Too many Irons in the Fire
 

From 1974 to 1978 I worked for an IH dealer as their lawn and garden mechanic. I setup, repaired all cub cadets models and watched the sale of many new Quiet Line garden tractors go to happy new owners. Being only a poor farm kid, making only peanuts, I could only wish to own one someday. Years later and a little more prosperous, I’ve restored IH letter series tractors, Willys Jeeps, Kiekhaefer Mercury outboards and the “one and only” Powder Coated Cub Cadet 122.
I think my favorite of all is the Cub Cadet 1450 I rebuilt on Jan\Feb 2010. A friend of my son’s parents and grandparents owned this and let it fall to disarray. When I picked it up, it was so worn out, that it wouldn’t even climb onto my trailer without being pushed by 3 guys.
Practically everything on it was either loose, rusted, wore out or broken! What can you expect from a neglected 34 year old tractor that was free? I brought it home with a 44 inch mower deck, snow blade and a set of tire chains thinking that this thing is hopeless and will make a parts tractor at best.
I went through it from top to bottom. I rebuilt the motor with all new genuine Kohler parts and the tractor with all genuine cub cadet parts. When I started in on it, I had all intensions of making it like new but as a worker and not a show piece. I gave it a new coat of paint along the way. Mission Accomplished! This GREAT tractor will probably outlast me or for at least another 34 years!
Here are some of the modifications I’ve done on the 1450:
• Headlight claps so they won’t twist from vibration
• Chrome Muffler extension
• Engine cradle modification with 759-3952 mounts
• Muffler Crutch
• Muffler box from Extreme Motor Works
• Super Steering Upgrade
• 1” front axle spindles
• Powder coated step plates with stainless steel bolts
• 3 point sleeve hitch
• 1 ¼” receiver hitch
• Rear SMV emblem
• Rear mounted tool box from Extreme Motor Works
• Four 26 lbs. wheel weights
• Carlisle Tru-Power Bar tires front and rear
• 4” High Speed mower deck center pulley
• Dash switch wired to rear 12 volt 2 prong plug for yard sprayer

How about a pic of this machine?? This is like saying you had a date with Carrie Underwood and forgot to take a picture...lol Sounds like an awesome machine and we DEMAND pics..I would like to see the headlight clams myself.

Here ya go.....I'll take more pics tomorrow

Great pics and story, Steve! :beerchug:

Beautiful Cubs steve59

Very nice tractors! Good work!

I took a few more pictures this morning of the 1450. This is the 1-1/4” Receiver Hitch I fabricated. This will come in handy for moving trailers around the farm rather than using my pickup. Three bolts, and it comes right off. As for the headlight clamps, I added a couple strips of “100 MPH Duct Tape”, cut a 1” conduit clamp in half, drilled the holes bigger and put them under the outside hood hinge bolts. No more headlight rolling! And the Powder Coated step plates with stainless steel bolts.

Nice work steve59
Great ideas!

Awesome story and great cubs!

Nice workmanship!