What to keep in stock?
 

For newbies (like myself) it would be great to have a list of items that people over time have learned to keep in stock when working on these tractors. I'll start with what I have learned so far but would love to see others add to the list :beerchug:

Cleaner and Sprays:
- PB Blaster or some kind of penetrating spray. OMG you can't keep enough of this on hand!!!
- Carb cleaner

Bolts and the like:
- Cotter pins (could use the size from someone). You seem to need quite a few of these when you're working on the tractor and the ones you pull out will most likely break
- Bolts - so what are the most common sizes to keep on hand?

Tools (I know this list could go on forever but there are some must haves that I would like to list as well as some specialty tools that I think we could all learn from others about):
- Phillips head screw driver (various sizes)
- Flat head screw driver (various sizes)
- Yes you should have a complete wrench set but seems like the most common are...
7/16 wrench
9/16 wrench
- A combo of broken bolt removal tools. I'll start to list the ones I have bought here soon and give some opinions on how they seem to work

Oil:
- Based on temp outside it would be nice to learn what people use in their cubs. The maintenance guide offers this info but I've read around here some different ideas :)

Filters:
- A few extra inline gas filters wouldn't hurt and they are cheap
- Hydro filters (what are people using?)

Rebuild kits:
Depending on the engines you work on, carb rebuild kits are good to have on hand. I'll try to look around hear and else where to put links to engine/carb types and the kits that go with them

Misc:
- Extra fuel line and those little clips to hold them in place

Good stuff listed so far. I'd add the following (to support working cubs)

1. Rear (axle) cover gaskets
2. wheel bearings
3. spare deck and PTO belts
4. PTO buttons for the mechanical PTOs
5. air filters
6. Points, plugs and condensers
7. spare Hydro fluid and filter (I use the IH filters)
8. I use Rotella 30wt. in the engines
9. spare head gaskets

I bought a grade 8 bolt assortment--mostly 3/8, 5/16 and 1/4 in lengths from 3/4 to 2-1/2.

Points and condensor are always good to have on hand.

The only item I would keep on hand in order to finish the job at hand would be the pto to deck belt.
Everything else can be had within a day locally when I want to buy it.

Along with the stuff listed above, I keep on hand:

Cleaner and Sprays:
- PB Blaster, WD40
- Carb/brake cleaner

Bolts and the like:
- I keep a good sized organizer that has everything from snap rings, nuts, bolts, washer, lock washers, fuel bungs, cotter pins, fuel clamps, fuel filters, carb needles, seats, and so much more in it (all of assorted sizes, of course).
- I also have a wall organizer that has a collection of different sizes nuts and bolts (I also live about 5 minutes away from an excellent hardware store so if I don't have it, I'll have it quick)

Tools
- A good set of snap ring pliers, so useful!!
- You can't have enough sizes or styles of pliers!
- Impact wrench (more of a luxury than a necessity, but still very handy)
- Multimeter
- Multiple sets of sockets, wrenches, socket wrenches, impact sockets, stubby's, deep well, etc.
- Torque wrench (3/8 at least, also 1/2 is good to have)
- Vice grips

Oil:
- Minimum of 1 gallon of Rotella 30wt (summer and winter use)
- GREASE! I keep a grease gun with extra tubes as well as a tub of grease for repacking bearings and the such
- Keep some extra containers around for old oil. I keep two 5 gallon buckets as well as a couple single gallon containers

Filters:
- Gas, fuel, and hydro; what else is there?

Rebuild kits:
- I don't keep specific rebuild kits around but I do have enough parts that I could rebuild about any Kohler carb if I had to

Misc:
- Fuel line
- Black hi temp spray paint (heat shields are usually pretty rough)
- Floor jack and jack stands
- Tons of stuff I know I'm forgetting

And perhaps the most useful tool of all: a bench vice I never realized how badly I needed one until I got it. I use it on almost every project I do.

Gasket for the rear end plate, carb kit, belts and some HyTran Ultra.

(For older Cubs)

-I would like to see a part number for the spiral pins somewhere in here.

