Farmall super a lack power

[Fixingfarmer]

Well I just sharpened my blades again. They were fairly sharp. It helped some. So my neighbor tractor is the same year BUT it has a power unit 123 in it. I didn't thank it would make a ton of difference since it is very worn out. Horrible blow by

There’s no replacement for displacement as they say.

The l59 mower you are trying to use will struggle doing grass that tall even raised up it will take several passes and when I was doing it with a similar size green tractor I’d have to stagger over only take around half a pass. It won’t kill a green tractor but it will smoke its smaller clutch out. The belts wouldn’t survive terribly long either I was glad once the hot part of summer came and the rains slowed down grass got dry by. Could breath a sigh of relief that my belt (not cheap!!) would survive till next year. I don’t think I’d be a happy camper struggling with the belly mower this year that rain will not stop!!!

You are correct about the finish mower mounted off the pto that replaced my belly mower on the 3 point can SLIGHTLY handle more even on the same tractor but only slightly more.

The video of what your brother is doing thats about what you can expect to be able to handle it’s defiantly going to be working it.

 

[crsutton81]

So based on some of the replies it seems I may be just expecting too much out of the tractor. I found these videos from a few weeks back of my brother mowing. This stuff is thicker than what I usually cut when it does it but it give you guys an idea. This is 1st gear full throttle. After I got tired of this tractor not cutting I took my ford naa down with a 60 finish mower and cut the same grass in 2nd gear. That mower is also set at the highest setting so it is cutting slightly higher than the super a was.

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I looked at the video and have a few thoughts FWIW. I have a fast hitch mounted Woods model RM59 finishing mower that we use on anything from a 100 to a 140. A good rule of thumb is it will cut anything that you would have no problems mowing with a traditional lawnmower. Anything tall and thick like what is in the video will make even the 130 and 100 bark which have Firecrater pistons in them. The 140 has regular flat tops and will just die out in loads like that. Domed pistons in these 1 row Farmalls make a noticeable difference, but they're still not a 200 hp machine. If everything checks out good mechanically, you may have to make 2 passes to cut tall stuff like that or better yet use a bush hog. A finishing mower is somewhat of a power hog due to needing to be geared up for high blade tip RPM.

 

[560Dennis]

Got flat top or domed piston in this ?

 

[Jstabile]

Got flat top or domed piston in this ?

Flat top unfortunately.

 

[560Dennis]

Flat top unfortunately.

Ok flat top. you got about 35 36= of mechanical advance .
I feel theres nothing wrong with flat tops it will be fine with correcting maintenance issue .

Mark the front crankshaft pulley top dead center and engine block with welder paint pen. Put the timing light to 36 degrees advance ,you should be right on . Provided you have advance on the light.
I don’t crawl under bell housing and look and makes marks ,can do it all a standing by the distributor or. mag . with timing light
you can use a 12 volt battery lawn to power the timing light if you got 6 volt.

 

[Jstabile]

Ok flat top. you got about 35 36= of mechanical advance .
I feel theres nothing wrong with flat tops it will be fine with correcting maintenance issue .

Mark the front crankshaft pulley top dead center and engine block with welder paint pen. Put the timing light to 36 degrees advance ,you should be right on . Provided you have advance on the light.
I don’t crawl under bell housing and look and makes marks ,can do it all a standing by the distributor or. mag . with timing light
you can use a 12 volt battery lawn to power the timing light if you got 6 volt.

What's your opinion based on the videos? Do you think it is lacking power or am I doing too much?

 

[Janicholson]

One Thing to consider is The angle of the mower deck. The front of the blade path (measured from a forward most blade turned so it is pointing front to back) to the ground compared to the rear of the rearmost blade to ground should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch. If the front is higher, the mower will be cutting all the grass multiple times causing serious power drain.
You could also cut 1/2 widths of the deck in tough spots. Jim

 

[Jstabile]

One Thing to consider is The angle of the mower deck. The front of the blade path (measured from a forward most blade turned so it is pointing front to back) to the ground compared to the rear of the rearmost blade to ground should be 1/2 to 3/4 inch. If the front is higher, the mower will be cutting all the grass multiple times causing serious power drain.
You could also cut 1/2 widths of the deck in tough spots. Jim

You might be on to something here. I'll check it next time I get a chance.

