Would you recommend fixing my old 129 or buying a new one?

[Flatbedford]

Originally Posted by three4rd

Flatbedford,

Thanks for the warning. I don't know what to expect until I see what they find when they open it up. I'm curious as to why you say it might be unrepairable? Even if the valves are out of whack, can't that be fixed also? Thanks for the offer of the new spring! I might take you up on that depending on what the problem is. I don't give up very easily on either my old 129 tractor or my '95 Buick Riviera (I could write a book on that one...way too long a story for this forum!)

Thanks. I'll hope for the best.
Keith

I was joking. Anything is repairable and this may be an easy fix. It sounds like your mechanic may not be very familiar with 40 year old Kohler engines.

[three4rd]

Flatbedford,

LOL....I was wondering about whether or not you were joking...but then, since I've been worried enough as it is over my car and tractor problems of late, I took it that you were being serious. Glad to hear you weren't. I do think that my mechanic knows these machines very well - his dad had the business before him and he definitely was around these machines his whole life. It's just that right now he's just too busy with other things to handle a bigger job like this could turn into. We'll see.

Thanks.
Keith

[rweaver]

when I see that the new cubs don't use nuts and bolts anymore just self tapping screws how do they expect them to hold up like a 129 they don't want them to and you have to pay money for them they should be free

[johncub7172]

Mike, I never knocked the Cyclops. Lets get that straight. All I stated is what I thought about the age difference between the Originals up through 1981. Reasonable preventive maintenance is key in the longevity of any tractor. Like I said, your full of beans, so stuff that in your pipe and smoke it! The 1990 MTD White lt 14 I have has not missed a beat, for all that is worth,.....and

Heck, my gear drive 100 had been going strong since 1965, and that's no Not to mention having the best CAST IRON rear end ever in a garden tractor, no aluminum crap.

Seems like you guys are good at finding fault in other tractors, but what you have is king sh%t!

I don't know what you expect to be doing with a narrow frame today, except replacing parts. Then your good to go!

[Yosemite Sam]

I'm not going to get into the Cyclops/IH built tractor debate primarily because the original poster was asking about the difference between a 129 and a NEW grass cutter.

I feel quite confident that if you spend 6,7,8K on a new Cub Cadet you will be very happy with it and it will give you years and years of faithful service.

However if you are thinking of spending $2500.00 or less on a new grass cutting machine you will get just that (a grass cutting machine that will last you for a few years) and then you can throw it away (where ever away is) and go buy another and start the cycle again.

OR you can take $2000.00 or less and restore your 129 to better than factory new, and use it for the next 40+ years, then your kids and grand-kids can argue over who gets Dad's antique garden tractor.

To me, this is a no brainer.

[sawdustdad]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

I'm not going to get into the Cyclops/IH built tractor debate primarilly because the original poster was asking about the difference between a 129 and a NEW grass cutter.

I feel quite confeident that if you spend 6,7,8K on a new Cub Cadet you will be very happy with it and it will give you years and years of faithful service.

However if you are thinking of spending $2500.00 or less on a new grass cutting machine you will get just that (a grass cutting machine that will last you for a few years) and then you can throw it away (where ever away is) and go buy another and start the cycle again.

OR you can take $2000.00 or less and restore your 129 to better than factory new, and use it for the next 40+ years, then your kids and grandkids can argue over who gets Dad's antique garden tractor.

To me, this is a no brainer.

Truer words have seldom been spoken. I have never purchased a "new" lawn tractor/riding mower. Have had the same Cub 108 for over 35 years. My neighbors are on their fourth or fifth lawn mower. I've still got the Cub. When my neighbor needed to borrow my 108 to finish cutting his lawn because his Craftsman mower had broken a deck mount, he commented on how nice it handled, operated and cut. And that was before I restored it this past winter. It's good as new now, and will last longer than me.

[ACecil]

Guys, it's time to get this thread back on topic!

[fpatd]

Old iron vs. new tin@ al. Old iron has proven it self time & time again!! As with many things they don't make them to last or work like they did in the past . If you want work horse , don't buy a kitten, repair , restore your old cub you will be happier .

[mortten]

Back to topic...I was having ACR problems on a K301 and it was a simply the spring came loose. Hooked the spring back up and all was well.

[Flatbedford]

Originally Posted by mortten

Back to topic...I was having ACR problems on a K301 and it was a simply the spring came loose. Hooked the spring back up and all was well.

That's why I'm thinking the OP's mechanic isn't that knowledgeable with these old Kohlers. He's saying that he may need all kinds of parts that may not even be available before he even gets into it. There are a few easy fixes that require no new parts or an engine tear down, yet he hasn't told the OP about them, and we all know that just about any Kohler part is available.