It has been an interesting ride over the past few years - diverging out of my only brand of garden tractors over the past, Wheelhorse, to sample some other old iron tractors such as Simplicity and IH Cub Cadets.
One thing common with ALL of these brands is they are quality tractors and well built. I would recommend anyone of them to anyone in need of a garden tractor, especially vs what's on the market today. For me though, none of these tractors in my fleet are collectors - none. They are workers with a purpose and if they can't get the job done, they are sold, parted or hauled to the recycler. Maybe when I retire and have more time on my hands, I might take one and make it a 100 point show piece.
So having spent a goodly amount of time with Wheelhorse, Simplicity and IH Cub Cadets, I can also tell you they ALL have a few bad design quirk that found their way into the design. We read all the time about the QL and iso mounts, etc. As much as some postings trash MTD, we also read of the improvement here and there that MTD made. Some are easier to work-on than others. The IHCC is definately more difficult/complicated than some of my other color tractors.
I view the IH Cub Cadet tractors as a cool piece of old iron. I can see that I would keep at least one around for a looong time. Actually - probably two, a hydro and a gear drive - just to have a sampling of each in my fleet.
So what's the point of this post? I'm surprised at the outcry of cutting a hole in the top of a NF. IMHO - better than parting out a NF and using the $$$'s to buy a WF. When it comes to fixing the roll pin or any other area in that section of my 126, I will absolutely cut the top open and make a cover. Won't be a hack job like we see with many PO tractors and cutting the hole has nothing to do with any mechanic skills that was pointed out earlier - and by the way, interesting OPINION.
It's been a crap morning and I figured while I'm b#$%ching, I might as well do some of it here too....