 

[560Dennis]

What's your opinion based on the videos? Do you think it is lacking power or am I doing too much?

Sorry not familiar with the videos you mentioned .
I measure engine strengths using the vacuum gauge at the tuneup (1/8 npt plug) port on the intake manifold above the carburetor.
A healthy engine has a steady needle and measure from 18 to 21 inche s on gauge at low idle ,about 500 rpm drops one unit at high idle about for aA SA1500 rpm
I used the vacuum gage to time the tractor engine .
press ahead you’ll get it figured out .

 

[grandpa Love]

Well ....I read somewhere in this post that you used a Ford NAA and it cut better...... imagine that . From everything I've read and the one video I watched I think your Farmall is running fine,you are simply asking it to mow grass that is too tall and thick for a FINISH mower.

 

[grandpa Love]

And another thing, are you 100% sure the mower blades are turning the correct direction . If that mower was from a Cub and someone didn't know better they could have rigged it under that super A. The cub pto turns the opposite direction. Unfortunately we have seen folks do this before

 

[leroy in ne]

And another thing, are you 100% sure the mower blades are turning the correct direction . If that mower was from a Cub and someone didn't know better they could have rigged it under that super A. The cub pto turns the opposite direction. Unfortunately we have seen folks do this before

If I remember right, you have to follow the belt routing diagram, not what looks like or 1 blade turns backward. Also an after market blade manufacturer uses the same number for both right and left hand blades with suffix designation for left hand. Yes I made that mistake once, only once. It's been 20 years since I worked with an L-59 on Super A. Manual was on line then.

 

[wh]

After following this thread for the past few days i think the simple answer to the problem is 1) sell the super a 2) move to a condo 3) sit by the pool and enjoy the weather.

 

[Jstabile]

After following this thread for the past few days i think the simple answer to the problem is 1) sell the super a 2) move to a condo 3) sit by the pool and enjoy the weather.

Haha I hear you on that one Genuine good running normal power super a for sale. Cuts good as long as under 3 inches

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Haha I hear you on that one Genuine good running normal power super a for sale. Cuts good as long as under 3 inches

Went back and watched your videos... I thought you said you had the mower "all the way up." Looks like it's all the way DOWN to me.

You're also blowing the grass clippings into the uncut grass. That takes power, and when you come through for your next pass not only does your tractor have to mow the grass, it has to move the clippings from the previous passES, which it blows into the uncut grass again. That takes a tremendous amount of power. Turn around and run so the discharge is throwing the grass into the areas already cut.

 

[teddy52food]

So based on some of the replies it seems I may be just expecting too much out of the tractor. I found these videos from a few weeks back of my brother mowing. This stuff is thicker than what I usually cut when it does it but it give you guys an idea. This is 1st gear full throttle. After I got tired of this tractor not cutting I took my ford naa down with a 60 finish mower and cut the same grass in 2nd gear. That mower is also set at the highest setting so it is cutting slightly higher than the super a was.

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Are you throwing the discharge into the uncut grass & then recutting it? That will take more power. Looks like you should take 1/2 cut going up hill & full cut going down.

 

[Jstabile]

Time to stir the pot again. A Farmall super a can definitely cut 6"+ grass in second gear. Tore it down this winter. Went with a overbore step head piston overhaul kit. It'll cut no problem now!

 

[Jstabile]

New video · Sunday, Apr 26 🎬

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[Janicholson]

Thanks for the update!! A fresh improved engine will work wonders. Jim

 

[rustred]

Time to stir the pot again. A Farmall super a can definitely cut 6"+ grass in second gear. Tore it down this winter. Went with a overbore step head piston overhaul kit. It'll cut no problem now!View attachment 149793

you might get fooled.