This page is devoted to the PIECE OF CRAP I
refer to as my "JUNK CADET"
My first garden tractor was a Cub Cadet that I purchased used
in 1986. It was 8-10 years old when I bought it. It was a well
built tractor. That was when it was an INTERNATIONAL Cub Cadet.
It required a little maintenance every now and then.
This page is not intended to slight the "older"
INTERNATIONAL Cub Cadets! They are/were some well built machines.
To prove this, I've included a link to a site where there are
some nice pictures of a really fine looking tractor, similar to
my "old" Model 86. Enjoy! http://www.symtecinc.com/~bdm/CubCadet
In 1993 I decided to buy a new Cub Cadet model 1440 with
hydrostatic drive and all the NEW safety features that my old
tractor lacked. I plunked down $4000 (it was on sale from $4800)
for that piece of crap.
One of the first problems I had was it wouldn't stop. The
hydrostatic neutral position was sloppy to say the least. You
would crawl forward, then backward trying to find stop. (It STILL
does that). Then the headlight lens fell out. It was replaced
twice under warranty, but has fallen out since and because it is
a poorly designed unit, which WILL break again, I haven't
replaced it. The lift height indicator has broken twice, replaced
once under warranty, once out of MY pocket! The switch that is
actuated by the brake pedal, and must be depressed to start the
tractor broke out of warranty. (plastic junk) The charging coil
or whatever it is that replaced the alternator of old, left me
sit (out of warranty, of course). The starter died, the valve
cover gasket leaked, the ignition switch broke,the PTO clutch
went bad ($187.19) and the deck lifting lever broke!
Oh, and by the way, it has 360 hours on it!
Never before haveI felt like I've been ripped off and been
suckered in to shell out $4000 of my hard earned money to buy
this piece of crap!!!!! I thought I would spend the money to buy
a QUALITY tractor that would give me MANY years of faithful
service BEFORE it needed any maintenance. It was obvious it
wasn't built with the same quality as my old tractor.
While replacing the brake switch, I noticed a wire bundle being
rubbed by the metal pieces of the brake pedal assembly. I pulled
it out of the way, and used wire ties to keep it from rubbing
again. Had I not seen that, I'm sure I would have had to replace
a wiring harness by now.
I haven't been able to go one full season without something
breaking!! THAT'S PATHETIC!!!!!! As soon as I can afford it, I
will trade it in on a JOHN DEERE. A few people I know have
had them as long as I've had mine, and NO PROBLEMS!!! I guess
THEY actually MEAN it when THEY say "Built with Pride in the
USA"!!
Update: The lift lever pawl broke (1/10/99)
The snow plow falls off if I try to "back blade"
The hydrostatic drive lever rivets broke (twice)
FINAL UPDATE: TRADED IN JUNK CADET FOR JOHN DEERE MODEL GT225 April 26,99. I love it. Today is Sept 10, 99 and I haven't had ANY problems with it! I'm not surprised!
This page will always be 
(as long as I own this piece of CRAP)
Last Updated 09/10/99