Cub 184 Looking for advise

[Dieselrider]

I need someone who is magic with a cub or I need to get into a different mower.
I have been mowing about 3-4 acres with my cub for about 5 years now. I bought this thing used at an auction back then. The serial no. says it's a 1977 model. I had it rebuilt as it smoked pretty bad when I got it and up until about two years ago everything worked well. I had to replace the coil and I messed up the timing while checking the distributor over. I have re timed according to the manual, advanced and retarded and everything I can think of on this. It either wants to run real hot and have no power and if I adjust it I can get the power back once it warms up and the overheating goes away but, the thing runs rough as all get out until it's really warmed up. Now I have smoke again so I may have cooked the rings . I just want to mow grass without a big hassle.

What would you do? Get a zero turn and part out the cub?, try to get it right?, trade on a bigger machine with more muscle? I don't mind cutting grass so much as I don't like fighting with the equipment every time I need to get a job done. I have even been considering a three point hitch mower for behind the farm tractor to take the load off the cub but, the ground here is hilly and I don't know what the results of running a three point mower will be with that.

Whatever I do I'll be buying used as I just cannot go get anything new.
What are you guys cutting with?

 

[L.C.Gray]

It may be time to get the radiator worked. The cubs are thermosiphon, so I doubt it takes much restriction to get 'em heated up.

On your options, I'd say it falls to personal preference. I've been keeping my large place and two other smaller ones with my 154 Cub for several years while two comercial ZTRs sit in the barn gathering dust. I just like driving the lil cub better.

The 154/185/185 tractors were made to run in comercial applications for the long haul. They may not have a lot of power, but they have good longivity and are still sought after. If you are wanting out of yours, I hope you are close to me, I still would like to have a 184 and its many improvements.