My 149 Getting Some Much Needed Love
 

I bought this 149 some years back just because I liked it! The tractor was built in August of 1972. It runs pretty well but it needs some repairing. Tried mowing grass and leaves with it one fall but the clutch slipped very badly. The hydro control has no tension and will take off lickety split if you don't keep our hand on the control. I was planning on doing some repairs at a later date, however, when i walked to the Cub House I noticed a lovely little oil leak on my nice floor. OK...today is the day so here goes...pics or it never happened. The PTO had been rebuilt but the repair person did NOT true the mating parts. The locking collar for the PTO clutch bearing is secured AFTER it is locked into place a set screw. ...but the yahoo used the punch on the set screw :bash2:.
The hydro control linkage is tightened by a clamp dealie on the end of the shaft. The clamp was tight and had no more adjustment....that has been remedied and I will replace the plastic "bearing".
Ok, now to the oil leak! The usual valve cover gaskets are oozing so no big deal. I removed the tins and flywheel cover. Found a leaking seal under the flywheel. I was going to just reseal this engine and replace the gaskets while it is on the bench. However, I removed the head just for giggles to see what the cylinder looks like. To my surprise the head gasket has been changed in the not so distant past. I cleaned the top of piston and it has STD stamped on it...Uh oh...now I look at cylinder and there is cross hatch in it. I am not liking this...has some one rebuilt this engine with std size parts? Had to stop at that point to take care of some other matters...but I will be taking further action on this engine this week so stay tuned!

One more pic of the clamp for the hydro control.

Isn't it amazing what you find that PO's think is "fixing" something? Looking forward to the developing saga of the 149! :biggrin2:

So far, so good Beth! :beerchug:

Nice little tractor that just needs a little love. I'm sure you will make it right. Drooling oil on the floor is totally unacceptable.

Good start Beth.:beerchug: Will be tuning in for the rest of the show.:biggrin2:

Keep up the good work, Beth!

PTO is resurfaced and ships back to you tomorrow along with a brass PTO button.

Thanks, Jeff

Looks real good Jeff.

:IH Trusted Hand:

If I had taken the head off and found std parts and cross hatching in the cylinder, i would have thought it meant a low mileage engine. I'm curious why you think it is a bad thing? Is it just because of the other more obvious signs of wear/age?
Best,
Andy

It appears to be an untouched engine. However, I was concerned that someone had rebuilt this 46 year old engine by using std size parts. Cylinder bores wear and become egg shape with use...did I mention it is 46 yrs old...and if someone just honed the cylinder the bore is NOT correct and maybe too big for rings and piston.

Question. Would a factory piston be stamped STD? I have 2 K301’s on the bench that I don’t believe have ever been messed with. Neither piston is stamped.

Drop a telescoping gauge in the bore and measure, best way to tell, otherwise it is just a guess.
you can use a caliper also.
It will tell you if it is std or oversize.
Not all pistons are marked as manufactures vary.

Some are, some aren't. If there are no marks, it's generally standard bore.

I finally finished the 149 today. The engine bore was at standard but the cylinder does have some wear in the thrust area. Ideally, I should have rebuilt it but circumstances right now preclude that from happening. So, did a valve job on it, cleaned up the head and resealed the engine. The PTO was weak and rebuilt it too. Jeff in Pa did the the machine work on the clutch. This tractor has a triangle 48" deck on that cuts very well (blades sharp, baffles in place, deck NOT rusty). I need to get a new muffler for it...loud as hell but runs very well.

Spark timing is essential for proper performance. This engine had the sight hole in the bearing plate located under the generator and inside the frame. In other words, very difficult to access. While the engine was on the bench, I found the marks on the flywheel, and static timed it. Like I said earlier, it runs very well.

The carb had not been touched...still had yellow overspray on it. Removed it, cleaned and rebuilt it. Throttle shaft not too loose.

The hydro control friction was loose and that was tightened to my liking and now it holds and does not run away.

Steering box was loose so it was adjusted and lubed too.

I like the tractor and it performs very well but I still prefer a comparable Quietline

Looks good Beth...

:ThumbsUp:

Nice job Beth. I’ve been doing a lot of the same work you did on a 128 I just got. I agree about it being a little tougher to access the site area for the timing on these. I did mine in the frame and it was a few times back and forth to get it spot on. Did you wear some ear plugs? You’re used to the quiet ones and this one is definately not. :biggrin2:

Thanks Alvy! I have some significant hearing loss but still able to pass the DOT test. This thing is a powerhouse but it is as loud as an old skool Detroit diesel. I need to get a good quality muffler or my neighbors are going to complain. I mowed some yesterday with my 1650 and, oh my, what a difference...I love my QuietLines!!!

Looks good! My 129 needs some of the same repairs.

Nice work Beth!
So, is it done? Or do you have some more you want to do to it?

Don't know why but I just like the looks of the 1x9s a little more than I like the quiet lines.

Thanks Jonathan, It is complete for now. The cork gasket needs replacing but I do not have the time. It may get replaced before next spring...maybe.

Very sharp 149, Beth!

You do excellent work, It will make a good trader for another Quietline

Thanks! You sound like my friend Frank..."it's for sale, right?! Nope. If I fall in love with it...guess what...it stays! Besides it helps me appreciate my QuietLines even more :biggrin2:

Very nice Beth.:beerchug: You do good work...:biggrin2:

Nice job your Majesty! :beerchug:

:bigthink: Very nice! I’d almost trade my 1450 for this one

I noticed you said almost!

I actually would prefer a 149 to my 1450 but I just got done with the engine mount replacement, cradle mod, new drive shaft and a brand new noise suppression muffler. All that made the Quietline better but I still think I’d prefer a 1x9 series.

:Morning: I solved the problem of trying to set the points an look in the hole on my 149, its called Chevy points. :American Flag 1:

How do you find TDC without looking in the hole?

EDIIT. Sorry Beth, Just realized your thread was Hijacked and I answered it like a dumb ass lol

So, are you in love? With the tractor. In love with the tractor. (Whew!)

Nice looking tractor! Not that this is needed to say but... you do great work. Thanks for sharing :biggrin2:

Sprucin' Up The 149
 

These wheels were in the shed taking up space. So, I decided to improve the appearance of my '72 149. The wheels were sand blasted and powder coated with a shade lighter than I normally use. I have no plans to restore this unit and the wheels should match the existing white fairly well. I plan on replacing the tires with good take offs from other restorations. Pics or didn't happen.