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Why didn't I think of that ?

Cadet Farmer

Ok, here are some pictures I just took. You know how things always look better in photos? And you guys probably think I labored for days over this. After I show what I did you will all be a little disappointed with my work.

I was going to look for some thick metal to cut down for brackets, but I had 2 odd 1/4" thick round circles in my pile from who knows where. The grill fit fine just riding on top of the front frame crosspiece, so I just cut off the bottom of the battery holder frame and put the 2 circles on the front frame corners where the grille support used to bolt and bolted the circles on with their two bolts. Then I marked where the narrow frame grille sat and marked its 4 holes, then drilled each side for the 4 mounting holes, and welded the battery holder frame to the circles. It was embarassingly easy. Of course if it isn't a super with a radiator, the battery will be mounted elsewhere and it's easier yet.
I didn't have to cut where the battery mounts, but the 125 grille leans back into the battery space and I had to use one of those odd narrower batterys..which I had laying around after parting out a cub loboy awhile back.
Now that I had the grille mounted solid, I just trimmed the damaged side panels to the same angle as the grille slopes and still leave the seal to the radiator shroud alone.
All I needed was a hood, and I just took posterboard and used it for a pattern after i got it trimmed. I used WAY too heavy of metal for the hood, and the thing was fine until I tried to bolt it on, and realized it was too narrow after bending it around the grille shell...so I had to unbend it and rebend it further out which sort of messed it up. Nothing bondo and white paint wouldn't fix, but it just has to lay there and replace a piece of plastic. A much lighter and easier to bend guage would have worked out better. I'm putting a 122 grille on a 1811 later on that I already mocked up. Going to rebend the original hood on that one and cut it off in front. That style hood makes multiple curved bulges as it clears the underhood tank, making it harder to fab from sheetmetal than the cyclops style... my .02 anyway.
The black grille insert is some odd piece of scrap I bought at an auction..round holes in 1/4" thick steel! I call it my 55mph grille. I figured I had enough for 3 cub grilles, I cut this one out with sawzall blades and I'm still saving the rest...somewhere. The headlight door was also fabbed and I never hooked the bulbs up yet.
You don't want to see the Cart I fabbed from a Cub 1440 frame shortened 12" do you? It wasn't any show piece and I never got the shift linkage working right. Sold it a couple weeks ago..since the post. Do have a ton of photos though.

Nice work, ABC! :beerchug:

That Narrow frame grill mod is awesome! I love the looks! Also love the other stuff you do, that cart is pretty cool! Thanks for sharing!:D

It looks really good, after I saw your first pictures on the new grill I started play around with differant set up, I found a 682 grill is a direct bolt on, so as of right now my 1782 has a 682 grill, still playing with the hood and side covers, thanks for posting the pics and getting me motivated, LOL!!!!!!

Wish I could find a 682 or 782 grille & hood & sides, I have a good 1811 with no front end. Plus, I like that style very much. I don't think any of them were set up for radiators, so I'd have to modify the sides for ventilation on my 2172.
I have also modified my 1782 though this time I moved the grille forward a couple of inches so a regular big battery would fit (the diesel you know). Just made a hood to fit for it the other day out of thinner metal than the 2172. I Folded the last 1/4" on the long sides for strength. Came out better than the other, no filler will be needed on it. I need to finish trimming the rear after I get my side panels cut.
Bought the paint the other day as well for the future, but the weather isn't cooperating.

I believe I'll swap the better deck from the gas onto the diesel cub and sell the gas one later in the Spring. No one guy needs so many good big tractors, and I sure could use the room. Actually at least 3 will go down the road.

Nice job, ABC! Good to see you posting again!

I'm around, but I haven't been doing much Cub work lately. Went to an auction today with a nice 1641 but when they started it, it was only running on 1 cylinder! That took it from reselling to parts tractor, but the other bidders didn't seem to notice or wonder why he also had a newer but less heavy duty White MTD.
Spent $18 and then realized they overcharged me $5 when I got home. Just bought 3 wrenches (great deal at $5..great at $10 too..OLD Bonney 1/2" ratchet, Bonney 3/8-7/16 ratcheting box end, and a very thin long handled USA 1/2" & 9/16" wrench that sold for $5 in very nice shape, but somehow got added up as $10 with my $8 prancing horse TV light I bought just because it was neat)
So not much to actually post about.

Welcome, again ABC! I been taking a break on the cub work myself. Nice to see my MTF buddys here.