Saved one from the scrap yard today
 

My dad ran across a fellow taking a bunch of mowers to the scrap yard. We missed out on the first load but caught him before he left this morning with the second. At first he refused to sell but finally gave in so I was able to buy this 149 and deck. He had 2 other decks and a wisconson engine but refused to sell them because they were already loaded on the trailer. I had to give $200 for the 149 so I hope I didnt do to bad. I brought it home and after checking the oil I decided to see if it would start. The battery was dead but I jumped it and it tried to start. After a few shots of carb cleaner it fired up and actually ran good with no smoke. The charging system is not working so it would only run with the jump box attached. It moved under its own power and the hydro pump is pretty quiet. The hydro release level doesnt do anything so I am moving around the garage with a floor jack.Any advice on these would be appreciated because this is my first older hydro cub. This one is serial number 2056047U495746.

Loaded up and head home instead of the crusher
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/...bCadet1495.jpg
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/...bCadet1496.jpg
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/...bCadet1497.jpg
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/...bCadet1499.jpg

:IH Trusted Hand: You did great on that one, congrats.

That is one awesome save! Thats worth your price in the engine alone. I would feel pretty proud of that deal!

Thanks EricR! I think it will restore nicely

Yep on the restore, looks like it won't take much from your pics!

IACubCadet,
Yea I thought the same. The guy was kinda being rude. My dad offered to buy just the deck and he said he wanted $40 for it. I told him I had cash and would just buy it all. I figured he would say $500 or $600 the way he was acting about the other stuff so when he said $200 I jumped on it thinking at least I could use the engine and headlights.

Excellent save. I can't believe what some people take to the scrap yard :angry:

Really, the hydro trans is like most everything else, pretty bullet proof. Pull the drive shaft cover off and see if the tab to press the valve buttons has broken off. If so you can get those from our sponsors, or even better, replace the manual valves with auto valves and not have to worry about them sticking on you at some inopportune time.

DX3,
I didnt post a pic of it but I think the lever has a piece broken off of it. I was wondering about just buying a new style valve. I am going to need a light switch knob also. The switch is there but the knob is gone

I would have done the same thing! The same kind of deal with my 126. The PO called me, and knew I bought Cubs. He said he had a 126 with a PTO. I was thinking in the back of my head, "well yeah, they all had PTO's". He kept talking saying he was mad at it, been too much of a project. He was taking it to the scrap the next day if I didnt buy it. Kind of a jerk about it. He said 100 bucks. I ran my _____ down there and I talked him to 75 bucks. Turns out it didnt have just one PTO...it had two :) Now a 126 with a rear PTO saved from scrap? Not as good as your 149, but same principle. Awesome find!

The new auto valve would be the way to go. You should be able to pick up the knob for the switch.

Good looking 149! Glad you were able to save it!

Yeah what he said!

Its amazing what some people take to scrap but if you figure it up as scrap bringing 10 dollars a hundred he is only going to get maybe 60-70 bucks for it.

Nice save on the 149!:beerchug:

From the tech section of the site for new auto release valves. THe price has gone up a little on these. THe light switch should be easy to find as well via a want ad or a call or email to one of our great site sponsers.

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3

Awesome save and congrats on a sweet tractor!

That 149 is too nice for the crusher! Wish I could find one that nice here. It looks really complete with virtually no rust.
Wonder what was on his first load? Some people have no appreciation for the past!!:bash:

Yep,
I think you did great on that save!! Congrats! Too bad you weren't able to save the others. 149's are great tractors. The hydraulic lifts make 'em easy to use, especially if you throw a tiller on the back. Once again, congrats!:beerchug:

Nice find. I can't understand why the PO wouldn't sell you anything off a truck/trailer headed for scrap - penny's on the dollar. Our route to the scrap yard is - sell it, yard sale it, and the last stop is scrap.

Good luck,
Bill

Makes you wonder how many Cubs are slipping through into the crusher each year. :bigeyes:

It makes me sick the way some people would rather see something rot or scrap it, rather than sell it to someone who will fix it and use it:angry:

No matter how hard a person tries he cannot save them all but when one is saved that deserves our applause. That tractor looks good, too good for scrap. You made us all proud on that save.

Well said! :beerchug:

Thats a great looking 149 and well worth the save as it will outlast anything made today! I watched a 60's bolens meet its end at the scrap yard. Those claws have no mercy for these machines and the worst part is it was in running! Guy drove it right to the front of the claw! i cringe at thinking of seeing a cub meeting the same fate. :angry:

You did good! I just bought a 149 in about the same shape for $275 right after Christmas this year. 149s are very nice tractors.

Thanks guys,
I was kinda mad after seeing 2 good decks,several engines and rims on the trailer and he asked me stupid prices for since it was already loaded. He finally just refused to sell and I didn't want to push him since we hadn't loaded the 149 yet. Funny thing though he asked for my number cause he has a 108 he might sell later.I never saw it around anywhere. I went to the scrap yard to try to buy the stuff and they informed me they will not sell anything turned in for scrap anymore. I know we can't save them all but I sure hate to see usable parts go to scrap.

Saw a couple of dudes flip a lawn tractor out of the bed of a pickup and it landed on its head. Wasn't anything special, but really didn't look too bad off until the somersault. Probably tons of machines hitting the dump with nothing more than a dirty carb.