Help with 125

I am new to the Cub Cadet world and my first forum. True newbie. I am getting ready to purchase my first. I have been looking over every place, gathering info, searching the classified adds, shoot, I even joined a forum . Anyhow, I have become a world class expert on Cub Cadets because everything I know I found on the internet !!! Enough of my smart mouth. I started asking about using a 125 for tilling and snow throwing. I had a couple of responses with warm welcomes then I realized I was starting a chat in the wrong place. So I would like to start it correctly. I hear some forums kick you out for doing the wrong things........... Anyhow don't want to be that guy. Any advice? Again? If I wasn't technologically challenged, ( I can only be World Class at one thing..........one thing at a time. ) . Sorry smarty pants runs pretty deep in the bloodlines. Thanks for any and all help. I guess I should help on my end with some info. DUH! Again I can't be World Class with the written words Cub Cadets and technology. One thing at a time. I am looking at a 125 with a rear lift and the engine driven pump with mower deck. Being my first Cub Cadet,I thought this might be a good one to start with. Any advice?

Would probably be a good idea to change out the Hy-tran in the rear end and replace the filter. Also a change of the engine oil might be a good idea. To change out the Hy-tran you'll need to remove the rear cover and drawbar. You'll want a good sized drain pan to catch the flood of Hy-tran... You'll likely see some globs of stuff in the Hy-tran, that would be water that the Hy-tran has captured. BE sure to wipe all of that out of the housing. Then install a new gasket and fill it back up with fresh Hy-tran.

Here's a link to the service manual for the 125:

1x4/5 Series Service Manual

Here's a link to the Operator's Manual:

1x4/5 Series Operator's Manual

Hey Kraig - you forgot to tell Ron that the 125 is your favorite tractor

Ron - who on the internet actually qualified you as being a "world class expert"? We have an un-named group of experts that head up our Correct Police. I recommend you contact them and disclose your credentials to avoid any issues

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Hydro, I did consider posting this:

I love people with great sense of humor!!! I,m trying to fix my printer so I can print my certificate. Only so much at a time.

Kraig, what's the difference in the two snow throwers?

Ron,

I'm in the same boat with you. I knew nothing a month ago. Sink or swim!

Picked up a 127 with snow thrower/blower and blade, and started doing maintenance recommended in the Operator Manual and/or the Service Manual. Those manuals that Kraig linked to, and CCSpecialties store and FAQ put together by Digger, plus the official cubcadet.com exploded view diagrams have made it easy to get tune-up & replacement parts for my 127. This weekend I'll be replacing the hydro fluid with Hytran just like Kraig described.

Also looking at tillers and plows but I don't want to do any real work with the tractor until finishing basic service.

The 125 and 127 are similar models if I read right. I'll post more pics soon, and share the adventure.

Justin

Ron, the QA36/QA42 only fit "Narrow Frame" Cub Cadets which are the following series: the 70/100, the 1x2/3-71, the 1x4/5-72 and the 1x6/7-73 series. With the 70/100 both are gear drive, the 70 being 7hp and the 100 being 10 hp. The x in the 1x2/3 -71 series could be a 0 (10hp) or a 2 (12hp) for 102, 122, 123 and 71, the 71 was a 7hp. The 102, 122 and 71 were gear drive and the 123 was hydrostatic drive. Then there's the 104, 124, 105, 125 and the 72. The 104, 124 and 72 were gear drive, the 105 and 125 were hydrostatic drive. This series also added front QA or Quick Attach, all the previous series had bolt on or pin on attachments. With the 1x6/7-73 series there's also a 14hp model. 106, 126, 107, 127, 147 and 73. The 106, 126 and 73 were gear drive, the 107, 127 and 147 were hydrostatic drive.

The QA36A and QA42A are adjustable and will fit both Narrow Frame and Wide Frame Cub Cadets. The wide frame Cub Cadets are the 1x8/9-86 series and the Quiet Line series. The 1x8/9-86 models are the 108, 128, (gear drive) 109, 129, 149, 169 (hydrostatic drive) and the 86 which was an 8hp gear drive. As you have probably guessed the 169 is 16hp. The Quiet Line series were the 800, 1000, 1200 (gear drives), 1250, 1450 and 1650 (hydrostatic drive).

