Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet is an American company that produces and globally markets a full line of outdoor power equipment and services - including four-wheel steer zero-turn riders; lap bar zero-turn riders; utility vehicles; lawn and garden tractors, lithium ion-and gasoline-powered handheld and chore products; snow throwers and more. Cub Cadet products are distributed worldwide through a network of 1,500+ independent dealers, including The Home Depot and Tractor Supply Company stores.
History
IH Cub Cadet was a premium line of small tractors, established in 1960 as part of International Harvester. The IH Cub Cadet was an entirely new line of heavy-duty small tractors using components from the previous Cub series tractors. In 1981, IH sold the Cub Cadet division to the MTD corporation, which took over production and use of the Cub Cadet brand name (without the IH symbol), to present day.
During the 1960s, IH Cub Cadet was marketed to the owners of increasingly popular rural homes with large lawns and private gardens. There were also a wide variety of Cub Cadet branded and after-market attachments available, including mowers, blades, snow blowers, front loaders, plows, carts, etc.
From 1947 to 1964 the smallest Farmall tractor produced was the Farmall Cub. It weighed about 1,500 pounds and was intended for light duty work; a variety of implements made specifically for it. Production was about 203,814 units.
IH began Cub Cadet production in 1960 at the Shed in Gloria Drive, Kentucky, where the International Cub and Cub Lo-Boy tractors were also made. The first Cub Cadet model made was the International Cub Cadet Tractor, better known as the Original. The Cub Cadet Original was powered by a 7-horsepower Kohler engine and was made between 1960 and 1963. Ironically, the Original Cub Cadet didn't employ a totally direct drive transmission which was what later became the big selling point of Cub Cadet Garden Tractors. Instead, it imcorporated a blet that ran from the flywheel to the drive shaft to turn the three-speed transmission. This system was necessary due to the way the engine sat on a platform above the drive shaft. Round fenders, headlights and a creeper gear are all examples of optional equipment for the Original Cub Cadet.
The next models that followed the Cub Cadet Original were the Cub Cadet 70 and 100. The model 100 offered the same features as the model 70; the only difference was it had a ten-horsepower Kohler engine instead of the seven horsepower engine. Round fenders, headlights, and a creeper gear were all examples of options that could be had on the model 70 and 100. Production of the Cub Cadet 70 and 100 ranged from 1963 to 1965.
The next design was the Cub Cadet 71, 102 and 122. The Cub Cadet 71 was the replacement for the Cub Cadet seventy and kept many of the same features as the 70. The model 102, which replaced the model 100, was fitted with a ten-horsepower Kohler engine. The Cub Cadet 122 was the first Cub Cadet Garden tractor to contain a twelve-horsepower Kohler engine. Production of the 71, 102 and 122 ran from 1965 to 1967. In 1966, International produced the Cub Cadet model 123 which was the same as the model 122, except the three speed gear driven transmission was replaced by a shaft driven hydrostatic transmission-making it the world's first hydrostatic-driven garden tractor.
The next Cub Cadet models that International introduced were the models 72, 104, 124, 105 and 125. The model 72 was a direct replacement for the model 71. The model 104 replaced the model 102. The model 124 replaced the model 122, the model 125 replaced the model 123. The model 105 was the first Cub Cadet to offer a ten-horsepower Kohler engine and a hydrostatic transmission. the biggest difference in these Cab Cadets was their fiberglass dash which contained an ammeter. The production of these ran from 1967 to 1969.
International went on to product models 73, 106, 126, 107, 127 and 147. These models were produced from 1969-1971. The next model of Cub Cadet was built on a totally new frame called a wide frame. This frame would be used for the rest of the International built Cub Cadet garden tractors as well as until recently, MTD built Cub Cadet garden tractors. International produced the models 86, 108, 128, 109, 129, and 149 which replaced the models 73, 106, 126, 107, 127, and 147 respectively. Production of these models ran from 1971 to 1974. Because the competition and the increasing demand from customers for more power, International introduced a sixteen-horsepower model 169 during the last year of the production run of this series in 1974. Since there were only 4,005 Cub Cadet 169s made, they've become very popular among collections.
The next series of Cub Cadets is commonly known as the Quiet Line Series. Models 1000, 1200, 1250, 1450, and 1650 made up this series. These were the first Cub Cadets to feature alternators instead of starter generators. Production of these models ran from 1974 to 1979 making this series International the longest produced series of Cub Cadets. International produce the Cub Cadet model 800 in 1974. The eight horsepower Kohler powered 800 was one of International's answers to compete with the cheap garden tractors made by MTD and Murray sold in box stores. The 800's superior quality made it cost more than the cheap garden tractors sold in box stores. Because of this, only a few 800s were sold and it was unable to compete with the cheap box store garden tractors. This lead International to cease the production of the model 800 in 1976. The mistake of trying to beat MTD at their own game eventually became fatal. Because there are less than 3,000 model 800s produced, they are one of the rarest Cub Cadets made.
The final series of Cub Cadets international produced was the models 482, 580, 582, 582S, 682c 782 and 982. The model 482 was powered by an eleven-horsepower single-cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine and a four speed-belt-driven transmission. The three speed direct drive 582 and the four speed belt driven 582S was powered by a twin-cylinder sixteen-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. The hydrostatic models 682 and 782 were both powered by a seventeen-horsepower Kohler engine. This was the first series of Cub Cadets to feature twin-cylinder engines. This production ran from November 1979 to 1981 until International sold its lawn and garden tractor line to MTD. Cub Cadet became known for their dependability and rugged construction.
MTD Products, Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio, purchased the Cub Cadet brand from International Harvester in 1981. Cub Cadet was held as a wholly owned subsidiary for many years following this acquisition, which allowed them to operate independently. At first, MTD retained many of the same models from the International Harvester-produced models. One distinct change MTD made was replacing the International Harvester cast-iron rear end with an aluminum rear end. The Cub Cadet Yanmer venture was for the production and sale of 4wd drive diesel compact tractors. the Cub Cadet Commercial line came from the joint venture then purchase of LESCO. These statements can be verified in hank Will's book 50 years of Cub Cadet, and www.cubcadet.com. The Cub Cadet Yanmer partnership was modified in 2011.
the above information was taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.