Mech Question From Non-Mechanic

[tpelle]

I do not consider myself an experienced mechanic - just a homeowner who is fairly handy and is not afraid to tackle some repairs. Hoping to get get some advise from the experts here.

I have two Cub Cadets, a 1000 that I bought brand-new in about 1978, and a kind-of-neglected 1200 that I acquired a couple of years ago. The tractors are used for mowing my 1-acre lawn mainly, with a little snow-plowing with the front-mounted grader blade I bought new with my 1000.

I have two questions:

1. The steering on my 1200 was very loose, mainly due to the bal-joint rod ends being worn out. I replaced the ball-joints on the steering drag link and on the tie rod. The new ball-joints that I purchased from my Cub Cadet dealer did not have the threaded "bolt" drilled for a cotter pin, as did the originals. How does one go about accurately drilling this, or do you just torque the castle nuts down with some Loc-Tite?

2. The front axle has some "wobble" in it - you see it working back and forth as you mow. I purchased a new pivot pin, but have not yet installed it. I now notice that there are a pair of bushings that appear to go in the frame cross-member. I suppose I'll order them as well. But I don't see any obvious way that this pivot pin comes out to swap it out. I plan on reworking it this winter after the mower gets put away for the season, but how do you disassemble this thing?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

[Matt G.]

1. I just use nuts with the nylon lock insert...I haven't seen tie rod ends with the hole drilled through the stud anywhere lately.

2. The slop in the axle probably doesn't have anything to do with either the pivot pin or the bushings. The bushings are welded to the frame, FYI. The C-channel that makes up the axle pivot has spread apart over time, and all you need to do is squeeze it back together. Remove the engine to get better access, and then you'll see a roll pin holding the pivot pin in the front bushing. Remove that, support the front of the tractor, remove the axle pivot pin, and then get a 3/4" bolt and nut, and put that in there without the axle installed. Use that to squeeze the frame back together, and then check the fit of the axle. When you get all the slop out, reinstall the axle, pivot pin, etc.

[tpelle]

Thanks. I'll get some Nylocks.

Good info on the front axle pivot, too.

Thanks again.

(And I see I somehow posted this in the wrong sub-forum - should have been in IH Built Cub Cadest.)