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I'm not really saying it wasn't quality, but compare it to the rest of Farmall tractors.
From the introduction of the first Farmall in the early 20's all have had sleeved engines. Simple and cheap to rebuild. Overhead vlaves (with the exception of the first F-12's which had Waukashaw's) gave good reliability.
Yup, your right, simple and cheap to rebuild --- but I doubt IH was thinking they'd last 46 years and that's the reason they designed it with wet sleeves. They used it because it worked and it fit the special nitch that the F-12/14 was designed for.
They continued to use the C-113 in the A's and B's, because it used time proven technology and the motor had the size and strength to support a "cultivision" style of tractor. ( The A was designed for competing against the Allis Chalmers B, and in fact there were patent infringement lawsuits because of the "frameless" design.) It was already in production, it had the strength, and the engineering costs were greatly reduced by the use of it. It's a quality motor, no doubt, but IH didn't use it, just because it was wet sleeved. They used it because it fit the need at the time.
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The Cub to me is just not up to the quality of the other IH's of the time.
The "Farmall Cub" which came out much latter than the A's & B's, used a completely different engine design and was engineered from the ground up. It's competition was the Allis Chalmers G. (small, cultivating, truck farming tractor)
This expense of completely designing a new engine would not have been made if the C-113 would have worked in the "baby farmall" (small, cultivating, truck farming tractor) It required a smaller motor, but that motor had to have the strength to carry the "frame load" of a "cultivision" tractor. I believe that is why they designed and used the C-60, L head "bored in block" motor. It's a quality design that after 46 years --- still works well in the job it was designed for.
It all goes back to application and what the tractor was designed to do -----
No one has mentioned much about the "International" Cubs" and "numbered "Lowboys. (different than the "Farmall Cubs and Farmall" Cub Lowboys)
They might be something to consider --- The "Yellow" flat grilled "new International Cubs" are rated @ 13 hp (built 64-75) and the "yellow""increased horsepower International Cub" (built 75 -79) had 15 hp. The numbered Lo-boys, #154, has 15 hp and the #185 and #184 both have 18.5 hp. ( to me the numbered Lo-boys look like oversize Cub Cadets) They all use that trusty C-60 motor and they might be something to consider if you like the style of the "Farmall Cub" but want more power.
I've got a "Farmall" Cub on the place and find it to be under powered if I try to do anything but the lightest work. I also have an "improved horsepower Cub" with a C-2, 42 inch fast hitch mower. That dude is a workhorse --- I use it weekly, it fits my application perfectly!
The A's a good choice also, with 15 hp and 1/3 larger in size (as previously mentioned by dgregg) and many times can be bought cheaper than a cub. (The "Farmall" Cubs so darn cute and easy to haul, it's become quite collectable --- which drives up the cost.
This thread is interesting --- I've enjoyed listening to ALL the viewpoints!
Brad