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  #1  
Old 07-07-2017, 10:53 AM
jzidle jzidle is offline
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Location: Maine
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Default Cub Cadet 123

Good morning all!
I'm new here and am probably going to end up with about a million questions. I bought a 123 this year partly for fun but mainly for snowblowing a long driveway here in Maine. The original owner had good intentions but made a few mistakes. It has a newer K301 on it with many new parts (carb) etc. It runs well but requires a little bit of choke at all times to remain smooth running. Also, it's hard to restart after running for a while; requires playing with the choke. He had been using Cub Cadet oil in it which I should've inspected harder as I later discovered that it was 2 cycle oil. I overpaid for sure. It doesn't smoke though and I changed the oil twice and am thinking of going synthetic 30W on the next change. I'll take any and all advice from anyone on this machine.
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Old 07-07-2017, 11:22 AM
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Terry C Terry C is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jzidle View Post
Good morning all!
I'm new here and am probably going to end up with about a million questions. I bought a 123 this year partly for fun but mainly for snowblowing a long driveway here in Maine. The original owner had good intentions but made a few mistakes. It has a newer K301 on it with many new parts (carb) etc. It runs well but requires a little bit of choke at all times to remain smooth running. Also, it's hard to restart after running for a while; requires playing with the choke. He had been using Cub Cadet oil in it which I should've inspected harder as I later discovered that it was 2 cycle oil. I overpaid for sure. It doesn't smoke though and I changed the oil twice and am thinking of going synthetic 30W on the next change. I'll take any and all advice from anyone on this machine.
Welcome to OCC! 123 is a really a nice tractor, one of my favorites.
I would suggest cleaning the entire fuel system, then set to factory settings on the carb and fire it up. Fine tune the top and idle screws after that.
123 is the last all metal cub and will serve you well.
Edit: I run 10w30 in the winter and straight 30w in the summer. Many guys run the 10w30 year round
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O,100,72,102,123,104,124,105
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  #3  
Old 07-07-2017, 12:46 PM
jzidle jzidle is offline
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Thanks for the advice! I was worried that if I switched to 10W-30, it might smoke on startup. My guess is though that when it's sub-freezing weather, it won't start well at all. I'm glad the 123 is one of someone's favorites. I really like the general weight/build of everything about it. I have a ton to learn about caring for it though. It could use some decals but I don't even know how to attempt the dashboard decal. Do you feel that it's okay to run it at about 3/4 throttle unless doing heavy work? I'd kind of like it to have an easy life. The motor has a 1988 code but I have no idea when it was actually put into service running for who knows how long with 2-cycle oil in the crankcase.
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Old 07-07-2017, 01:39 PM
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Terry C Terry C is offline
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I only work one or two of my tractors. The rest including the 123 are half to one quarter throttle all the time. Just out driving the around.
I would change the rear end fluid and filter before winter. Tractors the are on snow duty for me get IH Hytran in the rear end. Make sure you don't have leaks first cause they don't give that Hytran away.
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O,100,72,102,123,104,124,105
125,129,149,1200,982
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3225
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  #5  
Old 07-07-2017, 01:43 PM
jzidle jzidle is offline
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Thanks Terry!
This machine doesn't leak a drop of anything but the original owner told me that he never changed the hydro fluid. Two or three times a year he'd put it on a grade and change the filter losing as little fluid as possible and refill. I've heard more than once that this is acceptable but I don't care for the idea a lot. The fluid looks perfectly clean but it must break down somehow. That said, everything does operate smoothly and continuously on any surface.
Joe
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Old 07-07-2017, 02:07 PM
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Terry C Terry C is offline
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Originally Posted by jzidle View Post
Thanks Terry!
This machine doesn't leak a drop of anything but the original owner told me that he never changed the hydro fluid. Two or three times a year he'd put it on a grade and change the filter losing as little fluid as possible and refill. I've heard more than once that this is acceptable but I don't care for the idea a lot. The fluid looks perfectly clean but it must break down somehow. That said, everything does operate smoothly and continuously on any surface.
Joe
I would change it. Good time to inspect everything and get the gunk out of the bottom of the tranny.
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Terry

O,100,72,102,123,104,124,105
125,129,149,1200,982
(2)2182s w/60in Habans
3225
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  #7  
Old 07-07-2017, 02:53 PM
jzidle jzidle is offline
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Here's a pic of it. Hope I did this right.
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File Type: jpg IMG_2711.jpg (25.5 KB, 111 views)
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  #8  
Old 07-07-2017, 03:34 PM
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sorner sorner is offline
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Here's a pic of it. Hope I did this right.
Wait, that's the tractor the day it was brand new...right? Pretty clear photo for 1967.
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  #9  
Old 07-07-2017, 03:53 PM
jzidle jzidle is offline
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Haha!
Thanks for making me feel like maybe I didn't overpay for it. It needs a few decals which are probably awful to replace. It looks great for sure. $1500 with a blower that could use painting. It was the highest priced I could find.
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  #10  
Old 07-07-2017, 04:02 PM
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Terry C Terry C is offline
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Looks like a good seat! Nice tractor, doesn't matter what you paid if you are happy.
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O,100,72,102,123,104,124,105
125,129,149,1200,982
(2)2182s w/60in Habans
3225
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Cub Cadet is a premium line of outdoor power equipment, established in 1961 as part of International Harvester. During the 1960s, IH initiated an entirely new line of lawn and garden equipment aimed at the owners rural homes with large yards and private gardens. There were a wide variety of Cub Cadet branded and after-market attachments available; including mowers, blades, snow blowers, front loaders, plows, carts, etc. Cub Cadet advertising at that time harped on their thorough testing by "boys - acknowledged by many as the world's worst destructive force!". Cub Cadets became known for their dependability and rugged construction.

MTD Products, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio purchased the Cub Cadet brand from International Harvester in 1981. Cub Cadet was held as a wholly owned subsidiary for many years following this acquisition, which allowed them to operate independently. Recently, MTD has taken a more aggressive role and integrated Cub Cadet into its other lines of power equipment.

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