126 Refurb
 

I just finished posting a separate thread on my 1650 refurb and figured I might as well start one on my 126 that I picked-up (see http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=22273).

The 126 appears to be in overall good condition, but the engine has a broken rod and some galling on the crank. The engine needs a rebuild.

In the mean time, I picked-up a 122 for a donor. At first, it was going to be a donor, then I had a line on another 12 hp rebuilt engine, but it sold before I got back to the seller - and my Wife/Boss reminded me that the reason we have another tractor in the yard was for a DONOR - not to add to the fleet, soooo, the 122 is once again a donor.

I pulled the engine out of the 122 tonight and pulled the head. It looks great, some carbon on the head, cylinder head and piston, but nothing causing me concern. The engine is a black crate engine, not the original and I was hoping it would not be as worn-out as the rest of the 122. Looking down the cylinder bore, it is very clean with some cross-hatching still visible. This engine will get decarb'd, a new head gasket, a cast iron oil pan (present one is aluminum), pan gasket and a check (and removal if present) for balance gears. I need a grass screen for it and need to figure out how to get the drive plate off the flywheel too. I won't paint the engine right off the bat - want to get the engine in the 126 and run it to see what I've got before I go into crazy mode doing a restore vs a working tractor refurb.

Other parts going to the 126 from the 122 is a rear 3 point hitch (I call them sleeve hitches) and a spring assist. I may also swap the front axle too as one of the steering arms attached to the spindle is fouled-up by the PO. I will keep other items from the 122 for spares too, like clutch parts, voltage regulator, etc.

So the refurb on the 126 is underway - thanks in advance for your help!!!

Bill

Bill good luck with the engine swap. Keep the 122 as a donor until you can locate another engine then move it to back up tractor and you'll sneak one into the fleet via the back door.:beerchug: The hard part is getting them home and once they are at the house time to get them ready to join the other workers.:biggrin2:

Got the drive plate off the donor engine from the 122. Ordered from Dave Kirk a super steer kit, a points and points cover kit (which looks like socket head cap screws) and a magnetic oil drain plug.

I need to pull the tractor outside and give it a power spray wash before I begin putting things back together.

Thanks for the update!

Update: Got the 126 chassis cleaned-up and ready for engine reinstall. I took the oil pan off the engine (a replacement crate engine) and am going to swap out the aluminum oil pan for a cast iron one. Also removed the balance gears from the engine. I've got a super steer upgrade to do and I think I can install the engine.

Thanks!
Bill

Thanks for the update Bill!:beerchug:

What Mike said!

Thanks for the update Bill!

Update: Had a little time tonight to tinker with the 126.

Engine from 122 is ready to drop into the 126. As far as I can tell, the wiring harness on the 126 seems to be intact and OK. I've read the 1x5/6 wires can be problematic with age - we'll see.

Need to replace the clutch teaser spring - which I have. Question is - when you drive out the roll pins, do you block-up the end of the drive shaft with something like a piece of 2 x 4 or just bang away and drive the pins out?

Also managed to loose one of my new anti-rattle clutch springs... http://www.ihcubcadet.com/forum/clipart/bash.gif

Getting close with this 126 for a test drive to see what I've got.


Thanks!
Bill

Thanks for updating us! :beerchug:

Glad to hear your close to a ride.
:TTWWP::WWP:

[QUOTE=leeave96;192922]Update:

Question is - when you drive out the roll pins, do you block-up the end of the drive shaft with something like a piece of 2 x 4 or just bang away and drive the pins out?

/QUOTE]

I suggest that you block up the driveshaft with a jackstand or a jack instead of a piece of wood. This allows the full force of your hammer blow to move the roll pin instead of compressing wood. I have (don't tell anyone) drilled a hole in the tunnel cover over the rear roll pin to get access to it and drive it downward.

The engine is in the tractor and bolted down - but not without a few set backs. I dropped a head bolt down the flywheel tin - after the engine was in the tractor... :bash2:

I put in a new teaser spring and anti-rattle clutch springs.

