My Cadet 85 and 55

[jimweis1]

Can someone help me out with what year these units were produced?
I recently purchased a Cadet 85 and a Cadet 55, SN#'s are 0340026U057857 and 0340006U056597. The 55 is super clean w/ no rust, steering tight as new, but has a replacement 5HP Briggs Quantum.
The 85 is all original, runs good, no smoke. I plan to disassemble the 55 and use it for spares, except for the deck. After using both to cut my yard the 85 is a much smoother operating machine. If the 55 were correct I'd restore both. When I bought them it was $150 each or both for $250, I really wanted the 55 but decided to take both, now the 85 has my heart.

[jeff k.]

Double check the # for the 85 I think ur missing a num. The 55 is a 1977. Post some pics of them .I have a 55 and a 95 . I currently use the 55 to cut the grass.

[jimweis1]

Originally Posted by jeff k.

Double check the # for the 85 I think ur missing a num. The 55 is a 1977. Post some pics of them .I have a 55 and a 95 . I currently use the 55 to cut the grass.

Thanks, missed a digit 0340026U057857
I need to find a host for my photos, all the old sites started charging $.

[CC1450]

www.imgur.com to host pics

[jeff k.]

Those cadets look awesome. Hope you decide not to part out the 55. The 85 is a 1977 also. They are clean ,very nice.

[AMCJavelin74]

Originally Posted by jeff k.

Those cadets look awesome. Hope you decide not to part out the 55. The 85 is a 1977 also. They are clean ,very nice.

ditto. Restore it, or just preserve it. Parts that wear (mechanical bits) are pretty easy to find. Bearings, blades, engine parts...

[jimweis1]

I'm still looking for a decal set for the 85 and haven't found a complete one. the Texas place only has the sides and have the wrong front decal in the set.
The only reason I'm thinking at parting out the 55 is space and transmissions seem to be hard to find. Some of the parts are so nice and clean from the 55. I want to use them on the 85: front wheels, front beam, steering parts etc. If I trade all the parts that I want for the 85 the 55 will have all the worst parts. I supose I could keep it all together then, someday sell or restore it.

[westofb]

We had one of these when I was a kid....it was bought to mow our lawn, but I don't we ever got it to work, I don't recall now what was the exact issue with it. I have been watching one on St Louis CL, I think they are asking $350 for it(seems high to me, but I am not familar with these and what they are worth), and oddly enough it has a front mounted snow plow...I did not know they even made them for these things.

Your mowers look nice, sounds like you got a good deal on them!

[ACecil]

Great looking Cadets!

[jimweis1]

I have dissasembled the 55 and boxed all the parts. Who ever put the replacement engine on it was @#$% they used a push mower 5HP with a short shaft and attempted to space the pully down to line up, well this thing vibrated and threw the mower belt off every time I tried to engage it. I'm keeping all the 55 parts, it could be rebuilt. Now I'll use the least worn parts on my 85 and have spares or parts to reassemble the 55.