Resurrecting Cub Cadet M70

[Philip Dooley]

I watched my younger brother cut the frame of my uncles m70 to fit a tecumseh engine with starter. Because of having much too much junk, I didn't save the pieces. Later on we got the tractor from my step dad. And found it to be a wonderful woods mower, though I managed to break one casting of the mower after falling into a hidden hole but the local IH dealer had some in his field. When the engine died, were able to find another tractor at the scrapyard and another frame in the local woods. By then the spindle bearings were seizing and making as much noise as the engine. I replaced the bearings with Timken from Rock Auto and seals from SKF direct. Considering materials, the seals are way over priced and the bearings under priced. Have others had good luck with China bearings ? I only dropped 2 of the bearings in the dirt and my wife and children have already corrected my technique. The magic of a plastic tray underneath prevented further dropped bearings.
I have a 10 in SB lathe in the basement and would like to use it more. I want to make my own PTO button out of teflon. What holds this button in is left out of the manuals, comments in the forums indicate a press fit. I have checked my teflon with a soldering gun to make sure its high temp ( no melting or marks ). Has anyone tried this before ?
I have volunteered to be land steward for a wood turtle preserv about 1/2 mile away through the woods. So about 20 acres of field mowing each fall once larger equipment takes care of the 1 in saplings in clumps