Bought a 169, maybe
 

Brought home a cub with a K341 engine (that's the decal on the tin), manual 3 point lift with spring assist, hour meter with 542 hours, hydro drive. Problem is the serial number plate has been removed, as have the 169 decal on the sides.
Seller advertised it as a "16 hp Cub Cadet", called it a 169 when I went to see it.
Had thought about a complete restore, like I did on my 149, but without the serial number plate, will probably transplant the K341 in my cc149 and part the rest.
I'll post a photo later.

An interesting dilemma. What makes a tractor a particular model? Sounds like you have one that is most all there except for the sn plate. I started one recently where I'm using an old frame, but many of the parts from different tractors (same model just not original parts). Not sure how this is viewed.

With cars there are matching numbers, but not tractors to my knowledge.

And what if the serial plate has been taken off to paint, and then riveted back on? Does this make people suspicious?

Of course functionally its a 169. But not sure that counts to a collector.

Of course, could be worth as much for parts as a complete tractor.

i believe the 169 came standard with hydraulic lift but i could be wrong.

you're wrong. it was optional. there's allot of manual lift 169's out there

OK, I was once told The 149 and 169 came standard with hydro lift but I haven't been around enough hydro tractors to know for sure.

149s, standard. 169s, not. I've read they ran out of hydraulic parts at the factory and put manual lifts on them at that time.

Standard lift on the 149 and 169 was the hydro lift.
IH ran out of hydro lifts during the production run of the 169 so they installed the ported hydro pump. The owner of a 169 could purchase the hydro lift later on.

Thanks for the info

I'm not sure what that is because it has a lot of wrong stuff on it but those 10 bolt K341's bring big $. Cool find.:beerchug:

It has the wrong air cleaner and muffler for a 169

Ported hydro pump w/o hydro lift on this one.
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/p...pictureid=5693

My 169 is also a ported pump without the hydraulic lift option. My 149 does, however, have the hydraulic lift. If I get the time to restore the 169 it will have the optional hydraulic lift installed.:beerchug:

Parts book shows hydraulic lift optional for all 1X9's. I loaned my "book" out to my bro, who has yet to return it (FlyingB :angry:) or I'd know for sure. I will say it's a rare thing that the parts book would be that far off. I'm sure this info is correct.

To the OP:
If it is a 169, it's either been pieced together, or it's a 149. It's missing all the parts for a 169. You sure your looking in the right spot for the SN?

My information came from Hank Wills Cub Cadet The First 45 Years
Look on page 61 if you have the book.

Model 149 info says the 149 had hydraulic lift as standard equipment.

Model 169 states the following
The hydraulic lift was an option for the 109 and 129.

I admit to being new to Cub Cadets. Pretty sure this is where it's supposed to be:
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/p...pictureid=5694
At least the motor has a 10 bolt head, so I'm pretty sure it's a K341. I can read K341A on the decal, but not the serial number.

I agree! :ThumbsUp:

I wasn't debating the info, I was just stating that hydraulic lift was optional for all. :beerchug:

169s only had the serial on the left side on the frame not on the rear end

I guess that settles it; there's nothing on the left side of the frame.

If you see two holes for rivets on the rear end, those would be for the serial number tag. My model 86 has the tag in the pictured location, however.

As old as these machines are the rearend could have been swapped out.

The fiberglass towers are dated so one without the oct 1974 date would be supected as fakes.

Merk's correct on the hydraulic lift info. Yes, 169's had the serial number tag on the left side of the frame. Did ya see any evidence of holes on the frame? Even when they switched the serial number tag to the frame, the rearends stayed the same and had that raised boss even though the tag wasn't there anymore. On that rearend, I don't see any evidence of holes in the boss where the serial tag would have been attached. It could be a 169, just alot of variables.

Something about that frame doesn't look quite right, just can't put my finger on what it is.

Since this tractor has so many parts that are obviously from a 169 I would bet that for some reason the frame was changed somewhere along the way.

IIRC someone here recently parted a 169... Might see if he still has the frame or maybe just the tag.

Thanks, everyone for all the input. I bought this to get the engine for my 149.
Part of the package was a K321A short block with head. Don't have plans for that yet.
The K321A in my 149 will go in this mongrel. I'll find the parts to complete the hydraulic lift. It will get sandblasted and painted. Some colors other than CC yellow/white or red. Most likely make it a Ford LGT clone.

If anyone is still interested in my maybe 169, it has brake calipers that look like this:
http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/p...pictureid=5695
I have no idea if this is relevant or not.

Maybe it's the parts of the chassis that may have been repainted yellow over white?