129 refurb
 

Now that the 1450 is in working condition, As stated in earlier post I picked up a 129 and 108 back in the summer I decided to start on the 129 instead of the 108. I got both running and both ran well. This one is gonna be for my grandson. I preferred the hydro over the gear trans.
I started tare down last week and got her pressured sprayed and cleaned pretty well. Now comes replace axle seals, brake shoes, rebuild S/G, PTO and some other small items, Prep and paint. This is gonna be my spring project and will most likely summer.

Down to the frame is a little more than refurbish if you ask me. Painting as you go back? Gotta open up the hydro and engine or just clean them up on the outside?

Well, looks like it cleaned up good. Your grandson should enjoy it.:beerchug:
Gonna get him out to the shop to help work on it, or is it going to be a surprise?:bigthink:

Yeah John maybe the word refurb isn't the word that should be used. But I read a lot of post on here and it just seems some guys get upset when the word restore is used. :bash: Still a ton of work to be do on it and still a lot more cleaning such as the engine and rear end.

Yeah Todd he will be with me some of the time. He is still kinda young but when I redone the 1450 and he was around he was in the shop with me asking questions and turning wrenches. Of course his mom wasn't too happy about the grease and oil on his clothes. But she will get over it. :biggrin2:

Good to hear, never to young to start getting momma mad.:biggrin2:

That should look and perform great when done.

Yeah, you're definitely doing a bit more than a refurbish. I would more or less call it a "heavy-maintenance reconditioning."

Your grandson is really gonna cherish it when finished. One lucky child.

Del

An update on the refurb/restore of the 129. drained the oil from the rear and as you can see lots of nasty stuff at the bottom of the case, axle seals were shot. Also pulled the head from the motor and for sure gonna need a new head gasket and resurface of the head. The cylinder wall looked ok, hope to get by with honeing and new rings. Ordered parts and will update as progress continues.

WEll..... There's no turning back now!!
Good luck w/the rebuild!

Did some fiberglass work on the dash yesterday. turned out pretty good I think.
Maybe another thin coat of filler, sand and paint.

Looking great!! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!!:beerchug:

What was your method for doing the fiberglass work?

I used this members process and it worked out well. Go to page #12 in the thread below. You can find the fiberglass repair kit at any auto parts store and at Wally World.

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=9749

Been kind of a slow go around here on the 129. But got back in the shop today. Been kind of under the weather and waiting on parts, a few came and I did a steering upgrade, put in new axle seals, lapped the valves and seats. Rings should be here soon I hope and I can get the engine buttoned up.
I have a question about the balance gears, while I have the engine down should I remove them of leave them in? I have read some post where it's recommended to take them out and some post to leave them. Any and all thoughts would be welcome.
Pics will follow soon.

I'm sure you will get several different views and opinions on the balance gears...

Here is my take... I worked in a small engine shop for most of the 1980's and into the 90's.. We rebuilt hundreds of K series Kohlers.. At that time even the Kohler factory rep recommended that we remove them. I saw several sets turn into grenades and do a lot of damage to the block..

I never could tell much of a difference in the vibration with or without the gears. I don't think they ever really panned out for Kohler.

You know what, I have yet to see and read direct information provided on balance gears "giving up", and destroying a Iron Line Kohler! I've read and read, it's the recommended thing to do : removing the balance gears. I did just that in the k321 in my 1450. The IH Cub Cadet Quiet Line appears to reign the most common garden tractor produced, you'd think there would be a lot of balance gears "giving up".

I guess its best to remove them from the engine.

Slow process but work continues
 

Over the past couple of weeks I have been able to make some progress on the 129. I got the engine back together, primed and painted, and got the other parts primed and ready for paint. I'm going to use the Case IH Iron Gard paint on this one as a local dealer here has it and it is much cheaper than the Cub Cadet paint I used on the 1450. Just hope it paints as well, but I shall see. a few pics of the progress.

A little off the subject, while my wife and I were away for a weekend a couple of weeks ago some sorry SOB broke into my shop and relived me of approx. $3000 worth of tools, most were woodworking tools.
Just goes to prove locks are for honest people. I had most of the serial numbers recorded, maybe they will show up somewhere. I felt a little better when my insurance agent told me I had full reimbursement on them.

X2! :beerchug:

An update on the 129
 

I was able to get some painting done last week. Weather has been really wet around here for the past few weeks. I'm really pleased with the IH Iron Gard paint, it covers well and shines really good, and seems to spray much better than the cub cadet paint I used on the 1450. Much cheaper too.
I hope to get some white sprayed this week, after I get some garden work done before the rain starts again.

