Cub cadet 123 hard to start and squeak

[jeepchicken5000]

Hey guys new to the forum and got a problem, my dads has had his 123 for 20 years or so now and since he has had it, it has never started all that good. He has always told me about the stories with it and how the engine was rebuilt by a guy that built kohler and he said the guy said it has the wrong camshaft in it aNd I always here that about when I ask him why it starts like it does. When you go to crank it the starter generator doesn't seem to crank it fast enough to start and when it does with a new battery it always is about to fire and then makes a squeak sound and kicks backwards and it will always do this, eventually with a jump pack ontop of the battery you can get the beast to run and it runs great, so I decided to take the hydro drive shaft off it and start it. The things starts up pretty much no problem with a load off it. The engine is a k301as idk if its original but the engine is fine and my uncle that had the engine before my dad said it ran fine , do you think some one out in the wrong camshaft and what do we need to look for to fine the issue and info would be great and right now it's undergoing restoration so no hurry, thanks guys

[vartz04]

Compression release probably isn't working properly and is making it hard for your motor to spin fast enough to get it to start

[jeepchicken5000]

Ok do I have to take the engine apart to look at it, not really familiar with these engine I've done car engines more. Or is there anyway to check it cause it does lift it up as far as I can tell with the head off

[vartz04]

If the valve lifts slightly on the compression stroke it's working. Check your wiring and maybe get a new battery. Get the largest cold cranking amp battery that will fit in the tray. I think mine is 350 and it can start my k241 in the middle of the winter.

[jeepchicken5000]

ok I will but I think instead ill just do an engine transplant. Today I found a 125 hydro with the k301 in it, the guy said it ran but couldn't figure it out why it wouldn't. I messed around and noticed the points were shot and replaced those I also had to use the carb off my 123 engine, this engine starts no problem and laughs at my other engine. im gonna just do an engine swap and figure that one out later, ill see if I can get some photos up of my donor tractor, best thing was it was $140 delivered

[darkminion_17]

What a deal!!!

looking forward to your pictures.

[ACecil]

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

What a deal!!!

looking forward to your pictures.

Me too!

[Cubcrazy]

Originally Posted by jeepchicken5000

ok I will but I think instead ill just do an engine transplant. Today I found a 125 hydro with the k301 in it, the guy said it ran but couldn't figure it out why it wouldn't. I messed around and noticed the points were shot and replaced those I also had to use the carb off my 123 engine, this engine starts no problem and laughs at my other engine. im gonna just do an engine swap and figure that one out later, ill see if I can get some photos up of my donor tractor, best thing was it was $140 delivered

Congrats on the 125! Looking forward to pics!

[DMK855]

I just got a 129 from my grandfather that would do the exact same thing. I reset the timing and it made a HUGE improvement. It will still squeal the belt every once in a while on start up, but not every time you try to start it like before.

May just be coincidence on mine though!!

[jeepchicken5000]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hEqvD-cOqLc


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f_0WIHClE7M

Even better a couple youtube vids I put up and do I have to use photobucket to put pics up I think I do, let me know what you guys think