My little tractor (well, it is to me)

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

My husband tore down our 102 Cub Cadet recently for an overhaul. We have had it for more years than I can remember and it has always worked well.

Torn down and waiting for parts to come back. We took it to a machinist to bore it out... but bored to the max. So it got a new sleeve and piston. We also took the starter/generator in and had it gone through, and got a new regulator. My husband put it all back together and he also rebuilt the clutch. Cost a pretty penny...but we plan on keeping it. We would also like to pick up a similar one with hydrostat...they are much nicer for mowing around trees and stuff.

She is looking like this again... and sitting in the shed waiting for me to get her out and mow. It is the only "tractor" that I can start, gas, oil and run by myself. Can't wait to use it this spring - should run great!

bobs old iron · Jan 7, 2013

took it to be bored out, sounds like he is going to use it in lawn tractors races, with that souped up motor,,,lol

Old Timer in Ohio · Jan 7, 2013

Back in 1965 I bought a 1963 cub. My neighbor got
jealuos, went out and bought a"brand new Grants
riding mower. Over about 6 or 8 years, he went
through 3 or 4 Grants mowers, while I just kept on
mowing with my "63" Cub!!
Bob
God Bless

Hay_Man · Jan 7, 2013

I had one like that. The motor finally was smoking so bad, I couldn't see where I was goin' when I was trying to mow. I took it to a small engine/lawn mower repair shop. They really ripped me a new one when it was ready to go. Something like $1200.00 on the engine. Single cylinder, $1200.00..??? So I left it there. They just stole it from me. That was back about 1980 or so. I really liked that little tractor. Never had one as good as it was.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

Hay_Man,
Wow, that does sound like a crazy price! We spent almost $500 with everything that we had done to it. And figured it was worth it because it is a tough little machine and should hold up for a lot of years now.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

I'm not sure what year ours is. But we have seen people go through 2-3 newer mowers in the years that we have had this one.

When we bought it, we only paid $125 for this mower and a pull type yard cart... then my husband sold the yard cart for $75. So it was kind of like paying only $50 for it.

We have been interested in some with hydrostat at auction, but they seem to sell really high now.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

bobs old iron,

LOL... it does sound like we were "souping it up". It was just time for some work - she was blowing smoke from burning oil... and it was time to do something before it self destructed.

The Red · Jan 7, 2013

That would be mid 1960s. I had a 1961 Cub Cadet Original at one time. Looks very similar to the 102.

DownSouth · Jan 7, 2013

Here is my little 70 the day I brought it home. I have the deck off as I was going to clean it up and repaint it. It's still sitting on the sawhorses after 4 years. I started using it without the deck to pull trailers around the yard, and in general just to ride around on. Pretty fun to drive down into the ditch and back out without hesitation, also probably a bit dangerous but.....sometimes we just don't want to grow up!

ericlb · Jan 7, 2013

looks good! and well worth the price, you still have 5 times the tractor any of the new big box store "tractors" ever will be, i bought my las new one ever, 4 years ago, it was worn to junk in just 2 years of mowing just around the house, never buy another one, now my ;49 cub handles that job, and way more better too

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

downsouth,
I like the style of your rear tires. Looks like miniature tractor tires.

Ours had a thick solid rubber seat with no backrest when we bought it. We really do like the seat we added - because we mow for several hours at a time to get it all done.

Nice loading ramps you have. My dad had some made out of 2x6 planks...one broke once. Thankfully he was still pretty low on the ramps or it could have been nasty.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

ericlb,

We thought that too. Worth spending several hundred to repair - versus what we could buy for 800-1,000 dollars at farm stores.

fixerupper · Jan 7, 2013

You can't build a strong house on a weak foundation, if you know what I mean. Those older tractors had a strong 'foundation'.Jim

David G · Jan 7, 2013

Make sure you put a new rod in it, and have the crank checked for out of round. Those motors have a habit of throwing rods.

I have a 123 and 104, both were my dads.

Back Forty Bob. · Jan 7, 2013

I have a 147 project, not stuck, with electric lift. 44231.
Email should be open.

Walt Davies · Jan 7, 2013

I have a 123 with an Onan engine and hydro. Had the engine
run but needs some work and fuel system cleaned. Make offer
and pay for shipping or pickup. Don't offer to much I need the
room more than the money.
Walt
PS if shipping is a lot offer $2.00

Walt Davies · Jan 7, 2013

Forgot Monmouth, OR. 97361. Try that online shipping co.

showcrop · Jan 7, 2013

(reply to post at 23:04:34 01/06/13) [/quot

I have lusted after one of those early ones for some time. To me they were the original lawn tractor. They look SOOOOOO much better with the original snow type tires than they do with the Ag lug type tires that so many people put on them.

dhermesc · Jan 7, 2013

I have two "old" cubs. A 125 and a 1450. I have overhauled both - the 125 is bored .20 over the 1450 was still standard after 900+ hours of service. Had another 125 that I "restored" with an overhauled engine, new steering parts, new PTO clutch and paint - let it go for $750 still probably lost money on it.

The 1450 is a real horse of garden tractor. Wife ran it into our 8'X8' garden shed and started pushing it across the yard before she got it stopped. Luckily it didn't hurt the shed or the Cub (nice heavy casting on the front).

The rebuild kits (rod, piston, rings, gaskets) can be had on Ebay for $100 or so. Machine shop work is usually in the $30-$60 range. Bring them to the machine shop first so you know which kit to get.

My 10 year old son has a Kohler K301 sitting on my work bench that he's rebuilding as a 4H project (extra 125/127/129 engine). He has it down to only needing to install the gas tank, carb and exhaust but he seems to have stalled out. With the fresh paint it looks good for a 40+ year old engine.

dhermesc · Jan 7, 2013

Looks like you have the clutch set up for somone with short legs.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

dhermesc,

LOL. That would be me and our teen daughter... both vertically challenged.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

Walt,
Thanks for the offer... but seeing you are on the other side of the mountains, we will pass.

I know my husband would want it to be fairly local so he could go look at it before purchasing.

But thanks again.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

David G,
I will mention this to my husband. Thanks.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

Back Forty Bob,

Thanks also for the offer. Again, you are several states away and I know my husband will just look locally.

We also have a B John Deere with a pull-type mower, and a walk behind self-propelled one too - so we are not in desperate need of another. It would just be nice if we run across one nearby.

SweetFeet · Jan 7, 2013

showcrop,
Cannot let you get this one!

My little tractor (well, it is to me)

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