IH Cub Cadet 100 Crawler

IH CUB CADET 100

CRAWLER

Many thanks to Dan Hoefler for sharing this magnificent example of what can be done with an IH Cub Cadet 100.

This small crawler tractor was built in nine months, from December '97 through September '98. It was built in my home machine shop, with over 1300 hours spent on its construction. The tractor is finished with Delstar acrylic enamel in the Cub Cadet colors, Federal Yellow and International Harvester White. Six major components were used from a 1963 Cub Cadet model *100*. These parts were: The 10hp Kohler engine, the transaxle, grill, hood, cowl and the seat and spring. Each of the other parts were designed and built in my shop. The tooling to form many of the components was also made here. Nuts, bolts, rivets, bearings, seals and springs were purchased. In all, 615 individual parts were manufactured for this tractor.

The manufactured parts can be divided into the following six categories:

TRACKS

There are 32 links per side, all press fit with 1 master link.
64 pins, .625 x 4.25* long 1045 CRS
64 bushings, 1 x .625 x 3* long 1045 CRS
64 dirt plates, .125 x 4.5 x 8* long HRS
64 grousers, .125 x 1.5 x 8* long HRS
128 rails, .5 x 2.5 x 5.75* long HRS
256 spiral drive rivets, .25 x .75*

TRACK FRAMES

Each track frame consists of the following components:
1 housing formed from .125* CR plate
4 stiffeners that are .75 x .75* CRS
4 internal cross braces
34 drive rivets, .25 x .75*
3 track rollers, each consisting of:
2 flange rings
1 bearing housing
1 axle shaft, 1.5* CRS
2 sealed ball bearings
2 outer seals
2 axle retaining blocks
2 rear pivot brackets 2 rear pivot bracket caps
1 front idler assembly that consists of:
2 cold formed .125* CRS discs
2 bearing rings rolled to 13.125* dia. from .25 x 1* HRS
40 drive rivets, #8 x .625*
1 center hub bearing housing
20 drive rivets, #10 x .625*
2 sealed ball bearings
2 outer oil seals
1 axle shaft, 1.5* dia.
2 track frame guide blocks
2 guide block side plates
2 buffer springs
4 spring locating discs
2 guide rods
1 tie bar
1 track tensioning shaft
1 lock collar and nut
1 suspension spring assembly that consists of:
1 upper pivot disc and bearing tube
1 lower pivot disc and bearing tube
1 guide rod
1 lower pivot bolt
1 upper pivot pin
1 spring

REAR DRIVE SPROCKETS

Each rear drive sprocket consists of the following components: The outer rings are flame cut from A36 HRS. They were turned to 18.187* dia., then 27 pockets were equally spaced every 13.333*, the pockets are .875* radius and the sprockets have a root diameter of 16.687*

The center disc was cold formed from .125* CRS plate on a specially made die. Then it was placed in the mill for the various drilled patterns.

FINAL REDUCTION DROP BOXES

Each box is fabricated from the following:
1 mounting flange, 6.0 dia. x .5* HRS
1 DOM tube, 3.5 dia. x .25* wall
1 back plate, .375* HRS
1 outer band, .125 x 2* HRS
8 bolt stand off blocks, .5 x 1 x 2* HRS
1 cover, .125* CRS
1 seal retainer, 5.5 dia. x .75* CRS
1 inner track frame pivot disc, 2* dia.
1 outer track frame pivot and bearing pre-load collar, 2* dia.
1 axle shaft
2 Timken bearing cups
2 Timken tapered roller bearings
1 reduction hub and sprocket, #60
1 upper drive sprocket, #60
1 drive axle, upper
1 drive axle outer bearing
1 drive axle inner bearing
1 drive axle outer bearing cover final drive roller chain, #60

STEERING BOXES

Each steering housing box consists of:
1 back plate, .375* HRS
1 outer band, .125 x 1.5* HRS
1 large cover, .375* HRS
1 small cover, .375* HRS
2 bearing caps
6 sealed ball bearings
13 bolt stand off blocks, .5 x 1* HRS
12 steering parts
1 steering actuator

MAIN FRAME AND GUARDS

The frame is fabricated from 2 x 4 x .125* wall welded rectangular tubing. In all, it is made up of 12 components that are welded together. Mounted to the frame are the following manufactured components:
3 transmission to frame adapter rings
steering levers and associated linkages
clutch pedal, linkage and stops
foot rests and fender mounts
front suspension support arms and tie rod
cowl mount and drive shaft guard
clutch guard
engine crankcase guard
rear draw bar and hanger
fenders and rear mounts

Building this crawler was a fun and challenging project. Many hours were spent building dies and fixtures to form and aid in the manufacture of certain parts. Part of the fun of the project was figuring out how to make the parts with the equipment that is available in the shop. Getting everything proportioned properly was also a bit of a challenge. It was worth every minute it took to build the first time I took it for a ride. There were times that I did not think that day would ever get here! The crawler is quite powerful for its small size and is very maneuverable..... and it sure is cute.
Dan Hoefler

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