Model 125 loose front starter pulley / PTO clutch issue???
 

My problem is this.....On my model 125 Cub Cadet, the large pulley on the front of the Kohler 12 HP motor shaft, which carries the belt to the starter/generator, will not maintain it's position on the motor shaft. The pulley is obviously keyed onto the motor shaft and so it turns just fine with the motor...but the problem is that it slides backward and forward a good half inch or more on the shaft creating a severe belt misalignment with the starter/generator pulley. The belt is continually being thrown off the pulleys, so my battery is not being charged while running, and I have to re mount the starter belt each time in order to restart the motor.
My question is.....Can I somehow secure the large pulley without having to remove the clutch assembly that sits in front of it? I see no obvious way to accomplish this, and so I turn to the forum experts for help.
Note too that the frame obstructs the use of a puller tool, so removal of the clutch assembly may require the lifting of the motor to provide puller tool clearance. Whew, what an ordeal for what seems to be a simple issue.
Thanks in advance for any help you may offer.
Jim

There should be a couple of holes in the metal cup the clutch sets back into. There are set screws down on the pulley shaft that probably need to be tightened back up. They are allen screws. One screw will set against the shaft key and one will be 90 degrees from it and set against the crankshaft.

Here is a good pic. There are access holes in the cup.

Attachment 18005

set screw access holes
 

Thanks so much for that nice yellow photo. Now I can clearly see where the set screws are located, and I have found them on mine.
Those set screws are really rusted in and I cannot budge them even with a good fitting Allen key. Any suggestions on that item?
It seems that as I am working on this beast, I no sooner identify one issue...but another one pops up. Is there no end????
jim

there is an end but you just do not know when you get there, remember you are dealing with something that was likely made before men were walking on the moon and things tend to rust even when properly stored.

if your Allen fits snugly do not try and force it, pb blaster and time is your friend here soak it down and wait a day or two, if you think spray it down 2-3 times a day and i have found most things will come loose.

if it is as loose as you described you may want to remove PTO and inspect every thing to ensure there is not to much wear on the shaft.

As bsyphrit has said, use plenty of PB Blaster and we are talking for a few days. Give it time to work in. I use a 1/4" drive ratchet an extra long length of Allen tool and a socket that would fit the tool exactly. I cut the length of tool till I was able to slide the socket and tool down till it is securely engaged into the set screw and then would use the ratchet to help apply a good amount of pressure and keep working it. If it didn't feel like it was going to break loose I would squirt it again with some PB and try again the next day.

As for never ending, that is why many of us end up either doing a good complete mechanical overhaul during the winter or as soon as we pick up our cub from a seller. There really isn't a whole lot on these little machines that cannot be fixed or repaired. A person just have to have some patience and time. I was never much on patience in the past, but these last couple of years and my refurbish of my 128 have really made me learn to take my time. Let us know how things go. :beerchug:

PB Blaster...great idea
 

I just want to say thanks to all who have contributed to the potential cure for my little Cub problem. I will use the PB blaster on those pulley set screws and we shall see what time and patience can do.
It'll give me some time to tend to the other issues.....like trying to find a new front rim. The one that came on the machine had been run without much of a outer bearing left in it, and so the rim is worn away and needs to be replaced....and I cant seem to find one real handy. Would a golf cart shop be a likely place to try?
Charging may be another issue. Grounding the field terminal on the regulator gets it charging quite nicely...for a minute or so, and then the meter indicator drops off again. Maybe the battery is full up and the reg'r is working fine and doing what it should do....or maybe there is a strange regulator problem....I just dont know yet. I'm thinking that a nice solid state regulator would be a good idea......but where could I buy one that will work perfectly with this machine?
Then I will have to repair or replace the headlights. I dont intend do work this machine in the dark...but then you just never know. Summers in South Florida get way too hot during the day...the nights are sometimes much better for getting things done.
And I guess this Cub thing goes on and on and on.
Thanks again guys.
jim

I agree... it's good stuff ... patience that is. PB blaster is good too! :-)

One other hint... if you have a long key and can put the allen key in the set screw and give it a couple good raps on the back end of the key... followed by more PB, the impact can help unfreeze the screw also.


John

Blaster is in....
 

Here's my plan of attack. I have soaked the set screws with PB Blaster...twice yesterday, and I have turned a small diameter steel rod in the lathe so that the new turned down end will just fit inside the socket head of the frozen set screws, without scraping their sides and possibly damaging the grip surfaces for the allen key.
I will set this rod into the allen head set screw and use it as a device to hammer on, and hopefully assist the Blaster in doing its work.
This way I will save my good tempered snug fitting allen key from abuse.
I'll keep on blasting and hammering until the screws relent.....and it is my fondest hope that they relent someday soon.
My can of Blaster didn't come with a properly fitting tube to spray through, so I am having to make-do with something left over from a can of wd40 or something like that. The trick is to keep the tube into the nozzle of the spray can while spraying...and at the same time, trying to hold the tube at something like a 90 degree angle to focus the blaster in the correct area.
Three hands would be nice! I'll let you know how this episode turns out.

If you take off the grill 'n hood, you will only need 2 1/2 hands!! LOL

:biggrin2: