Wasted no time putting the (now) 1250 to work. (Lots of Pics!)

sgt.porter · #1 04-25-2017, 10:59 AM

Honestly, after a few years of not having a garden tractor, and not really feeling up to running one anyways, I think that replacing the junk engine in my 1450 with the good engine from my 680 has really done something for my health.
(Thread here: http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=38590 )
I sleep better, wake up earlier, and feel less pain through the day as long as I stay concentrated on doing something fun and productive.

First, I knew I needed new tires. The turf tires that came on the tractor were getting the job done, but traction left a lot to be desired as the tires would drop into ruts where my father in-law plowed, and then wouldn't grab well once I finally started busting the dirt with the tiller.
My old Firestone "turf and garden" tires were shot and wouldn't hold air.

So I bought some Carlisle Tru-Power 23x8.5-12's. Glad all I bought were tires because Fed-Ex delivered them to my barn door where they got rained on for 2 days before I saw them.

Got the tires (w/tubes) mounted and loaded. Only got 4 gal + 1 qt of fluid in these. Supposed to be able to fit 6, it's just not happening. Maybe be able to fit more when the rubber gets broke in.

Looks better now. Just have to do something about the front tires soon.

Took the tiller off and installed the sleeve hitch.

Have a friend that needed a favor. He's tearing down a very old house so he can rebuild. There are 11 electric wires leaving the house to various places and they needed dug up so we can junction them at a temporary drop and have continuous service through the build. The electrician wanted $2500 to dig them up, I said "We can do it ourselves". Soon found out that he's too old and fat and I'm too gimpy and fat to break through the hard clay with shovels. He said "We'll rent a Bobcat." I said "No, I'll bring the Cub."

Loaded her up with gas, cultivator, and rear blade. Headed out the next day.

The job wasn't exactly for the faint of heart. 11 wires, installed from the 40's to the 80's at all different depths, none of them were straight, some of them we could kill the power to, some we couldn't.
The idea was to use the cultivator to cut the ground in the direction we hoped each wire was running, trench it out with the blade, and repeat till we were close to wires, and finish by hand.
The little 12 horse engine kind of surprised me in the power it has. Pulling the cultivator through the hard stuff, it snapped a chisel off, jerked a little and left it behind.

The tires met my expectations ok. They still slipped some, but are the best tires I've ever had and did everything I asked of them.
Took us 2 days to finish the job, but we got it done. The cub preformed exceptionally well in the tight space, we didn't damage any wires, saved my friend $2500, and had a ton of fun doing it.
Forgot to take a final pic, but this was during day 1:

Today I have a couple of other projects in the works, but while things are cooking, I'm going to take my cultivator apart, clean and sharpen the shovels and chisels, then go out and get my plow from the fence row and get it cleaned up and ready. I posted some pics on FaceBook, not advertising whatsoever, but got 2 calls yesterday from people needing garden plots started and willing to pay. Can't say no to that!
Definitely looking forward to the "new me" the rejuvenated cub has brought out. Might even try my first rebuild on the K301 that has been sitting on the barn floor for the last 5 years. Lol.
Happy Cubbing everyone!

DieselDoctor · #2 04-25-2017, 11:11 AM

Glad to hear you're feeling better and enjoying your Cub! Having a positive outlook on life will always help the healing process. Good for you! Keep going!

kamanhart · #3 04-25-2017, 11:14 AM

Agreed, looks like it was a great time! Nice to see an old 1250 getting a solid work out

sgt.porter · #4 04-25-2017, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselDoctor

Glad to hear you're feeling better and enjoying your Cub! Having a positive outlook on life will always help the healing process. Good for you! Keep going!

It really does. I've always had a positive outlook, but struggled to make progress, and sometimes the healing process got stagnant. I've come a long way since they told me I'd never walk again and I told them "Get out of my way!" And now the Cub is taking me further down that road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamanhart

Agreed, looks like it was a great time! Nice to see an old 1250 getting a solid work out

Was a workout for sure! It's actually a 1450, neutered down to a 1250 cause the original engine was blown. I couldn't do half of the job if I had to use the manual lift of a 1250. Lol.