Proud New Owner of a 1973 Cub Cadet 149

[hydroharry]

What's everyone's thoughts on washing these things? When I picked it up last Thursday there wasn't a spot of dust on her, especially inside the engine bay. Now after mowing she's dusty. The previous owner must have washed it before putting it in Facebook marketplace.

I see on the side of the engine there a port that gets pretty cruddy. Is that like a crank vent? I want to hose her down but don't want to ruin anything. She's not going to break if it's dirty.

Well, your 149 sure was clean before you used it. I was actually quite impressed seeing it in the videos. It had to have been washed, and washed up good. Personally I don't like washing them any more than you have to. I feel like it starts the rust process. Also, you really need to wait until it's completely cool. You don't want to risk cracking the engine block, heat shield (which is already prone to cracking) or muffler. I liked to use an air hose (assuming you have a compressor) to blow it off well, especially the deck because the grass holds moisture and starts the rust process. Washing a couple times a year is all I found necessary. I'm certain others will have an opinion as well.

The side of the engine with the port as you call it, must be the breather which is also a valve cover. It's quite common for it to have an accumulation of oily dust. Probably should wipe it off occasionally since it does tend to build up and spread.

 

[149CubLover]

This port...

 

[149CubLover]

Well, your 149 sure was clean before you used it. I was actually quite impressed seeing it in the videos. It had to have been washed, and washed up good. Personally I don't like washing them any more than you have to. I feel like it starts the rust process. Also, you really need to wait until it's completely cool. You don't want to risk cracking the engine block, heat shield (which is already prone to cracking) or muffler. I liked to use an air hose (assuming you have a compressor) to blow it off well, especially the deck because the grass holds moisture and starts the rust process. Washing a couple times a year is all I found necessary. I'm certain others will have an opinion as well.

The side of the engine with the port as you call it, must be the breather which is also a valve cover. It's quite common for it to have an accumulation of oily dust. Probably should wipe it off occasionally since it does tend to build up and spread.

I actually don't have a compressor. A friend of mine let me test out a pancake compressor he wanted to sell a couple of years ago and I was so unimpressed it turned me off all together. I grew up with a big Craftsman compressor on wheels my dad got in the 90's, still uses it today. That thing was and is a beast.

I guess until mowing season is over, I will just use my leaf blower to rid it of any dust and grass. That is standard practice after every mow for me on my XT2. With the 149 being so old and a lot more wiring showing than my XT2, I won't risk dousing it with the garden hose. As long as the air filters clean and everything is greased, a little dirt won't hurt her. It's not like I'm running it in next week's parade and expecting to win best of show lol. I do however like my equipment clean as I can.

 

[hydroharry]

This port...

Yes, that's the breather. It's also the valve cover. You have to remove the nut and the breather assembly comes off. You'll find the valves inside. They do need periodic adjustment. Don't recall off hand how often. Probably 500 hours. Here's a pic from the IH Engine Manual I have so you can see how it assembles. Note the cover has that raised open hole.

 

[149CubLover]

Yes, that's the breather. It's also the valve cover. You have to remove the nut and the breather assembly comes off. You'll find the valves inside. They do need periodic adjustment. Don't recall off hand how often. Probably 500 hours. Here's a pic from the IH Engine Manual I have so you can see how it assembles. Note the cover has that raised open hole.

View attachment 157259

Thank you!! The gasket on mine seems to leak free so that's good!

 

[hydroharry]

Thank you!! The gasket on mine seems to leak free so that's good!

That's good to hear. There is a little bit of oil that recirculates thru the breather. There's a small hole in the breather plate (no.2 in the pic I posted) for it to drain back from the breather into the breather housing area which has another small hole for it to drain back into the crankcase.

 

[149CubLover]

That's good to hear. There is a little bit of oil that recirculates thru the breather. There's a small hole in the breather plate (no.2 in the pic I posted) for it to drain back from the breather into the breather housing area which has another small hole for it to drain back into the crankcase.

I filled her fresh with Rotella T1 before the first mow. After running it in the heat wave for about 3 hours of mowing, she didn't lose any oil.

Up next is to rebuild my dad's 1969 147 carburetor and install a new shutoff valve. His fuel bowl and carburetor gaskets are original and reak of gas!

 

[-CӞ]

What's everyone's thoughts on washing these things? When I picked it up last Thursday there wasn't a spot of dust on her, especially inside the engine bay. Now after mowing she's dusty. The previous owner must have washed it before putting it in Facebook marketplace.

