I would recommend as the others. Go older, "if" you are willing, and able to work on them occasionally. You may have to pony up when you bring one home, and work some bugs out of it, then you'll have a fine machine for doing your chores around the place.:beerchug:
I used to be nothing but IH Cub Cadet's for tractors, but have found the CCC and even early MTD cub cadets are a great machine, in fact my Cub Cadet 782, and 2372, and bought and sold 1811 are real nice tractors.
Just try and find something with lower hours. Check the rear attachment areas for broken bolts, wollowed out holes, broken or cracked housings...
Ask me how I know, seems I brought in a 1811 that had some of those hidden things going on.:biggrin2:
Check out the condition of the residence, and the vehicles they drive, and sometimes that'll tell you a lot about the care/maintenance that was done on the machine... :beerchug:

I found a Cub Cadet 1650 for $200
CL post says "it runs good".
See images
https://images.craigslist.org/00p0p_...pF_600x450.jpg
https://images.craigslist.org/00O0O_...3g_600x450.jpg

Cub Cadet 1250 post says "Runs with 44A deck" - $375.00
https://images.craigslist.org/01313_...NJ_600x450.jpg

Cub Cadet 1100 - post says "very nice restoration. Last ran two years ago but stored inside. 4 speed peerless transmission. Set up right now for off the lawn oval track racing. Runs about 23 mph. Have the original parts to put it back to stock. Can be put back in less than 2 hours. Great original lawn tractor" - $300
https://images.craigslist.org/00e0e_...Bc_600x450.jpg


and a 109 , but the 3 above interest me more.
Cub 109 "runs good. 12 hp Kohler, I extended it and made a little box" - $200.00
https://images.craigslist.org/00N0N_...TF_600x450.jpg
not sure if this is capable of towing due to the extension and a 109 is less powerful and older than the others

which of these would you recommend?

see photos

Dear God! What's your budget??? I have gotten thing free in better working condition... And you wanna mow 3 acres a week?? Keep looking its out there...

Budget is between $300 to $1000

the 1650 is no good?

I do have a Poulan now that is 44 which i use to mow the 3 acres (not all in one shot) ..

I am thinking of using the pull behind Swisher that is 44 to help lower the stress of mowing on that or this Cub ...

The cub's main job will not be mowing but going into the field with uneven ground and pull behind the field brush mower.

I would never recommend a newbie to the Cub hobby to get a quietline tractor, those tractors have rubber mounted engine that may require alot of extra money and time to repair properly, it would be one thing if you were already familiar with Cub's but I don't recommend them as a first Cub. I would recommend something from the 1x8/9 series or something newer like an 1811. Quietline Cub models are 800, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1250, 1450, 1650, like I said before I would avoid these models for your first Cub.

What he said. 1811 is a good choice. 1864 will have some nice features like hydro lift and power steering. You got quite a bit to mow there and some creature comforts will be nice. Do some shopping and you will find a model to your liking.

I was looking over the tractors you posted and here's my opinion on them.

1650 -It looks like a beat POS that wasn't taken very good care of.

1250 - from what I can see it looks in decent shape but if it has engine mount issues it might get expensive and time consuming.

1100 - don't even think about it, the 1100 is just a lawn tractor dress up to look like a Gt.

109 - looks to be in below average condition but it has a 12hp engine installed and no motor mount issue to worry about. Does it come with a deck?

I agree with Tim's post. I'd keep looking.....


Look for ones like I told you to look for.


If you think you have to pick from the ones you posted, the 109 looks the best..... but again, I'd keep looking.

Your looking for something to cut 3 acres, and it sounds like you're in the same dilemma I once had. Forgive me if I ramble here... but I have experience in this area.

I have 6 acres, 2 acres of grass and 4 acres of field and some wetlands that I can mow when it's dry weather. I had a troy bilt pony that was gifted to me. It could not handle the 2 acres. I was always working on it. Based on that experience, I would stay away from anything from a big box store. I also had a swisher pull behind 60" to take the load off, I was worried about the transmission in the Troy Bilt. So I got a Jacobsen GT10 to pull that around. Ended up maintaining two engines for one job, not to mention extra space taken up in my garage. I found a 50" deck for my Jacobsen and decided to try mowing with that deck and the swisher on the offset so I could cut about 100" at a time. That worked pretty well but I would have a lot of stuff to go back and do later because when you turn it leaves a big gap of missed grass (or in my case weeds). I also could not go very fast because it pulls hard on the extension bar of the swisher on offset and I ended up bending it. So I sold the swisher and started mowing with just the 50" deck and I can mow the 4 acres in under 2 hours now. I also have an 1864 that I use for the main 2 acres with a 54" deck, and I mowed the field part with it in about the same amount of time.

I gave $250 (I think? or something like that) for the 1864, and it leaked from everywhere. Engine oil, rear end. I replaced all the seals in it and the gaskets in the rear. I probably still don't have $600 into it at this point.

All I'm trying to say is any Cyclops with a bigger deck like a 48" or 54" deck would be good. Or even an 82 series that isn't tired out, doesn't have a Series I engine, would do also. They're nice comfortable tractors for the long ride.

Yes, there are issues with the QL's, but when worked out, they will flat out beat having the old 128 series, and such! I'm not a fan of the later plastic garbage crap garden tractors, especially with plastic hoods, and the proven, weaker aluminum transmission case.

Take it from me, that model 1100 is in fact a very capable tractor with its Briggs and Peerless. But not what you need. We have an '12 Cub Cadet LGT1050 with 50" deck that makes fast work of 3 of our 5 acres, and has a nice cut. But, the IH 1100 clearly has a stronger looking transmission.



Buy the new Cub Cadet! Then buy that IH for 2-300 $ and you'll be good to go!