Cub Cadet 169 serial number ?

[red56turbo]

I was curious if anyone or IH kept track of the last 169 produced and what it's serial number was. I just picked up a nice 169 and the serial number is 529194. It is very interesting also written on the back of the dash tower are the words, "last one". This is written on the inside, and it appears to have the original paint. I realize any joe could have written this, but was curious to the last serial number. Hopefully PaulB can help me out here.

Thanks,
Josh

[wdeturck]

That 169 was produced in Oct of 1974 and that is the last month of production. The total produced was 5,004 and the first SN was 506737 but I really don't know the last serial number. The Quiet Line, the next series started with SN 530001 also in Oct. of 74. I'm sure Paul Bell will add to this as he supplied the information on the production numbers.

[Paul B]

Geezer got his numbers backwards, guess he hasn't been to Micky Dee's for him morning coffee and donut yet

There were reported to be 4005, 169's built. I don't know what the S/N of the last one was, but the last S/N for the series (86,108,109,128,129,149,169) is shown as 529811, and the 169's were built at the end (last couple of months or so) of the series production.

Harold Schramm, a former IH design engineer and one of the designer's of the Original model, showed me ond others, a time line graft of that series run that was made by Keith Burham I believe, and although the graft had a couple of mistakes according to Harold, basically, the best I remember it showed that production of all the other tractors in the series had ended by the time production of the 169 started. It showed the end of the 149 run overlapping the start of the 169 run, but production of all other models in the series had ended, HOWEVER, the starting S/N for the 169 that Geezer posted, and that is also shown in "Hank" Will's book CUB CADET The First 45 Years, does not support this, so somewhere there are some number descripancies (sp).

So to answer your question, no I can't answer it and I don't know if the last number shown for the series is the last number of a 169 or of another model in the series. I can tell you that as far as is known, the 149's were all built with a hydraulic lift for the deck, but most 169's were built with a manual lift due to a parts shortage (control valve) from a supplier. The tractors were built with the ported hydro that was required for the lift, but it was plugged. A kit to retrofit these tractors with the hydraulic lift was announced in Feb 1975, but most 169's you find still have a manual lift. The 149 and 169 are the only two models of the series that had hydraulics as "standard equipment" , or at least were suppose to have, it was optional on the other hydro models.

[red56turbo]

Geezer and PaulB,

Thanks for the info. The gentleman I bought it from has had it for two years and brought it from Ohio. He didn't know if it was the last one, but couldn't explain the written words on the dash tower. It is very interesting to know they stopped production of the 108-129's and just finished with 149-169's. If that is the case, this probably isn't the last one! I wonder if anyone is collecting 169 numbers? Again, gentleman, thanks for the info. Harold was very knowledgeable and helped to start the cub cadets from the beginning. On a side note, my 169 has hydraulic lift.

Thanks,
Josh

[Rudi]

Paul:

Harold Schramm, a former IH design engineer and one of the designer's of the Original model

By any chance is this Harold Schramm the same who designed/produced the Schramm Pneumatic Tractor

Enquiring Minds need to know

[Paul B]

Not as far as I know. Harold went to work for IH about 1958, fresh out of school, and stayed with IH until they closed. He designed the driveline for the Cub Cadet Original, most of the Cub Cadet 70/100, some work on the Farmall 560, and was quite involved with the big IH 4100 4 wheel drive/4 wheel steer tractor built from 1965 into the 70's. Later he was the Outdoor Power Products manager (that title may not be correct) and when IH sold the Cub Cadet line to Cub Cadet Corp, he was involved in moving the 200 plus semi loads of parts and tooling from the IH plants in Louisville, KY and Memphis, TN, to the CCC plant in Brownsville, TN. As a tid-bit of Cub Cadet info, most of the design team of the Original model Cub Cadet were new, fresh out of school, IH employee's.

[Rudi]

Paul:

Thanks, that was an interesting tidbit.

Boy... some of the stuff that you know would really make for a GOOD BOOK.. or as a start.. a Cub Cadet Book of Knowledge

[wdeturck]

I was just in the IH Registry and the highest SN was 529656(Manual lift).

[red56turbo]

Geezer,

Thanks for the info. Answers my question. Doesn't make a difference because I wanted a 169 anyway! Working on collecting the set of 1x8/1x9's. Always was curious if someone had a registry.

Thanks again,
Josh

[ih-cubcadet-man]

congradulations on a rare find

[red56turbo]

ih-cub-cadet-man wrote, "congradulations on a rare find"

Thanks Mike!

Wasn't looking to buy anymore this year and you know how that goes!!!! Couldn't pass up the great deal..... Now only 2 to find. Aside from the 149, the 169 is my favorite. Nice running tractor!

Josh