Another one finds the barnyard
Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 3:52 pm
Surfing through Craigslist and found an ad for a Cub that said “Not sure what year exactly. Has a 60" woods deck that mows well. Has not run in about a year. Got a new Zero turn and have no use for it. Stale Gas in the tank, needs points cleaned and carb cleaned is my guess.”
Naturally I gotta check it out. It was about 15 minutes away so I was there in no time. The guy said they had used it for seven or eight years and decided to get a new mower so the Cub has sat since last fall. After checking it out I made a “Non running Cub” offer which the seller refused. He said the engine wasn’t locked and felt it was worth more. He said it didn’t need more than a battery a tune up and possibly a starter. I usually carry a crank in the Cuburban but I had the new truck with me so none was available. We dickered back and forth and finally reached a deal.
This thing was in a garage about 300 feet behind his house and the yard had about an inch of water standing in it. He said he would have his sons friends come over and it would be moved to the front of the house before I got back with the trailer.
While I was home getting the trailer I grabbed my tie downs and spotted a hand crank nearby so I thought I’d take it along. When I got back the friends had just pulled in so I told the guy I wanted to make sure the engine turned over before the guys pushed it out of the garage. He said that was no problem and I wouldn’t be obligated to buy it if there was a problem, so we headed to the back. Before we could get there the boys came bustin’ out of the garage pushing the Cub as fast as they could through the high water. When I finally caught up with them I put the crank in and gave it a shot. What do you know, tighter than a drum! That engine wasn’t about to turn over.
The seller and his son looked at each other and the seller finally said he couldn’t believe it. I told him to give it a shot so he did and agreed it needed more work than he originally said. He asked what I thought it could be and I rattled off a list of possibilities from easy to complete rebuild. Then he asked if I still wanted it and I said I did but not at the price we had agreed on. He said he totally understood that. He asked what I would give for it the way it was and I threw a price at him that was well below the offer he first turned down. Without hesitation be agreed.
I have no idea what it needs at this time, but I will soon find out. It is pretty straight all the way around with minor damage on the hood at the left head light but otherwise looks pretty good. The tank is clean and the gas smells okay, it didn't smell stale to me. Just another project.
By the way, here’s a tip for you new guys, Take a hand crank with you whenever you check out a new Cub. It’ll save you some headaches later. I have now added one to the truck so I’m not caught without it again.
Naturally I gotta check it out. It was about 15 minutes away so I was there in no time. The guy said they had used it for seven or eight years and decided to get a new mower so the Cub has sat since last fall. After checking it out I made a “Non running Cub” offer which the seller refused. He said the engine wasn’t locked and felt it was worth more. He said it didn’t need more than a battery a tune up and possibly a starter. I usually carry a crank in the Cuburban but I had the new truck with me so none was available. We dickered back and forth and finally reached a deal.
This thing was in a garage about 300 feet behind his house and the yard had about an inch of water standing in it. He said he would have his sons friends come over and it would be moved to the front of the house before I got back with the trailer.
While I was home getting the trailer I grabbed my tie downs and spotted a hand crank nearby so I thought I’d take it along. When I got back the friends had just pulled in so I told the guy I wanted to make sure the engine turned over before the guys pushed it out of the garage. He said that was no problem and I wouldn’t be obligated to buy it if there was a problem, so we headed to the back. Before we could get there the boys came bustin’ out of the garage pushing the Cub as fast as they could through the high water. When I finally caught up with them I put the crank in and gave it a shot. What do you know, tighter than a drum! That engine wasn’t about to turn over.
The seller and his son looked at each other and the seller finally said he couldn’t believe it. I told him to give it a shot so he did and agreed it needed more work than he originally said. He asked what I thought it could be and I rattled off a list of possibilities from easy to complete rebuild. Then he asked if I still wanted it and I said I did but not at the price we had agreed on. He said he totally understood that. He asked what I would give for it the way it was and I threw a price at him that was well below the offer he first turned down. Without hesitation be agreed.
I have no idea what it needs at this time, but I will soon find out. It is pretty straight all the way around with minor damage on the hood at the left head light but otherwise looks pretty good. The tank is clean and the gas smells okay, it didn't smell stale to me. Just another project.
By the way, here’s a tip for you new guys, Take a hand crank with you whenever you check out a new Cub. It’ll save you some headaches later. I have now added one to the truck so I’m not caught without it again.