If I have time tomorrow, I'll try to connect fuel and electrical lines and maybe give it a start...:)

Made a little more progress with the 126 this evening. First, I went out to my Dad's camp and took a good look-see at the 109's carb, S/G and V/R linkages/connections - and took some pictures of those for reference for the 126.

When I got back to the house, I finished the carb linkages and installed the condenser and coil. I've got the belt on the S/G and am ready to wire that. The gas tank is installed and gas line ran to the carb. I've got a fresh battery and a good charge on it. If I have time tomorrow after work, I'll try to finish what remains, roll the 126 outside, give it a crank and see what happens.

On another note, while visiting my 109, I mowed a little grass. This tractor has a 44A deck with speed-up pulley. I mowed a road on the property and part of it hadn't been mowed yet this season. The grass must have been 12 to 18 inches and the little 10 hp engine plowed right through it. Even though this engine suffers from what I think are some worn rings and I get some smoke out the breather, it seems like it has plenty of power. I can only imagine what kind of power this engine would have with a good rebuild. I've got another color tractor with a 20 hp Onan and it is a great motor/tractor combo, all the mowing I did today was with 1/2 (or less if you consider the wear on the engine) the hp and no problems. Somehow I'm thinking that if 10 hp is enough on a hydro, 12 hp on my gear drive 126 will be a sweet combo.

Thanks!
Bill

Thanks for the update, Bill!

Update:

Finished up wiring everything. Put a fresh battery in and gave it a crank.

Bad news, I could hear what sounded like a solenoid clicking, good news - no smoke... :biggrin2:

Update: The 126's engine now turns over when I hit the key. Heart/engine transplant may be starting to work - YIPPIE!!!!!

The problem was not the ground. Turns out the battery was weak. It had enough power to click the solenoid, but not crank the engine. This battery came with one of the tractors I picked-up and when I looked at it, it is a 195 CCA battery. I had put a charge on it prior to using, but maybe the charge wasn't so good. Last night I put a 2 amp charger on it and left it overnight. This morning, it cranked over pretty strong. Tonight I might try to get some gas in the tank and see what I've got.

Thanks!
Bill

Good luck, Bill! :beerchug:

Update: 126 is now running and tooling around under it's own power. Still a lot of stuff to do. Got to get the air cleaner on - missing the screws for the walboro carb, need to finish bolting down the front grill and attach the hood - it's just setting on the tractor.

Next after that is see what I've got with the 48 inch deck. Might do some mowing with this tractor tomorrow.

Speaking of the air cleaner screws, I've looked at a couple of online parts look-ups for the three carb screw sizes that hold the air cleaner plate to the carb and they don't show anything. Not sure for this K301 it would necessarily help as this crate engine, though it came out of a 122, has a walboro carb and I would think the parts look-up would be for a carter carb. Question is - would anyone know the thread size for these walboro specific screws and their length? If I know this info, maybe I can find some at the hardware store tomorrow.

Below is a pic of the 126 setting outside this evening.

Thanks!
Bill

WOW, A PICTURE!
Glad you got it running:beerchug:

Glad to hear you are up and running Bill!:beer2:

Congrats on getting your 126 going, Bill!

what they said

More goings-on with the 126 today.

Found some screws to fasten the air filter face plate to the carb and finish off the air filter assembly install. Also finished bolting on the remainder of grill to frame bolts and installed the hood.

Put a new mule drive belt on and attached the deck, took a bit of time mowing some very thick, tall grass.

The only problem I had is the throttle wants to go down from full RPMs. Any ideas on how to tighten-up the throttle cable?

Thanks!
Bill

The 126 is looking good!

Looks good all together Bill.
Does a nice job mowing too.

OK - the 126 is officially in service. I tightened up the throttle pivot and took the tractor to my Dad's camp where it will have mowing duties this summer.

I'm going to run it hard and see what I've got and from there decide what to do with the tractor. i.e. leave it like it is, do a full restore over the winter, etc.

