The story of your first Cub

[young enthusiest]

I bought my 1200 used in Oct of 2008, for $50. It did not run. I tore it all apart, painted it with tremclad, bought $500 worth of small parts, and have started the reassembly part. The PO killed the steering. my only option is a new steering shaft, box, bearings, and wheel. I am going to be dropping in a k341, with some minor mods. It will not have that stupid quietline muffler, instead, a stack will come up about three feet. I have ordered a pointless ignition system, as well as a 40000 volt coil. full gasket set, maybe rings, and a tune up and it should be done. I have a sleeve hitch for it, a hitch adapter is on the way. I have a QA42A, model 2 tiller, 44 inch deck, plow, and cultivator. I am planning on restoring all the attachments too. If you look at the pics, and see all the mistakes, please keep in mind, this is my first job, and I'm only 14!











No, the sleeve hitch did not get painted. it will get done next time time is available lol.


Please add your pics and stories.

[T-Mo]

Looks good to me. Is that a rattle can paint job?

[young enthusiest]

Originally Posted by T-Mo

Looks good to me. Is that a rattle can paint job?

I'm shamed to admit. yes it is. In the sun the yellow looks kinda close, the white is too bright. but you have to admit, it does not look toooooooooooo bad

[ACecil]

Your tractor doesn't look bad at all Tyler.

[Eagle Keeper]

Well it all stared back in 1986. I had just returned from Saudi Arabia . I took a Job with Flying Tigers in Columbus Ohio and bought a house. I needed a garden tractor and started hitting the local auctions. That's when I found it. A 169 with a 44" deck. For 250 bucks I was in business . Restored the whole thing. 4 yrs later I was and the neighbor boy was mowing for me. My wife called and told me the engine blew up. I asked her why she thought it had blown. She replied that metal parts had come out of the engine and melted my Sons plastic pool. So I get home, turn the key and it starts right up. But there is oil everywhere. Those dang counterbalances had let loose and blew a hole in the block. Got a used block. Rebuilt everything new. Moved to Lakeville NY. I had the tractor for over 8 yrs by then. I had plowed all the gardens with it. Plowed the driveways . Put in my lawn, Drug logs,ect.ect... I mentions to the neighbor one day that maybe the old girl should be put into semi-retirement. Well a week later he shows up with a friend . Hey he wants to buy your Cub. I'm thinking,,I don't want to sell it. So I make up [what I thought] was a high price. $1200.00. He looks at me and says, I'll take it. And that started the Journey. I have been restoring Cubs for over 20 yrs now. One ended up in a museum and one went to Russia. Here is a photo of my 982 . I just picked up a 100, 127 and a 169 in the last week.

[ACecil]

Nice 982 Eagle Keeper! And welcome to Only Cub Cadets!

[young enthusiest]

WOW! now that is a thing of beauty!

[magrigg]

After gardening for the past two years using an old Roper T20 garden tractor, I ran across an older gentleman that had recently purchased a 1975 IH 1650 to mow his yard with. He had a small yard in the city and the tractor was a little too big for his needs. I had a White Outdoor mower about 3 years old, that I could only use to mow or pull a cart. The Roper had all of the equipment, but the hitch motor was out, so I replaced it with a Hydraulic jack. At the end of each row, I would have to reach behind and jack the plow up. What a hassle. Anyway, I traded the White mower for the Cub Cadet and a couple of hundred extra. What a trade. The Cub had been setting up for a while, and was smoking when it started. I kept using Muscle Products in the engine, and now it runs great. I modified the hitch so I could attach category 0 equipment to it. It was like going from a VW to a Caddy.

[Sdoe]

I am now the proud owner of a IH Cub Cadet 106. First some background, I have a small John Deere riding mower that was given to me because of years of frustration and service calls to John Deere with an intermittent starting problem (it was the neutral interlock switch) but it is currently down due to a frozen idler bearing. I also have a Sears riding mower that was given to me that runs but the deck is shot (death by rust) I also have a Toro hi-wheel self propelled push mower with a VERY POORLY DESIGNED PROPULSION SYSTEM. I bought the Toro new 4 years ago and self propelled system has turned into front wheels ONLY turn in the aforward direction n lock solid if you drag it backwards. So last Saturday my neighbor (whom I am not on speaking terms) has my new 106 in his yard with a cardboard sign with the word FREE. No front grill on it and the seat was sitting on it where it belongs but upside down.

Now I already have too much crap. I am no shit on probation for 2 years for "littering" in my own yard complete with a 60 day jail sentence, suspended pending successfully completing my probation. What it means is anytime the city I live in does not like my yard they can and I am sure they would throw me in the county jail.

Fortunately for me I could not resist. I am busy as hell but I went over knocked on the door (they did not answer) Then pushed my new Cub into my driveway, behind my truck that needs the carbs rebuilt, and hoped that my neighbors would not complain to the city (again). I have finals this week it's my 20th wedding anniversary I have two teenagers both good kids but in that crazy puberty time and my wife is disabled. I am just spread way to thin for all that I have to do.too busy I finally got a chance to look at the Cub yesterday so after pulling the battery out of the John Deere, charging it and putting it in the cub the cub turned over nicely but did not start. Checked for spark and it arced nicely so I checked the gas tank, empty. Poured in some gas and cranked the engine some more. Nothing. Closed and re-opened fuel cutoff valve, cranked, noticed no fuel going into bowl so I thought clogged fuel line but after pulling the fuel line and bowl and bowl holder/valve assembly from the fuel tank I realized that I just had not put enough gas in the tank to get over the top of the fitting in the tank. So after reasembeling the fuel path and a shot of starting spray she fired right up! So I precariously balanced on the seat put her in gear and did three or four laps cutting grass around the front yard!

Apparently my neighbors decided to get rid of it because the seat bottom had pulled off. It had the key in it and it even has the three point hitch assembly. The deck is rusted through in one spot but appears to be in great shape. The blades are not rusty or rusted on and are even sharp! it's like my idiot neighbors got rid of a Rolls Royce because of a flat to buy a new Pinto

I love well designed/built equipment what a great little tractor! after my four laps it started running rough and smoking so I need to figure that out but heck even if I need to rebuild the engine it's money well spent! If I went sane and totally restored it I would spend less than any new MTD ride on would cost and would have a ten times better tractor. It's a pleasure to find people that still understand what quality and value mean. Thank you all for contributing your knowledge and wisdom. To the administrator thank you for providing the forum to keep these wonderful machines supported and running, I know it costs and can be a task.

Scottie

P.S. Pictures and lots of questions to follow.

[CBH]

Congrats to you and your new/old Cub Cadet! You'll really come to appreciate it even more once you have it a while. They're great little machines and they're also addictive!
I wouldn't be thinking about a rebuild until after I had changed the oil, spark plug, points and air filter. Then ad some Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas and oil to help clean and free things up. You may be surprised at the results.