Best Cubs Ever Produced?
 

I received a book on the history of garden tractors for Christmas from my daughters... and read that owners of "Green" equipment pretty much are in agreement that the 318 is the best gasoline garden tractor JD ever made (by far) and that the 430 is their best smoker. I'm curious, what do OCC forum members consider as the best Cub gasoline and smoker models ever made...and why?

ccguy
1994-1440
Western MA

This will be a long debate....the winner is less obvious with cub cadets than john deeres. My vote is an IH built 782 but power steering would have been nice! Some of the CCC cubs are nice too but many of us are IH collectors and don't want them.

The best is the one you own. They all have good and not so good points. :beerchug:

IH 147. :)
Just cause I have one!
http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...R/DSC00378.jpg
Regards,
Chris

Well put, Sam!

I agree, but add "the one you own and it runs":biggrin2: I like my 782, but it doesn't run and I'm tired of sitting on it and making a motor sound!!


Cub Cadet 123

I would agree on the JD's. I own both a 318 and 430 they came with power steering, dual/triple hydraulics, heavy frame, dual brakes and cat 0 / 2000 rear pto options and 430 had shaft drive mower.

IH Cub cadet, I would have to say the 982 if it only would have had power steering as it was the first to have everything else.

CCC I go with the 2072 and 1772 due to power steering, dual hydraulics, dual brakes, heavy frame, cat 0 / 2000 rpm rear pto options and no plastic hood/grill/side panels. I really like my 2182's but hate all the plastic and the way the seat sits so high.

all of the cubs i have/had were great at what i had them doing. i will say my 127 has been with me the longest and has always done what i had asked of it. that's got to to say something.

right tool for the right job.

I agree with Sam and Allen.

IH built 782 but it must have a series 2 engine

782, I went into the CC looking for a 782.

We have a 317 and a 318 there is not that much difference other than power steering and yes I really like the power steering. The 317 has way more options when purchasing implements I myself don't care for the onan engine in the 318 the 317 many came with series 1 engine which gave the 317 the name it has even today. I have a 317 with a series II engine (from a cc 782 lol). Between the both of the ones I have I had rather have the 317 if it had power steering, I just wanted to give a little more info on them.

As far the cub cadet I do like the 782 all around best just like the 317 if it only had power steering. Cyclops are nice also minus plastic. of the cubs I have to get on one and cut grass the 1541 has the most power, leaves a nice cut yard and no having to make engine noise with mouth or between rear end and seat :biggrin2:

I've only had one CC and it is an 1811 which I have really enjoyed. However I have owned a bunch of JD's and the 318 is a great little tractor but I would claim the 332 to my favorite. With the Yanmar three cyl diesel and PS as well as dual hydraulics it was/is just right for so many jobs. The accessories for it are numerous and easy to work with. I have had a 317, 318, 332, 445, 455 and my latest a 1974 JD 110. I enjoyed PS so much that I added it to my 1811. It changed the little tractor completely. I know that sounds like an overstatement but it is the truth. JD was way ahead of anyone at that time with creature comforts. I liked the 317 but it was a pig if it was not going forward when making a turn. One thing that CC did that JD didn't was making the hydraulic valve accessible. The CC is so much easier to work on than the JD. They are both great machine lines and there will never be anything like them made for an affordable price again.:beerchug:

If I had to pick, I'd say it'd be, without a doubt, a 982 w/PTO, 3 point, dual brakes, dual hydraulics, and power steering. That is my holy grail; a red Super. A guys gotta dream, right? :biggrin2:

Then again this is almost as much personal preference as it is what's actually the "best". I love subjective subjects :biggrin2:

Edit: As long as I'm stating "dream" machines, I'd like to add a set of Ag's to that list along with a set of filled turfs and chains. And hmm...attachments you say? I'll throw in a 54" power angle blade, rear box scraper, tiller, 60" deck, 48" blower, generator, plow, and a cab for the winter time. I think that'll about do it :beerchug::biggrin2:

I am partial to the 1864. I really like the cyclops looks. Mechanically it is the last of the old style cubs. I can imagine the engineers looking to strengthen something and saying,"just weld some more steal on it, that will take care of it".

The power steering is great and you can put almost any attachment from the Quiteline on up on it. I would like steering brakes or a locking differential on them.

I would like to get a Super some day but I hear they have a much larger turning radius, a problem for me since I cut a lot of grass with a lot of trees etc.

I did own a 782 with a series II engine for a while. That was a nice tractor as well.

Interesting that it's harder for CC owners to rank CC models...

Having only owned a 1440, it's impossible to compare with other CC's. I do know that I would never sell it and it's by far the best built piece of equipment that I've ever owned. I appreciate the sheer simplicity of it, it's over engineered and made to really last...plus the reliable Vanguard. The plastic is an issue though.