One thing I am going to do is pull the 3 point hitch off my 122 and put on this tractor. That will come this winter.

Thanks!
Bill

Great news Bill!:beerchug:

That's fantastic, Bill! :beerchug:

Been a while since I've posted an update on this tractor. I mowed most of the Summer with it and here are some observations:

48 inch deck give a pretty good cut. For whatever reason, I have gleaned from reading posts that the 44 and 50 inch decks do a better job. I've got a 44A deck on a 109, but IMHO, this 48 inch deck lays down a good cut. Spindles are noisy - that will be a winter project.

After a few weeks of use, the tractor would run and after an hour of hard use, would falter and stall. Finally it wouldn't start after cooling off at all. Checked the spark and didn't have any - so I replaced the condenser and got fire now.

Fuel bowl was full of crud. Cleaned it out and re-installed, but he rubber gasket/o-ring is hard and will need to replace as the fuel bowl leaks - won't run it this way. Wondering if I can replace the fuel bowl assy with a threaded hose nipple and just use an external fuel filter?

2nd gear mowing is FAST! Almost to fast. The tractor mows great at this speed (3.9 MPH), but the ride is very bumpy on this camp property and between my aching back and the danger of trimming obstacles, I don't think this is the gear for me and 1st is to slow. I've got two options, upgrade to a 128 (3.5 MPH) or a 582 (3.3 MPH) to slow things down. 1st gear is to slow.

I've got a front blade from a 122 - need to figure out if I can mount it to this tractor.

Other than that - very nice tractor.

Have you thought about putting a creeper gear in the 126 to help solve your mowing issues? I've never mowed with a gear drive so I can't say from experience if it would help or not. I've only ever mowed with a 48" deck (three different ones) and I'm never dissatisfied by how they cut. I've also used a 50" on a 782 and I'd take the 48" on a N/F tractor all the time.

I'm intrigued with a creeper gear. Read plenty about them. Not sure they would help with the speed issue, but would be handy for loading the tractor on the trailer or easing slowly around some mowing obstacles. I have a Wheelhorse with hi/lo (standard on these tractors) and that's what I use LO range for the most.

Thanks,
Bill

My creeper gear would make mowing too slow. You can get off the tractor with it in 3rd and walk faster than the tractor is moving.

OK - next up on the 126 is the fuel bowl. It is leaking badly and I bought a 90 degree fuel tank fitting that ought to screw right in and replace the fuel bowl lock stock and barrel.

I have the same issue mowing with my 104. I just lowered the throttle a little in 2nd. I'm guessing at 3/4 throttle I'm going about 3mph. Still seems a little too fast.

Spent a little time with the 126 today. Removed the fuel bowl assy and replaced it with a NAPA 7-02351 fuel shut-off valve with intake scree and 90 degree elbow. Only one little problem - hose nipple coming off the valve is for 1/4 inch hose and the Walboro carb has a 5/16 hose nipple on it.

It will be another day before this tractor runs again... :-(

Thought I'd resurrect this thread. Brought the 126 home from the camp and after a few attempts to rid myself of it, it's time to put it back into service.

First thing I did was replace the ratty old seat with a newer seat. Not perfect, but much better than what I had. Next up is tubing the front tires, then replacing the carb (Walboro) with a #26 Kohler. I think the engine is running a bit lean and the #26 ought to let me fix that. Will also put new points on, condenser is new from last year.

Thanks for the update!

Appreciate the update. :beerchug:

Had a pretty good day with the 126. Replaced the points and condenser, did the timing/points gap setting with a timing light. Yesterday I had put a #26 carb on (with rebuild kit'and a good cleaning) and set it. I replaced a Walboro and it was nice to have a high speed adjustment.

Also retorqued the head, but found one of the head bolts missing. Probably going to go back and pull the head and replace the head gasket. Probably should check the valve adjustment too.

Next up is a fluid change on the engine and tranny, tubes for the front wheels and blades sharpened on the deck and the tractor is ready for another summers mowing.