, or just below it. If not there, check on the fuel tank support. If not there, follow the wires back from the generator.

 

[mitch becton]

you have 2 wires that bolt up to the generator follow them look for a black metal box that will probably have 3 wires coming from it that is the regulator if you take it off please mark the wires where to go because the 3 wire are the armature---field---generator normally must be hooked up the same will not work see if there is a number on it post it will help you find one need to

 

[DABSGT]

If it is the original 6 volt system Mage sure the pos. is ground neg. to starter. I disconnected a battery on a cub to charge it and someone not knowing that pos. was ground hooked it the wrong way. When they went to start it turned over but cooked the regulator.

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[cubman1]

I really thought it was the battery but it wasn't! I got a man to come to my house who has had these tractors around him all his life. the starter,coil,and carburator where all bad. I was crazy enough to by the cub for 2000$. Its probably worth about 200$.

 

[DABSGT]

. I was crazy enough to by the cub for 2000$. Its probably worth about 200$.

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[DABSGT]

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$2,000. Is about average price depending on attachments , I have seen them for much more needing work. They are little jem's and when you get it right it will make you smile. Not much can kill them and easy to work on so many out there parts are easy to find. Still wondering why the battery died on you. Pictured is about a 57 or 58 I found re did it for our American legion baseball field. Would have loved to have kept it. But my 88 yr. old uncle has 4 of them parked next to me I can play on any time.

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[Soundguy]

hmm.. it turned over fine 2 weeks ago.. and now the starter is shot?

COULD be.. but I'd get a 2nd opinion.

carb? rebuild it.. it's easy.. kit is 15 $

coil? rarely go bad.. but are cheap.

when they do go bad.. it's usually because a key was left on.. or a 6v system run on 12v.

a 59 is 6v. 12v wasn't OEm till mid 66.

the fact your bat died leads me to believe there may be a short.. or bad vreg.

oem genny is A circuit.

armature may be called generator onthe vreg. then you have field and ground and battery. ground may be a tab on some of the vregs.. ie.. some are 3 and some are 4 tabs..

lotsa different things. was yours ever on a magneto?.. charge switch with tickler inthe light switch?

does it indeed have a generator or has an alternator been added?

post back dome details.

 

[cubman1]

It has an alternator.

 

[Soundguy]

if it has had an ALT scabbed onto it.. it is very likely negative ground.. ( positive and isolated groiund altas are out there.. but rare.. ).

hooking up a alt to the incorrect polarity pretty much instantly kills it...

 

[M E Race]

Did you put a new 6 volt or 12 volt battery? Those tractors were set up on 6 volt systems. 12 volts has a tendacy to screw up the whole system.

 

[M E Race]

Don't go looking to buy new starter and geenerator. Both can be rebuilt by any good tech. The price will be a fraction of what you would pay for a new rebuilt one, if you can find one.