What Is A Farmall Super A Cultivator (Setup Guide)
A Farmall Super A cultivator is a row-crop implement mounted to the tractor to loosen soil and cut weeds between crop rows. There is no single universal Super A setup: fit depends on the cultivator model, brackets, lift parts, tractor configuration, and row spacing. Identify the equipment, check its manual, set it shallow, then make a slow test pass.
If a manual mentions “gangs,” “shanks,” or “lift links,” it can be hard to know what to adjust first. The safe approach is to identify the cultivator before changing its position. A part that looks close to the right fit may still interfere with the tractor or lift incorrectly.
In this guide, I’ll explain what the implement does and how to prepare it for field use. I’ll also distinguish general setup targets from model-specific instructions, because mounting points, pin locations, and adjustments can vary.
What a Farmall Super A cultivator is
A cultivator is a tractor-mounted tool that works the soil around growing crops, often to cut small weeds between rows. Its shovels attach to curved or straight shanks, which are carried by a frame. The tractor lifts and lowers the assembly using the cultivator’s particular mounting and lift arrangement.
The Super A was built for row-crop work, but “Super A cultivator” does not name one universal implement. International Harvester and other makers produced different equipment and configurations. A cultivator intended for another tractor may look similar but have different brackets or lift parts.
A gang is a group of working parts arranged to cultivate one part of the row space. A shank holds a shovel or other soil-working tool. The shovel cuts or moves soil; its shape and position affect how much soil it throws.
The Super A uses an International Harvester C-113, a four-cylinder gasoline engine with about 113 cubic inches (1.85 L) of displacement. Common published specifications list a rated engine speed of 1,400 rpm. That is an engine rating, not a cultivator speed setting. The tractor uses gasoline, not a two-cycle fuel-oil mix. Follow the tractor manual for fuel and engine service.
Before setup, identify the cultivator’s maker and model from its tag, stamped number, or reliable parts documentation. Then compare its mounting brackets, frame, and lift arrangement with the Super A and the correct manuals.
Farmall Super A cultivator compatibility, setup, and safety preparation
Compatibility means more than whether the implement can be attached. The brackets, pins, lift links, frame, and working parts must suit the tractor and must move through their full range without hitting the tires, steering parts, radiator, or operator area. Confirm fit with manuals for the exact tractor and cultivator.
Start on level ground. Put the transmission in neutral, set the parking brake, stop the engine, disable the ignition, and keep the cultivator from falling or shifting. If the implement is raised, lower it before inspection whenever possible.
Check the following before mounting or adjusting:
- Correct tractor mounting brackets and implement parts
- Sound pins and keepers, with no improvised substitutes
- A frame, shanks, shields, and shovel attachments without cracks, bends, or loose parts
- Lift links and other moving parts in sound condition
- Tractor steering, brakes, tires, and fuel system, with no apparent leaks
- Clear space between the implement and tractor through the full lift range
Use the mounting and adjustment instructions for the specific cultivator. Do not assume that an A, Super A, 100, or aftermarket cultivator will bolt on correctly. Nor should you use a generic torque value or pin location when the implement manual specifies one.
With the engine off, check that the cultivator can be raised and lowered without contact or binding. Never work beneath raised equipment supported only by hydraulics. A hydraulic leak, failed part, or disturbed linkage can let it drop or shift. Lower it to the ground before service; if it must remain raised, use rated mechanical blocking at approved support points.
Set gangs to the crop rows and tractor
Gang placement matches the cultivator’s working tools to the crop rows and the tractor’s wheel position. Measure the actual rows in the field, then arrange the gangs and shovels to work between them while leaving room around the crop. Row spacing and wheel tread vary, so there is no one correct setting for every Super A.
Measure between neighboring rows rather than relying on a label or a remembered “standard” spacing. Check how the shovels sit relative to the crop stems, and make sure the tractor’s wheel tread and cultivator geometry stay within the arrangements allowed by the manuals.
| What to check | Setup approach | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Crop-row spacing | Measure in the field | Gang position must match the crop actually planted |
| Wheel tread | Check tractor manual and field conditions | Tires need to run without striking plants or implement parts |
| Gang and shovel position | Place tools between rows, with crop-side clearance | Reduces the risk of cutting plants or disturbing roots |
| Lift range | Test with engine off | Reveals contact, binding, or interference before field work |
| Working depth | Begin with a shallow trial, about 1–2 in (25–50 mm) | Limits excessive soil movement while you assess results |
The 1–2 inch depth is a practical starting point, not a universal factory setting. Soil, crop stage, shovel type, and weed growth affect the useful depth. Adjust only with the tractor stopped, engine off, and implement safely supported. Use the manual for the particular cultivator’s linkage and pin adjustments.
Two setup examples
These examples show how to think through setup; they are not factory specifications. In a field with wider rows, the gangs may need to move outward so the shovels work between the rows. In a field with narrower rows, the same implement may not provide safe crop clearance or fit the tractor’s permitted wheel and gang arrangements.
