127 tiller
 

Decided to take off the snow blower from the 127 and start hooking up the tiller. This will be my first experience with tilling with this cub cadet so bear with me. I have the gear box attacked, hooked all the arms from the tiller to the gear box without an issue. And yes the mule drive. I did find that the metal rod/bolt coming out of my 3 pt was only intended to be used with sleeve hitch that was on the tractor. So I need to find the needed one or make one. Part number is 485-294-R1. If someone knows where to get one let me know, Cub Cadet says it is no longer available.

User JeffInPA makes them. Link is at the top of the page. "Parts by Jeff"

Turn the shaft 90 degrees and drill another 3/16 hole so it is vertical ,plows are horizontal just turn put a hole for cotter pin and use

That's more than likely what I will end up doing, someone actually made this one as well after I looked at. Someone cut the head off a big bolt and drilled the holes. May just go do the same thing.

Just a photo of how it sits now. Looks sharp, can't wait to use it.

Yep you need a different lift pin. Tillers are fun!

Finished up making the new lift pin, works as it should now. Hooked up all the belts and noticed that one of the tensioners on the mule drive was missing... decided to make my own instead of buying one and waiting for it to come in. Photos of the new lift pin to come later.

That style of mule drive is supposed to have a spring on that side, not a tension bolt. There was another style that used two tension bolts, but it is made differently.

Most of the tractors I see with a tiller on have two bolts, probably trying to make sure the belt doesn't slip.

I went back and edited my post.... but I'll just say it again here.

There are two styles of mules that the tiller used. One used two tension bolts, the other used a spring and a tension bolt. The one in this post is made for a spring. You can tell because it has a larger hole, and the smaller one on top of it.

I'm going to use a bolt, no worries about the spring breaking or falling off and the belt will be almost guaranteed to not slip.

Just remember, there is no slip clutch on that tiller, or shear pin. You want one of the two belts to slip if you hit something. It happens. I've had a garden in the same spot for 4 years this year. Every year I catch something in the tiller that stalls it. Rock, brick, what's left of a metal post. Just making sure you know it needs to give somewhere.

I usually slip the small belt on the tiller. Lots of torque applied there, easiest place to slip.

Also noticed the mule drive must have been ridding on the front axle for a long time and started putting groves into... prior owner abused the poor tractor.

That's from too short a belt. Make sure the belt is correct.

Don't miss post 12. We posted at the same time.

Normally yes the smaller belt slips. However, I hit a root last year and threw the long belt.

Tiller is working great!

Just FYI, the tiller operators manual actually says to do exactly what you just did. Replace the spring with another tensioner bolt and some washers through the big hole where the spring used to be if that's the mule drive you are using.

Looking good, hope to get mine out this weekend for the 1st time.