[wj-ihc]

Over the past two weekends I have picked up what I think are a couple pretty nice original condition Cub Cadets. Neither one has any major changes or modifications, and both have been garage kept.

The 147 was purchased at an auction last weekend. The estate owner was my great aunt/uncle. My great aunt purchased the 147 new at Hoffman's IH Truck and Tractor dealership in Clay City, IN, which is were I grew up. They still had the original owners manual, with handwritten notes from the day it was bought, the original sales ticket with a plastic IH "credit card". My dad used to have to mow there big yard with the 147 when he was a kid. The original engine was replaced in 1992 with a new engine, all paper work for the engine was included. The electric lift has been removed, but I was able to buy it in one of the small lots of kohler/cadet parts that were sold (along with a complete 12hp engine, a 7hp block, and an oringinal oil bath cleaner for hardly nothing ). I discussed the tractor with my uncle before it was up, so I knew exactly was I was bidding on. The engine runs good and strong, but he warned me that when it warms up it will start to tick/rattle slightly, and that he believes the balance gears are getting loose and he advised that I not run it much until I addressed this. I have noticed this noise and I plan on pulling the engine for a good inspection and balance gear removal. I was able to drive it onto the trailer though.

The 105 has a similiar story as it was bought new in 1970 from Hoffman's IH in Clay City, IN. The original owner had it for two years in Poland, IN, before the current owner bought it in 1972. He used mowed with it for the next 30 years or so, rebuilding the engine 2-3 times. He kept very good care of it and it was always garage kept. He parked it ten years or so ago because it was getting weak, and he bought a 1641 I believe, and never used the 105 again. The deck has a few pinholes, and the seat is out of a Batam crane, but other than that it is in great shape. Lights work (tail light included), no dents/rust, fiberglass is good, and it has a complete set of decent hubcaps (fronts removed to put a set of better fron tires on as the old ones were blown). We had the 105 running last night and drove it around the yard.