That's probably more info than you asked for...

Thank you for explaining that. That helps out a lot. I could not figure out the A. Adjustable. Must have skipped school that day . Really do appreciate the info. I also didn't know when the break was for the QA. Next question. What size decks are available? Do you know how many GPM the IH pump is capable of? I have read about putting a GM power steering pump. Better idea? Worse idea? Thinking about a FEL. You know...... after I am rich and famous.

I didn't mention the "Original" in that description I posted above as it has more unique features all its own.

Deck sizes would be 38", 42" and 48" there are various versions of these. There are the "cast end" decks which are also known as "pin on" decks. The early 38" and 42" decks were available as the cast end/pin on decks. There are I believe three versions of the 48" decks. The "pin on", variant and two versions of the Quick Attach. With the Wide Frame Cubs the 44" and 50" decks came about, they are stamped decks rather than the square looking folded/bent 38", 42" and 48" decks. There are different versions of the 44" and 50" the 44A/50A and the later 44C/50C the later versions used a wider drive belt, 5/8" vs 3/8" of the earlier decks. Each of the mower decks use a slightly different "sub-frame" or "deck hanger" Enough text, here's some photos to give you an idea of the variations. This is just a sampling...

38" and 42" Cast End/Pin on, look like this:



The 48" Pin on looks like this:



The early 38" and 42" Quick Attach look like this:



The 48" Quick Attach looks like this:



Here's a deck hanger for the above Quick Attach decks:



Here's what the 40" and 50" stamped decks look like:

I didn't include the 38" "Timed" deck in the above list as it is more unique and not as readily available. It was what was available for the Original and had timed blades with a cogged belt. There was also an adapting kit to allow it to be used with the model 70. It had two blades, all of the decks I listed in my post above have three blades. There's a thread in the "Refurbish & Restorations" forum area that has some great photos of an Original Timed deck:

Cub Original - Mower deck...

I'm so impressed with the amount of accurate info available on this forum.I've begun to download many of the pdf files for future reference. Awesome !! Many thanks...

Gotta agree with Gary! The information and knowledge is amazing! And Kraig, I don't care what anyone says you are alright. I thank you for all the information. Reminds me of the good ole days when folks helped each other. Wow am I showing my age!! I am glad you helped out, keeps me from buying the wrong things. How about the hydraulic pump? Are Cubs all 12 volt? Boy,if I try hard I bet I can become a real pain in the ............... So once again Kraig I thank you. It's nice to feel welcome when trying a new hobby/addiction.

Hydro, you've been awful quiet. Starting to get scared . I appreciate your concerns over my credentials but I can assure you that I read, oh, I don't know three maybe four different spots on the internet. With that being said, I also know I must be a World Class because my 100% true info came from The World Wide Web. I only joined the forum to help you guys! I love people who find humor in everything. Thanks for having a sense of humor.

All Cub Cadets have12 volt systems. I don't have any experience with the add on hydraulic pumps, so I'll leave that for someone else to comment on. Hydro, like second gear on a worn out Cub, tends to pop in and out, sometimes he disappears for weeks or even months, he's a busy guy, that or he forgets how to log in.

Ron - me be Quiet???? Heck I almost got a headache reading thru Kraig's explanation of Cub Cadet tractor models. Although you seem to understand here's a little different explanation. It will probably give you a different kind of headache, but it might help some of the other newbies and lurkers on here.

The very first Cub Cadet didn't have a model number. It was known as a "Cub Cadet" and was a gear drive with a 7hp Kohler engine. Over time and because it didn't have a model number it became known as the "Original" also commonly referred to as an "O".

After the Original, IH produced the model 70 and model 100. Both were gear drive models
70 is 7hp Kohler gear drive.
100 is 10hp Kohler gear drive.
(Note the engine hp associated with the model numbers - 7hp model 70 and 10hp model 100).

After the 70 and 100 IH produced the models 71, 102, 122 and 123.
71 is 7hp Kohler gear drive.
102 is 10hp Kohler gear drive
122 is 12hp Kohler gear drive
123 is 12hp Kohler with the very first Hydrostatic drive.

