[gcbailey]

I've been reading all these post and everything and I've got thinking that I would really love to have an older cub (IH Cub). My wife will probably kill me considering I just got my GT2544. I don't see this happening in the immediate future, but maybe before fall.

Can someone(s) enlighten me. I've read some stuff on the older ones 100 series and such, but what can I get a good tractor for and what is a reasonable price to find one that's in decent to good shape. Would $500 get me something dependable?

I know this is very vague, but what does everyone consider to be an all around capable machine for constant "fiddle" around with. How much horsepower do I actually need (pull a cart, snow blade). What features should I look for? Is shaft drive standard on all IH cubs? Does anyone know a good used dealer who ships? I don't have a trailer so I would have to have freight...

Lots of questions I know....

 

[tcanthonyii]

My 70 was free and is reliable but its sort of a family heirloom. For example http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1257438483.html or http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1239555812.html or http://omaha.craigslist.org/grd/1236217137.html.

So I guess yes $500 should get you a dependable machine. Don't think it won't have some problems along the way though. Most things are fairly simple and cheap to fix so long as you have the know how.

My 70 has a 7hp Kohler and it will run the deck just fine. It will plow darn near anything if I just got more weight on the back. My blade/plow was $30. In 2 years all that I've replaced is 1 tube, 1 tire, key switch oil and a clutch spring. I don't mow with really ever. The front assembly is bent and the belt falls off but I did mow with it a couple of times just to say I did! It sat outside for 4 years untouched before I got it.

Sorry for the long winded answer. So short answer is yes 500 should get you a dependable CC (initial purchase) and you only need the 7hp.

T.C.

 

[JMoe]

$500 will easily get you an oldie to fiddle with. That's exactly what I did a few weeks ago when I picked up my 1979 model year Case 220. I wouldn't just limit yourself to Cub. Keep checking Craigslist for your area.

Joel

 

[gcbailey]

Craigslist in my area is nonexistent, the closet "metro" listing is for Charleston, WV 2 hours away. In VA there are listings for Blacksburg (VT), which is about an hour away, but anything I've saw in the past couple of weeks are late 90's earler 2000's models. Guess that's what living in po-dank WV will get you.

I'm not totally ruling everything else out, just heavily leaning toward an IH Cub, just don't have a particular model. I've heard people talking about certain features, but I don't know what they go with or if they were available as std feature on several models; wheel brakes for example. And what is a creeper gear?

 

[Cub Cadet Head]

If you buy an old Cub Cadet you will be sorry!!!

These things multiply like Rabbits!

You buy your first one, spend a few hundred dollars restoring it, fall in love with it... the first thing you know you have 10 of them. Then you want to take them to shows and Plow days events to show them off. So now you need a motor home and trailer to stay at these show and events for the weekend. Meanwhile back at home you will need a new pole barn to keep/work on them in. First thing you know that Old Cub Cadet has cost you several hundred thousand dollars... Then you start having marriage problems because "she" says you love your tractors more than you do her... Then you have two choices... You can get a divorce and have to buy half of all that stuff again... Or you can give one of your Cub Cadets to your wife and then she will be hooked... So you have to get at least ten more Cub Cadets to help keep her happy. Now your pole barn isn't big enough and you don't have enough room to build a bigger one so you have to buy a place with more ground, for the bigger pole barn... another $350000.00 then you get jealous because one of her Cub's is better than yours... So now it's a competition... I just don't know if it's all worth it.

When you get your first one restored, you will find that it will outlast your GT2544 by about 35 years, so you can sell the GT2544 right away and recoup the money that you spent on your first IH built Cub Cadet.

Start out with an Original, a 70 or a 100. Price depends on goodies, (options and/or attachments) condition and your location. To get an idea of what these machines are going for, watch epay and craigslist.

You can also go here to find out what series tractor you like the looks of best. http://www.geocities.com/jluckeycub

The 482 and 1100 are the only two IH built Cub Cadets that do not have shaft drive (most people call these lawn mowers and not garden tractors).

Check out some of the other Cub Cadet sights.

http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=9

http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2

There are several others but I like these best.

As far as durability goes they are all about the same... Toughest garden tractors ever made!

Don't be confused by the HP rating on the old IH built Cub Cadets a 7 hp Kohler "K" series engine will do a lot more than any of today’s 12-18 hp engines. On the older IH built Cub Cadets, the more HP, the more you can do, but there are a lot of guys out there pulling plows with 7hp Cub Cadets and probably just as many pushing blades with them too, some 7hp Cub Cadets even have front end loaders on them.

Not so sure about finding someone to ship it to you, delivery is possible but pretty spendy... Probably can buy a small trailer cheaper than you can have one delivered, but go ahead and buy a big trailer... You're gonna need it anyway!!!

