I own a 1200, great tractor.
The
MAJOR issue to be concerned about with a 1200 is this:
Being of the Quietlline series, the engine is mounted on rubber mounts to reduce vibration and noise.
With age, the rubber deteriorates and collapses. As that happens it allows the engine to shift and move around a lot more than it is supposed to.
With all that excess movement, the drive line and clutch pays the price and eventually gets destroyed.
Nothing in this scenario is cheap, not the rubber mounts, and especially not the 3 pin driver in the clutch system.
You can usually get an idea of the mount's condition by just opening the hood, grab hold of the engine (not running of course), do your best Hulk Hogan, and try to rock it all over the place.
If the rest of the tractor doesn't rock with the engine or you hear clicking or metal banging, your rubber mounts are is shot.
Some people, such as I, have replaced the rubber mounts with solid steel mounts and the Quietline's flex 3 pin driver with the old style solid driver, and are happy,
Other's think that the solid stuff vibrates their fanny too much and choose to stay with rubber. Your money, your choice.
Another thing you'll want to do is called the "cradle mod", which is a steel bar welded across the two engine mounting rails. Read about it here....
https://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/...ead.php?t=4630
and here...
http://cubfaq.com/isomount.html
One other weak spot is the cast aluminum piece of the muffler box tends to crack because the muffler is bolted to it.
You will want to make a brace like this to support the muffler...