1650 Refurb
 

Firstly - thanks everyone for answering my 1650 questions over the past year or so. I bought a 1650 (see this thread - http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15685) and have been busy frying other fish and am starting to have a bit more time with it. As I'm sure most of you are, I've got a very busy schedule with work and family and more tractors than I need - and at one point I was going to part with the 1650, but was persuaded to keep it and make it a worker. With that in mind, I thought I'd start a fresh thread on my 1650 and my progress with it.

The 1650 was my first IH tractor (my first car was a 1970 IH Scout) and I now have a 109, a 126 and a 122 - which is going to be a donor tractor for the 126. A lot of time I could have been working the 1650 has been spent tinkering with those other tractors (and several other color tractors).

So Spring is almost here and with it grass and I'd like to get this 1650 going and give it a try over the Summer.

Here is where I stand with the 1650:

I found that though it is a 1650, it has a 14 hp engine in it. That engine is out getting an inspection, cast iron oil pan, decarbon of the head and new head gasket. I've got a new driveshaft fan, rear tranny gasket and some Hytran and filter for a hydro fluid change.

I've also done (or bought) a cradle mod and am painting it for use with some very good original isolators. Once I get the cradle installed and the engine buttoned-up and the hydro fan in place, I'll install the engine.

Also, I've added a super steer, got a muffler crutch and am going to give the axle frame clevis a squeeze to tighten things up a bit.

I'm content for now with the 14 hp engine, but have a good K341AQS engine waiting in the wings for a rebuild that I'll use at some point down the road. First things first, I'd like to get this tractor running and see what I've got.

Right now the only snag I can see is the hydro lever for the tranny doesn't freely move - it seems stuck. Not sure what's going on there, but I'll probably sort that out before I put the engine back in.

The tractor came with a 44C and a 44A deck. The 44A was pretty much swiss cheese and I salvaged the parts off it for spares. I added a speed-up pulley and for now it resides on the 109. I picked-up what amounts to a 50C deck from a later model 1862 (?) tractor. It was a cyclops tractor and the guy selling the deck just didn't use the tractor for mowing and wanted the deck out of the way. What I don't have is a proper mule drive/under carrage for it - yet. I'll swap the center pulley and should be good to go. I think this 1650, even with a 14 hp engine will handle the 50 inch deck OK.

So that's my update on the 1650. Don't know how much I'll be posting, but will keep this post updated as I move along with the tractor.

BTW, I've got two teenage boys who are helping me along with this tractor (and my others). It's a great learning experience for them too.

Thanks!
Bill

Looking forward to your updates Bill!

Nothing like getting the kids into mechanics and these tractors provide a bit simpler experience but really show the basics. Looking forward to your progress.

Looking very forward to your updates!

Standing by for updates!! The 109 is a great tractor, too!

Looking forward to your progress.

Put a final coat of paint on the engine cradle and painted the muffler crutch I bought from Dave Kirk. Also ordered a magnetic oil pan plug.

Keep up the good work!

Bill:
Good to hear you are making progress on your Quiet Line. PM me on RS if I can be of some help. You've got to get it running and operating by the 20th of June so I can take it for a joyride when Jay and I come by your place on the way to Penn.

One of the things I didn't understand when I bought the 1650 (being my first IHCC) was that the deck subframe was for an earlier wide frame triangular 42 or 48 inch type deck. The deck I got with it was a 44C deck. I don't think the seller had a clue either. I could and did move the lifting eye and change out the main drive pulley to make the deck a 44A type, but the subframe is what it is.

I'm traveling for work this week and did a search for Cub Cadet (and other color tractors too), and found a 44A deck and correct subframe from a QL series tractor, so now I've got what I need to get a deck under my 1650.