I use a simple check when explaining this: identify the row spacing, then trace where each shovel will travel before the tractor moves. If a shovel’s path crosses a crop line, or the tire or frame threatens to touch a plant, stop and revise the arrangement rather than trying to correct it at speed.
Field operation: row alignment, depth control, and turning
A controlled first pass checks whether the cultivator follows the rows and works at a useful depth without injuring plants. Start slowly in a low gear, with people and animals clear of the work area. Make a short pass, stop, and inspect the crop, soil movement, and equipment before continuing.
Watch for these signs:
- Shovels cut weeds without striking crop stems.
- Soil movement stays between rows rather than burying or exposing plants.
- The implement works shallowly and evenly across its gangs.
- The tractor remains stable and responds normally to steering and brakes.
- No part hits the tires, steering, radiator, or operator station.
If the shovels cut plants, move the gangs or shovels to restore clearance. If they move too much soil or disturb roots, reduce the working depth or change the tool position as allowed by the manual. Do not make adjustments while the engine is running, and do not reach beneath a raised cultivator.
Raise the cultivator as needed for headlands and transport. Avoid abrupt turns or reversing with the gangs lowered or engaged. Keep the implement clear of people, obstacles, and overhead or side hazards as it moves.
Do not use engine rpm as a substitute for cultivator setup. The commonly listed 1,400 rpm is the Super A’s rated engine speed, not a target for the cultivator’s working parts. Follow the tractor operator’s manual for operating speed and the implement manual for use and adjustment.
Cultivator maintenance, shovel wear, and adjustment checks
A cultivator works well only when its frame, shanks, shovels, pins, and lift parts remain sound. Wear or looseness can change tool position and depth. Inspect the equipment before field use and after a test pass, then follow the manuals for lubrication, adjustment, and replacement parts.
Before checking or clearing the implement, park level, lower it fully, disengage drive, set the brake, stop the engine, and remove the key. Clear wrapped plants only after shutdown. Keep hands away from pinch points, and support any part that could fall.
Look for:
- Worn, loose, bent, or cracked shovels and shanks
- Damaged pins, keepers, lift links, or mounting brackets
- Loose fasteners or signs that parts have shifted
- Plant residue or packed soil that could block movement
- New contact marks showing a part has rubbed the tractor
Replace or repair damaged parts according to the implement documentation. Use the correct fasteners and specified torque values where the manual provides them; do not guess or substitute a general figure. Recheck gang position and lift movement after repairs.
Storage and seasonal recommissioning
Storage care helps limit corrosion and makes it easier to spot damage before the next season. After use, lower the cultivator, stop the tractor safely, and remove soil and plant residue. Inspect the working parts, then lubricate and store them as directed by the tractor and implement manuals.
Keep the cultivator in a stable position where it cannot tip or shift. Before using it again, inspect the frame, shanks, shovel attachments, pins, keepers, and lift parts. Check the mounting arrangement and repeat the full-range clearance check with the engine off. A past successful setup does not prove that a changed part or tractor adjustment is still safe.
Conclusion and FAQ
A Farmall Super A cultivator is a row-crop implement, not one fixed model with one universal setup. Identify the implement, confirm its fit with the correct manuals, measure the crop rows, and set the shovels to work shallowly between them. A short, slow test pass helps reveal problems before they cause crop or equipment damage.
What does a Farmall Super A cultivator do?
It works soil between crop rows, commonly to cut weeds and loosen surface soil. Its shovels and gangs must be arranged for the crop rows and tractor.
Will every Farmall A cultivator fit a Super A?
No. Confirm the cultivator model, brackets, frame, and lift arrangement in the tractor and implement manuals. Similar appearance does not prove compatibility.
What row spacing should I use?
Use the spacing measured in your field. There is no single correct row spacing or gang arrangement for every Super A cultivator and crop.
How deep should I set the shovels?
A shallow trial around 1–2 inches (25–50 mm) is a practical starting point, not a universal factory setting. Adjust for soil, crop stage, and tool type.
How do I know whether the gangs are positioned correctly?
The shovels should travel between rows with clearance from crop stems and roots. Make a short test pass and check for crop injury and excessive soil movement.
Can I adjust the cultivator while the tractor is running?
No. Stop the engine before making adjustments. Lower the implement or support it with rated mechanical blocking at approved points; never rely on hydraulics alone.
What engine speed should I use for cultivating?
The commonly published 1,400 rpm figure is the Super A’s rated engine speed, not a cultivator-shaft setting. Follow the tractor operator’s manual for operation.
Does the Super A use mixed gasoline and oil?
No. It has a gasoline engine, not a two-cycle engine. Use the fuel and service instructions specified for the tractor’s engine and fuel system.
What should I check before a first pass?
Check fit, pins, frame, shanks, shields, lift links, brakes, steering, tires, and clearance through the lift range. Then start slowly and inspect a short pass.
When should I raise the cultivator?
Raise it as needed for headlands and transport. Avoid abrupt turns or reversing with gangs lowered, and watch for people, obstacles, and clearance hazards.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Evan Bradley. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
