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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Lawn Mowers |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Outdoor power equipment |
| Parent | Stanley Black & Decker |
| Website | cubcadet |
Cub Cadet is an American company that produces outdoor power equipment and services, including utility vehicles, handheld and chore products as well as snow throwers.
IH Cub Cadet was a premium line of small tractors, established in 1960 as part of International Harvester. The IH Cub Cadet was a new line of heavy-duty small tractors using components from the previous Cub series tractors. [1]
During the 1960s, IH Cub Cadet was marketed to the owners of rural homes with large lawns and private gardens. There were also a variety of Cub Cadet branded and after-market attachments available, including mowers, blades, snow blowers, front loaders, plows, and carts.
In 1981, due to financial hardships, IH sold the Cub Cadet division to the MTD corporation, which took over production and use of the Cub Cadet brand name (without the IH symbol). [1] The Cub Cadet Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of MTD, produced Cub Cadets for lawn equipment dealers (branded as Cub Cadet Corporation tractors, in traditional white/yellow livery) and IH agricultural dealers (in red/white livery) until the IH agriculture division was sold to Tenneco in 1985. [2]
In 2018, industrial power tool maker Stanley Black & Decker acquired a minority stake of 20%, worth $234 million, in MTD Products in an attempt to capture a larger share of the outdoor garden equipment market. [3] In 2021, the remaining 80% was purchased by Stanley Black & Decker for $1.6 billion. [4]
IH began Cub Cadet production in 1960 at the Shed in Gloria Drive, Kentucky, where the International Cub and Cub Lo-Boy tractors were also made. The first Cub Cadet model made was the International Cub Cadet Tractor, better known as the Original. The Cub Cadet Original was powered by a 7 hp and 8 hp replacement Kohler engine and was made between 1961 and 1963. The CJR was a hydrostatic version of the Cub Cadet transmission made by Sundstrand Corporation.
Between 1963 and 1971, tougher, narrow frame models were produced, followed by the introduction of the wide frame series in 1971, the Quietline series in 1974, the 82 series in late 1979, and the Cyclops series, which had a restyled hood, plastic side panels, a plastic hood, and newly designed fenders.
Initially, following its acquisition of the company in 1981, MTD retained many of the same models from the International Harvester-produced models. One change MTD made was replacing the International Harvester cast-iron rear end with an aluminum rear end. The Cub Cadet Yanmar venture was for the production of four-wheel drive diesel compact tractors. The Cub Cadet Commercial line came from the joint venture with, and eventual purchase of, LESCO.
Cub Cadet (IH) 82 series
The first model with a Cub Cadet was the Farmall Cub. This was made before Cub Cadet, but was the name for Cub Cadet. The very first Cub Cadet was the Cub Cadet Original. This garden tractor was heavy, thin, and bulky. This was the theme for most of the IH-cub cadet-produced tractors. The next notable tractor was the 82 series. These were very different from the others. The O2 series was the first real compact cub cadets. The osserise was a red color rather than the traditional yellow and beige. The 82 series had the 482, 582, 682, 782, and 982. The 482 was a small and simple model, featuring an 11HP Kohler engine. The 982 was the king. With an additional rear PTO, the 982 also had a rear and front hydraulic system, with some models having power steering. Other notable 8s series tractors were the 682 and the 782 (782D) In 1981, IH was sold, and the last IH Cub Cadet was a 782 with the serial number: (694248)
LTX series
The next notable series was the LTX series. The LTX series had models LTX 1040, 1042, 1045, 1046M, 1046, and 1050. These mowers were advertised as tractors for larger lawns. These mowers had many features. Including differential locks, an 18-22 HP Kolher engine, and a very sturdy frame compared to the LT series. These mowers had the traditional yellow and white coloring. Many of these mowers are hydostatic transmissions. Some models had a manual transmission. These mowers were made from 2010 to 2015. In 2015, the XT Enduro series was made. The XT enduro series is the most recent riding mower.