Probably dry because the push rod is out of place. They get oil through the push rods.

You win on that one sir. Always good to start simple and you did, great score. I got a dually once for 1200 dollars that the guy was told needed an engine for 7 thousand dollars. Found and replaced a broken valve spring, 5 dollar fix. It's definitely these times that make up for the times when it doesn't go your way. :beerchug:

Actually, there was very little oil in there but the tractor had been sitting for over a month.
When I started it in my testing, it ran maybe only 15-20 seconds before I shut it off so not much oil could have circulated. I also think I may have dabbed around with a rag to see what I could see, that would have been before I took the picture. I don't think there's a problem.

I did remove all the tins and the flywheel screen (except for the main shroud) yesterday. Sam Mac nailed it on debris, the flywheel screen looked almost as bad as the one in his pic up above. Blew it all out with compressed air and things look pretty good. I think today I will spray it down with degreaser and hit it with the pressure washer.

Thank you. However the guy I swapped with got a real nice Toro/Wheelhorse, worth 5-6 hundred, for his Cub. So I was taking a gamble not knowing what was wrong with this engine. He is my buddy, so now I don't know whether to feel bad or what.

On the other hand, he bought one of those $11,000 "green" tractors to replace this Cub, so......
Naw, I don't feel THAAAT bad.

Not to rain on your parade in any way, keep an eye on the motor for a while.
It is possible the loose valve adjustment was not the problem, but a loose seat in the head was, that allowed the rocker to jump off the pushrod.
Like I said in post #2, I don't have any experience on those motors, but been around the block a time or two.
Just a FYI.:bigthink:

I'm with George on that. I hope the best for you but it seems like a strange thing. Also that George has been around the block a lot. :biggrin2:

If it dropped a valve seat it wouldn't have the compression it does.

I've heard of the lifters pumping up and bending the pushrods. Usually in cold conditions. The lifters are like what's in a small block Chevy.

Agreed,
but if the seat reset itself into the head, it is going to happen again thus my comment to keep an eye on it.
Only time will tell ( or pull the head/look see)
hoping the best and it was just a loose stud nut.:beerchug:

Seen a lot of weird pushrod problems on them SBC's going back to the first ones in 1955.
prolly the most used /longest running design in history.