Looking for a vintage lawn tractor.

[mithesaint]

www.millertire.com. Get a nice pair of Tru Power lugged tires and don't look back.

 

[smokinj]

www.millertire.com. Get a nice pair of Tru Power lugged tires and don't look back.

Oh yea been eyeing them!

 

[HittinSteel]

Welcome to the cub club, I'm a new member myself

 

[Jack Fate]

If you're looking for a working machine, consider the following.

The aftermarket and enthusiast communities are what keep these machines alive. It's one thing to collect classic machinery, restore it and run it from time to time. It's quite another to need it to perform reliably in the present day.

Out of all the companies that built fantastic garden tractors, there are only two or three left. One has forever been playing catch-up, the other is a retail bean-counter whose product is a shadow of it's ancestors. (And that is stretching it a bit IMO) The final survivor, you can still walk up to the parts counter, state what you need and there is more than a passing chance that they will have it or it can be had in one to two days. It's the same company that has an aftermarket and enthusiast following that is second to none.

and the resale value reflects that & collectability ,availability of parts drives home the point

 

[smokinj]

Welcome to the cub club, I'm a new member myself

Is that a high low two speed tranny?

 

[HittinSteel]

It's a 3 speed, but it does not have the "creeper" gear.

 

[smokinj]

Got it runs good hydro all works good. I thought this model was a 10hp but seems its a 12hp.

 

[Ashful]

Someone changed hoods or engines. The 108 is 10 hp.

Sure you didn't bring home a 123? Post a photo.

 

[smokinj]

Someone changed hoods or engines. The 108 is 10 hp.

Sure you didn't bring home a 123? Post a photo.

Its clearly a 12 hp. The guy told me(because I am thinking the same thing) With the hydro system the 108 came with a 12hp kolher.

 

[Ashful]

There's more here than meets the eye. If your machine looks like a 108, but has 12 hp and hydro, then it's a 129 wearing a 108 hood. Same frame, tractor, etc... just a different engine and trans, which dictates the model #.

These were the first series of wide frame tractors, and the line-up was as follows:

86 - 8 hp 3 speed
108 - 10 hp 3 speed
128 - 12 hp 3 speed
109 - 10 hp hydro
129 - 12 hp hydro
149 - 14 hp hydro (with lift!)

These models were introduced in 1971, and they were replaced by the Quiet Line in 1974.

The good news is that the 129 is a much better / more expensive machine than the 108!

Is this your tractor, with a different logo on the hood?

 

[smokinj]

There's more here than meets the eye. If your machine looks like a 108, but has 12 hp and hydro, then it's a 129 wearing a 108 hood. Same frame, tractor, etc... just a different engine and trans, which dictates the model #.

These were the first series of wide frame tractors, and the line-up was as follows:

86 - 8 hp 3 speed
108 - 10 hp 3 speed
128 - 12 hp 3 speed
109 - 10 hp hydro
129 - 12 hp hydro
149 - 14 hp hydro (with lift!)

These models were introduced in 1971, and they were replaced by the Quiet Line in 1974.

The good news is that the 129 is a much better / more expensive machine than the 108!

Is this your tractor, with a different logo on the hood?

View attachment 104308

See if this helps any? It is a 3 speed but the deck and back hitch move by electric. Iam starting to think 128 or 126. When I said hydr I was talking about the deck and hitch lift. But I guess its electric.

 

[Ashful]

That's a 128! The 126 was the old narrow frame design with cast grille and separate hood.

 

[smokinj]

That's a 128! The 126 was the old narrow frame design with cast grille and separate hood.

Your good!

 

[Ashful]

Spent too much time on the Cub Cadet forum, back when I was refurbishing my own Cub.

 

[smokinj]

Spent too much time on the Cub Cadet forum, back when I was refurbishing my own Cub.

This winter I hope to do the same with this one.

 

[smokinj]

The trans call for IH Hy-Tran What would you use?

 

[Ashful]

Lots of folks use ATF, but I just used the Cub HyTran. Almost never needs changing, if you stay out of ponds and keep up with filter changes, so consider it a one-time expense. The failure mode is soaking up too much water (hydrophilic?), which causes the fluid to congeal like jelly in the bottom of the sump.

Check out the onlycubcadets forum... Like hearth.com for cubs!

 

[tekguy]

The trans call for IH Hy-Tran What would you use?

tractor supply has stuff in 2 and 5 gallon containers relatively cheap that gets good reviews

 

[Ashful]

Here is exactly what I bought, both at ccspecialties.org. Filter was $14, fluid was $29/gal. Requires just shy of 2 gallons for a complete change.

 

[smokinj]

Here is exactly what I bought, both at ccspecialties.org. Filter was $14, fluid was $29/gal. Requires just shy of 2 gallons for a complete change.

View attachment 104362 View attachment 104363

Awesome!

 

[Ashful]

Expensive fluid, but the good news is you won't be changing it every year. Most folks go many years with the same HyTran fluid, just changing the filter yearly, if you keep the water out of it.

 

[Jags]

Hmmm...its beens 37 years since I change the hydro fluid in my lawn mower. I'll bet it could use an oil change by now.

 

[smokinj]

Hmmm...its beens 37 years since I change the hydro fluid in my lawn mower. I'll bet it could use an oil change by now.

This one is 43 years and I don't know where she been. Looks pretty muddy to me though.

 

[Jags]

Those are tough old units, Jay. I know my mowing allis has approx 4000 hrs on it. Original engine, then a rebuild, then short blocked (piston pin came loose on original) and it will probably need a rebuild in the next couple of years.

 

[smokinj]

Those are tough old units, Jay. I know my mowing allis has approx 4000 hrs on it. Original engine, then a rebuild, then short blocked (piston pin came loose on original) and it will probably need a rebuild in the next couple of years.

Yea I only have a little over 2 acres. With this and my deere should last a life time. Now its time for a nice poll barn.....