The number one reason for the bashing..................UNEDUCATED, on the theory of design and operation. I have a 1450, and it is one my my favorites and a work horse.

 

I think the reason is that they have the Kohler K321AQS engine. Those and the Kohler K341AQS (16hp) engines had balance gears in them that when they got well worn could cause them to break and wreck the engine. A lot of rebuilders left the balance gears out when rebuilding. I did that on my K341 and notice no difference.

 

I'm not sure about the AQS (or at least engines with the Q) Kohlers in the Cub Cadets, but I have a K321AQS sitting in the shop that came out of a John Deere 200 series and it doesn't have them, it's not even set up to have them so it's not like someone removed them at some point. From what I understand some of the later engines didn't get them, but I'm not 100% sure about that. I thought the AQS engines got a different muffler to help quiet them down, but other than that, not sure what else was special.

 

my bro has 1650 had it since almost new been a graet tractor still is fires up every time you turn the key

 

1650

 

Thank you everyone for your input. This is the first time I have heard about those balance gears thank you poncho62. Thanks for your help and supporting this great forum and have a great day!

 

Why did they call it Quietline?

 

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but they were supposed to be quieter due to some of the design features (engine covers, engine mounts, etc...) The reason I thought they had a little bit of a tarnished reputation was the motor mounts would go bad often and the engine would shake like crazy. I used to have a 1650, and it wasn't a bad tractor. I had no real complaints about it.

 

another shot

 

I was told they rubber mounted the motor because it was cheaper then to balance the motor.

 

I never heard anything bad about them at all

 

I never heard anything bad about the at all

Ditto
Only one I have ever heard of that gets a bad reputation in the 1100. Because it's shaft drive to right angle gear box & belt to Peerless transmission and no side Panels and a different Tow Hitch. Cub Cadets 1st Price Point Garden tractor to compete against the Box stores of the Day IE Sears, Wards, Pennies

 

The 1650 is a bucket list tractor for me. I grew up mowing with my Uncle's 1650 and I loved everything about it, every so often someone needed a bush pulled out or a heavy tree limb moved so he'd chain it up and let me have at it. I'm sure he would have wanted to do it, but I'm now the age He was and watching my kids having fun on tractors whether it be mowing or snow removal is almost as much fun. I remember those good times firing up the 16hp having a slight whine from the hydro and using a dash control to move forward and backward rather than a stick shift and stuck in a gear (not bashing those) I liked the smoother look on the sides and the square top hood.

 

My Favorite Cub is My 1970 10HP Gear 106. But I also Love the Mint condition 1976 1450 I have. The Original owner really took care of it. Must have washed and waxed each time he used it. The second owner was just the reseller, He bought it and just sold it to me. The 1450 will never see mowing grass again, at least with Me, bought a Number 2 Tiller recently just can't decide if I'll put it on the 106(has a Creeper Gear) or the 1450(hydraulic lift). I have a Narrow frame Hydraulic lift for the 106 I haven't put on yet. But probably going to replace the Current replacement electric actuator on the 106 now with one of these https://ph.parker.com/us/en/compact-electro-hydraulic-actuator or This Looking for hydraulic cylinders? Consider this option first! to Keep that true Narrow Look

 

This is a subject we can discuss repeatedly and never win because there is just to many people out there (I apologize for this but true) that have a bigger mouth than brain. You can explain to them repeatedly that yes, what they are complaining about may be true but there is a reason for it. Other examples are Series I Kohler KT17 engines in JD317 and the quality of Deere tractors bought from KMart. Their opinion is always right and you will not persuade them otherwise.

Sorry again for being blunt but these people burn my behind.

 

The main complains I hear is the rubber mounts. Also the carrier rails were not sufficiently braced. There is a fix for the carrier. If the mounts are bad replace them. These tractors are 45+ years old. With the side panels and the muffler box they were supposed to be quieter. I have 2 1250’s and love them. I’ve never seen a Kohler AQS engine in a Cub with balance gears.

 

iv got a 1200 cc i traded a lincoln car for , iv had it for years wouldnt take for it

 

The standard transmission ones like the 1200 had their own issues. Because of the rubber mounted engine that moved around the clutch disc has a flexible metal piece on it that tended to break from fatigue. A lot of guys simply went to solid metal mounts and used a standard disc like the 128 used. Actually a lot of guys go to solid steel on the hydros also. Eliminates a lot of driveline wear that happens when owners let the rubber mounts get too worn.

 

i used to own a 149 and 169, not quietline tractors but the forerunner to the quietline and was totally pleased with their durability. (balance gears removed just in case)

i have heard of the rubber isolated engines needing new pads, but there is a MOOG replacement commonly used with stiffer compound that is well known among cub guys.
the quietline machines upgraded to the 1" front spindles, so that was nice. same heavy steel and cast iron construction as the earlier 1x9 machines, imho.

 

The Quietlines had the longest run of any IH Cub series coming out in 1974 and going until 1979 when the 82 series arrived. The 1” spindles started in August of 1978 probably as a lead up to the new model. Quietlines before serial number 632502 had 3/4” spindles.