Cub + Kubota = Cubota Tractor
A story about a tractor in Red Power magazine grabbed our attention recently. For one thing, the tractor was the wrong color. It wasn't red. It was silver. But the most notable difference was its engine - a 4-cylinder, diesel V-800 Kubota, which inspired the tractor owner to decal it a "Farmall Cubota".
Retired mechanic Gary Dotson of West Mansfield, Ohio, did the work.
"I've always been a fan of little diesel tractors, and I own Kubotas, so I made up my mind to convert my 1948 Cub," Dotson says.
He found an inexpensive 4-cylinder Kubota at a swap meet and rebuilt it. Then he gathered other parts he had on hand for his conversion: a hydraulic pump from a BMW, parts from a Chevrolet Cavalier, and components off a Briggs and Stratton engine.
Removing the Cub's engine created the first challenge, since the engine is part of the tractor's frame. Dotson built a frame out of new steel for the Kubota engine to bolt to.
The biggest challenge was coupling the Cub flywheel to the Kubota engine's crankshaft.
"I machined down the Kubota flywheel to turn it into a coupling plate," Dotson says. "It went better than I expected."
He used a 1/2-in. adapter plate at the back of the engine to bolt it to the tractor's transmission housing and everything else fell into place. The driveline is all Cub parts, but Dotson added a micro switch into the starter linkage to activate the diesel's glow plugs. The diesel engine increased the tractor's torque and doubled its speed to 15 mph.
Dotson spent about three weeks on the conversion, tested it grading dirt on his property, then tore it all apart to spend another three weeks prepping and painting it.
"My wife had said, it's not going to be red," Dotson recalls. "We threw out several options, and she chose this one."
It was a good choice, he admits. The tractor has drawn attention at the shows he attends. He notes that if people see it when it's on display they ask about the color, but think that it's a stock tractor. If they see it when he's driving it, all eyes are on the engine, which obviously doesn't sound like a typical Cub.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gary Dotson, 10917 State Rt. 47, West Mansfield, Ohio 43358 (ph 937 355-5231; gedotson@embarqmail.com).
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Cub + Kubota = Cubota Tractor TRACTORS Conversions A story about a tractor in Red Power magazine grabbed our attention recently For one thing the tractor was the wrong color It wasn t red It was silver But the most notable difference was its engine - a 4-cylinder diesel V-800 Kubota which inspired the tractor owner to decal it a Farmall Cubota Retired mechanic Gary Dotson of West Mansfield Ohio did the work I ve always been a fan of little diesel tractors and I own Kubotas so I made up my mind to convert my 1948 Cub Dotson says He found an inexpensive 4-cylinder Kubota at a swap meet and rebuilt it Then he gathered other parts he had on hand for his conversion: a hydraulic pump from a BMW parts from a Chevrolet Cavalier and components off a Briggs and Stratton engine Removing the Cub s engine created the first challenge since the engine is part of the tractor s frame Dotson built a frame out of new steel for the Kubota engine to bolt to The biggest challenge was coupling the Cub flywheel to the Kubota engine s crankshaft I machined down the Kubota flywheel to turn it into a coupling plate Dotson says It went better than I expected He used a 1/2-in adapter plate at the back of the engine to bolt it to the tractor s transmission housing and everything else fell into place The driveline is all Cub parts but Dotson added a micro switch into the starter linkage to activate the diesel s glow plugs The diesel engine increased the tractor s torque and doubled its speed to 15 mph Dotson spent about three weeks on the conversion tested it grading dirt on his property then tore it all apart to spend another three weeks prepping and painting it My wife had said it s not going to be red Dotson recalls We threw out several options and she chose this one It was a good choice he admits The tractor has drawn attention at the shows he attends He notes that if people see it when it s on display they ask about the color but think that it s a stock tractor If they see it when he s driving it all eyes are on the engine which obviously doesn t sound like a typical Cub Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gary Dotson 10917 State Rt 47 West Mansfield Ohio 43358 ph 937 355-5231; gedotson@embarqmail com
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