48" deck overhaul
 

Today, I picked up a 48" deck that I'm going to overhaul to use on my red 129/149. The deck that came with the tractor was rusted beyond repair but the spindles and hangers are good. The new deck is much more solid but I'm not sure about the spindles. The two decks have a few differences like the spindles, rear hangers, and skids. The new deck has rear gauge wheels and the old one doesn't.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps409dc6e6.jpg

The right gauge wheel has been broken loose and repaired but is broken again. I'll cut this corner out and fab a new piece.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4f37dce1.jpg

Old deck parts on left and new on right. The old spindles are stamped housings and the newer ones are cast. May not be original to each deck though. The skids on the old deck are flat style and the newer ones are round.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdaed06cb.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps28abca4a.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1033e471.jpg

Here' a couple pics of the deck before I tore it down. The decals are even still intact. The pulleys and one of the quick attach pins have been removed but I have those from my other deck.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9214dc08.jpg

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse84f0725.jpg

Nice find! Looking forward to your restore, Adam!

I'll be sure to post plenty of pics along the way. I've decided to do away with the skids and use the new style spherical gauge wheels at all 4 corners. A friend suggested I mount them like the newer greene mowers where the wheels can be turned 90 degrees to roll the deck out from under the tractor. I'm not sure if there's enough room between the front and rear tires for that to work though.

My 48" has spherical wheels in the front and regular ones in the rear- they work OK but I wish a PO hadn't put them on and left on the skids. They make for deck removal more tricky (have to jack the front end of the cub up high enough to clear the spherical wheels)

cant wait for more progress pics

Your red 129/149 will sport around a nice deck again. Nice project.

I don't think you'll be able to slide the deck out the side. I have the same style in a 42", and I have to turn the steering wheel all the way and slide the deck in on an angle and even doing this I need to work around the rear tire with the deck wheel, with the front roller against the front tire.

I was leaning towards a 50" for my 149 but I decided that I want this style deck too. I like my 42, I just wish it was bigger, had a little more vacuum, and was a lot quieter.

Mike

I don't mind jacking up the front of the tractor to remove the deck if the front rollers help. I'll have the 100 if I need a tractor without a deck on it.

I got a little work done on the deck this evening. Cut out the right rear corner that was cracked and a section around one of the front mounting holes for the center casting that was cracked too. Plan to fab a couple new pieces tomorrow to weld in.

Your newer deck is actually an older version,The other is the newer version.