Serious challenge here.
 

Well I know Its been a while since I last posted. The photo I got from my brother of my uncle's model 70. Well he dropped it off on Monday and I've been too busy with work and t-ball. This thing is in real bad shape. As you will be able to see, I will Have to buy some sheet metal and make new panels and dash.

Some more pictures to see what I'm working with.

The last of the pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Wow you have your work cut out for you. Anything can be fixed but you may want to look into replacement used panels and frame. Those look like vampires on the rear?

Edit I just realized you're right down 27 from me

Those tires came off from what I was told was a 4wd back hoe. My dad said he had those tires laying around the shop and mounted them and gave them to my uncle.

Really? Where are you located?

Winter haven. I'm actually coming up through your way tomorrow to pick up a 108 in Leesburg, I should say up 27 though

Heck Yeah! That's awesome. I will be working on it tomorrow. All the bolts are just breaking apart. This thing will need all new hardware and wiring. If this tractor didn't mean as much to me as it does I would junk it and find something else.

Looks likeca great place to start. I'd like tovfind a 71 in sbout the same shape would be nice not realing with po mods

Chris
My 126 is bad but that is vb .pick up a better frame and be done with that step.
Alvy 2 1/2 hours more and your at my house.

I wonder how hard it would be to locate a replacement frame? Or even make one?

Wow Lew, are you claiming to be a snow bird?

We have cars with frames that look like that, but we have salt on the roads! I don't think I have ever seen a tractor frame that rusted. What was he into with it?

it was a little rusty when he had it 13 years ago. But after he died it sat under a tree covered in leaves. I'm guessing all of the wet leaves ate it up. its in pretty bad shape. I'm up for the challenge haha.

Good luck with your restoration. :beerchug:

Just a tad bit of surface rust

I wonder how much would be left after sandblasting??

Im almost to scared to find out. Lol

I'm diggin' the universal lug slotted aluminum wheels and tires.

As for the rest of the tractor, I agree with Lew:beerchug:

It sounds like there is a great deal of sentimental value attached to that cub. That left side of the frame is roached and will require a great deal of work to put it back. I'd find a donor for it (I know Florida doesn't have a cub cadet surplus, but it isn't an impossible task) and save myself a lot of extra work--dash tower, and cut pieces and weld them into your frame as needed. That way, you can leave the memories intact, while not rolling the hours on it. Just trying to offer a suggestion to save you some time. I like how you look at it with "new eyes" and see what it can be without just looking at it and seeing what it is right now. It's going to be a great cub and bring back a lot of great memories!!!

Cub Cadet 123

Why not find the best nut or bolt, if you can, on it and transfer it to a better machine to start with and save so much work. You could paint it a different color and be able to point to it and say "My uncle owned this"... :biggrin2:

wow, thats alot of work

A frame would be easier

I have removed a tall tunnel and replaced it with a shortone like a 100 has

Thought I saw a frame on ebay recently

Hood luck I want to see the finished product

Good luck on restoration. Will be watching your progress!:beerchug:

Yeah Im excited about it. I cant wait to get started and learn about this thing.

I appreciate all of the support guy! Ya'll are awesome!

You're up to date with your tetanus shot, right?

Not impossible, but may take a little longer.

Keep us updated.

Yep! Got my shot back in may Lmao! I can't wait to really dig in this thing.

Well.....
 

Well I Started stripping some parts off of the 70 to get it down to bare frame and get a game plan of what I was going to do. I have an idea of the end result. But Its going to take a lot of work which I'm good with because I'm going to do everything myself. The first picture was what I saw when I pulled the covers off. The second picture is whats left of the panel that the seat bolts to. The third picture is whats left of the transmission bolts for the shifter. The fourth picture is a leaking seal ( Big surprise there!). The fifth picture is what left after I finally got the dash off ( With the steering column). The sixth picture is the dash with column still attached. I have to get the steering off somehow. The last picture is rear end somewhat cleaned up after the shop vac.

Just noticed you've got the uber-rare twin-hitch option! :biggrin2:

Well, that probably makes up for all the other metal that wound up in the dirt somewhere when the tractor was sitting all those years.

Definitely gonna get a few gallons of PB-Blaster for Christmas I see. But, except for those few areas where the northbound rust and the southbound oxidation met in the middle of the panel, I'll bet there's still a few areas that are pretty solid on the ol' girl yet. Will be VERY interesting to see what the INSIDE of that housing looks like.

Keep up with the pix, and thanks for sharing!

That's what I'm thinking. Because as of now it is stuck in neutral. It will not go in gear at all. For the life of me I can't get the roll pin out of the front axle pin. I broke the steering spindle trying to break it loose to get the front wheels to turn. hopefully by this weekend I will have it down to bare frame. The good news is I got the clutch pedal to move! Things are looking up!

Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes the bug. I think this ones the bug.
I wish you all the luck man. There's a ton of work needed on this tractor, I can understand the sentimental value of things, but..... If you see this project all the way through, your a better man than me.

I cant help but to go along with the friendly advice given on your current frame situation,.... and will probably end up with my foot in my mouth,...BUT, if a nice narrow frame pops up I would buy it to replace what you have. You can save your self a lot of work . But then again, you could have a Ace up your sleeve and I'll fold!

Here is my frame to my model 72 in it's present state. Waiting for spring to begin my build:

http://i44.tinypic.com/2cgze5z.jpg[/I

http://i43.tinypic.com/2w5vbes.jpg[/

Good luck, please keep us posted in matter of your frame!

Will do. Its going to be some work involved. But its something I've been wanting to do for a long time. Thanks guys!

I've got some more work done today
 

I did some more work on the the 70 today. I removed the clutch, and unbolted the rear end from the frame. Next up is getting the roll pin out of the front axle pin to pull the front axle. I also need to find a good penetrating oil to get what ever is left of the bolts that bolt down the shifter. i thought about knocking the heads off and then worrying about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I am extremely jealous of that frame! Man, that thing looks amazing!

might I suggest PB Blaster or Justice Brothers JB80

I've had great success with both. PB looks like they haven't changed the artwork on the can since the 50s and JB80 seems to wick into rust pretty well, if you give it time to work it's way in.

http://www.pbblaster.com/ (be sure to have your speakers turned down!) :BangPC:

http://justicebrothers.com/products_specialty.htm#JB80

I've found that if you soak it several times throughout a week or so, it'll really help to break up the rust. Give 'em time to work their way into the rusty areas.

My service van has no less than 3 or 4 cans of PB blaster on it which is what my company supplies us but have been reading a lot on tests of all of them including kroil, liquid wrench, and it always seems a home brew of ATF and acetone wins out on penetrates. I've never tried it but always wanted to. I think you should try it Randy and lt us know. Good progress by the way, keep it up

Edit: good advice Andy, have you done any articles on penetrants in the past?

I was thinking of doing that exact same thing but wanted to make sure. I will pick up acetone and atf this week. Would that mixture eat a plastic spray bottle?

Thanks, I have worked hard to have that frame. The folks at OCC have helped me in the restoration on my 72!

I'll sit out on the shifter plate cover, just be mindful of the fact that the transmission is cast iron, so be careful not to mess that up in anyway. I don't think I ever tackled, or seen anyone tackle a rusty situation like this. Show us what you got!

Woman's nail polish remover and ATF? I have been wanting to try that.