Cub Cadet Info 109 and 149

New to Cub Cadets and would like some information. A friend has a nice original 109 for sale that has been sitting inside for several years. It has manual lift and no lights. I found a 149 with hydraulic lift and lights but in not as nice condition. Can the hydraulic lift assembly and lights from the 149 be installed on the 109 without any major surgery? Is it possible to upgrade the engine from 10hp to 14hp again without any major work? What research I did, the 109 and 149 are basically the same except for the engine.

Thanks for any information.

YES a CC 109 and 149 are what is called Wide Frame tractors, the front frame flares out so the larger diameter flywheel and blower housing will fit. So the engine swap should be simple.
Installing the hydraulics is not as simple, there were two styles of hydrostatic transmissions, a Ported style and an Unported style. The difference is the ports to run on-board hyd lift are already drilled & tapped on the ported style, and NOT drilled & tapped on the unported style. The hydro pump of both styles is interchangeable onto the front of the transmission.
The lights are just a simple screwdriver removal from one tractor and install on the other, the hole in the dash may already be there.
If it was Me, I'd buy BOTH tractors. If you have room. I had a well used 129 for 15 years, no hydraulics but was a great mowing tractor, well matched to a 44 inch deck, prior owner made many modifications to keep it running as it was his only mower for his lawn care company, it had to run or else! I put a 10 hp engine I rebuilt into my narrow frame gear drive #72 about 1985, compared to the 8 hp engine in that tractor the 10 hp was a huge improvement, handled the 38 inch mower well, even ran a 36 inch snow blower.
About the year 2002 I bought a used 14 hp Kohler and rebuilt it into a Killer Kohler like Dave Kirk described on his website KIRK ENGINES years ago. I had Dave install a set of his balance plates and did some other stuff, and the 14 hp engine performs great. I can wade into foot high grass and weeds and mow till the mule drive belt slips enough to over-heat and fail, the engine won't lug down. I've taken my 72 to quite a few Cub Cadet plow days, and the 14 hp engine never breaks a sweat.

Thank you for the prompt reply and the information. The 109 parts manual shows the hydraulic lift as an option. Do you think the correct ports are there for connection? Can you tell me (or take a picture) what to look for on the 109? Are the holes, etc. already drilled for mounting the valve and controls?

My intention is to buy both but upgrade the 109 and keep the 149 as a spare. Any market for used mower decks, etc.?

Thanks again!

I have a 108 , wide frame, stick shift, 10hp. A number of years ago the engine needed an overhaul. The factory rep happened to be at the local IH dealer and said to replace it with a new 12hp. That not a whole lot more money at that time, plus get new carbueration too. I asked at the time if a 14hp would fit. No. Would have to cut frame.
10hp was too small for a 48in deck. 12hp was much better. Guess that makes this model now a 128

Im surprised that a 109 is a stick shift. 108, 128,.were stick. 109, 129, (I have one), 149 all hydros.

I didn't say the 109 is a stick shift. The models that end in 9 are hydro (8 are stick).

Thanks for the heads up.

(reply to post at 09:01:45 10/24/22)

Click to expand...

ttps://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4675[/url]

Thank you for the link. Definitely helps identify ports.

Yes, the hyd lift was an option, the included parts were the hyd valve and mounting brackets and tubes, the ported part of the hydro pump that is actually the charge pump for the hydrostatic drive, a small gear pump is located right behind the input shaft into the hydrostatic unit. The hydrostatic drive uses piston pump and piston motor to transmit drive power. The charge pump only makes a few hundred PSI, there is a pressure regulator, a stiffer spring can be installed, increase the hydraulic psi. It's a pretty reliable drive system, the drive for the pump gears is via a solid small pin, they have been known to break the drive pins, the front cover of the hydro must be removed. Clean the hydro unit itself before working on it, needs to be kept clean. The service manual should be available to give you more information on disassembly & assembly.
There's several guys over at IH Cub Cadet dot Com that have done what you want to do. That's IH Cub Cadet.com You have to join before you can post. They have a search function that everybody complains about, I'd try searching for Ported Hydro and study up on that.

Today I uncovered the tractor. Not as nice as I expected from the owner's description. Some repaint, stale gas (varnish smell) inside the tank, battery corroded, tires low on air, and overall not impressed enough to keep it. I did remove the battery so it does no more harm to the tractor (bottom rusty). It does not have the ported hydro so not able to convert from manual to hydraulic lift. BTW it has been sitting for 15+ years. I never did see the mower deck, tiller, nor front blade. Another trip another day. The owner (a good friend) is in a rehab center and I hate so say likely will never be able to work on the tractor nor other items in his possession. I will likely buy the tractor and attachments and peddle it.