Bought another WF cub today
 

I had posted a thread asking questions about a 149, found one for sale, talked on the phone to the seller and stated it did not have hydraulic lift. I thought this was odd, but in the other thread I had, was told that IH had a shortage on parts, and was possible to get one with a manual lift.

So today, I went to go see it. Thanks to the other thread, DX3 (Dwayne) provided a snipit of a chart that indicates the model number in the tractor serial number. This particular tractor was listed by the seller as a 149, after getting the first glance of it, I knew it had the wrong engine, gaps were too large between the frame and flywheel shroud, up on further checking I found the kohler sticker indicating it was a 12 hp, K301:

Attachment 13332

I then looked at the serial number, 20500461490437...the 0046 in it compares to the chart Dwayne provided indictating it is a 129. Looking at the chart in the tractor tech section of this site tells me it was built in Nov-Dec 1973. Here are some pics of the tractor itself:

Attachment 13333Attachment 13334
Attachment 13335Attachment 13336

This one differs from my 149, it has the pto with the brake:
Attachment 13337

The hood was the inner support broken off of it, the PO improvised by adding what appears to be the remains of jeep style hood latches to each side of the hood:
Attachment 13338

Attachment 13339

The tractor started pretty easily (had been sitting since last fall, outside uncovered....the PO bought a new tractor and it took this ones spot in the shed, it got kick outside to fend for itself) and seems to run fairly well, throttles up and down, a little bit of black smoke when winding it up, I would say it needs serviced, a good carb cleaning, and checking the timing, it ought to run great. The deck is a 44" that is solid and turns freely (a few bumps and bruises though). It had 2 bolts missing from the left axle tube where it bolts to the frame, driving it up on my tilt trailer was a little scary, the left rear fender started lifting itself up as I got on the incline of the trailer! I had noticed the bolts missing earlier when I was looking the tractor over trying to figure out what I was getting, got it home and thought I would toss in a couple bolts...I could not get them in, believe it sheared the bolts off in the rear end case...I will have to look into that, it will be sitting until that is fixed, I am sure it has to be rough on the drive line with the rear end heaving up and down. I can hardly wait to get the broken bolts out of the rear end case, I am sure it will be really fun, probably many many outbursts of laughter too....LOL!

It is kind of a hodge podge of cub parts, hood and dash appear to be 149 (decals look original), the headlights and panel they sit in look to be from a 1xxx series tractor, and the rear end is at least from a 129. This will fall on the back burner for now, the 149 needs finished first. Speaking of the 149, I was needing to buy a new drive shaft and drive pin cup for it...I can hold off for now and rob the ones from this 129, they look to be brand new, I could not see any wear in the pin cup and the driveshaft is still raw steel, not a hint of surface rust on it!

The seller started out asking $400, was able to walk away with it for half that, I think I did okay!

Nice tractor! So what model do you have now? and what is with all the PO mods with the lights and the hood thing? :bigthink:

Looks like a 129 that dr. Frankenstein has been working on... But.. It won't take much to get it lined out.. Looks good. Congrats on the WF. :beerchug:

I knew if you checked the sticker on the shroud that it would possibly be a 12 hp!! Wonder if the cowl has been changed or if it has just been repowered with a 12 hp?:bigthink:

Cub Cadet 123

Front atv tires? Wonder if they work better than the turf tires I have? Weird po mods you get to straighten out!! Congrats

Sweet score! Some more PO mods for you to undue! Just what the doctor ordered!:biggrin2:

Over all it looks pretty good! Tins and paint in great shape!

Nice find, Jeff! :beerchug:

I think when I get too it's resto, I will buy 129 decals for it...I forgot to mention it needs trunion repair (par for the course, it appears) and an un ported hydro pump. Serial number and motor hint 129, if it looks, quacks, and walks like a duck, it must be a duck...LOL!

:biggrin2:

I am thinking they tossed on a 149 hood:bigthink:


I actually think they are intended to be on a self propelled snow thrower.

Here we go again....I haven't even got all them straightened out on the 149 yet...LOL

10 footer at best, paint work is easier for me than other things are....

Thanks guys!

Nice find on the 149, I think thats the best hydro they made, I hate hydros!

That PTO in the front is kinda expensive to rebuild if your even going to use it. Ive taken a few of them off and sold them on Epay and used that money to buy the earlier ones to put back on them.

As far as the 12 vs the 14 you wont see much of a difference in my opinion, for what is worth, as long as both engines had the small exhaust valves. I like the 14's that have the large exhaust valve, they seem more powerful. The last 147 that came here had one in it with a sloppy .030 piston in it but Ill just re-sleeve it and put it in something some day :Unknown:

:Announce:


After looking at the pics, you bought a 129! 149 came stock with hydro lift, lights and 3pt



Still a good buy

Yep, I would say it is a 129 with a 149 hood and dash, I was really wanting a second 149 to use for mowing duties and keep it in original paint scheme, the one in my build thread, "Cub 149 Resto-mod" is going to be red. I will keep this oem looking and re decal it with correct 129 decals when I give it the once over, heck it is the 149's littler brother, close enough!

You can find the 129 with hydro lift on them. And you can drop in the 14 cause it aint like a narrow frame. I had this tractor biught it from the original owner who remember his uncle placing the order with the dealer to have hydro lift installed. I put the front end under it and the loader on it. It was a plowing fool! You couldnt tell the differance between the 129 and 149's Ive had.

I like your idea of keeping it a 129. I have two 149s and would love to have one of each of the 1x8/9s. You did good on price to!

axle tube seals
 

Thanks for the comments guys!

This morning I had a chance to work on the new "129" (was getting burned out sanding and painting parts on the 149). I decided I need to start on the rear end, get out the broken bolts in the left axle tube, where it bolts to the frame. I dropped the rear cover, removed the rear wheels, disk brake calipers, and pulled the axle out. I then removed the remaing bolts from the axle tube and got it off the tractor. After putting up a fight, I was able to get the remains (broken off just below the surface of the rear diff) of the bolts out. Removing the axle tube destroyed the gasket that seals it to the diff, I did not want to wait on parts, so I cut a new gasket out of a sheet of cork gasket material I had on hand. Since i had the cork out, i went ahead and made a gasket for the rear cover and one to replace the seal between the pump and diff. I am thinking it would be okay to go this route, the axle tube gasket's purpose is to keep the fluid in and the elements out, anyone see me running into any problems going this route?

I knew the right side axle tube axle seal was bad, inside of that wheel is covered in hytran and dirt, turns out the right side one was leaking too, but not nearly as badly. I called it a day, went to the auto parts store and ordered the axle seals, hytran replacement, and new filter. This stuff will be in tomorrow, if I get the chance I will put the seals in, brakes and wheels back on, and then split the tractor to replace the seal between the pump and diff, give it a good power washing, and deal with the trunion repairs.

I am just trying to get this one repaired for now to use it, so trying to get stuff fixed as quickly as I can. This brings up another question, has anyone ever split their tractors without removing the rear fenders/ seat pan. I think I am going to try to go this route, would save me some time not removing those items.

Sorry for not posting pics, was in a bit of a hurry to get done!