[Ambush]

Being new to Cub Cadets (any tractors actually) and to this site, I thought I might as well chronicle my progress to maybe help others and to certainly give a laugh to those that actually know what they're talking about.

I bought the tractor a couple of weeks ago, mainly on the advice of a brother who is a compact machinery nut, but who also lives several thousand miles away so he's no real help after the fact. It's a 1973 149 with hydraulic lift. The tractor is in a good, largey unabused state. It also came with a IH push blade and a #2 tiller. But the mule drive and corner drive is missing for the tiller.

The first thing I found was a lot of slop in the rear lift and not a complete range of motion. Taking the tunnel cover off answered that question. The rocker arm had been poorly welded, probably because the clevis was wrecked. Also the block for the link was missing altogether and had been replaced with a single 3/8" bolt which was rattling around in the hole on the link. The link was upside down too, just for good measure. The link has a 5/8" ID bronze bushing on the front end, which I'm not sure belongs there?

On the bright side, the front rocker shaft is in pretty good shape. The spiral pins had all been replaced with bolts, but there is not much slop for the years of operation. And that's where I'll start. Repairing the arm, link and making the mounting block. Unless I can buy them cheap, but it won't be local.

I will be making the rocker arm solid, as I have no need for the float there.

Anyway, I'll update as I go along and get this thing fixed up into a food plotting super power!