 

[gcbailey]

Thanks.... that's a lot of reading there.

I've wondered if 1 HP is really 1 HP when it comes to older equipment. Are some more readily available for parts when it comes to it? This is something I plan on using and I do expect some things to pop along the way, but I don't want to get something that only a guy in Alaska has the last two parts and he's not willing to ship....

 

[Cub Cadet Head]

Hydraulic parts, headlights, creeper gears and round fenders are about the only parts that are harder to find... Maybe not so much harder to find as most expensive.

Most parts that you will need, to keep one running and driving are easy enough to find no matter what model you have.

 

[Tmo]

Check out these cub only classified sites:

http://ihregistry.com/forum/messages/74/74.html?1246992354

http://www.ihcubcadet.com/forum/messages/5/26.html?1246976819

Also check out those sites for very good information on Cub Cadets:

http://www.ihcubcadet.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.pl

http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

And:http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/info/discus.cgi

I think you should be able to find a good, older IH Cub Cadet for around $500, if you're patient and don't jump on the first one you find.

 

[tcanthonyii]

I can get just about anything I need at the local IH dealership. They even had my little clutch spring in stock! There are a lot of the 70's 100's our there and almost all the parts on the two interchange and aren't that expensive. Hydraulics on these are very rare but can be found ebay but for a cost.

The creeper gear does exactly tha t. Makes the tractor creep. Good for tilling etc.

You will for sure want a sleeve hitch and a front blade. 2 very useful items. The sleeve hitch will allow a tiller, rear blade, box blade, rock rake etc. Check out http://ihregistry.com/ There is a ton of info and manuals there. Shows all of the original attachments etc. There are still tons of companies out there making sleeve hitch attachments to this day.

I'm partial to the 70 obviously but would love to get a wide frame hydro some day. That will probably end up being my loader cub some day.


T.C.

 

[tcanthonyii]

Treed -- you were posting as I was typing and re-reading the thread. Beet me to the IHregistry site.

Great advise on the "don't jump on the first one"

Was also wondering if you had a friend with a trailer or pickup? Around here we call that an adventure or stupid trip depending on you look at it. Always better than a real vacation.

T.C.

 

[gcbailey]

I just found this on ebay, close to my house. Is it a 100? Would it be worth fixing up to use for light pushing, car hauling.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/cub-cadet-cub-cadet-original-international-harvester_W0QQitemZ200361770133QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea67dfc95&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

[Bolens 1000]

Check out these cub only classified sites:

http://ihregistry.com/forum/messages/74/74.html?1246992354

http://www.ihcubcadet.com/forum/messages/5/26.html?1246976819

Also check out those sites for very good information on Cub Cadets:

http://www.ihcubcadet.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.pl

http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi

And:http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/info/discus.cgi

I think you should be able to find a good, older IH Cub Cadet for around $500, if you're patient and don't jump on the first one you find.

I love your avatar, I love the red green show!:thThumbsU

 

[tcanthonyii]

That's in almost the same condition as mine. I would do what you need it to do. I would suggest weights and chains but that's pretty simple.

Go for it! Also see if you can go over and check it out if it's close.


T.C.

 

[SCCC]

That is an Original. It doesn't have a model number. They where made from '61 to 63, and are usually the most collectible models. The only weakness is where the frame bolts on to the transaxle- look closely for cracks or repairs there. They are also belt drive, rather than having a shaft go directly from the clutch to the transaxle which started with the 70 and 100 models.

 

[gcbailey]

I just got a reply back from the guy, he said it's a 7HP Kohler, is that enough for some pulling, or just mowing? I'm 200 lbs, and live on a hill, so is that enough HP to pull a cart around too?

 

[tcanthonyii]

Sure is enough. My 70 is a 7hp Kohler and it is almost unstoppable. Well except for stumps with the front blade!! If you are looking to have a blade on it, good luck finding one. They were only made for those years. Not sure if you can put a newer style on it though. I accidentally bought one at an auction for $30 to put on my 70. Ended up trading it for a correct one to a cub collector out of Iowa. Still saved money on it.


T.C.

 

[gcbailey]

Does anyone know of a site or something that has a list of what features were avaliable on older cubs, such as hydraulics, gear, hydro...

I found one site on geocities that has most models with a few pics and gives horsepower and brake type, but nothing more. I guess I'm looking for spec sheets to narrow down what I want.

 

[tcanthonyii]

http://ihregistry.com/
http://www.geocities.com/jluckeycub/
http://ihregistry.com/cgi-bin/info/discus.cgi

Good info. I think you already have seen the Geocities page but put it in since I have it bookmaked and others may not have seen it before.

T.C.

 

[gcbailey]

That ihregistry site has some good stuff, thanks!!

 

[gcbailey]

$5.00 I lost my bid on that original by $5.00. Sheesh....