I'm kind of excited by the prospect. A buddy of mine is the 4th generation on a family farm in east Texas. As it has passed to the current generation, the great grandkids don't have the ability or inclination to take it over, and it is looking like they'll be selling in the next few years. They have two tractors on the place now - a mid-1970s John Deere and a 1948 Farmall Cub.
They'll probably sell the JD, but my buddy wants to keeps some tie to the Cub and has approached me to take it, get it running, and use it if I can. The only stipulation is he will have right of first refusal if I ever sell it, and at the price of my investment in restoration.
In reality I probably have very little use for the Cub in addition to my MX, but I think it will be a fun project to undertake as time allows. I grew up tinkering with old cars and machinery, and none are as simple to work on than an old tractor. And I am also surprised in my research to find out how abundant and inexpensive parts are for the Farmall.
I've yet to see the tractor in person, but in photos it looks really nice. His grandfather did a complete rebuild in 1992 and used the Cub as his garden tractor until the late 1990s. As his health got bad and he wasn't using the tractor regularly, he drained the fuel and parked in a covered barn where it has sat now for nearly 20 years. 3 tires appear to be holding air, and one rear looks to be in pretty bad shape, but I am hoping the tube is passable.
My plan is to go out sometime in the next few months, try to get enough air in the tires to get it onto a trailer, and then cart it to my place. Once there I can assess what works, and what doesn't and decide where to start. I've been watching tons of videos and see where many of them fire with really just completing some maintenance.
I've done a couple of restoration projects over the years - one on a muscle car, and a couple of old motorcycles and can't wait to get started on this one. Fingers crossed that it all works out.
They'll probably sell the JD, but my buddy wants to keeps some tie to the Cub and has approached me to take it, get it running, and use it if I can. The only stipulation is he will have right of first refusal if I ever sell it, and at the price of my investment in restoration.
In reality I probably have very little use for the Cub in addition to my MX, but I think it will be a fun project to undertake as time allows. I grew up tinkering with old cars and machinery, and none are as simple to work on than an old tractor. And I am also surprised in my research to find out how abundant and inexpensive parts are for the Farmall.
I've yet to see the tractor in person, but in photos it looks really nice. His grandfather did a complete rebuild in 1992 and used the Cub as his garden tractor until the late 1990s. As his health got bad and he wasn't using the tractor regularly, he drained the fuel and parked in a covered barn where it has sat now for nearly 20 years. 3 tires appear to be holding air, and one rear looks to be in pretty bad shape, but I am hoping the tube is passable.
My plan is to go out sometime in the next few months, try to get enough air in the tires to get it onto a trailer, and then cart it to my place. Once there I can assess what works, and what doesn't and decide where to start. I've been watching tons of videos and see where many of them fire with really just completing some maintenance.
I've done a couple of restoration projects over the years - one on a muscle car, and a couple of old motorcycles and can't wait to get started on this one. Fingers crossed that it all works out.