I see on the side of the engine there a port that gets pretty cruddy. Is that like a crank vent? I want to hose her down but don't want to ruin anything. She's not going to break if it's dirty.

i agree with hydroHarry. moisture is the enemy, and an air hose will generally tidy up your cub sufficiently.
pancake air compressors are best for an indoor-caliber brad-nailer or the wife’s craft projects (and the occasional tire).
i hope for you a reasonable deal on a good 2-stage compressor with a minimum 20-gal. tank.
i can’t imagine life without mine!
** dry with some dust is far better than wet with some rust !!! **
respectfully,
-CӞ

 

[hydroharry]

I filled her fresh with Rotella T1 before the first mow. After running it in the heat wave for about 3 hours of mowing, she didn't lose any oil.

Up next is to rebuild my dad's 1969 147 carburetor and install a new shutoff valve. His fuel bowl and carburetor gaskets are original and reak of gas!

Wow - sounds like the carb has never been opened. That's pretty amazing. Now, the question becomes which Kohler needle and seat kit do you need (they come with the gaskets). The K321A in your Dad's 147 was a first for 14hp in a Cub and it's somewhat different from yours. You certainly have seen the oil dipstick which has a different location from the oil fill tube. What I don't know is how different the carb would be.

The carb on your 149 should be a No.30. If you remove the air cleaner and look through the choke hole on the top inside of the carb you should see the number "30" stamping. This is the size of the opening. I believe your Dad's 147 should have the same carb size but IH might have varied this spec with Kohler. You should look to see the size.

The reason I recommend this is because the CCC website shows using Kohler part number KH-25-757-01 for a needle and seat kit for the 147. I think that is the wrong kit. If it has a No.30 carb it requires KH-25-757-02. The seat in the kit ending 02 has a flat end where it screws into the carb body. The seat in the kit ending 01 has a sorta rounded over end. I don't think the rounded over end will seal on a No.30 carb.

Oddly, I checked the CCC parts website for your 149 carb and it also shows KH-25-757-01. I know for certain that is not correct for a No. 30 carb. I went on further on the CCC website and looked up the 1450 model. CCC still shows KH-25-757-01 as the needle and seat kit for this No.30 carb, but oddly they show KH-25-757-02 as the carb repair kit for it. CCC is certainly in error in several places.

As a further help, if you check CC Specialties website Charlie shows KH-25-757-01 for K91 (4hp) to K301 (12hp) engines. Then he shows KH-25-757-02 for K301(12hp) to K582(23hp) (I think he meant K321 14hp instead of K301 12hp but some of the 12hp engines may have a No. 28 carb which may use the kit ending 02.

So now that I've probably confused you, I do hope you get the correct kit.

 

[Djokovic Dean]

Congrats

 

[149CubLover]

Wow - sounds like the carb has never been opened. That's pretty amazing. Now, the question becomes which Kohler needle and seat kit do you need (they come with the gaskets). The K321A in your Dad's 147 was a first for 14hp in a Cub and it's somewhat different from yours. You certainly have seen the oil dipstick which has a different location from the oil fill tube. What I don't know is how different the carb would be.

The carb on your 149 should be a No.30. If you remove the air cleaner and look through the choke hole on the top inside of the carb you should see the number "30" stamping. This is the size of the opening. I believe your Dad's 147 should have the same carb size but IH might have varied this spec with Kohler. You should look to see the size.

The reason I recommend this is because the CCC website shows using Kohler part number KH-25-757-01 for a needle and seat kit for the 147. I think that is the wrong kit. If it has a No.30 carb it requires KH-25-757-02. The seat in the kit ending 02 has a flat end where it screws into the carb body. The seat in the kit ending 01 has a sorta rounded over end. I don't think the rounded over end will seal on a No.30 carb.

Oddly, I checked the CCC parts website for your 149 carb and it also shows KH-25-757-01. I know for certain that is not correct for a No. 30 carb. I went on further on the CCC website and looked up the 1450 model. CCC still shows KH-25-757-01 as the needle and seat kit for this No.30 carb, but oddly they show KH-25-757-02 as the carb repair kit for it. CCC is certainly in error in several places.

As a further help, if you check CC Specialties website Charlie shows KH-25-757-01 for K91 (4hp) to K301 (12hp) engines. Then he shows KH-25-757-02 for K301(12hp) to K582(23hp) (I think he meant K321 14hp instead of K301 12hp but some of the 12hp engines may have a No. 28 carb which may use the kit ending 02.

