Cub Cadet Original with Danco Loader

[MamaCat]

The first look at the tractor and loader at the auction

1.JPG (78.89 KiB) Viewed 9885 times

Thanks for the add guys, hubby and I are working on a Cub Cadet Original with a Danco RD300 loader. In rough shape, but we are going to take it one piece at a time. While looking for parts, we discovered no place we could find the Danco Decals, any help with that? Am including the picture of what we first saw at the auction- like I said, rough shape.
MamaCat

[BigMike]

Looks like it will clean up nice from here.

[TriumphMan]

If you can find original Danco Decal pictures, many times a graphics shop can make new decals that can match. I've needed to go this route for NLA graphics for RV's or doing custom graphics for vehicles. Some graphics a person has to layer one graphic over another to make the singular piece, but it works.

That lil Original might take some time to look the way you want, but she'll be a beaut.

TriumphMan

[MamaCat]

Thanks Guys. Yeah, it will take some time, but we are doing it one piece at a time and taking our time. We have discovered that a layer of high gloss black on those solid rubber front tires makes them look like new- and is MUCH cheaper than new tires, lol.

[dag1450]

Wow..big project Paula! Good for u helping out! What r u guys doing for paint. Spray cans work real nice for going one piece at a time. My only tip with the spray can paint job is your final coat should b a pretty thick one.....so u don't get "rough" over spray texture. Post some pics when u can. Sounds fun!

[MamaCat]

Taking parts off, slowly.

3.JPG (247.08 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

Unfortunately, too slowly- the bolts came off-- or rather, the bolt heads came off, sigh.

4.JPG (580.36 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

At least the seat and weight box are off!

5.JPG (664.47 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

[MamaCat]

Well, got the loader off finally.

6.JPG (197.53 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

Made up a new bumper- just set it in place to see how it was going to look.

7.JPG (212.96 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

Took forever to get that bar loose and out!

8.JPG (457.73 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

But, with lots of WD40, it finally came out, and we got the loader arms apart

9.JPG (330.19 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

The plate on the loader

10.JPG (103.28 KiB) Viewed 9818 times

[ReicheP]

Looks like a great project, can't wait to see the finished tractor!

[BigMike]

Paula, you mentioned solid rubber tires, doesn't it have pneumatic rubber fronts?

[MamaCat]

Paula, you mentioned solid rubber tires, doesn't it have pneumatic rubber fronts?

No, it did not. The tires are solid rubber, made with rubber and string from the looks of them. After looking around and finding that replacement tires will be quite expensive, and not having any new rims around to use for pneumatic tires, we decided to stick with the solid ones. He cleaned them up with a wire brush, and then spray painted them to give them a better look, and they do look waay better than they did- you can look at the original pictures I posted and see how bad they looked- with moss growing on them even, lol.

[MamaCat]

Wow..big project Paula! Good for u helping out! What r u guys doing for paint. Spray cans work real nice for going one piece at a time. My only tip with the spray can paint job is your final coat should b a pretty thick one.....so u don't get "rough" over spray texture. Post some pics when u can. Sounds fun!

Yeah, he likes the spray cans. That is HIS job. I can clean up stuff, tighten bolts, fasten spring, anything like that, but don't give me a spray paint can, you will have globs and splats all over. On the other hand, he can't paint with a brush to save his soul, and that is when I shine. Lol, we make a good pair!

[TriumphMan]

That is gonna be a very nice piece of machinery once it's completed. Good luck and have lots of patience.

What year of tractor?

[MamaCat]

That is gonna be a very nice piece of machinery once it's completed. Good luck and have lots of patience.

What year of tractor?

It is an Original.

[TriumphMan]

That is gonna be a very nice piece of machinery once it's completed. Good luck and have lots of patience.

What year of tractor?

It is an Original.

Thank you MamaCat, but the Original's were built from '60 to '63.

I've not owned an Original, unless maybe serial # break-down as to build year.

I'm a new Cub owner myself, so I'm still learning.

[MamaCat]

That is gonna be a very nice piece of machinery once it's completed. Good luck and have lots of patience.

What year of tractor?

It is an Original.

Thank you MamaCat, but the Original's were built from '60 to '63.

I've not owned an Original, unless maybe serial # break-down as to build year.

I'm a new Cub owner myself, so I'm still learning.

Sorry, should have been more specific. By the serial number, it is either a late '61 or early '62.

[MamaCat]

The old pedestal

14.JPG (177.12 KiB) Viewed 9752 times

The old frame- you can see where parts were cut out, and things welded on.

15.JPG (144.97 KiB) Viewed 9752 times

The new frame, everything is looking better already!

16.JPG (322.68 KiB) Viewed 9752 times

[MamaCat]

Getting there. The new switch (well, new to us, anyway, lol) is on, the gas tank and mounts are on, the tin is on. The motor is back in the tractor. The loader arms are being painted today. We still have to get to our metal working guy and get the bucket done, but it is slowly getting there. When I think what it looked like when we found it....

[JMotuzick]

looks good are you going to do a full repaint once everything is test run? or just parts and pieces as you go so you have a worker?

[MamaCat]

looks good are you going to do a full repaint once everything is test run? or just parts and pieces as you go so you have a worker?

Yep, it will get a full repaint once it's all back together. He likes to do bits and pieces so he gets some kinda idea of what it is going to look like when done.

[Marlin]

I've found that using vegetable oil on weather checked tires really helps brig life back to them. Just use a paint brush and let it soak in. Wait for it to "dry" and give it another coat in about a week.

[Nick]

Looking good!

[DaveKamp]

Great Work, Paula!

[Rmowl]

That is an awesome tractor, made any more progress? Would like to see the loader operable

[FFCub]

Looks like a cool project.

[mortten]

Dielectric silicone grease also works well on rubber parts