Looking at a 1650 today, any issues to look for?

[Charles Hunsdorfer]

My wife and I are buying a home on a couple of acres to retire on and she wants to start a flower growing business.
I own a Kubota L3800 which will handle the heavier chores, but she needs something handy to mow, tow a wagon and maybe do some tilling, etc.
I visited Isavetractors.com and the author convinced me that some of the cubs are worth owning and up to serious work. So, I've been hunting.
As the title says, I'm looking at a 1976 1650 this afternoon. The unit appears to have been garage kept and regularly serviced.
Are there things I should look for that could indicate serious problems?

Thanks!

 

[jkoenig]

The 1650 is one of the models referred to as quietline. The trend of the day was toward quieter mowing. These machines are meant to be run with their side panels in place to maintain the factory designed airflow. The engine mounts are a weak, point and they tend to wear out, but there is a fairly simple modification to build an engine "cradle" that provides much better service.

Searching 1650 and Quietline above right could help you find details. I have never owned one, but they are sleek-looking machines.

!650s should have a 16 hp single cylinder Kohler engine, a hydrostatic transmission, and hydraulic lift. All IH built Cub Cadets will impress with their rugged build.

Oh yeah, and owning one has a way of leading to owning multiple...Welcome!

 

[digger]

The 1650 is one of the models referred to as quietline. The trend of the day was toward quieter mowing. These machines are meant to be run with their side panels in place to maintain the factory designed airflow. The engine mounts are a weak, point and they tend to wear out, but there is a fairly simple modification to build an engine "cradle" that provides much better service.

Searching 1650 and Quietline above right could help you find details. I have never owned one, but they are sleek-looking machines.

!650s should have a 16 hp single cylinder Kohler engine, a hydrostatic transmission, and may or may not have hydraulic lift (there was supply chain issue). All IH built Cub Cadets will impress with their rugged build.

Oh yeah, and owning one has a way of leading to owning multiple...Welcome!

1450 and 1650's both have hydraulic lift, and were never offered with armstrong lift.

 

[jkoenig]

Sorry. That was the 169 that had supply issues.

Still had time to edit above post.

 

[digger]

Sorry. That was the 169 that had supply issues.

There ya go.

 

[PACub100]

I have both 1450 and 1650. Some people don't care for the quiet lines but I love them. Make sure to get the David Kirk upgraded steering, muffler crutch and transdensor...well worth it

 

[Charles Hunsdorfer]

I have both 1450 and 1650. Some people don't care for the quiet lines but I love them. Make sure to get the David Kirk upgraded steering, muffler crutch and transdensor...well worth it

This is a whole new world, I will have to look into those things. Thanks for the info!
So, I hitched up my trailer and headed west... and was followed home.

 

[PACub100]

That sure is purdy!!

 

[1811Cub]

Very nice!

 

[Greg Riutzel]

I have a 1650 and I'd say it is the best machine I've owned and used to date Your wife and you will love the effortless speed and Forward / Reverse control i.e. a joystick vs clutch and stick. I do believe the mower deck is one of the quieter ones out there.

Top thing from experience is take a look at the motor mounts, the bolts and attachment to the oil pan. Mine came worn and the bolt holes in the pan were egged out. I opted for new factory rubber mounts, another oil pan, and didn't do the cradle mod. To date I have absolutely no problems or complaints.

If it's been regularly serviced; just an oil change and lube, tire pressure check, and hydro fluid level check, and a deck cleaning and belt check maybe all you need to start the season.

It looks excellent!

 

[Jay Fetters]

That's a very fine looking 1650! My 1650 is the work horse of my fleet, and my favorite to run. The down side to the quite line series is the rubber isolator mounts for the engine. In my opinion, these should be considered a maintenance item on these tractors. These little tractors are up to any task they were designed for, and many that they weren't! Welcome to the group! And don't forget to check out the sponsors at the top of the page, they all fuel our addiction!

 

[Charles Hunsdorfer]

Thanks for all the replies.

As soon as I unloaded it, wife drove it around the yard, rode up to me with a smile and said, "I think I'll call her Buttercup."

I asked, "That's a nice name. Can I call her B-cup, for short?"

As I was running, I realized with gratitude that she had not yet figured out how to engage the blades.

 

[bkattner]

That is a very nice tractor! Grew up on one, Dad had one for 20+ years. Miss it sometimes.

 

[Greg Riutzel]

B-cup,, good one!!

I'll call mine C-cup. You know, C for Cub

 

[jkoenig]

What would that make a Diesel Cub Cadet?

 

[Stevenovick1]

Lucky

 

[mhales]

This is a whole new world, I will have to look into those things. Thanks for the info!
So, I hitched up my trailer and headed west... and was followed home.

Great find, and good luck!
My wife and I also bought a couple of acres about three years ago. We brought our Cub GTX 2000 along for mowing. I had put a sleeve hitch on the back of it and also have a tilt trailer, drag blade, chain harrow, aerator, disc and fertilizer spreader.
I also brought my 125 Cub along that I had bought with the idea of building a backhoe/loader, but that project ended when we bought the acreage and I bought a Kubota BX23S TLB instead. (We had a ton of earth-moving, trenching, landscaping and brush moving to do.)
So, I use the 125 now to tow the trailer and other of the implements that don't require the rear lift and ground-engaging capabilities of the sleeve hitch. It (the 125) is a little rough cosmetically but does run and gets used quite a bit. I plan to completely go through it sometime this year with a steering rebuild/upgrade, wheel bearings, electrical rewiring and body work, and add a sleeve hitch to it as well if things go as planned. It came with a mower deck and a couple boxes of parts ;-). The three-blade mower deck has never been put on but that will change this summer. I think it will make a fine finish mower.
I'm currently finishing new wheel and tiller seals on an old Troy Bilt Pony rototiller, just waiting for the last of the parts (new wheels and axle seals) to come in, then maybe I can start in on the 125.
It's true what they say about the Cub's tendency to propagate, and I'm constantly on the lookout for other old Cubs, but they're pretty rare here in Idaho. They far outshine the stuff you can buy these days, a symbol of a bygone era when people took pride in their workmanship and built things to last!
Enjoy your new digs and projects!

 

[dschwandt]

Some 1450's and 1650's were optioned with dual hydraulics that provided ports for front mounted power angle blades as well. The operating levers have a very short throw so don't force them. Some have tiny roll pins that will break easily and others have a clamping arm that will slip on the shaft if not kept tightened.

Check for slop in the steering sector, rock the wheels side to side to check bearings and turn the steering wheel right to left to see how far it turns before the wheels actually move.
Look for for and aft movement in the axle while doing this to check axle pin wear as well.

Pull up the parts lookup for the Q/L's and get familiar with it for a better understanding of the machine in general.

Using the lower CUB CADET block logo and typing in1650 should take you right to that section.

Lookup Parts Via Diagram | Cub Cadet US

 

[hydroharry]

Definitely a machine you and your wife will love.
If you didn't get manuals with it go back to the main page on the Forum, scroll to the Manuals thread and download an Operators Manual and the Service Manual. (I believe the Service Manual is listed with a title like "1x8/9 and QL series" sinced it's combined with the earlier model tractor.