Cub 126 Restoration Begins
 

Here we go. This summers project is a 126 I picked up last year. At that time I wasn't sure i was going to keep it, but I'm glad I did. This one had some issues. Here's a pic of the day I picked it up. You can see that the footrests are completely rusted out...all the way through. Can't save the fender...AND THAT SEAT!

Some teardown...

Great project tractor:beerchug:
Looking forward to your progress.

Last year when I was checking the tractor over, I noticed i couldn't get it into 3rd gear. I pulled off the shifter and found the main shaft TWISTED enough to be obvious to the naked eye. At that time got some great information from Tommyk on replacing that shaft. Shaft replacement was going to be part of my teardown. First pic is the twisted shaft. Second is what i found once I really took a look inside.

Wow I wish my 126 had all those options. Will be following your thread.

Second gear was the only one missing teeth, so a new (used) one arrived the other day. Here's the rest of the teardown up to today. In a couple pics you can see last year's project. Sure is pretty. :)

I just had my 800 trans fully apart like yours. Good job cleaning it out. It's cool how all the gears go back in with just enough room and the bevels certain ways. Did you have to take the carrier bearings off to get the carrier out?

Yep...the left one. No way it would come out with that on. Here's all the 'innards' put back together with extras off to the side.

Exactly.....Looks like your 126 was loaded!! Definitely worth restoring. Great work so far.

Cub Cadet 123

Once i get the last few pieces dismantled and lift the engine off the frame i can get the parts to the sandblaster. The 149 we did last summer was stripped by hand with grinders...Don't think i want to do that again.

Looking good! I have a 126 as well however it didn't come with creeper like yours did. The creeper and headlights I threw in. I have come to notice that some cubs came with skinny front tires and others came with fats...what's the reason for that? I will be following this thread!

Good work so far, will be watching your progress.:beerchug:

Tire size has been an option for a long time even the Original had such options at least in tire styles. Definately with the series 2 (70 & 100) tractors there were options as to style and size of tires.

Great job and looking forward to your updates!

Nice work and will be watching your progress!

Lordy these photos look familiar. I'm going to laugh when you finish yours before mine! Oh well. Following your thread with interest.

hah...I hope so. The 149 took almost 3 months. I'm hoping avoiding all the hand grinding will have this project done in 1 1/2 to 2 months.

Broke open the steering gear and cleaned it all up. Looks pretty good, but the retainer is pretty scarred up.

I really don't know much about clutches. Does this disc look good enough to save or should i replace it?

With all of the work you are putting into this 126 I would replace the disc, teaser spring and spirol pins.

Probably a good idea.

Is it just me, or does it seem like there's far fewer parts available than there was just last summer?

It's been awhile, but I finally have some progress pics...

Steering assembly tube all painted black...

Rear end all rebuilt. New main shaft and replaced broken gears. New gaskets all the way around. Also, so other misc. painted parts.

Engine was a last minute change. I was going to paint it black, but after priming it with grey high temp engine primer, I liked the look of that color so I decided to paint it grey.

Creeper found a light coat of flat black.

New hood arrived (pic 2) to replace the original hood that had been welded on both sides (pic 1)

A few more pics...

Great looking job! :beerchug:

Comin' right along. Looking good!

That is looking great.:beer2:

Finally some more progress. Here it is as she sits today...

Getting closer, looks good:beerchug:

Wish I could knock them out as fast as Jeepchicken, but I just can't work that fast! :)

Well, here it is...FINALLY.
Took longer than I had hoped, but I'm pretty happy with it. Added headlights...I like headlights. :)

a couple more pics

Looks great, nice job Kratt.

Head lights and tri-bar front tires really make a nice difference. Really nice tractor.

Very nice, great looking piece of work there!

Came out great.:beerchug:

Came out great, a job very well done. I'm envious if the creeper. My 126 is waiting in line. Can you tell us about the yellow and white that you used?