My 1450 project officially started today

[CC1450]

all I can say is just keep your eyes peeled. My search was looking pretty grim and I had contacted this guy's with the 1450s ad a while back, and moved on when he could not pin down what models he had. I decided to take a drive and it paid off. It took me just under a year of searching on and off to find something I wanted, but I was looking particularly for a QL. There is a really nice one for sale on CL right now, but I was not looking to part with that kind of money.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwi/grd/2309218370.html

I was thrilled to find two of them elsewhere, I was honestly considering buying that setup above. I'd rather spend less and work more, I have more time than money.

[CC1450]

Turned out to be a good day for the cub project today. As luck would have it a friend of mine was off work and able to trailer one of the 1450's home during the day, and our other friend brought me the other on his way home. I was able to get them both home!

I went back to the shop with my buddy during the day and we helped the guy there dig the pair of cubs out. He had a case tractor with a bucket that made pretty easy work of it.


We loaded one of them on the trailer, and then took the deck off the other and took it along with us so my other friend could fit the other cub in the back of his truck.

The guy at the shop asked if I minded if he were to keep the old dead battery that was in one for a core. I said no problem, I dont need it. When I got the tractors home someone had cut the battery cables to remove the battery. Not exactly thrilled with that but not much I can do about it now. I replaced the ground cable and spliced in a new + lead already.

All that matters to me is that the pair of 1450s are now safe with me and away from the cub grave yard. I did not have a lot of time or sunlight today to look them over but I did take some notes, check a few things and took a couple more pics.




My 1450s serial info:

tractor 1:
2050660u586721
kohler engine serial: 7420012
Deck 50A

tractor 2:
2050660u638605
kohler engine serial: 9278949
deck 44A

Both decks are pretty rough. I am leaning towards tractor 2 being the first to fix up as it seems to be all there and in better shape cosmetically. it also has keys which always helps..

Both tractors have seized controls, bad gas, little to no oil and both need new front tires. One clearly needs a shaft seal as I can see from oil build up, I am assuming they both do as they have no oil in them. One has a newer IH steering wheel which is pretty cool looking, it also seems to have much less play in the steering than the other tractor. I'll try to remember to get a pic of that, I am sure you guys will know what the wheel is from.

Between buying these two tractors, driving around doing the leg work and paying my two buddies a little something to bring them home the cub fund is back to nickels and dimes. At this point I need to further evaluate what I am working with and what I need most to get one of these up and running.

I got to spend more time with tractor 1 today since I got it earlier. I put a screwdriver in the coupling for the driveshaft for leverage and it spun the engine right over. So that engine has potential.

One other cool thing about this pair of cubs is one was originally sold in a town called Lowell, IN about 10 miles from here and the other was sold in Valparaiso, IN maybe 15 or so miles from me. Glad they are staying local and have avoided the scrap piles this long. I can't wait to play with them some more. I think my friend put it nicely "these are really cool, like giant old tonka trucks"

[Methos]

Great pics and that loader made it to easy for you. That sucks about the battery cables. Looks like your off to a great start! Looking forward to your updates!

[darkminion_17]

I think you did very well.
Have you thought about getting more?

[prowl66]

I'm not too far away maybe. drop me the address, I sure would like to see his boneyard. I don't think I could get another cub right now but would liek to take a peak..working on my own 1450....and finally got it to run tonight after a few things...excited.
nice pics

[FFGino]

When I picked up my 1650 from central Illinois a year and a half ago, the only things that moved on it were the tires and the steering!! But I was able to roll it onto the back of my son's S-10 Chevy and haul it home The starter was stuck in the engaged position, the engine was stuck, all the controls were stuck, and my wife almost stuck me in the doghouse.

Repeat after me...PB Blaster. Say it LOUD and apply it LIBERALLY! Honestly, my 1650 had "set in the shed behind my dad's house for 8 or 9 years." That is what I was told when I picked it up. It arrived at my house Sat. evening around 10. Wed afternoon it was turning over on it's own. Fri. it ran for me for the first time. When I showed my wife, the dog was sad for I was allowed back in the house to sleep. True story.

Honestly, just get a couple cans of PB Blaster and spray, respray and respray and then GENTLY try to move the controls. Be PATIENT and if your lucky YOU won't cause your repair bill to skyrocket. Good luck and take your time.

