If I wasn't a Cub fan before today...I sure would be now...JD rant.....
 

Today,I got up and stained the front porch deck. Then I decided to go out and play in the garage. I decided to see if I could get the JD 165 that was my dads and get it running. After 2 hours,several new made up cuss words and still running like garbage,I wasted 2 hours of my day. I was so PO'd I gave up. I replaced the battery in my 1200 and just after 3 or 4 cranks,it ran like a top. If that JD didn't have sentimental value,it would be loaded up and headed to the scrap yard. I can say this,if this is the best JD can dom anymore,I'll push mow my yard instead..Long live my Cub Cadet!!!

I hear you. I'll stick with my 100, as well! :beerchug:

Keep in mind that the JD 165 is as good and equivalent to a CC lawn tractor from that era. It's a lawn tractor, not a garden tractor. Comparing a JD 165 to a Cub Cadet, say 100, would be like comparing a CC 1110 to a JD 140H3. You're comparing apples to oranges here.

agreed,but working on that worthless Kawasaki motor is 10 times worse than on a kohler. I would rather keep the LT 1042 Cub I am trying to sell than this green monster.I think I would rather knock out all rockshaft spirol pins than work on this tractor. In my opinion this tractor is compared to ones you buy at Lowes etc. It takes forever to start and steers like a B model Mack with no power steering..Makes me wonder what the heck dad was thinking trading this mower even up for his 39 JD B???:bash::bash:

:ROTF1::ExtremeFunny:
We had a B model Mack when i was growing up at home :biggrin2.gif:

The steering spindles needs to be grease. My JD 112L steer hard until I changed out the spindles - the old ones probably were never greased by the po. Then it steer great. That 165 when it's greased it will put the older tractors to shame when it comes to mowing. The Kawasaki engines are great engines, parts are more expensive and some of the areas are harder to get to than on the older engines, but, nonetheless, excellent engines. I take a 165 any day over the newer machines. Better decks, better frames, better engine, etc.

Bill,
My point is that you can not really compare the older garden tractors to a lawn tractor. And yes I probably take an engineless older garden tractor over some of the newer stuff, but, in all fairness, each brand has their good and bad points. I've own many JDs, many Cubs now and several Wheel Horses. You be surprised at how many people that would rather own any Wheel Horse, in any shape, than a good running Cub Cadet.

Bill,
You're probably right - I can take things too seriously at times.

OK now you did it Terry...Your little jest and accusations made me mad :biggrin2.gif::biggrin2.gif:...I went back out to the garage tonight and looked at things again. You were absolutely right about the greasing of the front spindles. My dad was a mechanic by trade and it seems that all of his equipment was left to be desired if you will. I took the snap rings off and man,the spindles were so corroded they could not have been greased for ages. I PB Blasted them and wiggled them till they came out. Unbelievable how a little emery cloth and some grease made this thing steer like a new tractor. Now, I need to just get that darn carb figured out. I put a new almost 30 dollar carb kit in,cleaned well and it still surges. I looked at the spark plug and it looks like it's 30 years old as well. A new one will be picked up this week. I am betting that is a major contributor. Then I need to move onto the creep as I am sure the linkage needs adjustment as when I found out this spring,Dad used a zip tie through the clevis. I have a new pin and will install it as well. The last thing I need to do is disassemble the replacement mower deck and weld a couple holes shut then paint it. I just can't believe how much more difficult these tractors are to work on than my Cub or even the narrow frame one we had. Thanks for the idea of the spindles. I didn't even see the grease fittings as they were gunked up and needed cleaned..:beer2::beer2:


I still like the yellow and white ones better...:biggrin2.gif::biggrin2.gif:

Pat,
BTDT with the spindles on my old 112L, which actually had the same engine as your 165. They're great little engines when they run right, as well as those lawn tractors are great mowers when every thing is right on them. As for what color you still preferred, this is a Cub Cadet site.:biggrin2.gif:

if you wanna talk about simple with a boat load of torque, talk about a Speedex. not to rant on them but my speedex will outpull both my cub cadet 1440 and the 122 with no effort. which is why my brand is Speedex. but Cub is a close second. and im sure if i could ever somehow aquire a John Deere 140H3, then thatd be topping my list as well. haha