123 Build
 

I can't believe it, but it's been 5 years since I did my 126 restore. I got the project itch again, so I was able to find a 123 on Craigslist for $250. It was cheap, and didn't look too bad when I went to look at it...so it came home with me.

Good looking machine!

Once I had it home, the ugliness started to show. I hooked up a charger to it...just to see if maybe it would start...no go. So I started digging in. Previous owner really did a number on this thing. From what I've found, he must have put in the wrong sized spark plug. Spark plug threads in the head were stripped out. There was enough there to finger tighten the spark plug, but no more than that. Top of the piston was all scabbed up from pieces of the spark plug getting crushed up in there.

...and of course the exhaust valve was bent.

...and look at this setup...um, something just aint right here.

Previous owner also drilled a bunch of holes in the frame to get at the points cover screw, so I used a grinder to cut a slight notch in the frame like my 126 has. Oh and someone was nice enough to tear the serial number off the rear end.

Tractor is still waiting to go to the sandblaster, so progress will be slow until I get there. This build won't make the purists happy. I have some ideas floating around in my head of what I want to do, so hopefully it all comes together in the end. IH red will be the color of choice for this build.

That's enough blabbering out of me for tonight. I'll post more pics as the build progresses.

While waiting for the big stuff to be blasted, I've at least gotten a start on some of the smaller stuff. All cleaned up and wearing some fresh paint. :)

Sorry for the sideways pictures. When uploading it seems it wants the pics to be in landscape mode, so the ones I took in portrait are getting flipped on their side.
I'll remember to take the rest in landscape from here on out.

Nice find! Looks like your making good progress so far.

What do you suppose the previous owner was trying to do here? Looks like they tried to cut a hole in the flywheel cover right under where the coil bolts on, then tried to patch it up with JB Weld and a small bracket. It's also missing one of the gas tank mount studs. It's pretty much unusable, so I've got a replacement. I'll need to move the engine serial number tag from the old to the new. Has anyone gone through moving the serial tag, and if so what size rivets did you use?

You are making great progress im liking what I see :beerchug:

I just got done tearing the PTO apart. I see this PTO has 2 friction disks. Is it supposed to have 2, or should I just replace it with 1 disk?

Looking forward to seeing the finished product...:beerchug:

Finally some progress! Here's some shiny paint pics...everybody loves shiny paint pics. :beerchug:

...and some more.

...few more.

And many thanks to Jeff Derstine. Every part I've gotten from Jeff has been top quality.

New drag link on the right, to replace the bent one on left with destroyed threads.

I see it will be red, I like it and you are doing a great job.

What color will the hood be?

My original plan was to do something multi-colored Red/White/Black, but time is running short for decent weather...so it will probably just be white with custom Hydrostatic 123 decals.

The red looks great!

Great job! :beerchug:

Constant rain is killing me here...but I got a few more parts painted.

:popcorn:...

Finally Back At it!
 

Sorry for the long delay with this...hate to leave people hanging. Constant rain and then quick transition to colder weather ended my project before I could finish last year. I've started picking at it again...hoping to get it finished this year. I've got the pump primed and painted and back on the rear end. The tube cleanup up nicely with some steel wool. I'm going to try to get the wheels painted this weekend.

Gotta love the cobblers. :biggrin2:

I like the hydro suction cooling line, similar to the inter cooler on a 2 stage compressor but without the fins.
I have seen something like that before on an early cub hydro, but can't remember what model. :bigthink:

I had one on the 125 but it got cracked. Replacement line included compression elbow and two straight (one slightly crooked) pieces of tubing.

Looking good. Slow progress is better than no progress.

My 127 had one of those oil tubes, Oct 1970 build.

A little progress this weekend
 

Repaired the trunion. A couple pops with the welder in the corners, then filed flat and square again. Not perfect, but I think it will be good enough for a few years. :biggrin2:
Painted the driveshaft and fan. This one has a metal fan instead of the plastic I've seen on others. New flex disk to go with it.
Also primed and painted the wheels. I've always used posterboard cut to size and tucked into the bead to keep the paint off the tire. Has always worked well for me.

Good trick with the posterboard. I save the huge junkmail postcards, overlapping them on top of each other while shoving under the bead in the same way. Feels good to put that junk to some productive use.

Hah, I'd use something like that but I don't seem to get much junkmail like that anymore.
I've also used the cardboard from cases of beer and soda. That also works well.

Things are starting to come together
 

Here's a few pics of recent progress. She's standing on her own feet again...and wearing new shoes all around. Engine is back on the frame. Not bolted down yet, just a couple long bolts holding it in place while I connected the driveshaft and got the PTO put back on.

Lookin good!