Hi guys...been lurking around a bit here but finally signed up for the forums, because I have some questions that maybe you can help me with.
Not quite two years ago, I purchased on eBay, untested, a riding mower sold as a "Cub Cadet mower, running." I paid a winning bid of $100, and had my mother-in-law pick it up on her way to visit us.
When it got here, I couldn't figure out how to get it off the trailer, and so it has sat, in the same spot, on the 4x6 utility, until just a couple of days ago. It was sold as running; my mother-in-law told me that the seller had driven it onto the trailer, but I'd never succeeded in getting it off the trailer or starting it. I tried to at least keep it covered with a tarp to keep rain out, but it kept blowing off.
My father, who is my repair wizard, and is teaching me a thing or two about mechanical repairs, managed to get the tractor off the trailer (the wheels were locked...we had to bump it out of gear to free them up), then replaced the carb, the right front tire (which was totally shot), a few missing keeper pins, and the main drive belt. The local mower shop gave us a solid used carb they had in the back; the original had completely corroded. The mower shop tells us that ethanol blends will leech water from the atmosphere, causing corrosion; they recommended that we use only pure gas.
As of yesterday, it's up and running. Dad mowed a good portion of our church's lawn with it yesterday and today.
What I'm trying to figure out is exactly what I've got. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why nothing seemed to match the info I was finding online. Older Cub Cadet garden tractors all used Kohler motors, while this one has a Briggs and Stratton, so I was a bit confused. Then I found this page and the info about the differences between the IH Cub Cadet garden tractors and the IH Cadet lawn tractors.
After finding this thread and looking at some pictures, it appears that what I have is a Cadet Model 76 lawn tractor. (None of the original decals remained on the hood, and a previous owner appears to have started a restoration job...there's a fresh coat of Cub Cadet yellow on it.)
If anyone can help me track down the parts list (we dropped a hitch pin out of the deck today and will have to replace it), the manual, and any other pertinent info (and maybe some decals), I'd appreciate it.
The serial number is 011928, which appears to me to indicate a 1972 build. In that case, I'd say getting a 40-year-old machine back on the lawn for under $200 total wasn't too bad of a job.
One other minor issue became apparent today; the engine is not leaking oil, but does seem to be burning it. Dad was putting in about half a quart every time he filled the gas tank. What oil weight should we be using? (We were using 10W-30 today, but if there's a different motor oil recommended, it would be nice to know.)
I was going to post a picture or two (I had copies of the eBay auction photos), but I don't seem to have them on this computer.
Not quite two years ago, I purchased on eBay, untested, a riding mower sold as a "Cub Cadet mower, running." I paid a winning bid of $100, and had my mother-in-law pick it up on her way to visit us.
When it got here, I couldn't figure out how to get it off the trailer, and so it has sat, in the same spot, on the 4x6 utility, until just a couple of days ago. It was sold as running; my mother-in-law told me that the seller had driven it onto the trailer, but I'd never succeeded in getting it off the trailer or starting it. I tried to at least keep it covered with a tarp to keep rain out, but it kept blowing off.
My father, who is my repair wizard, and is teaching me a thing or two about mechanical repairs, managed to get the tractor off the trailer (the wheels were locked...we had to bump it out of gear to free them up), then replaced the carb, the right front tire (which was totally shot), a few missing keeper pins, and the main drive belt. The local mower shop gave us a solid used carb they had in the back; the original had completely corroded. The mower shop tells us that ethanol blends will leech water from the atmosphere, causing corrosion; they recommended that we use only pure gas.
As of yesterday, it's up and running. Dad mowed a good portion of our church's lawn with it yesterday and today.
What I'm trying to figure out is exactly what I've got. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out why nothing seemed to match the info I was finding online. Older Cub Cadet garden tractors all used Kohler motors, while this one has a Briggs and Stratton, so I was a bit confused. Then I found this page and the info about the differences between the IH Cub Cadet garden tractors and the IH Cadet lawn tractors.
After finding this thread and looking at some pictures, it appears that what I have is a Cadet Model 76 lawn tractor. (None of the original decals remained on the hood, and a previous owner appears to have started a restoration job...there's a fresh coat of Cub Cadet yellow on it.)
If anyone can help me track down the parts list (we dropped a hitch pin out of the deck today and will have to replace it), the manual, and any other pertinent info (and maybe some decals), I'd appreciate it.
The serial number is 011928, which appears to me to indicate a 1972 build. In that case, I'd say getting a 40-year-old machine back on the lawn for under $200 total wasn't too bad of a job.
One other minor issue became apparent today; the engine is not leaking oil, but does seem to be burning it. Dad was putting in about half a quart every time he filled the gas tank. What oil weight should we be using? (We were using 10W-30 today, but if there's a different motor oil recommended, it would be nice to know.)
I was going to post a picture or two (I had copies of the eBay auction photos), but I don't seem to have them on this computer.
