Vintage International Garden Tractors

Come and listen to my story about a dude named Dewey; A real Baptist preacher, whose only cuss word
is "phooey!" But then one day he found an International Cub Cadet 128 -- Right then and right there he
knew it was fate...make no mistake.

International 1066 that is, mini-tractor, a real Tennessee ruby.

By Kate Goelzhauser, Editor
Lagc_kate@yahoo.com

The whole incident occurred last year, August of 2008 in Blaine, Tennessee. An innocent man, Dale
Younker, was accused of attending too many tractor shows; accused by the love of his life, Jan Younker.
This would happen no more! Not until he gave her a tractor of her own to display and show! Not an
unreasonable request, but certainly a strong one from his pretty bride. He knew it wasn't a bluff…she
meant business!

Not only was Dale in the frequent habit of attending tractor shows both near and abroad, he also
enjoyed showing off his mini-muscle garden tractors at the local tractor pulls. These tractors were serious
competition. Dale has a reputation for having hot tractors with flashy decals and killer designs. In fact,
that is how he met the man responsible for Jan's tractor. Meet Dewey Mitchell.

Dewey Mitchell is a garden tractor puller. He started the hobby with his son Cody in 2004. Cody wanted
to pull riding mowers. That sounded okay to Dewey whose profession is working as railroad mechanic.
Before long, Cody and Dewey threw together a working pull mower. As weeks passed by the more
competitive the dad and son team became. They became more familiar with the mechanics of the game
and knew how to modify the tractor to make it a winner.

After becoming acquainted with Dale at the tractor pulls, Dewey decided it was time to have Dale make
some decals to give the tractor a "racy" look. Thus, a friendship sparked. Dale had big ideas; Dewey had
the mechanical know-how. Dale had an old Cub 128; Dewey had sugar-free Red Bull. The Cub was
previously owned and purchased from Sterling Farm Equipment, owned by Jan's family, in Sterling,
Ohio. Up until now, Dale was planning to use it as a spare mower. "If you want to hear God laugh, tell
him your plans."

Jan was uncertain what kind of tractor she wanted; Dale grew up using International tractors on their
dairy farm in Ohio. In 1971 the Cub Cadet 128 was modeled after the IH 1066, so although it was in
pieces, it seemed practical to use what was already available. Dale had previously ordered a narrow
front-end kit. Dewey soon discovered that the workmanship of this kit would not provide the sturdy
structure that was needed, so he decided to build one himself. But before the building could begin, they
had to settle on what most would consider being the most important part of the tractor: the engine.

In order to meet the same specifications of the IH 1066 farm tractor, the guys knew that the only way to
go was with the purchase of a diesel engine. Using a gas engine would give it that "lawnmower"
appearance which they wanted to avoid. Knowing that the mini-tractor would be a much more
meticulous project than the average rebuild, a Z602 Kubota engine was purchased to meet the criteria
Dale has set. The engine is fully functional with a radiator; a true engine system just like the 1066 farm
tractor.

After acquiring the diesel engine, the planning began. Using the diesel engine, Dewey mentally measured
the tractor dimensions. In his exact words, "Gotta have a starting point before taking off!" Next he
stripped the tractor down to the frame. He talked his visions over with Dale. He also spent hours looking
at the engine, doing more talking, studying the design a little more and making several changes in his
plans. This entire process took lots and lots of patience. Trying hard not to be overzealous, Dewey spent
several hours hashing over the details before beginning the project. Their views and ideas differed at
times. During this design process, Dewey was recovering from a broken shoulder incurred while
operating an ATV. There would be six weeks to iron out the details, but no work until the shoulder had
healed.

In October 2008, the actual work commenced with the customized frame and motor mounts. Because of
the tricycle front end, unless you cross the steering rod, it reverses the turning direction. For clearance of
the oil pan and the different variables, Dewey had to go and re-do the mounts; not only for the engine
but for the radiator as well. He used a plasma cutter to notch out the grill, braces and support casting to
allow for clearance. Dewey claims that this was the most difficult part of the process.

The transformation was in full swing. The guys were working in Dale's shop at the house and at his place
of business. Jan would swing by from time to time, curious to what they were cooking up. "I would stop
by and see the engine sitting in the tractor. Another day I would see it completely taken out of the
tractor! I didn't have a clue what was going on. Whatever it was they were doing, they were pretty
enthusiastic about it. To me it didn't look like anything was being accomplished."

Jan seemed to lose interest completely when Dewey encountered problems with the rear end. He
discovered that the motor was turning in the wrong direction. He had to take the rear end out and
reverse it completely. "When first put together, it had three reverse gears and one forward. When you
steered right you would go left; when you steered left you would go right!"

Once the rear end was corrected, Jan's interest took a turn. She had no idea what Dewey was capable of.
After seeing the "body work" she was able to see his vision a little more clearly. Dewey drew and
fabricated the body of the tractor using cardboard. Her excitement was newly sparked, but just a little.

After securing the last of the sheet metal, primer and paint brought a whole new life to the tractor
dream. "Jan, come down here. You need to drive this tractor!" Dale was anxious to see her reaction to
this five-month project. She excitedly explained, "I didn't think it would supercede the other tractors
Dale already had, but it really exceeded my expectations."

Jan proudly displays her new tractor. Its first appearance was in Florida at the February Flywheeler
show. When she fired it up, the crowds swarmed around, the cameras started clicking away and the
questions began to fly. Excited tractor buffs left and then returned with friends and the whole show
started over again. "The response to the mini-tractor is astonishing to me! It really is!" stated Jan.

The next project for the duo of Dewey and Dale is working on Dewey's new pulling tractor, Red Bull.
Red Bull is a loud, Cub Cadet 682 that has been stripped, stretched and fabricated. Once completed, the
next mini-tractor project begins: a John Deere 4020 diesel.