The "189" - one piece at a time 149 conversion

[sorner]

What do you suggest for a rear hitch setup with the deck height adjustment? Getting a three point for cyclops is not an option for me, too expensive. I was looking to mount it to the cast iron rear with the hitch bracket, rock shaft and lift arm setup for wide frames.

[J-Mech]

A heavy piece of angle iron bolted to the frame. Just like the bracket used on a spring assist. I'd probably make it long enough to use two bolts, and gusset the sides.

[sorner]

I'll look into that. Thanks.

[sorner]

This... IMG_4353.JPG

A thought of something like that popped into my mind actually.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by sorner

This... Attachment 85996

A thought of something like that popped into my mind actually.

Yep.
Pretty simple huh.

[sorner]

Well, simple that is. I sometimes (read: most times) get into a project and can't see the forest for the trees, and do things the harder way but eventually it turns out OK. (remember my 1864 rear end leak?) I'm too far this way now, so I'm not going to go back the other way at this point unless I hit a snag that I can't work out.

[sorner]

As luck would have it, I ran into a 682 this morning with a 50C deck this morning quite cheap. The engine is a mosquito fogger, so it's a perfect candidate for a CH18s and a cast iron rear end for a worker tractor. I'm going to look it over some more before I do anything, but the "189" project may be dead.

[J-Mech]

Depending when it was made, it may already have a cast iron rear.
FWIW, even if it's a "worker" you don't need a CI rear. My main two traces are a 1050 and an 1811. Both with sleeve hitch, both with AL rears.

[sorner]

It's definitely not cast iron, its an aluminum rear just like my 1864 has.

[sorner]

Also, the 149 is about 4" lower in the front than my 1864, so the clearance height for the GT deck isn't going to work. I thought I could just swap over the mule and get it to work. I would have to swap over the axle from the cyclops and raise that front end up, and then I think it will look funny. I jacked it up in the front to simulate the height and the hood leans toward the back (the front is higher than the back of the hood). So sadly, it's not going to work out how I hoped. The 682 now, that has more potential. DeltaCub had the best advice in my thread about thinking about doing this, that it would be easier getting a 782 and put this engine in it. It's a 682 but I have all the hydraulics already to convert it. I'll just have to make some of those $13 hydro lines to plumb it all up.