[Fred's 123]

So, I obtained a Cub 123 about a year ago, from an old man who's owned it the last 40+ years. He took good care of his stuff, and always kept it indoors. It still had original rubber on all four corners, and every nut, bolt, and accessory, with the exception of the motor which he had replaced with a newer K301AS in the early 1980's. I have since rebuilt the carb, new ignition coil, points, wire, new fuel tank, new speed control linkage and cam, new hydro gasket, and all of the other weak / wear points. I even bought a restored original seat and put it on the tractor. It's a well cared for machine.

That said, it seems to always be breaking when I need it most, and just last week the connecting rod broke. I bought another K301AS from a John Deere, but am having trouble finding the time to make the conversion. Prior to this, I've been shut down with everything from a dead ignition coil to a leaking float valve. It's an old machine, and I rely on it way too often.

I think it's time to replace the cub with a utility tractor. Question is, do I need to repair the cub to get a decent price for it? I have three engines, the original which was pulled off in the 1980's, the one that was in it until last week (broken connecting rod), and a newer K301AS from a Deere. I also have a QA42 snow thrower, a 42" plow blade, and a 48" mower deck, all original equipment.

Repair it? Sell it as-is? Part it out? What would YOU do?

Money is not growing on trees around here, but time is even more precious at the moment. I am willing to spend some money to replace this tractor with a utility tractor with FEL that can also do all of the Cub's former jobs:

1. Snow plowing / throwing.
2. Towing my utility trailer
3. Towing an aerator and a broadcast sprayer.
4. Towing a 25 gallon sprayer.
5. Playing back-up to my good mower (757 ZTrak 60")