Hi,
As can be seen on the Cub Cadet forum, I posted my recent dilemma in that my engine just went bad on my '72 Cub Cadet 129. This tractor has lasted me for 47 years and has still been running great until a connecting rod broke yesterday. A local dealer has suggested that (in his opinion anyway) it is not worth it to put a rebuilt engine in the Cub. I'm not certain of that. But, his other suggestion was to replace it with a Conquest, which he claims is a very good tractor. My Cub is all cast iron and steel...don't know about the Conquest. So, to help make this decision, I'm looking for any thoughts or input, especially since I know nothing about the newer Simplicities. My parents had a 1970s model for a number of years - don't recall what eventually happened to it, but I remember using it to mow their lawn. The name rang a bell as soon as the dealer mentioned it.
He told me a ballpark figure - with deck and snow plow - would be in the neighborhood of $5800. To put a new engine in the Cub, I'm looking at around $1k - $1200 or so, depending on how much work the job would entail. What makes the decision tough is that the rest of my tractor is ALSO as old as the engine, with the exception of several (actually quite a few) parts that have been replaced of late.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Keith
As can be seen on the Cub Cadet forum, I posted my recent dilemma in that my engine just went bad on my '72 Cub Cadet 129. This tractor has lasted me for 47 years and has still been running great until a connecting rod broke yesterday. A local dealer has suggested that (in his opinion anyway) it is not worth it to put a rebuilt engine in the Cub. I'm not certain of that. But, his other suggestion was to replace it with a Conquest, which he claims is a very good tractor. My Cub is all cast iron and steel...don't know about the Conquest. So, to help make this decision, I'm looking for any thoughts or input, especially since I know nothing about the newer Simplicities. My parents had a 1970s model for a number of years - don't recall what eventually happened to it, but I remember using it to mow their lawn. The name rang a bell as soon as the dealer mentioned it.
He told me a ballpark figure - with deck and snow plow - would be in the neighborhood of $5800. To put a new engine in the Cub, I'm looking at around $1k - $1200 or so, depending on how much work the job would entail. What makes the decision tough is that the rest of my tractor is ALSO as old as the engine, with the exception of several (actually quite a few) parts that have been replaced of late.
Thanks for any thoughts...
Keith