possible 1650 purchase

[machinehead323]

First hello to everyone and I am so new to the older CC's. I just moved into a new house on 2 acres of ground. I have mesquite trees on the back half but just dirt on the front part. I want a tractor/mower to be able to move dirt around and to mow. A lot of the newer ones seem to be touchy about ground engagement. I was looking at a husqvarna gt24v52ls, which is a 24 horse Kawasaki engine with a 52" fabricated deck. It is rated for ground engagement but is also $3200. so I’m looking for a bit of an older tractor back when they were built better. i found a cadet 1650 on CL http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/grd/2945433433.html he says he put on new paint/decals, new motor mounts. he did a 1250 at the same time and does not know which one got the original cub mounts and not the aftermarket ones. is there anyway to tell? The paint was donw with cub rattle can paint. He said he prepped the metal but how durable is a rattle can job? he said it looks nice but is not show ready (I want a nice working tractor) He did not go through the engine at all besides a tune up, says it does not smoke or use oil. Said teh starter is noisy but that the 1250's was too. do they have noisy/loud starters or could there be a problem. Hours are unknown as well as the year. I forgot to ask him what the serial number was and he does not use a computer (how it got on CL i don’t know) oh well its $1000. Seems steep but another one for sale around me on CL for $650 looks horrible. He says everything works as it should to include the hydro lift. I don’t know at all about this model tractor. is it stout enough to run a small box blade with rippers? It does not have a sleeve hitch so i would have to get one of them. Was a 3 point setup ever an option? I would rather have a 3 point than sleeve. Can the hydro be tapped into to run a sleeve or rear attachments? If not I guess I can get an electric lift. Sorry if some of my questions are way off. So would it be worth a $1000? He said that was as low as he would go and would be taking a loss. How would the quality of cut compare to a newer mower? With what I have in mind doing with it would this model work? If not what should I be looking for? i have seen some quitelines with a lever on the right side but i guess with this being a hydro that the long lever is not needed. I though they were all hydo lifts.

[ajcombs]

Certainly not a bad looking cub and the 1650 should do anything you need it too. I believe you can get a cat 0 3pt for it can be pricey or the sleeve type as you state it is a bit cheaper but both will work with the hydrolift already on the tractor if all the proper parts are used. I have a 1200 and it's starter is not noisy but what is he comparing it too? I'd make sure to have a look at the oil before and after running it. Of course no smoke would be preferred. Check under it for drips from the hydro rear not real big deal but would require some skills to repair. Make sure the while driving for that it maintains the speed well no matter of speed, if it accelerates unexpectedly it's fixable but price offering would certainly go down. Everything on these tractors are fixable but do drive up the costs if all he has done is make it look pretty but it needs alot of parts to make it reliable they add up quick. Some folks put automotive style coils on them and they don't last nearly as long as the kohler coils they will have something like for external resistor use only on the side of it. Last new one bought cost 50 bucks not a big deal but every little adds up if you have to do it. Look over the deck to see if he has ever greased it you can wiggle the blades up and down and tell if they are good at least the end ones are easy. Make sure the pto engages and the blades actually turn once running verify hdro moves up and down freely. Ask if he's ever replaced the flex couplings on the drive shaft as if not they could be worn but may be good depending on the use.

As good as it looks i imagine it's in pretty good shape, but something my dad always told me and has been true for cars i've bought if it looks really nice sometimes its just shiny on the outside and trash where it counts.

I've bought 3 so far one 128 for 50 basically parts but runs, one 1200 that Duke and I both have each other up for LOL It is a smooth mowing machine and a 149 and all i can say is they are all very capable tractors and whether you end up with that one or not the one you find you will enjoy! I personally love the hydro lift my 149 has so I'd say get the 1650!! These guys will tell if the price is right... my 149 was 275 with new ags and I adjusted a few things and its running over all i've prolly put a few more bucks into it adding all the parts and accessories getting it the way i want it. Plows and tills and pulls a box scrape with no problems. My neighbor with a compact JD says wow that thing is stout and tills nice!! LOL and yes i'm bored wanting to go play outside today... oh and they actually were built with Steel!!!

[samiam44]

Un pin the deck and pull it out, flip it over and check for play in the blade bearings($68 each). Kohler engines last a long time.. Starters are only $60-70 new on ebay.
The automatic dump valves go bad.. new 120 for the pair or you can get them rebuilt for $75.

You can replace the factory blades with gators and it helps.

You can come to my place in Keller and cut my yard tomorrow with my 1650 if you need to learn=0) Mine has the 44 inch deck. A 48 or 50 inch deck might be helpful on 2 acres. I think there's a snow plow at the antique store on 377 if you need it.

Id change the oil every 10 hrs or so. They are not common in the dallas area for sale, so price is higher than some parts of the country. I paid $425 and it had new blades in the box(factory hardened) but drove to Kansas city to get it. I'd say $600-800 is probably about right price. Fresh paint and decals just doesn't mean much on a tractor- functionality and condition of everything else.

All 1650's had hydro lift I though.. It is for lifting, not engagement of accessories(ie running a bushhog). That's what the PTO belt does- to run the mower or tiller etc.

2 acres is probably 3 hrs in a cub. 1650's are great, but some of those newer fangled things could cut it a bit faster. Love my 1650.. KIDS love my 1650! Neighbor wants my 1650!

Don't know about a box/rippers- depends on size probably. You'd need some wheel weights- probably 2 sets and some non-turf tires for traction in the rear. That's a guess after reading in the implement section about ppl plowing and tilling with QL's (quite lines)>

Michael

[ACecil]

Good looking 1650, it will suit your needs just fine!

[Cub-N-It]

Dude, these guys have said it all regarding the 1650. I've got one, and by the time its finished will have more in it that I would care to admit, but when finished I can run it for another 20 years. Sure, you might be able to get another one for 800dollars, but if it needs another 200dollars worth of work to use it, then why buy it when you can get this one if it is ready to work now. Let me tell you, if you find a 1650 for 600-800 dollars and it looks as good as the one you are presenting here, and you don't buy it, then do us all a favor and post it on this site. One of us will scoop it up in a hurry, cause someone would have to be hard up for cash to part with a good running / ready to work 1650 for 800dollars or less. The 16hp K motor is a torque monster for its size, and Kohler ain't making any more of them, thanks to the stupid Enviromental Protection Agency.
And BTW, just what are they protecting me and my enviroment from???????????????????????????

[Sugarmaker]

BUY IT! and then come and tell us all about it!
Remember these are not new tractors, they need some maintenance, But by your name I think you may be up for it!
Regards,
Chris