The beauty of small engineering

jbrewer · #1 03-12-2021, 02:21 PM

So after swearing that all I was going to do was swap an engine, I've got my cub 123 completely stripped down. Out came the engine, rear end , driveline, Hydro, steering column, wiring harness, etc. I've got a lot of parts on order. Normal people would hire a lawn service or buy a big box mower, but... I digress

I was taking out the key switch (wishing this cub had come with the optional cigarette lighter!) and then proceeded to the headlight switch. Hmmm... it's got a knob on it that will have to come off. Wonder how that's going to work. Then I looked closely.

This 55 year old part, designed by some long forgotten mechanical engineer was really finely wrought . The knob is a zinc/zamak casting with flats for a small wrench, as it's threaded on. But...the shaft spins so ...how can I hold the shaft without destroying it's smooth travel (it still electrically works!) . Ah! There's a small hole in the shaft, where I can insert the business end of a pick ! What a good idea.

Off the knob came. Then I could remove the cap screw that held the switch to the frame. It too is a zinc/zamak casting, still in good shape. When I removed the cap and looked inside there's a rubber waterpoofing gasket in the top surface that's still supple and doing it's job. For *fifty five* years of NC weather .

So...just a hat tip to what used to be just good basic engineering (granted, these Cubs cost 1/2-2/3 the cost of a new car when sold) of the type we as a society have determined we don't want to pay for any more. Someone long ago sweated the details of each and every feature, and they did their job well, in their white short sleeve shirt and skinny tie.

There's a beauty to good engineering. It's a shame we have walked away from it. I'll clean this up and get it back to work, maybe for another few decades.

Cubcadet_107 · #2 03-12-2021, 02:35 PM

LOL... thanks for that tip. Now, if you would excuse me, I'm gonna go pull the light switch off my parts tractor and mount it to my 107's light system

finsruskw · #3 03-12-2021, 05:28 PM

You are this far into it, you should really go ahead and restore it.
You will be glad and proud you did when finished.

Do you realize the 123 was the very first cub to receive the hydro?
At the National RPRU in 2017, Hosted by Iowa IHCC Chapter #5, we were blessed with a restored 123 on display along with the original prototype 123.

jbrewer · #4 03-12-2021, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finsruskw

You are this far into it, you should really go ahead and restore it.
You will be glad and proud you did when finished.

Do you realize the 123 was the very first cub to receive the hydro?
At the National RPRU in 2017, Hosted by Iowa IHCC Chapter #5, we were blessed with a restored 123 on display along with the original prototype 123.

Well I thought about it, but again, it's gonna get muddy, wet and grassy. :-)
And...I have another one that I might look at for that purpose . They really are tough little guys and that Sunstrand hydro is almost bomb proof.

R Bedell · #5 03-13-2021, 06:50 AM

The parts of YesterYear were more robust and simple. Today, made in China junk, over engineered, and need a wiring schematic with a good DVM, is in store.

Billy-O · #6 03-13-2021, 01:26 PM

You can still buy this over engineered probably now made in China switch:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/COIL-Push-P....c101195.m1851

I have one of these for the light switch on the 125....so far so good two-three years and counting.

jbrewer · #7 03-17-2021, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy-O

You can still buy this over engineered probably now made in China switch:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/COIL-Push-P....c101195.m1851

I have one of these for the light switch on the 125....so far so good two-three years and counting.

Amazing!

Only 53 more years to go to catch up to the US one !

Taking any bets?

The only thing the Chinese are incapable of copying are international business ethics.

docmirror · #8 03-17-2021, 07:15 PM

I noted the same when I rebuilt my fuel system. The float is brass, with soldered fillet for the pivot ring, and the closure tang. The needle and seat are made of stainless and brass, and are in perfect shape, even though they are +50 years old. I think the o-ring on the float bowl seat is original, but if not, it is very old. Still in good shape.

The throttle shaft is brass bushed, the metal line has rubber compression fittings, and a tiny shut off valve with glass sediment bowl, all in perfect shape, just needs cleaning.

West Valley G · #9 03-17-2021, 09:41 PM

It has worked for 50 years and kept up, will work for another 50.
Or I guess one could go for something disposable. I will stick with what I have.

Ken

Frank1541 · #10 03-18-2021, 09:21 AM

People ask me why I like keep my 1864 verses getting a new tractor. I say that they were the last of the old American way of doing things. If something is not strong enough, just weld another piece of steal onto it.
On the other hand, we have had our own problems with throw away stuff. Cars made in the US in the late 60's into the 80's were often complete junk. I remember putting my foot through the rusted out metal door panel on a Ford Maverick when is was only 4 years old. Or the famous Chevy with a V8 where you had to jack the engine off the motor mounts to change a spark plug. Of course some of those cars were really cool, especially the muscle cars. I miss the sound of the old V8's