Problem is that as a sensible person, I don't need another one, don't have room for another one but I keep wanting another one. Don't know why. Makes no sense.

ccguy
1994-1440
Western MA

Having owned 2 1450's a 680 and now a 2072, my choice would be the 2072 for it's legroom.I am 6' and the 1450 got very cramped after awhile.
I don't think there will ever be 1 Cadet that everyone agrees is the best,it's more a matter of opinion.

I've got an 882 diesel, Cub 147 and a Sears Suburban. There's things I like and dislike about all 3.

If cc made used the same type of plastic on the cyclops as jd used on 317/318 I think cyclops would be ranked at the top by more people. The plastic is the biggest drawback to the cyclops other than that the aluminum axle housing was another big hit.... jd also used aluminum housing on 317/318.

:biggrin2:I was unaware that ih made a smoker,thought only owners made them.

I was always under the impression that IH Cub Cadet also had the superior transmissions which came from Cub tooling, and remained the better of the two garden tractors. I have never noticed what JD had that was a good gear drive garden tractor, and have read that the JD Peerless transmission was weaker than the IH's by far. JD had to go where IH didn't, and that was to hydraulic operated equipment, some say the 140H2 was better than the 318 because the 318 had the same engine problems as the Cubs. I'd say the Simplicity 7117 would be a 318's Nightmare.

I have a 84 red Cub Cadet 782, it's my Workhorse, it have a 50 Inch Deck, 10 Inch Brinly Plow, 117cm Self made Snow Blade and a 110cm Front Sweeper.
I also own a John Deere 15 Trailer for it.

It have the powerfull KTS2 Engine, new overhault, and is a good Machine.

I have a restored 61 "O" also, but it's for playing,

mfg Georg

1864 w/54" mower and front bumper (to protect the plastic) is best, hands down if you want to cut grass and push snow by a wide margin. End of story!

If you're a collector, that's not the one you want. I've collected too much junk over the years and that's why the 1864 makes me happy.

:biggrin2:

318 has a Onan engine early 317 has KT 17 series I that your probably referring to. As far as simplicity 7117 ( I'm not familiar) being 318's nightmare the 318 will hold it's on to any similar sized garden tractor. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who prefers cubs

Gravely 816, John Deere 120, Cub Cadet 1250! Beats the 127 I have with that $60 "RUSTY STAR" junk clutch kit they want to sell you! POORLY designed clutches on them older Cubs so I traded 123 for 1250 and LOVE the 1250! Nothing wrong with a BRONZE MEDAL!

Some of what makes for the best is what floats your boat. I like to tinker with old iron tractors, but just am spare time challenged.

The best tractor for me is:

Easy to operate
Simple to work-on
Heavy duty
Common parts/implements

Sooooooo - for me it's a 128 for a gear drive and a 149 for hydro.

Bill

I'm not an expert by any means, but I've had a 782, 882, a John Deere, few generic MTD tractors, and a couple of Kubota diesels, and the 782 Cub is the toughest built little tractor I have ever used.

My personal preference was always the 140h3 but after owning the 318 I have to say the 318 is indeed the best IMO. Beat the snot out of my 782 and 2072 I used to have. I didn't care for the Onan engine though just because of the fact that parts are so expensive. I prefer the kohler that was in the 2072 or the 782. So both had ups and downs

OK guys, this post by the OP was what is the best CUB not JD so that said I am doing the following. This thread is going to the general section and keep it Cub only. Yeah I know JD made some good stuff and I own one but this is Only Cub Cadets. If you want to talk Deere go to Weekend Freedom Machines. Rant off. Carry on.

Well said, Sam! Glad you moved the thread!

I am a narrow frame guy, so my votes for best are the 72 for a gear drive and the 147 for hydro. I think the cubs with the Z front end are the best looking of them all.

I agree. I love my 147, and enjoy the styling of the front end.

If I had to rate from most enjoyed to least:

1X6/7 series
1X5/4 series
Original
Quiet Line
70/100
1X8/9 series
red
1X2/3 series

Just about any IH cub is good IMO.

The ones i buy from the big box store resale rack fix & resell to make more money off of , but to use I would say my 1976 IH cub cadet 1000 ! I like them old heavy & gear driven !

I would have to say its any of the IH CC or even the CCC . In my opinion the John Deere tractors are not anywhere in comparison with the cubs. A belt driven verses drive shaft....hmmmm to me the drive shaft tractor seems better to me.

But,as long as you have pride and enjoy the fun times and the great memories that are made thats to me is way more important than anything else. My IH CC has some long lasting memories which there is no price thats even comes close :American Flag 1::beerchug: