129 Hydro serial number info

[nosih]

I have posted this in the past with no reply, and I am sure someone out there possibly has the info I am looking for.. I know of a 129 Hydro with a deck serial number of 501. Does anyone know the serial number of the 1st 129 hydro? This specific 129 hydro was originally sold used thru the IH dealer in St. Charles Illinois.

[Rudi]

Can't be sure, but ifn the same practice was carried out for the Cadets as with the Cubs, then 501 would be the first production 129.....

maybe Ken at http://www.cngo.com would know for sure. send him an email and see what transpires.

[nosih]

only the deck is serial number 501... I didn't write down the actual serial number of the CC, but can get it in a month or so..

[Paul B]

That #501 on the deck is most likely not a serial number. Most decks had a "kind code, model # and the deck cutting width on the data plate that was on them.

Cub Cadet S/N's did not start with 501 for each model like the bigger tractors. They started with S/N 501 on the first of 25 test units and continued in a numerical sequence regardless of the model number of the tractor. The first S/N off the line after production began in Jan 1961, was #590. The series that a 129 is part of (model's 86, 108, 109, 128, 129, 149 and later the 169) began in Sep 1971 with S/N 400001 and the series ended with S/N 529811 in Oct 1974.

[Rudi]

There ya go, I knew someone with the info would pop in. Soooo, they changed the practice.... reasonable I guess. Glad they did start one at 501 though....

Someday gonna get me an IH CC to replace that Craftsman of mine

[Paul B]

#501 may still be out there Rudi. I'm only 9 off. I have #510 and the prototype #409.

[Rudi]

Paul:

Always wanted to ask but kept forgetting. How did you ever get lucky enough to find and buy no less a preproduction prototype????

It must be one of only a few left and quite rare?

[nosih]

I don't think what I have found is described that great.. The 129 hydr tractor does not have a serial number of 501. The mower deck under it has a serial tag that lists the model number of the mower, and a serial number for the mower of 501. The information I am looking for is the absolute serial number of the first 129 Hydro if that specific number is known... It has been a few years since I have looked at this lawn tractor, and I will go back and take a peek at it in a few weeks and try to get some pics...

[Paul B]

Rudi
Lucky is the key word. On 409, the previous owner posted some questions about a Cub Cadet he had on a forum and I went to see it to help determine what he had, and bought 3-4 months later. It is 1 of 10 built at IH Louisville Works Oct 5-14, 1960. There is 1 older, although with a higher number, #411, that is 1 of 3 built in the first months of 1960 at the Engineering Center in Hinsdale, IL., and is probably the only one of the three built that was a running, operating tractor. The 4xx numbers were stamped into the tractors when they were released for sale (primarily to employee's), and the Engineering "Q" tag (inventory tag) was removed. The #'s 401-410 had been used on the Louisville built tractors, so the remaining one was stamped 411. The "Q" tag on 409 is/was QFE-1911. The "Q" # on 411 was a lower #, but I do not know what it was. It is owned by the family of former IH engineer Harold Schramm, who passed away unexpectedly Sunday after RPRU. He was also one of the designers of the Original Cub Cadet and some of the later models.

#510 is 1 of 25 test units built in Nov 1960, and was in a barn owned by a dealer, and had been there for 10-12 years when I was told about by a friend. The previous owner, a former IH employee, had brought it in to have the engine rebuilt and then traded it when he was given a cost to rebuild, and dealer then took to it to his farm to "restore some day". He just knew it was a low serial number.

I also have #556, another preproduction tractor. It is one of a limited run built in Nov-Dec 1960 to get the assembly line set up and running. I found it advertised for sale in Red Power magazine.