Only Cub Cadets - Prototype Garden Tractor

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Prototype Garden Tractor

I don't usually go and try to bring up old threads but when researching my tractor this thread keeps popping up. In fact, if you just do a Google Image search for "Cub Cadet Original" this thread is one of the first results. So, the tractor in this thread was bought from that auction by my buddy Ray from Troy, Texas. He sent me a photo of it last year and I have been bugging him to buy it ever since. A couple weeks ago he finally gave in and I bought this tractor. As yall have already figured out it is not a Cub Cadet Original prototype. However, it is also not a homemade tractor. It also does not share any parts with a Cub Cadet. So what is it? It is a Servis garden tractor prototype. Servis Equipment Company out of Dallas, Texas made tow behind mowers and 3 point blades as well as other attachments for farm tractors. It seems that when IH announced the Cub Cadet, Servis saw it and thought that it was a good idea so they made one as well. It is obviously very heavily influenced by the Cub Cadet Original. It is unknown if any others exist or in fact why this one even exists. It is too well built to be homemade but it definitely has some questionable things that would explain it being a prototype. The engine is a Wisconsin BKN with a gear reduction unit on it. This engine chain drives a driveshaft under the tractor to a 3 speed transmission and a rear axle, both of which appear to be out of an old Ford truck perhaps or at least very similar to those found in old Ford pickups. Under the tractor on the driveshaft is a clutch and a band brake. There is also a attachment lift rockshaft with lift lever. The trans is a 3 speed with reverse and 2 shifters, each shifter having 2 gears plus neutral. The engine is a pull start only with no signs of ever having a starter/generator mounted on it however the dash tower has a battery tray, starter button, and volt gauge which suggests that they could have been building this with electric start in mind but only had a pull start engine to work with. The engine looks to be original to the tractor and the serial number suggests that it is an early 1961 engine. The frame, dash tower, hood, and grille all look very Cub Cadet like but I assure you if you look carefully and compare the two side by side they are not the same. Everything is slightly different, different shapes and dimensions and just different build style. Not very much different but different none the less. The tractor has 6-12 rear tires on traditional 5 lug garden tractor wheels however the front wheels are 4.80-8 tires on 1" front spindles. The front wheels have tapered roller bearings and are held on with a castle nut and cotter pin. The tag on the frame faintly says "Servis Equipment Company Dallas Texas" and has a Patent number and a Serial number. Not sure if this tag is specifically for this unit or just one on the shelf that the engineers threw on it to give it some form of identification. I cannot tell if it had any decals or emblems on it but there are some holes on the hood that match up on both sides that indicate that something was once there. I am starting to work on it and am just trying to get it running and driving for now and find more info on it. Just wanted to share it here with yall since this thread is one of this tractors' first ever appearances on the internet.

Here is a photo of where it sat at my buddy Ray's place before I bought it. I have lots of photos of it in my garage on the table but can't seem to post them, I think they are too large. Here is a video that kind of goes over the tractor some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc9ILvt09h0

Attachment 109334

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Are you planning on restoring it or jut get it running?

Finally figured out how to post images. Sorry they are in backwards order.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CubDieselFan (Post 513453)

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Are you planning on restoring it or jut get it running?

I plan on just getting it running and driving for now. I would like to do a full restoration but Id like to try and learn more about it first and perhaps take it to some shows first, might stumble across someone who recognizes it and knows about what it should really look like as far as colors and decals/emblems.

That is awesome. I looked through this old thread a while back when looking for info on my Original, and it's really neat to now know who owns this unique garden tractor, and nice to know that it has a good home and is going to get brought back into service! :beerchug:

Thanks for the really good photos. I did some searches (Duck Duck Go) for Servis and their brand is still part of an active company (RhinoAG). I sure don't see any mention of their having been in the Garden Tractor biz, and that Patent refers to a row marking scheme so it IS ag related, though filed by Deere.

Looks like a really stout little tractor and complete enough to get going again. Time for some deeper research. Perhaps a note to Garden Tractor magazine or better yet, an article for them and/or Farm Collector. They apparently made a line of scrape blades and the like .

Thanks and please keep the photos coming as you get into this.

Very cool! Did it come with any history ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrewer (Post 513460)

Very cool! Did it come with any history ?

No real history other that what we know just by looking at it. My buddy Ray did not really get any info from the auction when they sold it. He did say when I picked it up that he would try and check around to see if he could get in contact with the owner who sold it through the auction company to try and get some info on it and that he would let me know if he found anything.

Looks like the seat spring may have been Cub Cadet as well.

Rear axle looks, Ford, (1931-'48) shortened keyed axle flange/ hubs.
first shift lever would be reverse/first,
second shift lever would be second/third gear.
there is quality there, the builder had access to lathe/mill or had someone do it
that knew about machining.