Snowblowers are great, but if it is at all windy, you get covered in snow. I had been planning on building a cab (I even had a glass windshield and top from one) but then in March 2011 my Dad found a 1712 with this some attachments and this cab kludged onto it. Contrary to what you may have read on the internet, there are different Sims cabs for the standard GT and SGT tractors. They are NOT interchangeable, and the SGT cab doesn't fit correctly on a GT and vice versa. This is the correct SGT cab for this tractor. I'll highlight the differences in the pictures that follow. I was unable to find any sort of installation instructions for this; I did read on the internet that the factory apparently burned down sometime in the 90's and destroyed all of the documentation for the older units such as this one. What follows should function as installation instructions for anyone that needs to install one of these cabs on their Cub Cadet.
The first step is to install the brackets on the footrests on both sides and install the front uprights. Longer bolts will be necessary. Also notice the funny-shaped hole in the right fender; I didn't want to drill holes in my original fenders, so I used a set of fenders I had off of a CC lawn tractor that are exactly the same otherwise and are completely worthless since they are from a lawn tractor.
Notice the rectangular hole in the bracket for the brake pedals. This is what makes this an SGT cab. The GT cab uprights mount in line with the two front footrest bolts, and there would be no room for the brake pedals.
On this side you can see there is enough room for the brake pedal.
The next step is to bolt the fender brackets to the fenders. Place them as shown in the photos, then mark, drill, and deburr the holes, taking care not to drill into the tire.
After installing the fender brackets on both sides, the rear panel can be installed, followed by the roof. This takes two people. The rear panel bolts to the fender pan bolts.
Note the location of the rear panel with respect to the lip on the fender brackets.
Next is the front panel. The front windshield pivots on two bolts and is balanced well enough that one person can open it to open the hood. Installing this piece is also a two-person job.
Bolts with fender washers and wingnuts retain the front panel at the bottom. To open the hood, the wing nuts are removed, and the windshield pivoted up, the hood opened, and then the windshield pivoted back down. Note: Another reason this cab won't work on a GT is that the front can't open because it is further forward. The PO of the tractor the cab came on cut a hole in the hood to check the oil. Don't do that, it isn't necessary...
All that's left at this point is to install the doors, also a two person job to avoid messing up the glass.
All in all, this was an easy day's project, including undoing the previous owner's mods to make it fit a GT. The visibility isn't horrible inside, and I'm sure it'll be nice in the winter. My Dad will be the only one using it, unless it happens to snow the week between Christmas and New Year's.
