Quietline motor mounts
 

Hello everyone. I have about a dozen cub cadets, most narrow frame, but I do have 3 quietline tractors. I have a 1250 (my first ever cub) which has always run great. I use it now for snowblowing only. I also have a 1450 which I restored last year. I recently purchased a 1000 at a garage sale for 200. It is in great shape but needs some clutch work. The 1450 and this 1000 both have vibration issues and I wanted to ask about the motor mounts on these tractors. I seen some solid motor mounts listed on ebay. Are these supposed to be better than the rubber ones for vibration? When I got the 1450 two of the engine mount bolts were missing and the other two were loose. The rubber mounts seemed to be in decent shape so I reinstalled them. The drive shaft flange was pretty wore and I replaced that and it did lessen the vibration, but I still think it vibrates too much.

I would appreciate any advice or suggestions about these motor mounts and the vibration in these two tractors.

Thanks,
Earl

Earl:

Well, you will get a couple of different opinions on this.

The original design that the IH Engineers came up with at the time, was to reduce noise and vibration. There is this other green company that did the same. The Engineers designed the Quietline Series.

Part of the design was reducing the vibration by placing the motor on rails with rubber isolation mounts. Considering the Quietline Series is about 30+ years old, I would say the original ISO Mounts done well.

During the years, it was discovered, that a modification to the rails by welding a brace was a vast improvement. Click on this link for further information.... Modification

Then comes along a talented individual in Missouri, that designed some solid ISO Mounts, primarily used on "puller tractors". The solid mounts offered rigidity for the 30 seconds down the track. And these are fine for that.

If your Quietlines are going to be used as worker tractors where you are going to be on them for hours at a time, then you may want to consider using the original design parts.

Now, granted the Cub Cadet parts are a bit pricey by most peoples opinions. That is the only down side. Substitutes have surfaced (ie: Moog K-5252 Sway Bar Kit) and my own....refrigeration compressor rubber grommets.

So, you have lots of choices and you have to decide what is best for you.

:IH Trusted Hand:

:Cub7:

That was a very informative answer. I like the modification to the rails and think I will try that along with some new motor mounts. It is funny you said that about the compressor rubber grommets because I am an appliance tech and I looked at them in the past and wondered what I could use them for. I'll probably spring for the new ones though. Thanks again.

Earl

I know this has been mentioned many oftimes, but I've never heard anyone ever actually answer it, but I still don't understand why the soild mounts would vibrate anymore than the non-iso mount tractors. Your basically just mounting it straight to the frame, just as they did on every tractor before it. I would love to hear some opinions from others that have tried the soild iso mounts. Or just some theorys as to why you would still get more vibration using the soilid iso mount as opposed to the engine being mounted straight to the frame.

AJ

Guys, I will say it again as I did in a previous post. My 1000 with solid mounts vibrates less than my 1650 (with a 14hp) with ISO mounts. Not by just a little, but alot. My recently acquired 108 vibrates less than both of my quietlines.

My experience is that the ISO mounts and engine cradle did not really help with isolating vibration or quieting the side panels and copious engine shrouds. I would recommend solid mounts for all quietline applications whether for occassional pulling tractors or all day/every day use.

Rich

ajgross,

Another member (weaverama) started a thread some time ago and a little later I asked/said nearly the same thing. Check out the threads;

http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=577
http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=582

Keep in mind I'm not saying one is better than the other I just don't see how operating a QL with the motor bolted down solid, could be any different than operating any other Cub Cadet.

Weaverman Unless your 1000 has a 16 hp engine in it you can't compare it to a 1650. And your 108 probably has a 10 hp kohler with the balance gears in it.

A 129 with a solid mounted engine is pretty smooth but a 169 is a beast.

I don't believe the Rubber ISO mounts were intended to stop the engine vibration, only to stop the transfer of some of the vibration to the operator.

Also it is impossible to compare one tractor to the next unless they are both tuned up correctly and everything is equal.

Through the years I have heard people say they are going to solid mount their engines but I have yet to see someone solid mount a 1650 engine and then spend a lot of time mowing on it and say they like it.

So 169's weren't meant to mow with?

Yosemite Sam,

I believe what is implied is that they are pullers.

As stated, my 1650 has an ISO K321 (14hp) and it is a bear compared to my 1000 with a K241 (10hp) with solid mounts. The 108 also has the K241 and is as smooth as glass. Not trying to create confusion and all, just telling you about my experiences with a solid mounted quietline.