As IH introduced new models they maintained the model numbering nomenclature and sequencing. Model numbers with 2 digits were gear drive with 7hp engines. Model numbers with 3 digits were 10hp or greater. The first 2 digits of a 3 digit model identify the engine hp. The 3rd digit of a 3 digit model identifies whether it's gear drive or hydrostatic. An even number 3rd digit is a gear drive and an odd number 3rd digit is a hydrostatic drive.

The next models produced were the 72, 104, 105, 124 and 125. You should be able to figure out the engine hp and drive for these but here goes.
72 is 7hp Kohler gear drive
104 is 10hp Kohler gear drive
105 is 10hp Kohler hydro drive
124 is 12hp Kohler gear drive
125 is 12hp Kohler hydro drive.

For our Forum discussions about "all the models in a series" we started to use an "x" combined with the 3 digit model numbers. 1x2/3 series refers to the 71, 102, 122 and 123. 1x4/5 series refers to the 72, 104, 105, 124 and 125.

So, the next models introduced by IH were
73 is 7hp Kohler gear drive (this was the last 7hp model)
106 is 10hp Kohler gear drive
107 is 10hp Kohler hydro drive
126 is 12hp Kohler gear drive
127 is 12hp Kohler hydro drive
147 is 14hp Kohler hydro drive (this was the first 14hp model)

All the models listed above are considered "Narrow" frame tractors. The frame for the 147 had a cut and bump-out in the side so the 14hp engine would fit.

After this point and to accommodate the bigger hp engines (14hp and 16hp) on the next series of tractors IH modified (widened) the frame in the area of the engine and used it for all the models in the series. We refer to this series as the 1x8/9 series and the start of the "Wide Frame" series:
86 is 8hp Kohler gear drive (this was the first 8hp model)
108 is 10hp Kohler gear drive
109 is 10hp Kohler hydro drive
128 is 12hp Kohler gear drive
129 is 12hp Kohler hydro drive
149 is 14hp Kohler hydro drive
169 is 16hp Kohler hydro drive (this was the first 16hp model)

You may have noticed IH ran out of numbers for 3 digit model numbers since they used the number 9. So, IH began using 4 digits for tractors with 10hp or more, and 3 digits for tractors with 8hp, for the next series. This series also was the first time IH fully enclosed the engines and the series became known as the "Quiet Series" or Quiet Line Series.
800 is 8hp Kohler gear drive
1000 is 10hp Kohler gear drive
1200 is 12hp Kohler gear drive
1250 is 12hp Kohler hydro drive
1450 is 14hp Kohler hydro drive
1650 is 16hp Kohler hydro drive
(Note there was no longer a 10hp hydrostatic drive model. There was an odd ball sort of economy Model 1100 that had a 11hp Briggs and ScrapIron engine with no side panels so it was not part of the Quiet Line Series, and it also had a different gear drive tranny/rearend from the infamous IH built gear drive).

After this IH introduced the famous 82 series. I've got a headache now myself and really can't get into explaining this series which includes the 482, 582, 582 Special, 682 and 782. I will say IH modified (spread) the frame for all the models used in this series to accommodate the 17hp Kohler twin cylinder engine used in the model 682 and 782. We cannot refer to this series using an "x" in the numbers so we commonly refer to this series either as the "Spread" frame or 82 series.

In the year of our Lord 1981, IH sold Cub Cadet off to MTD, which they maintained as a separate wholely owned subsidiary known as Cub Cadet Corporation (we refer to as CCC). CCC has mixed up the nomenclature for model numbers so there is really easy explanation. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, and getting some aspirin.

Ron Armbruster said:

Kraig, what's the difference in the two snow throwers?

Click to expand...

Oh Ron - the easy answer is one is 36" wide and the other one is 42" wide

Gentlemen,that's what I mean about info..He accidently told me an answer about narrow vs wide frame that I've been trying to find..I actually read this stuff !! I had an"0" once but didn't know it until a dealer convinced me it had no mod no...I had it all rejuvinated and some fella offered me a huge sum of money,being a capitalist,I sold it..Been almost sorry ever since...

Harry, I think, if you put forth some effort, Goody's Headache Powder might throw down some advertising money. ! I don't get headaches till after I am done crying. ............ Thanks for the info. You know,since Kraig gave me the Readers Digest condensed version. Sniff. I need a Kleenex. Maybe a nap too.