Hey y'all! Been lurking around this site for a couple of months now looking at older Cubs. We have a 2 acre property with gravel drive that always needs patching / moving around. Our friend with an older Mitsu tractor FEL came over and did it for us and I thought "I could use something like that, but maybe smaller". My co worker was selling a 318 from that "other" company, which was a nice machine but the only reason I know this is because he brought it to me three times for repair, mostly electrical. He's decided to sell it after getting a big Husqy and wanted $1500 for it...a bit more than i wanted to give. I already have two mowers
So I starts looking around and see these Cub Cadets. Heavy frames and axles, various options and implements, shaft driven hydro drives etc....y'all know all this. Zeroed in on the 1x9 series, the 1x50 series and the x82 ones. I started cruising the craigslists and ebays. Had a deal scoped out on a 1711 (not in my model selections, but a nice looking one anyways), but it sold in 12 hours (for $150!?!?). Some were pretty local, but many were 4-8 hours away in other states. Like I said, I already have mowers, so i wasn't in a hurry...
Until yesterday. This purty little 1450 comes up on craigslist for $400 with 44" deck and a plow blade and it's an hour and a half away. It's been on for 11 hours already so I hurry and call the guy (after checking with my financier. She said OK ..
. He'll meet me at lunch at his place. Now it's hurry time.
We get there and he's got vehicles all over some nicely kept acres. Had to look around them to see the cub. First thing the guy asks me is "Are you a Cub guy?". I told him "not sure yet, that's why I'm here". It's in very nice shape. Very low rust on the machine or deck, no large leaks, spindles on deck feel good and it has no holes (didn't realize those things are so heavy!). He tries to start it and no crank. Not a big deal for me (I'm a mechanic) but he looks embarrassed. It finally cranks and starts right up. No smoke, but shaking at 8.9 on the richter scale! I take it for a spin and it drives like it should...surprisingly fast too. He says the plow blade is in the log pile up the hill. We go take a look and it's buried a bit in the logs and fencing. He says if you're sure about buying the tractor, i'll dig that out. I told him i think it's safe to dig it out (i was sold when I looked the tractor over anyway). It was his grandfather's machine, picked up from Louisville in 1975 and kept in good shape. Seller said it had a lot of sentimental value and he wanted it to go to someone who would take care of it. I was going to negotiate, but with the deck, blade and condition, i figured i was getting a deal
I've been studying this site quite a bit so I have a good starting point (damn ISO mounts! That thing is shaking something fierce. Got a welder, so the cradle mod is first). I'm sure I'll be back with questions on details for some things. Thought I was going to have to post a "How do you get the damn deck on" thread, but I got it on and she's already eaten some grass! (fairly good cut too). Probably the first in a while.
Sorry for the long intro, but I'm pretty sure that every Cub on this site has a story. This is just the beginning of mine...
(I know, i know...."pics or it didn't happen")
Left
Rear
Right
Dash
Deck under
Deck top
Front
Deck and blade