How much can you swap out and still consider it to be the same cub cadet?
 

Here is my dilemma: My favorite cub cadet, my dad's 123 has a cracked frame in the front driver's LHS axle and I am not a welder. I have another 123 that does not have a cracked frame. I was considering swapping parts around to have a really nice 123 that would still be my dad's 123 and get rid of the extra 123 (space is getting limited or I would keep them both). So, how much of my dad's 123 can I change out (the frame is my biggest concern) and still call it my dad's 123? Thanks for your consideration and assistance. I just don't want to have any regrets later and say, "I wish I had...".

Cub Cadet 123

Post up a wanted ad for somebody to weld your frame. It's not that hard to do and there should be somebody close enough to help out.

Personally I would just have the frame welded.
How much you can change depends on you. In your mind you will always know what has been done. Some of the purists would consider ANY parts swap between tractors a no no, others would say "it still yellow".

I think it would be much easier just to do a weld.

It's your call.

Greg

I agree with the other guys. I'd also have the frame repaired. :beerchug:

I think it would save you a lot of trouble if you just had the frame welded. It should be relatively inexpensive to do so.

Have the frame welded and change parts when they break. This way you still have the original tractor with serial no. correct. Unless its been sitting in a barn since it was new, its going to have to be repaired once in while...

This is kind of a tricky one...

A frame by itself, is just a "part", but since nearly everything else bolts to it, it could be considered "The main part".

Here is my best advice: If you feel like changing the frame might bother you later, then it probably will.

Before I got a mig welder of my own, I would put the part in my truck and just happen to stop by the local "Mom and Pop" type body shop just a few minutes before closing time. I would carry the part inside and ask one of the workers how much they would charge me to "weld this back together".

Usually one of the guys would jump at the chance to "show off" his skills and offer to do it for a couple of bucks or for free... I would always give them a generous "tip" for doing the work ($20.00) for a few minutes of welding. If they refused the money (and sometimes they would) I would drop by the next evening with a 6 or 12 pack of a local favorite beer. After doing that a couple of times, they were normally very glad to see me.

Surly to goodness, someone here lives close enough to you and would fix your frame for a 6 or 12 pack.

Thanks a lot fellas!! I guess I kind of suspected that fixing the frame all along was the pure route, but I bought another 123 this past summer to grab some goodies off of--grote tail light, 3 point, lift assist, headlights and use on my dad's 123 (probably not the lift assist since I put a hydraulic lift on it already), but when I pulled the engine on my dad's to clean the frame, my heart sank to see the crack. I have wrestled with this question for a while, but now feel resolve to fix the frame after hearing some great advice from other collector's/enthusiasts. My dad's 123 is the whole reason why I started collecting cubs, so I hesitate to alter it in any way, aside from normal maintenance. I am very grateful for the assurance to fix it.
:IH Trusted Hand:
Cub Cadet 123

to me I would weld it also, a good welder can grind the crack and weld and then grind the weld so you never see it if it is a location to get the tools into.

But if it is to far broken to fix and it becomes a safety issue, than replace it. the only person who will know is you if you don't tell anyone else. even in the world of restored cars being called original, they have replaced parts even reproductions parts. to me if you fix and or replace parts as long as they are "real" cub cadet parts (new or Used) I would consider it original.

I would not hesitate to swap out the frame if it were going to continue being a worker. It's not like they are numbers matching machines. After all a 123 frame is the same as any other 123 frame. And if I were going to weld it I would be plating the bottom side of the frame for reinforcement as well just for my own piece of mind. I would highly recommend if you are going the welding route take it to a professional welding shop.