Also pull the spark plug and spray plenty of WD_40 in the hole. Your tractors have been setting a while and ALL the upper cylinder lubrication is MIA. Just remember to spin the engine over by hand 10 or 12 revolutions to lube up the piston/cylinder walls and then when it's free, spin the engine over with the starter with the plug out to blow out the excess before starting it up.

Congrats on your find, enjoy your addiction, and welcome to our crazy world!

FFGino. Happy Cubbing!

[CC1450]

Originally Posted by Methos

Great pics and that loader made it to easy for you. That sucks about the battery cables. Looks like your off to a great start! Looking forward to your updates!

yeah when I found the two my first thought was "how will we get these out of here" because they were all the way at the back of his lot up against a fence with cubs, snowblowers, other tractors and tons of junk heaped around them.

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

I think you did very well.
Have you thought about getting more?

Not yet but I am out of money at the moment, give me time.

Originally Posted by prowl66

I'm not too far away maybe. drop me the address, I sure would like to see his boneyard. I don't think I could get another cub right now but would liek to take a peak..working on my own 1450....and finally got it to run tonight after a few things...excited.
nice pics

PM sent with the info and congrats on getting your 1450 up and going, that has to be a good feeling! Do you know of a way to check the fluid for the hydraulic setup? I am almost afraid to see what the fluid in mine will be like.

Originally Posted by FFGino

When I picked up my 1650 from central Illinois a year and a half ago, the only things that moved on it were the tires and the steering!! But I was able to roll it onto the back of my son's S-10 Chevy and haul it home The starter was stuck in the engaged position, the engine was stuck, all the controls were stuck, and my wife almost stuck me in the doghouse.

Repeat after me...PB Blaster. Say it LOUD and apply it LIBERALLY! Honestly, my 1650 had "set in the shed behind my dad's house for 8 or 9 years." That is what I was told when I picked it up. It arrived at my house Sat. evening around 10. Wed afternoon it was turning over on it's own. Fri. it ran for me for the first time. When I showed my wife, the dog was sad for I was allowed back in the house to sleep. True story.

Honestly, just get a couple cans of PB Blaster and spray, respray and respray and then GENTLY try to move the controls. Be PATIENT and if your lucky YOU won't cause your repair bill to skyrocket. Good luck and take your time.

Also pull the spark plug and spray plenty of WD_40 in the hole. Your tractors have been setting a while and ALL the upper cylinder lubrication is MIA. Just remember to spin the engine over by hand 10 or 12 revolutions to lube up the piston/cylinder walls and then when it's free, spin the engine over with the starter with the plug out to blow out the excess before starting it up.

Congrats on your find, enjoy your addiction, and welcome to our crazy world!

FFGino. Happy Cubbing!

Thank you for the tips and greetings, 2 big cans of PB blast are first things on the list for sure. I'm no stranger to some wrenching but these are definitely a new animal to me. I've got to search around for an owners manual and some service info, pretty much all I know about these is from the bits and pieces I have read from the guy's posts here.

[ACecil]

Glad you got your cub Cadets home! Can't wait for your updates!

[dieseldan123]

Originally Posted by CC1450

yeah when I found the two my first thought was "how will we get these out of here" because they were all the way at the back of his lot up against a fence with cubs, snowblowers, other tractors and tons of junk heaped around them.



Not yet but I am out of money at the moment, give me time.



PM sent with the info and congrats on getting your 1450 up and going, that has to be a good feeling! Do you know of a way to check the fluid for the hydraulic setup? I am almost afraid to see what the fluid in mine will be like.



Thank you for the tips and greetings, 2 big cans of PB blast are first things on the list for sure. I'm no stranger to some wrenching but these are definitely a new animal to me. I've got to search around for an owners manual and some service info, pretty much all I know about these is from the bits and pieces I have read from the guy's posts here.

Check out our sponsor binder books! They are top quaility manuals for the price and will make sure you have the right stuff from the start. And welcome to the greatest Cub site ever!

[Tractor2nv]

This is one great thread! And so many very good quotes too. One of your tractors looks to have 1" spindles? Also one should have internal brakes? I was at a bone yard buying a few non runners one time. I was loading a roller on my trailer and the guy w/tractor & boom pole was hauling one back to me that was a hydro w/deck(1250 I think). I have a special strap I use for picking up complete units like in one of your pics... Here he comes creeping with it but he put the strap around the steering wheel!! I asked him to let it down so I could re-strap it and he did. Got them all home and I could not find no damage to the wheel,dash or steering on that tractor!