Ever wanted to set your Cub on fire?

[Sam Mac]

Glad you got it running. I second what Mike said about the electrical connections on the Cyclops. I've gotten to the point with them that I pretty much just plan on replacing the ignition switch and at the minimum the connectors that connect to the switch. For stuff that will only be used by me I just toss the factory harness and make my own. Keep in mind these machines are now 20+ years old so the warranty has expired.

[Shotgun Wedding]

Originally Posted by ol'George

The Horror stories I hear about new ones, no thank you!! I'll take an old Cub or John Deere any day.
If you take care of the things that can, and will go wrong before they do, they are pretty much trouble free.
Don't sweat the small stuff, life is way too short!!

That all depends on who you talk to and if they were smart enough to lay down the equivalent cash as your pappy's and grandpappy's did back in the 60's and 70's.

I have a new GTX now 2 years old, threw down what many here would consider a lot of money and have a very capable machine with an electric sleeve hitch that pulls implements as well as any of the old stuff, plus.....its trouble free. Just sayin'

[IROC-Z28]

Older equipment can be very frustrating. They can be time consuming and unreliable. But if you buy the right one, and fight through the bugs, eventually you will have a reliable well built machine. Keep it up!!

[Grand Pops 1810]

I've been there. This spring the PTO side crank seal on my 1810 was gushing oil. I eventually got the right seal ordered and installed, then the same weekend the ignition switch quit and then the deck belt broke. It is mowing well now for the last 2 weeks, fingers crossed.

I also have a '70s Brand X tractor that is supposed to be backup, but it is down now with a bad coil. It is in the process of going back together, but there's a bunch of competing irons in the fire.

Very frustrating, I agree, to have grass growing quickly and to be waiting for parts... But I won't complain on OCC anymore about an old tractor!

[j4c11]

Been there myself, had some frustrating times when nothing was working right and I didn't want to even look at the tractors. Coil, head gaskets, carburetor, tie rod joints, seemed like as I soon as I fixed one thing something else came up. It's happening less and less because everything is getting fixed a little bit at a time, but I am starting to understand that if you want a machine without issues you have to take the whole thing apart piece by piece, replace all the worn parts, rebuild everything that needs rebuilding and put it back together. Otherwise there will always be another part with 30 years of wear that will go out in 6 months or 1 year. Even so, I'd still take an old tractor over then ones MTD is putting out today, because even if you have to drop $1,400 on a brand new engine, you're still in for less than what a new one would cost, and it will retain value much better than the new ones.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by BassBlaster

But your a small engine mechanic. Im an equipment operator. I can typically figure out how to operate about any piece of equipment in about 10 minutes.

No, I'm a big equipment mechanic, and I work on small engines for fun. Been an operator for years too. Farm, oilfield, industrial... I've had a class A CDL since I was 19. Ran backhoe's, trackhoes, dozers, tractors, combines, sprayers, oilfield rigs, trucks, mixers, crane's...... and fixed all of them too. Lawn mowers = simple machines. Frustrating.... YES.

[john hall]

Glad you got it fixed. Electrical is one of the hardest to find problems. I don't care how well cared for the machine is, they can develop some weird problems. You mentioned a switch, I've seen more than one lose connection where the terminals are riveted on. I've actually cleaned them with a dremel and soldered the rivet to the terminal to get going. If you suspect the switch, do yourself a favor and get one on order.

As for getting frustrated to the point you no longer care about the machine, been there. I was so ticked at a hay baler one night I swore I was going to cut it up for scrap with the torch. I'd poured a bunch of time and money in the knotter and it still would not consistently tie correctly. I eventually let my stubborn side take over and refused to accept defeat. It still isn't perfect, but it has baled a few thousand bales since. Hopefully I can one day get all the bugs out of it.

[Workinprogress]

It will get better! It just takes a little time to get the bugs worked out. My 1711 was the same way. Lots of little issues in the beginning ranging from bad fuse holder to loose bolts to stuck valve. Now it starts and runs great. You are dealing with years of use and often little proper care by the PO.

Hang in there!

[BassBlaster]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys! I will say, I absolutely love this tractor when its running properly. I enjoy mowing with it and mowing is one of those jobs I just never look forward to. Up until this latest issue, my lawn was looking better than ever because I was mowing more than I needed too just to be on my little tractor. I realize that at some point, there wont be any old parts left to go bad and she will be a fine machine for many years. Just got to get to that point I guess.

Jmech, thats what I get for assuming!

[ol'George]

Every time you work on something you learn things, life is like that.
As a kid my dad would pick up things that sat out @ the curb for trash pick up.
He would say "here you go son, take it apart and learn what makes it tick" or figure out why or what is broke.
Best dam toys a kid could have!
If I couldn't get it apart, of figger out something, we would work on it together.
When we were all done, it went on the scrap iron pile, to be sold for
"fun money"
That inspired me to go on to trade school/apprenticeship, and make a good/rewarding life long living.
Now i'm not saying that is for everyone but it sure "scratched my itch"