So now that I've probably confused you, I do hope you get the correct kit.

In full transparency, I plan on just replacing the bowl diaphragm and gasket. His 147 starts and runs perfectly fine. I'm not going to mess with a good thing. The diaphragm and gaskets look to be the same for mine and his carburetor.

 

[149CubLover]

This is from the back cover of my owners manual and it truly sums up what IH/Cub Cadet used to stand for and produce!!

 

[149CubLover]

The more I look the more I realize how good of a find my mower was!

https://www.facebook.com/share/NnBQKfJds7jSxeLH/?mibextid=kL3p88

 

[hydroharry]

In full transparency, I plan on just replacing the bowl diaphragm and gasket. His 147 starts and runs perfectly fine. I'm not going to mess with a good thing. The diaphragm and gaskets look to be the same for mine and his carburetor.

Yes, they would be the same. I would like to know which carb number is on the 147. Is it a No.30 used on the later K321 14hp. Is it possibly a No.28 which I didn't think was used on a Cub Cadet Kohler (I believe it was on a Wheelhorse 14hp).

 

[hydroharry]

This is from the back cover of my owners manual and it truly sums up what IH/Cub Cadet used to stand for and produce!!

Thanks for posting that. I know I had seen it on the back covers, but I don't actually remember reading it.

 

[149CubLover]

Yes, they would be the same. I would like to know which carb number is on the 147. Is it a No.30 used on the later K321 14hp. Is it possibly a No.28 which I didn't think was used on a Cub Cadet Kohler (I believe it was on a Wheelhorse 14hp).

When I take it off I'll be sure and let you know. Mine was stamped 30 inside, as I suspected.

 

[hydroharry]

The more I look the more I realize how good of a find my mower was!

https://www.facebook.com/share/NnBQKfJds7jSxeLH/?mibextid=kL3p88

Hahaha - well, that linked 149 looks like a runner. Pretty fast and all (just not sure how far it will really go ).

It does have brackets for a vinyl snow cab. Doesn't mention if that still exists. The seat might be slightly better than yours (slightly) and it does have the slightly newer style deck which could be a 44" or 50". Can't say whether it's any better. It is stamped steel and maybe not as heavy. Of course broken belt doesn't help and harder to tell if something else may be broken.

 

[149CubLover]

Hahaha - well, that linked 149 looks like a runner. Pretty fast and all (just not sure how far it will really go ).

It does have brackets for a vinyl snow cab. Doesn't mention if that still exists. The seat might be slightly better than yours (slightly) and it does have the slightly newer style deck which could be a 44" or 50". Can't say whether it's any better. It is stamped steel and maybe not as heavy. Of course broken belt doesn't help and harder to tell if something else may be broken.

I'd still take my one owner any day lol.

Would be cool if I could find the newer 50" deck. Are they still floating around?

On a side note, I cleaned up my mower today via my echo leaf blower and some microfiber towels. I did notice a small amount of grease/dirt accumulated on the deck by each spindle. A little grease grabs a lot of dirt in a 3 hour mow. Is this normal and should I shoot a squirt or two into each spindle before every mow? I don't wanna over grease them but also wanna make sure they're lubed up for the three hour Gilligan tour of my yard

 

[hydroharry]

In full transparency, I plan on just replacing the bowl diaphragm and gasket. His 147 starts and runs perfectly fine. I'm not going to mess with a good thing. The diaphragm and gaskets look to be the same for mine and his carburetor.

One other thing I should have mentioned. The float bowls pit over time and start leaking - which could be the problem with your Dad's 147 carb. CC Specialties sells a new Kohler replacement bowl. Here's a pick and it's listed on his Fuel and Tune-up page.

 

[149CubLover]

One other thing I should have mentioned. The float bowls pit over time and start leaking - which could be the problem with your Dad's 147 carb. CC Specialties sells a new Kohler replacement bowl. Here's a pick and it's listed on his Fuel and Tune-up page.
View attachment 157283

I'll definitely be ordering one of those. You wouldn't by chance be able to take a pic of the lip on the bowl could you, a nice close up? That's the one thing I noticed when replacing my bowl gaskets is the lip was slightly pitted in certain areas on the lip due to gas leaking in between the gasket and sitting for who knows how many years. In the future I will replace out my bowl as well.