Cub Cadet 122 Sleeve Hitch Removal

[105_Tom]

So, I want to sell the 122 - without the sleeve hitch it came with. I laid under it for an hour wrestling with the lift arm pivot plate that attaches to the rockshaft/lift arm trying to separate the two and got nowhere. Six bolts and a cotter pin and tension pin later, I had the tractor split, and the lift bar removed. I figure there's GOT to be an easier way to do this, no? I'm not complaining; I got to pressure wash the rear and transmission and wipe down the tractor tunnel, but I'm thinking I must have overlooked something and I sure don't want to have to split the hydro tractor the sleeve hitch will transfer to when I go to install it. Can someone post a link to Narrow Frame Sleeve Hitch installation instructions?

[Cub Cadet 123]

Ok, here you go.

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4

There isn't much to it, really. Separate the plate and bar that you have. Install the plate first. Slide the bar in from the back and attach to the plate, pin it. Then attach the rest from the rear. Well, that is how I have always done it.

Cub Cadet 123

[Yosemite Sam]

Wow, you do take the long way around.

You do need to take off one rear tire and remove the pin that holds the casting in place. Put the wheel and tire back on, then unscrew the two bolts that hold the "lift bar attaching plate" to the rock shaft handle and slide the lift bar and attaching plate out the back.

I realize that my description makes it sound really simple and easy, but it's not a whole lot harder than that.

[Cub Cadet 123]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

Wow, you do take the long way around.

You do need to take off one rear tire and remove the pin that holds the casting in place. Put the wheel and tire back on, then unscrew the two bolts that hold the "lift bar attaching plate" to the rock shaft handle and slide the lift bar and attaching plate out the back.

I realize that my description makes it sound really simple and easy, but it's not a whole lot harder than that.

Looks like a more detailed description than mine. I thought he wanted to install it, my mistake. Good job mate!

Cub Cadet 123

[Alvy]

I like how you used the enormous adjustable on the hitch just like the manual shows. If nothing else you learned a lot about how it comes apart today so it all works out in the end

[Jeff in Pa]

I've installed rear lifts in my 125 and my former 122.

The 125 ( hydro ) was extremely easy. Attach the lift arm plate to the lift arm, slide it in and install the two 5/16-18 bolts.

The 122 ( gear drive ) was real I had to disassemble the lift arm ratchet to get enough room to bolt everything together. Cotter pin was inserted with a very long pair of needlenose pliers and the cotter pin was bent over with a screwdriver.

[105_Tom]

Originally Posted by Alvy

I like how you used the enormous adjustable on the hitch just like the manual shows. If nothing else you learned a lot about how it comes apart today so it all works out in the end

Alvy - I picked up that huge adjustable at a yard sale for like $2 long before I had Cubs, not knowing what I would ever use it for (probably the reason it was being sold in the first place). It really does come in handy for pivoting the rears around when uncoupling or coupling the tractor.

I could not find a way to twist or turn the lift bar enough to get at what was left of the cotter pin that held the pivot plate on. I tried disconnecting the attachment lift arm and everything else I could think of to get some wiggle room, but after getting nowhere and using enough colorful language to scare the dog off, I just went for the split. The sleeve hitch will wind up on my Hydro-lift 125, which will pretty much make it a 'loaded tractor' (sorry Lew, no horn though).