[Yosemite Sam]

You may get that broken oil pan bolt out clean. Sounds like you already know that these situations are always a crap shoot.

Yes, don't use it until it's fixed.

Quiet Line tractors get a bad rap because the motor mounts wear out after 35 or 40 years and people continue to use them that way compounding the problems.

Try to put a little money aside along the way and plan to do a little work on the 1200, do the cradle modification, maybe replace the oil pan with a cast iron one, replace worn motor mounts and any worn drive line parts. Put it back together the way it was when new and use it for another 40 years. You may end up spending 2 or 3 hundred dollars (depending on how bad things are and if you need your clutch rebuilt and so on). OR you can go spend $2500.00 on a new POS that won't last 10 years.

Facts are facts, if you spend a few dollars at a time on an old piece of equipment, it can work hard for you for years to come. It's still cheaper than buying new every few years.

As for the wife thing... Take her with you to look at new equipment and remind her that it will wear out in a short time and let her do the math. Maybe you can suggest that you buy her a push mower and cut your costs WAY DOWN.

The bottom line is that Old Cubs are by far cheaper than new equipment, but old or new, you still have to maintain them. And messin around with your old Cubs will definitely keep you out of the girly bars!

Good luck on all fronts.