How Good are Older Cub Cadets?

[welder1]

I have 2 of the older CC's. My first was a 1962 original, still have it but it hasn't ran in a few years. My weekly grass cutter is a 1981 red 582 that I purchased from a church that used it to mow 4 acres of lawn for 20years!! It had been replaced by some sort of zero turn mower and was sitting in the church's basement with a thick layer of crud on it and it hadn't been ran for 3-4 years. I took it home and charged(yes, charged) the battery and put fresh gas in it and it started up without much trouble. I have since replaced all of the deck spindles and did a paint restoration and replaced some odds and ends on it. The engine is the original B&S 16hp horizontally opposed twin. I don't know how many hours it has on it. I think the gage is probably on the 2nd or 3rd time around. It still cuts great and I wouldn't trade it for any of the throw-aways you can buy at the box stores. These mowers were built to last. I have the receipts from the original purchase of the mower and deck. You bought them separately then. This mower costs $3600 in 1981! You get what you pay for. Still going strong 29 years later.

 

[cub99]

Have a 1863GT that was purchased new in 1994 for the total of $5649 with the 48" deck, 42" blade and adapters included. Has the original Kohler Command 18hp engine with 1400hrs and still going strong. Kept up on the maintenance and haven't had any surprises. Downside on this model and similar ones of the era is the plastic pieces on the front. Is this considered an newer older model? Or a older new model? Gets used hard every week mowing 2.5 acres and just as hard, if not harder, in the winter keeping my driveway clean. Hope no one automatically dismisses these models just because they are newer than the "classic" cubs.

 

[highboy1975]

i would call that one a newer older one. its still the ih wide frame. as far as im concerned, the ones that are totally mtd are garbage. my dads 125 is over 40 years old and it starts every time and runs good and strong. most of the first 2000 and 3000 series are ready for the bone yard.

 

[Keith Outten]

I own a 1964 model 71 IH Cub Cadet. We cut grass with it for over twenty three years, it was retired about fifteen years ago when i bought a Dixie Chopper. The Cadet is still used to pull trailers and other chores.

The orginal Kohler 7hp engine was replaced with an 8hp short block in 1979. The cast iron tranny and front axle will never wear out. I have a four foot rear blade for the Cadet and the orginal mower deck is stored in my barn.
.

 

[GTSRider]

My 1970 147 has over 4,000 hrs on it and engine never touched, although tranny was rebuilt once.
Tractor is still in service.
I am original owner.
Pete

 

[highboy1975]

wow, thats unreal. i have a guy lives near me with a 1782 whos kubota engine didnt last longer than the tranny.

 

[coveredbridge]

I own a 1964 model 71 IH Cub Cadet. We cut grass with it for over twenty three years, it was retired about fifteen years ago when i bought a Dixie Chopper. The Cadet is still used to pull trailers and other chores.

The orginal Kohler 7hp engine was replaced with an 8hp short block in 1979. The cast iron tranny and front axle will never wear out. I have a four foot rear blade for the Cadet and the orginal mower deck is stored in my barn.
.

How do you attach that rear blade?

 

[Keith Outten]

The rear blade came from an old Craftsman tractor. I welded the mounting plate to a 2" square tube which fits the receiver on the back of the Cadet. The blade operates by manaually pulling on a handle to raise and lower.
.