-Spare belt for your implement of choice (IH belts are too expensive for me... I buy off brand Kevlar belts of the Oregon brand)

Other essential TOOLS (cub or not):

-MAPP GAS TORCH!!! or Oxy-Acetaline. MAPP gas is plenty to get any fastener on a cub, or a car, red hot if you're on a budget. $40 basically anywhere. I like my Craftsman that has a 360 degree swivel head.

-A flat out decent 3/8 ratchet with a good reach. This is my favorite tool of the many I own (I'm not a pro, but I'm sure the pro grade from where ever has the same valid points). Craftsman 3/8" flex head ratchet w/ergo grip... It basically makes its own speed bar once the fastener is broke free and it feels really nice in your hand.. I'd be lost without it. And, yes, its Craftsman so you'll be replacing it once a every 5 years as an aggressive hobbyist. I've given 5 of these as gifts and everyone loves them. I'm a very small fish compared to many but I do have about $10k in hand tools. This is my favorite of all of them and it's $27.

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-3...&blockType=G30

If the link doesn't work, it's Sears item #00944836000

-Favorite tool #2 - A nice dead blow hammer. I've used them all, Snap-on, Mac tools, Matco, Craftsman, etc... They are all exactly the same as my Harbor Freight hammer in performance and carry the same life time warranty (Snap-on actually refused warranty on one broken dead blow... That's one reason I don't own much Snap-on... :Snooty: truck guys... HF? no problem)...

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-ne...mer-41799.html

$10...

I actually have somewhere around 20-30 hammers and I'd guess 1/2 of them are HF for other China hammers. It's a weight on the end of a stick. No need to get complicated about it. That goes double for brass hammers... HF is somewhere around $30, Snap on??? Hold on to your paycheck! Difference in quality is 0....

-GOOD wire strippers, moving on to favorite tool #3... I adore my Ideal strippers "Grip n' strip" strippers.. I've had the "strip master" style blow apart into many pieces two times already... I said "forget that" and went with this design. NO problems unless you're into tiny or giant gauge wire. (FWIW I *DO* own a set of Ideal "Crimpmaster" pliers and several sets of jaws (both Ideal and generic)... They're a totally excellent set of tools and rank high on my list, but are not Cub related per say.

http://www.idealindustries.com/prodD...wire_strippers

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I've said this many times before, but I'll say it again here, if I wrenched for my meals I might spend a bit more money for a few higher quality core tools (my perception is actually based on convenience since that guy is showing up 1-2x a week to warranty your broken stuff with his truck vs. a drive to the store) but 9/10 times I would STILL buy value priced tools with good warranties (Ideal being the exception... They're expensive but I've literally never needed the warranty after lots of automotive and CATV use (I'm talking about 15 years of use in the case of my strippers and I wrench way more on cars and houses than cubs)... Ideal = win for electrical tools as far as I'm concerned... Kent isn't bad either) and simply have 2 sets of the critical tools. For instance, I have around 10 ratchets, ALL Craftsman... Never have I not completed a job due to my tools.

I realize I'm flirting with "off-topic" pretty hard here, but I DID just recommend a bunch of HF and China Craftsman so I know the pros will be offended. Everything I said is just dandy for a guy at home and I'd even venture most pros if not for :Snooty:...

Duct tape, WD-40 and beer. If you can't fix it with the tape and WD-40 drink the beer. Sorry just my twisted sense of humor. :beerchug:

I *KNEW* I was forgetting a critical item:

BEER!

Oh so many nights, after a 3 hour drive home after work, were fueled by beer once upon a time whilst wrenching on the 5.Slow... Thank god for the pizza place that was open until 4am or I may have starved to death back in those times!

So... I'll add PIZZA!

Should you be in the Dayton, Ohio area and have access too a Carmela's Pizzeria count yourself amongst the elite. Never has a finer pizza existed, let alone a better bacon-ranch-chicken pizza...

Max

One of the things I do miss after moving to Galax VA from CT is good pizza. Not trying to start something on pizza but if your ever in New Haven CT try Pepe's or Sally's pizza. Here in Galax it's Pizza Hut, I no longer eat Pizza.