GORDON - I think your 318 would just cry "UNCLE" with one look at a 1712. The 1712 is "technically" an MTD/CCC tractor but it's chocked full of IH DNA. It's bigger than a O/T 332 and just a bit lighter and IMO more manuverable than a 430 with the same HP and the same or better fuel efficiency. IH didn't offer or really need the 2-spd trans. after the hydro on their SGT's, nor did they offer a diff lock, which would have been a nice option, but tough to incorporate into the IH rearend.
Compared to the little green tractors the Cub Cadets are practically bullet-proof, and SO much more simple to work on what little they need it. And parts are so much more interchangable. Once you get past the '61/'63 original Cub Cadets, the 70/100 models up to the 86/1X8/1X9's still share a LOT of common parts. The Quiet-Line, 800/1000/1200/1250/1450/1650's have different parts like the elec PTO, bendix style starter & flywheel generator, plus the rubber engine mounts & side panels, and not as many parts interchange. Same with the newer IH red tractors, 482/582/682/782/982, not as many interchangable parts there either. But then Cub Cadets don't need much work or parts to keep them running.
The biggest problem we face is the pullers getting hold of all the good old gear drive CC's and making pulling tractors out of them. Some even put NON-IH sheet metal on them. To me, that sounds like dressing a Belgian draft horse up like a donkey.