Looking good. How many coats of yellow did you put on and what color was the primer?

Thanks Tim. I used gray primer. Then wet sanded. Then came back with 3 coats of paint reduced with Limco medium reducer, and Limco medium hardner. I sprayed really smooth. even with my cheap HF spray gun.

With yellow paint over top of gray primer if there are spots where you didn't get enough paint they will look green, I highly recommend you check the parts over outside in the sun before you assemble and it's to late to fix. When I did my 108 I used gray primer and I had 5 coats of yellow on before I was satisfied that I wouldn't have any light spots, I have a special light I use when I'm painting that simulates sunlight so I can check it as I go. This post is not intend to criticize but to be informative so I hope you're​ not offended, I just know it will be much easier to solve the issue now if there is one than it would be later.

Tim I'm not offended at all, that's why I joined OCC to get the best advice I can get about working on these little tractors.
I painted the yellow outside in the sunlight. The first 2 coats were off colored a little bit, but after the 3rd coat it looked really good.

Up date on 129
 

Been awhile since an update, I finely got the 129 finished. Its been a slow go but I'm really pleased with it. Engine runs super good, with new rings, honed the cylinder, lapped the valves and seats, gaskets, carb cleaning and kit, repaired valve breather, New PTO brake pad, S/G repair, New front wheel bearings, New turf tires, I got the hydro leaks repaired, cork gasket and relief valves rebuilt. New real wheel seals, new brakes. Did the steering upgrade, "sure steers better", (wish I had did it on the 1450 when I had it tore down, but I plan on that this winter).
All and all it has been a fun project and something to keep an ole fart busy and out of the wifes way.

One day many years from now I hope my grandson will look at it and swell with pride knowing I did it for him.

Few pics showing the process.

Getting ready to set the rear end.

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Rear end and Engine set and bolted in.
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Tower mounted and wiring installed, Fuel tank, muffler, and s/g mounted. At this point I was getting excited to see if it would start and run. So I put a fuel line on and hooked up the battery. It turned over 4 times and fired off. and ran like a new one. I was pretty tickled at this point.

More pics
 

Here are a few more pics of the process.
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And Here she is, ready to set and look at till grandson is big enough to handle her.
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That looks great! Well done.

Yes great job Larry. Did you refurb the dash tin or buy a new one?

Well done Larry. It turned out great.

Its the dash decal that was in the set from maple hunter decals.

Very nice job! :beerchug:

Nice work, congrats!! :beerchug:

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :High5: Well done.:beerchug:

Very Very Nice!!:beerchug: You should be proud of your work!:beerchug:

You gonna put a deck under it and use it?:bigthink:

Larry, you did a fine job on it, that thing looks beautiful. I may try the Iron Guard next time I spray. Did you buy it local or have it shipped? My local IH dealer closed several years ago so I will need to have it shipped to me now.:angry:

Looks great!

after the experience with Iron gard on my son's Original, I have to say "never buy again" the 1st time it gets a drop of gas onto it, it's peel city. I'm talking coming off in sheets. on fresh sandblasted metal, on a machine that got painted and set aside in the attic for a couple years before assembly, so it was WELL cured....

Well!! trucker you use what you want. I have a 100 next in line for a restore and I will be using Iron Gard on it also. But thanks or the info. I'm sure you are only trying to be helpful. :beerchug:

Thanks
 

Thanks guys for all the great comments. and for all the help I received with this project. :Thanks:

yes I am, no more no less.... all I can go by to judge is my experiences with it, this isn't heresay, and I certainly am not trying to "start" anything at all.

this Original was sandblasted professionally and taken directly to a high school career center body shop, applied with the correct primer and hardener by the instructor himself.... as a demonstrator. and we were both PO'd and disappointed when this happened.... he had a lot of hard work and time into that machine. paint bought right from a Case/International dealer.
next time I plan to try a regular single stage, automotive enamel.

and with that I have to say that "I CAN'T be the 'only' one" that has had these results with this paint.....can I????

I have to say that I have never had issues with the Case IH iron guard paint with peeling. I have painted many farm tractors and a few Cub Cadets with it and the only issue I have had is it will stain if it comes in contact with anti freeze or some chemicals. I have to ask was it actually sand blasted or soda blasted? If soda blasted it must be treated to allow paint or primer to adhere. If I sandblast I sand with 80g on a D/A sander and then wash with wax and grease remover before applying primer and paint. On my last project I used the iron guard with hardener and then clear coated it so it should not stain. I am sorry that your paint peeled but since I do not know how it was prepped I cannot tell you what went wrong. Please do not take this the wrong way I am just sharing my results using the paint.