The Most Over-Engineered Garden Tractor Ever Made

In this video, I am showing what I believe to be the most over designed or over engineered garden tractor/lawn mower ever made. This is a 1968 International Harvester Cub Cadet model 72, which is essentially the same as the Cub Cadet 70, 71, and 73. These models have the same rear end as the Farmall Cub. They are a true shaft drive tractor, but they only have 7hp. I do not think you will find another tractor that is built so rugged for the amount of power that it has.

[lightmechanic]

I'm 65+ yrs old and grew up on a farm. At age 8, my dad came home with a Cub Cadet 72 for me to cut grass around the houses and barns. I spent 2 days a week after school riding that tractor cutting grass. 2 tanks of gas a week until I moved out on my own. My dad taught me the maintenance routines and repairs that became my responsibility as I got older. Learned a lot with that simple but robust design.

[mikescaffo]

That's a far cry from the garbage disposal mowers that the box stores sell today they fall apart in one or two seasons that tractor you have is a beautiful American made beast

[shawnm]

I have literally no valid reason to own a garden tractor. Yet, here I am enjoying a video about the history of 1960's Cub Cadets. Amazing resto.

[blackscotydog]

I still mow and move snow with a 1969 are right Absolutely Indestructible. One of Harvester`s ads said these tractors were tested by young boys...."the most destructive force on earth"

[victorriceroni]

Only in a mediocre world that only values the lowest common denominator is a quality product considered over engineered. Thank you for showing us that fine machine.

[markdanielczyk]

Fun fact: the Cub Cadet rear wheel weights are the front weights for the Farmall Cub!

[TADD]

Those old Cubs were tanks. My dad had one, I use to mow the grass with it as a kid. It was a mid 60’s model. 8 hp Kohler. Wish I had it today. Great video.

[henrybates]

One unique fact about those tractors is that you’re right it is the same transmission as a farmall cub but the differential is flipped the other way because the engines turned different directions. I learned this the hard way it drove backwards in first second and third and reverse in forwards

[daver]

I have a 1974. Dad bought it when I was a kid and handed it down to me 30 years ago. Still looks and runs great.

[thewrenchreviews]

Looks as though they were going for as bulletproof a machine as possible. Your restoration is gorgeous. Well done. Now if it only had a cab for winter plowing...lol!

[kennolte]

New to the channel here in Texas. The Cub Cadet has always been an iconic garden tractor. You did an excellent job of restoring it. Very informative too. Garden tractors are some of the most abused and overused pieces of equipment. Great to see your videos.

[shadovanish]

The old Wheel Horse garden tractors were built pretty solidly too.

[marcfleury]

My Dad had a 1979 Areins model H garden tractor that was also very over engineered. It had a Kohler 12 horse powered engine that was also shaft drive to a hydrostatic transmission, no "U" joints also. The rear axel was a small Ford truck axel, and the hydrostatic drive also was used for hydrolic lifting of attachments that were all super heavy, all were built out of 1/4" steel plate. Nice Cub Cadet restoration.

[RJx]

Most over engineered garden tractor? In 1968 Allis Chalmers was making the 616-620 which had 20 HP, front mid and rear PTO dual hydraulics, 3 pt hitch, dual hydraulics, dual brakes, 3 speed transmission with hydro, and limited slip differential.
Nice video though

[hillbillychrist]

Gravely 816t! There is no doubt about gravely making the premier garden tractor. The engine and transmission was centered over the rear axle. They used a Koehler twin that was cast iron. The rear axle was 1 1/4”. The traction was off the charts. A set of chains and the snow dozer blade makes it a snow removal beast. The mower deck was mid mount shaft driven and cut the lawn like a carpet. I could go on and on, but nothing comes close to what those tractors could do. Some people took the old four speed tractors and mounted tracks on them. Enter beast mode.

[markhenderson]

My grandfather had 2 of them your spot on, heavy duty

[gregorykleinschmit]

Economy Power King tractors had a similar drivetrain layout and were built before the Cubs.
That being said, a round fender Cub Cadet is on my bucket list!
Love these little tractors!

[davidepperson]

Dude - great explanation, great restoration and a most excellent video - thank you for taking the time to make and share it with the world!

[xersize]

Excellent presentation, beautifully restored. My father purchased 1968 model 122. 12.2hp. I spent every summer cutting our 1 acre lot once a week, beast of a machine. Had tire chains and weights for snow blowing steep driveway. I use to drive up and down our ditches 3 foot snow drifts uphill noe problem. We still have it fully operational, in fact it has 3 of the original Goodyear lawn tires. During humid summertime conditions after engine was warmed up I would shut down get the oil squirt can Quaker state 30 at and put 4-5 pumps down exhaust start up and drive around the yard for mosquito abatement. IH 12 mosquito 0, that was in 1970, earth's atmosphere still around. That Cub Cadet was so much fun, kept me busy and out of trouble.
Thank you for nice video.

[Brian-crrb]

Thanks for the tour! I'm lucky to have been gifted one of these about 20 years ago or so now. I didn't know about all those options either. No fenders, no lights, no 3 point. But original working creeper, deck, and the pulley system off the PTO that still works! I keep her under cover and she can still cut grass if I ask her to. It's a pleasure to own something that was built to last and stands the test of time. When my friend and I were kids, I'm talking 1995 or so, we bought a 128 and 147 hydrostatic that we started a business with. Which was fueled by his dad who cut the lawn on that 72 which he gave to me. 72 saved the day many times if we had a breakdown.