IH Cub Cadet Pulling and Hot Rodding

[dkamp]

Because this K241 is the engine which originally came with the 109, AND I already have it. It just happens to be first-in-line. A k241 service replacement motor (really smoky, very down on power) is next in line for a rebuild, and after that, a K301 is getting it's treatment.

As you suggested, the engine which will most likely reside in the 109 will be the 12hp, since that's the one I'll use for plow-days

Regardless, I'll have these two K241s around anyway. I figure that if I'm rebuilding 'em, I might as well do it right, and if there's any basic areas of improvement, I'll do it while I've got 'em apart.

One of the 10's will end up in a 127, which may be a more-or-less kids-toy or general purpose yard tool.

 

[dkirk]

Dave K.,

My suggestion (on your K241 rebuild) is to go with the .003 oversized piston and hone the cylinder to the desired oversize. This assures that the bore is circular and uniform plus giving the desired finish for ring break in. I prefer to fit the piston to the tight side of the recommended tolerance range on a stock rebuild and this method allows you to do that.

Post pictures as she goes together.

 

[kweimann]

Dave K2,
The +.003 piston is pricey last time I looked. It wasn't available aftermarket either (someone chime in if I'm wrong). Me personally, I would go to +.010. Still leaves plenty of space for wear and as Dave K1 said, you will be sure that the geometry and finish of the bore are correct. I also hold to the min. side of the tolerance (+.007) when I hone. My machinist thinks it's too loose but then again he does small blocks all day. Kenny

 

[wcompton]

Dave Kamp-
Speaking from experience, there's only a little to be gained unless "cubic dollars" are spent, and on a 10hp engine, I don't know if I'd do too much. On a K321 or K341 gains might be seen from a mild porting, but with the K241 you might loose a little by making hte ports larger. If I really wanted to play with things about as far as I'd go is to install a K361 cam, but that may be too much cam for that engine. About the only real fun that might be had would be to get a billet flywheel and plastic blower fan (to fasten on flywheel for cooling) and maybe run some higher RPMs. Don't know what carb to use, but I'd bet it'll be real easy to over-fuel that setup.

 

[dkamp]

Okay- thanks for the suggestions guys- I'll schlep it all over to a buddy's shop for dimension-checking and see what really turns up. In the mindframe of my previous notes, I'm not expecting a world of whomp out of this thing, just a good basic 10, and if there were any obvious improvements to be made, I'd make 'em... other'n that, it'll be just a good-basic rebuild.

In the meantime, I've got an interesting fab-job in progress... look to other forums for details on that. One'a these days, I'll get a blower installed on that Volvo and get engine-mounts and a new starter drive arrangement made... and have supercharged diesel-power spinnin' a stretched-frame hydro...

 

[rmunday]

Hey guys, quick question... My step son is showing a lot of interest in pulling.

Is it possible to build a machine that'd be a decent puller *and* plower?

Not really looking to go crazy or sink thousands of dollars into it, but something that would suit both our interests would be fun.

Thoughts on a good place to start? I guess I'll need a good gear roller to start with. And not my 86 either!

 

[dvogt]

Rick , I think you could. I'd look up the rules to the local club you would pull with and decide what the rules are, stock class's are a great starting point & would fit in with plowing also.

Dave , Wyatts right. you can put alot of time & money in a 10 and be lucky to have 12 hp. why not just start with a 12?

 

[rmunday]

Thanks Don. I'll take a look around. I found one "local" pulling site but it was 1 1/2 years out of date.

Now if I can just get him to like "yellow". He like the green things. I've got a 210 in the garage, maybe if I put a CC transaxle and shaft...

 

[tschweizer]

Rick, just do like the other JD guys do (at least the ones that finish decent). Put the green hood on the Cub chassis

 

[rmunday]

Travis - LOL! Yeah I saw one of those on a trailer at RPRU.

It was parked way out back, I kept looking at it thinking "That's not right, that just don't look right" (it was a JD 210 body), so something just didn't look right, then I got closer and looked at the rear end and started laughing! It was a Cub, prolly a 128, with the JD cowling and paint

I'm going to start looking for a good roller, found one on someone's website. Waiting to hear back...

 

[kweimann]

Sort of like the Pink Mary Kay Cadillacs, it just aint right!

 

[rmunday]

Assuming I can get a roller, what would you say a good starting motor would be? Would it be better to find a new motor or find an old one and rebuild it?

It looks like Kohler is the way to go

I was looking at some pictures, I don't see much difference between the original K341 and the new K341 other than the crank carrying all the way out both ends.

 

[rmunday]

Oh, one more question...

I'm getting confused as to pulling groups. I see NQS Pulling and NGTPA, but no real definitive sites on NGTPA. They all seem to intermingle.

Anyone have the correct links?

 

[jpiper]

Rick!The NGPTA no longer exists.The various clubs all seem in part to have their own rules and classes.Most are organized around the NQS or National Quarter Scale Pulling Series rules which you will find here.
http://www.nqspulling.com/
It seems to me,that the best way would be to find a local pulling club and build to their rules at the same time keeping an eye on the National Rules.

 

[rmunday]

That explains why they all kind of intermingle.

OK, so riddle me this Methanol - the carbs require no modification? I know alcohol does.

I'm going to have to dig up a local pulling group. The one I found is way out of date (their website) so I'm assuming they're out of comission.

 

[jpiper]

Rick!For general technical questions regardingf pulling you will find this site very helpful.
http://members.aol.com/HRGTPAM/tips.htm
Wait for it to load properly.

 

[rmunday]

Thanks John! I already had that one bookmarked for the clutch info.

Now I'm straight on the methanol too.

 

[dvogt]

Rick , methonal is alcahol
many clubs keep their rules the same as NQS so its pullers can go pull national when they want. unless you have a local club like ours who don't like NQS pullers coming because they win all the time, then they change the rules so you can't pull or have to make changes to their rules.

 

[rmunday]

Hey Don,

Yeah I got that straight now.

Club wise, I keep coming up with groups that are downstate. And most of those are methanol only.

Where is your group based out of (or where are a majority of the pulls)? You're only an hour and a half from me. Where as most of the groups I've found in Illinois are 3 or more downstate.

I think intially we'd want to pull with a more standard engine setup since the startup cost would be cheaper.

 

[still gt pulling with my turbo diesel 1782]

Rick,we have a few pulls coming up that may interest you. Close by Don's place. July 25th at Plymouth,WI and August 8th at Eden,WI just outside of Fond du Lac,WI. Drop me an email if ya want more info. We will even run a "local stock" class at each. Tractors must be showroom stock(can remove the deck etc)and run turf tires only. Then we have the LGTPA stock class and stock altereds,including some turbo diesels(see my profile pic). A field of modifieds will run,various classes,bike and sled engines vs the turbines. Cool show.