1980 IH Cub Cadet 782

[radioguy41]

Well I finally jumped into the lake with both feet today and bought my first Cub Cadet, a 1980 model 782. It's all original except for the rear tires. Runs great and everything works. The only downside, of course, is it's a series I Kohler KT17 engine but hey, it's lasted 40 years so far and I intend to baby it so fingers crossed. I bought it from the second owner.

Click on image for a larger view.

[Stanton]

Congrats. They can be fun, challenging and somewhat frustrating at times (but most things can be). Enjoy it. As long as you do regular maintenance and don't mow on a slope where the engine is tilted to one side or another, you should be fine. That engine, as you probably have heard, had lubrication issues which will starve certain parts of the engine when tipped, inclined or tilted when running for a period of time.

I bought a '83 CC 782 about 8 years ago with a KT-17 series II. Babied that thing for years; now won't run. Time to get rid of it or replace engine.

1983 Cub Cadet 782

Then bought one at an auction four years ago and still working on it:

1980 Cub Cadet 782

http://farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=93490&hilit=Cadet

[radioguy41]

I see they both have hubcaps, nice.

[Justin313]

Nice Cub Cadets!

[Stanton]

I see they both have hubcaps, nice.

Yeah, plain on the 1983 MTD version (rear only) and a set of 4 with IH on the 1980 model.

[BigBill]

Once they are tuned, oil change, grease, belts, blades sharpened your off and running. The last one I put together ran 12 years. Put some seafoam in the gas tank and crankcase.

[radioguy41]

Baby's getting new shoes.

Most of these AG tires are made in Thailand these days and for reasons known only to them they are all undersize. Their 23x10.50-12 all actually measure 21x9-12. When I set them next to the tires on the tractor you could easily see they were 2 inches smaller so I Googled the problem and found many, many complaints about the same issue. I found one dealer that actually mentioned in their adv that the tires ran small. Maybe today's rulers are different but when I went to school 23 inches was 23 inches, not 21 inches. I then ordered 24x12-12 which, it turns out, actually measure 23x11-12. So if you want the mower deck to sit level make sure the tires you order are true to size or get the next size up.

Here's the 24 sitting next to the 23 on the tractor. Due to the angle of the photo they look a little off but they actually match right up.

[radioguy41]

I found this 44C mower deck complete with mule and carriage today. Well worth the 4.5 hr round trip (and $150).

Click on image for a larger view.

[Stanton]

Glad you found a deck.

Yeah, the tire size issue is a puzzle. I went with a pair of tires from Golf Cart King: https://www.golfcartking.com/arisun-23x10-5-12-x-trail-series-all-terrain-tire-6-ply/

Were true to size and were not deformed like other tires are when shipped.

[radioguy41]

Got the carriage and mule drive cleaned up and mounted today.

[radioguy41]

The 24x12-12's are all mounted. No clearance issues at all.

[Stanton]

The 24x12-12's are all mounted. No clearance issues at all.

Looks like a good fit. Who is the manufacturer or where did you get them?

[radioguy41]

MaxAuto brand and I got them through Amazon. The downside for some might be they're 6 ply but it doesn't bother me.

[radioguy41]

Here's a better pic.

Click on image for a larger view.

[radioguy41]

Put a pair of FCub front wheel weights on the rear wheels using 1/2" x 5" carriage bolts.