Found an original

[abthomas]

The owner was wondering why it had the longer pulley guard in the front compared to others he has seen !

great find on the gasket Lew ! thanks

 

[Bob H]

View attachment 158324This is her. I believe a 61-63. I believe original 7 HP Koehler. Doesn’t come with any attachments other than the deck shown. Owner “believes” it ran and worked when it was parked. That’s about all the info I have on it.

The purpose of this thread to me is to figure out if this model of tractor can do what I’m wanting to do, and if this particular tractor is a reasonable candidate for a restoration to do that. As well as tips and things to look out for when looking at or deciding on this particular tractor.

I have zero experience with Cub Cadets or any vintage lawn tractors. I have spent years working on 70’s International Scouts, 70’s ford trucks, and 70’s Trans Ams. I generally do fairly factory styled builds without much crazy modifications. I know a thing or two about paint and body and have all my own equipment including sandblasting equipment. I’m a welder by trade and have my own welders and equipment for that.


As to what I’m wanting the tractor to do for me. I’d like to be able to use a dirt blade on the front or rear to push dumped dirt or fist sized gravel around my yard/driveway/land. I’d like to be able to pull a small dump trailer around my property. I’d like to be able to use a small box blade either factory or homemade to rip 2-3 inches deep into dirt and then be able to spread that to lower humps and fill valleys. I’d also like to be able to use the mower deck to mow areas of my land that my zero turn can do, but generally roughs up the blades or is a little hard on my finish mower. I think it’d be super fun to push snow in the winter. But it doesn’t snow that much here and it would probably just be me out playing on my tiny tractor. Snow blowing is also out. In the past I’ve kept a small garden but I have always tilled it with small walk behind and have never used a plow or anything like that. I suppose it’s possible that at some point I might want to attach a single blade plow.

I have 4 acres of land most of it wooded with some trails going through it but about 3/4 an acre cleared that I already have a mowing set up for.

I’m also into the restoration of it. I think the first gen 61-63 are very cool and I feel like I could use my skills to give this tractor a good restoration I’d be proud of for years. I love the styling of the first generation over say the late 70’s. To my understanding this model had a pull start and an engine mounted choke. I’m fine with that. While it would be cool to have a whole row of hydraulic or pto powered equipment I can’t see ever really needing it. I understand some of the later years are a little more common with hydraulics setups and make a little more power. I want a 3 speed not a hydrostatic.


Open to any opinions tips tricks recommendations you guys may have. If anything is unclear I can clarify.

Where is this tractor located? I've been looking for an "O" for some time now. I don't really care if it's perty, just so long as it's complete. Anyone know of one, around the Southern Indiana, North Central Kentucky area?

 

[OKcub]

Update 1/24/25

Got her running! After much back and forth trying several things fixing several things I got her driving around the yard! What a hoot to drive. I had a blast. Love the gearing. Once I get it a little more figured out I’ll make another thread detailing what I did/figured out exactly to get it running. It’s still got a couple of problems right now. The two big ones being the hard starting and the governer play.


It doesn’t like to start unless I turn my battery charger up to 65 amps. It turns over mighty slow without that. Has 10/24 battery that tests good. 330 CCA. Engine turns over easy. Turns over quickly and starts quickly when my charger is hooked up. I read online that some models of Kohler 161’s have compression releases to aid start up. Seemed like they worked by releasing cylinder pressure at cranking engine speeds until the engine started and went to an idling engine speed. From a dead cold, with just the slow crank battery, my engine bumped a cylinder compression tester up to 150 psi in 2 bumps. So a ton of cylinder pressure while the starter is turning the engine over slowly. Is my engine supposed to have a compression release and does that sound like it’s working?


I believe the governor is the second main problem. The cable connecting the hand throttle to the governor seems to be in good condition. The governor seems to have a play in it for lack of a better word. If it’s running at to low an engine speed it won’t respond to the first throttle adjustment. It takes an exaggerated movement to get a small response. Then awhile later after leaving the throttle in the same location the exaggerated movements will catch up in the governor causing it to slowly rev up past where you’ve already sit it. Same for reducing engine speed. If you make an adjustment and get no response, waiting a second or a minute may allow the govern to catch up to your adjustment without having to make multiple adjustments. Sticky governor may be a more technical term. Any common ways to solve this?




Some good news is I found very locally and cheaply 4 garden tractor specific plows. A moldboard, a single blade ripper, and multi blade chisel plow, and a cultivator. All only 36” and specifically made for a garden tractor. I think a real good deal. I’m going to try to use my tractor to cultivate and plow a vegetable garden as a plot of corn and potatoes each when the time comes in a couple months. Still probably needs tires. Found a set of Carlisle turf tires for sale used for very cheap I’m going to pick up soon. Not brand new but not nearly as cracked as my current firestones and I should be able to get several years oit of them.