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  #1  
Old 12-09-2018, 09:51 AM
JoshM JoshM is offline
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Default Cub Cadet 125 Motor Issue.

I have a 1968 Cub Cadet 125 with a Kohler K301a motor. Now that its winter its about 30 degrees out now and every time I try to start it it will fire but the motor will turn backwards maybe 1/8th of a turn and then start turning the right way again. This only happens in the cold, not sure if this is a timing issue or if its just because its not getting enough power from the battery and its not turning fast enough.
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Old 12-09-2018, 02:19 PM
Gompers Gompers is offline
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Mine does the same thing. Put a bigger battery on it, or disconnect the driveshaft (so it doesn't have to spin the hydro pump) and it'll fire right up.

I'm guessing both yours and mine need the ACR adjusted. I haven't felt like taking the head off so I haven't messed with it and usually just try and warm up the fluid in the rear or put a car battery on it to jump it to get it running when it's cold out.
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Old 12-09-2018, 03:01 PM
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sawdustdad sawdustdad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshM View Post
I have a 1968 Cub Cadet 125 with a Kohler K301a motor. Now that its winter its about 30 degrees out now and every time I try to start it it will fire but the motor will turn backwards maybe 1/8th of a turn and then start turning the right way again. This only happens in the cold, not sure if this is a timing issue or if its just because its not getting enough power from the battery and its not turning fast enough.
Describe your start procedure and observations in more detail. How do you know the engine goes backwards? What are you looking at? When does it do that? When you first try to start it? Does the starter belt squeal? Does it crank almost two revolutions then suddenly stop momentarily, belt squeals, then keep cranking? Or does the tractor just move backwards a bit as you are cranking? Making you think the motor is turning backwards?

ACR issues don't happen due to cold weather, but the weaker battery may cause a non functional ACR to make it much harder to start.
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Old 12-09-2018, 03:18 PM
Gompers Gompers is offline
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Originally Posted by sawdustdad View Post
Describe your start procedure and observations in more detail. How do you know the engine goes backwards? What are you looking at? When does it do that? When you first try to start it? Does the starter belt squeal? Does it crank almost two revolutions then suddenly stop momentarily, belt squeals, then keep cranking? Or does the tractor just move backwards a bit as you are cranking? Making you think the motor is turning backwards?

ACR issues don't happen due to cold weather, but the weaker battery may cause a non functional ACR to make it much harder to start.
On mine, if it's warm out, it'll spin ok when it's warm and fire up pretty quick. When it's cold, it doesn't turn over as fast, and on the compression stroke the engine will fire but stop turning forwards and go backwards about 1/8 a turn and then spin forwards again. No belt squealing. My thought was that it's just not spinning with enough momentum to continue to compress the gasses/air after the spark plug fires at whatever degrees before TDC it does it's thing. It will start fine if I disconnect the driveshaft so it can spin faster, or if I put a big booster pack on it or take the time to warm up the transmission housing.
Could just need wiring cleaned up or starter/generator rebuilt or whatnot, but I suspect ACR is out of adjustment on mine at least.
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Old 12-09-2018, 03:38 PM
thetoyfarmer thetoyfarmer is offline
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Your battery is weak. Replace it. That or just use a charger/jump pack when you go to start it when it’s that cold.
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Old 12-09-2018, 04:25 PM
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Billy-O Billy-O is offline
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My 125 does the same thing! Slow to turn over on cold weather. It helps to have the best cold cranking amp battery possible. Recommended Winter oil (10w-30) in motor. Good electrical connections from battery to starter.

I also do a couple things. The day before snow storm before I use the tractor, I put a small ceramic heater near it. I also have tractor on trickle charger only for colder weather.

I read/heard that you should use the recommended IH Hydrostatic oil in the tranny..... For one thing the this oil would suit better for winter startup than other brands oil that are comparable/compatible to the IH. Supposingly, with the IH oil, there is less strain turning over motor on cold start-ups. I'm not sure if that's true, but I'm guilty of being cheap!
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Old 12-09-2018, 05:30 PM
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darkminion_17 darkminion_17 is offline
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All good info, except disconnecting the drive shaft, gotta check those grounds, and see how the grounds on the starter generator brackets are also.

My 125 stays outside. It is my main snow plow tractor. I started it today @ 18* to move the log splitter, 5 y.o. L&G battery, fired right up after 10 sec. of cranking.
Last year @ -16* did the same only 20 sec of cranking though, I cannot complain about this tractor.
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Old 12-09-2018, 06:50 PM
Gompers Gompers is offline
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Originally Posted by darkminion_17 View Post
All good info, except disconnecting the drive shaft, gotta check those grounds, and see how the grounds on the starter generator brackets are also.

My 125 stays outside. It is my main snow plow tractor. I started it today @ 18* to move the log splitter, 5 y.o. L&G battery, fired right up after 10 sec. of cranking.
Last year @ -16* did the same only 20 sec of cranking though, I cannot complain about this tractor.
I don't recommend disconnecting it...it's just (unfortunately) very easy to do for troubleshooting on my 125 On the list of things to fix.

I know on (much) later cubs they made a driveshaft disconnect kit for cold weather starting.
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Old 12-09-2018, 11:33 PM
JoshM JoshM is offline
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Thanks guys, glad to see i’m not the only one with this issue. Ill just continue to use jumper cables from my car, no big deal, just wondering if there was something I was missing.
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Old 12-10-2018, 06:29 AM
twoton twoton is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gompers View Post
..... Could just need wiring cleaned up or starter/generator rebuilt......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy-O View Post
.....Recommended Winter oil (10w-30) in motor.....
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkminion_17 View Post
.....gotta check those grounds, and see how the grounds on the starter generator brackets are also......
Make sure that all the wiring connections in the start circuit (not just the grounds) are polished bright and clean. When you reassemble, add serrated washers for some extra "bite" and a dab of dielectric grease to keep the moisture out.

You can use your multi meter to do a voltage drop test to find problems such as wiring with internal corrosion;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paw8...a1WqUHuGt-UsNV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGB6...a1WqUHuGt-UsNV

And remember, a hot wire provides a better path to ground. So, conversely, if you have low ambient temperatures, and internal corrosion in any part of the circuit, using a larger battery or jumping it is not solving the problem.

What kind of condition is the starter? Has it ever been rebuilt? Have you had it apart to inspect and clean? A badly tarnished commutator with worn out brushes will not conduct well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB-h...a1WqUHuGt-UsNV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmjF...a1WqUHuGt-UsNV

When the temperatures drop, we need all of these things to be in top working condition.
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