My first Cub Cadet
 

Well I actually have had this tractor since last year but haven't been able to do a whole lot with it until now. Its been mainly used for pulling trailers and the yard roller around the yard and that's pretty much it. Have been slowly getting things fixed on it and ready to be able to start mowing with it. The tractor is a Cub 125. So far I really like it and hope to be able to use it to replace my newer huskee tractor with since the only thing the huskee is good for is mowing the yard. Would rather have just one tractor be able to do it all.

When I got the tractor it came with a 42" mower deck, snow plow, chains, and wheel weights. I ended up picking up a set of tires for it that way I didn't have to keep putting on and taking off the tire chains.

I have never mowed with a tractor this old, are there any tips I should know about before I start using it? Can I mow as fast with this tractor as I could with the newer huskee model? Is there a certain rpm that I should engage the pto so it doesn't hurt anything on the mower? How tight should I make the rod that tightens down the pto?

Here are a couple of pics of the tractor
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...psp3gwxsw3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...psoyi6erk9.jpg

Can anyone tell me if this is a factory hitch or if its something someone made for it?

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...pslcsrbcr8.jpg

Plan is to use the tractor for normal yard stuff and slowly do small things to it to bring it make to like new condition with new paint and parts. Now if I can just keep it to only a couple tractors as I'm already eyeing another cub for sale here in town.

Good looking 125:beerchug: got a couple of the myself.
Yeah, the very bottom of the hitch is factory, but the rest of it was added sometime in it's life.
As for the PTO adjustment. Check the manual for the proper gap at the button at the front. For engagement, I engage the PTO at mid throttle then WOT while mowing. You'll know how fast you can mow when you get rolling, the tractor and cutting quality will let you know if you're going to fast or not.
Oh, and good luck keeping it down to one tractor, let us know how that works out.:biggrin2:

Good looking 125. I also have one, this fever is contagious. Like the Pringles chip can says: You can't have just one. :beerchug:

I know that i can put the snow plow or snow blower on this tractor, but what about stuff that would go on the rear? Will those still work on this 125 or are they for other models? Maybe like a rear blade or tiller.

Very nice 125.

Good looking 125, you have there!

Those are my favorite,I have three,congrats on the new cub.

Nice 125! One of my favorites too.:beerchug:

Very nice looking 125 and thanks for sharing. I believe you could not only mow faster than the huskee but you could probably drag it around the yard while you do so!! Congrats on getting one!

Nice 125 tractor! I gave mine away, but most will say that was the best NF (narrow frame) that IH put out in the cub cadet line. Yes, the 125 will run the rear attachments that you mentioned and many, many more!!! It will run anything the other cub cadets in that era will run on front and back. Like others have razzed you about, you will have a whole fleet of cub cadets before you know it......sometimes it is for the love of a well built machine, but mostly it is because we are just too doggone lazy to change out our attachments.:biggrin2:

Cub Cadet 123

I've ran a few of the "cheaper" modern mowers--just to check them out after servicing them. All of them I have used will mow a nice, clean cut yard and do it faster than any older quality built machine (any brand). Having said that, What you have is a lot more heavy built, more reliable, stable and just downright more classy. Yours will with stand bumps and bruises a lot better than a modern mower. The only thing I don't like about old mowers is the general lack of safety switches, I personally find them a great peace of mind.

Your mower should be a great machine but like anything that has been ran for 50 years, you'll need to go over it with a fine tooth comb looking for things that are worn to the point they need repair. Once you do that you will get bored with nothing to work on and go buy another old Cadet! Seriously, your machine looks pretty well cared for. I'd check all 4 of the steering ball joints, both belts for cracks, examine all the idler pulleys, look for loose spindle bearings, level the deck if needed, gauge the tires and have at cutting the yard. Also look for any fuel and oil leaks. One last thing it probably does need, check the rear end fluid to see if it is full of water. The 128 here has been here 20 years and never had the fluid changed. I checked it this spring and was shocked at how much water was in it.:bigeyes: Its on my to-do list, but I'm still using the mower, a few more hours won't hurt it more than it already has (if at all).

Nice 125. Rare to see the original fiberglass seat at all especially in A1 condition like yours

IMO sell the Huskee and use the $$ to invest in the 125. It'll last longer, look/work better, and you'll get more SPG (smiles per gallon.)

Just got in from mowing the grass with my 125......it's a nice tractor, no doubt. Yours looks great!

Forgot to answer your question about speed......from the factory, the cub cadets will run 8.5 mph.....that is 0.5 mph faster than how much over the speed limit I was going when I received my 1st speeding ticket in Fountain City, IN at 2 AM!

My Cub Cadet 123 from 1967 tops out at 8.5 mph and so does my 2008 Cub Cadet Commercial Zero Turn.....Nice to know some things dun't change over time.

Cub Cadet 123

Thanks all for the comments. Just picked up the new pto belt for it last night so gonna get that installed today and give it a shot at mowing the yard. It runs and drives good as it is so just put new pto belt, deck belt, and blades on it and gonna see how it cuts. Hoping to be able to get this running and cutting decent and sell the huskee tractor. Might be going to look at a cub 71 on monday. Hopefully the wife doesn't get mad. She wants to get down to just one tractor.

Ok what am I doing wrong on this belt for the mower deck? I get it put on and it's so tight the motor barely turns over and when it does start the blades are turning without the pto being engaged. Everything seems to be where it's suppose to be. Any suggestions?

Do you have the mule drive pulleys adjusted properly? Is the PTO adjusted properly? How about the belt, is it the correct belt?:bigthink:

Well found out one of my problems. The pto is locked up and not disengaging. So now im looking for the parts to rebuild it.

Also picked up the belt this past week for it. When you put on a new belt, how far out should the adjuster be when its on? Mine is adjusted to the end of the adjuster nut and the belt is tight. I know it will stretch over time but didn't think it would be that tight right out the box.

There is a decal/sticker on the undercarriage which shows the level that the mule drive should be set, but your might be missing. As a general rule, the pulleys should be adjusted so that the belt forms a right angle on each pulley.

Cub Cadet 123

If the tractor has been sitting for any length of time with the PTO engaged the plates may have rusted themselves to the fiber disk. This happens also with the clutches on gear drive tractors. It may be a good idea to look it (the PTO) over good before you start throwing money at it before you need to.

Thanks. Will look at them tonight to make sure they are in line. Also gonna take apart the pto to see what all is going on with it. Is there any wear items inside the pto that i should go ahead and replace or can i just clean it up and put it back together and run? I know won't be able to tell till i tear it apart but never torn one down before. Have watched video's on it and it doesn't seem to hard.