48" Mower Deck Rehab

[PSully]

This almost pristine mower deck came with the 125 I just purchased. While I'm waiting to get a chance to rebuild the smoking and rapping engine on the 125, I thought I'd get the mower deck spruced up a bit. It is at the sandblasting shop right now, and I'm expecting to get it back in a day or two. I'd like to find some nice used pulleys, and whatever else I need to put it back together. Although I managed to locate most everything I need on the Cub Cadet site, I will be spending more on the parts than I did for the entire tractor. Before I get too involved in this deck, I would like to confirm that it is indeed the right one for the tractor. My 125 was built in Sept 1968, and the numbers on the deck are: 481U1112. The PO said it would fit, and I'm pretty sure he knows his stuff. I would just like to find a solid reference for the deck numbers.
Thanks

[Yosemite Sam]

It looks like a "pin on" deck to me, if your 125 has the pin on mule drive and lift carriage, the deck will be fine as it is.

However if your 125 has the correct style QA mule drive and lift carriage you will need to modify the deck to make it work.

I guess it is possible that you have the correct style (QA) mule drive with the pin on style lift carriage attached to it, can't tell from here.

[twoton]

Originally Posted by PSully

, I will be spending more on the parts than I did for the entire tractor.

Isn't that the way it always goes..., Welcome to OCC.

[Cub Cadet 123]

Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam

It looks like a "pin on" deck to me, if your 125 has the pin on mule drive and lift carriage, the deck will be fine as it is.

However if your 125 has the correct style QA mule drive and lift carriage you will need to modify the deck to make it work.

I guess it is possible that you have the correct style (QA) mule drive with the pin on style lift carriage attached to it, can't tell from here.

Good eye there, Yosemite Sam!!!....as well as good advice.

Cub Cadet 123

[PSully]

Oh, that's the other thing...I am waiting for a mule drive to be delivered. I bought it on Ebay, and it was supposed to be here a couple of days ago. If it doesn't come today I will have to go to the post office to find out what is going on. The Ebay ad said that it was from a 125.

Back to the deck numbers though: When I went on the Cub Cadet parts site, they want the model number of the "accessory" that you are trying to find parts for. When I put in my numbers (481u1112), the site doesn't recognize the number. I had to dig around until I found 48" three-bladed deck, and then they list three of them according to different years of manufacture. I think the pulleys, and most parts are going to be the same, but still no idea about my numbers, and what year my deck was built.

Thanks for the responses so far and thanks for the welcome.

[Ash_129]

PSully, from the looks of your center pulleys, and your outer spindle/pulley covers, the deck appears to be the early style. (This the same model that I rebuilt, and adapted the Quick Attach for my 129.)

[Yosemite Sam]

Go here http://www.onlycubcadets.net/pdf/CPE...er%20Decks.pdf this should give you all the information that is available. I believe that your deck is the one on page 15.

You still won't find those numbers anywhere in the above PDF.

My experience has been that it's always a crap-shoot as to weather the parts you have in your hand are the same ones listed in the exploded view.

Your local Case/IH dealer may be able to help you with the numbers on the tag, but they have never asked me for those numbers concerning anything I've ever ordered from them.

I'm also guessing that I don't own a pin on 48" deck, as I have never seen that center pulley on a 48" deck. All of the 48" decks that I have, have a smaller pulley on the center spindle.

[sir_lancealot]

The way the model numbers work on those decks has to do with just the first 3 numbers. You have a 48" deck, version 1 (481). So it was built between 1963-1968. I have a 482 (version 2) and 483 (version 3) deck, so now I've seen all 3 versions, since you posted this. The mouting to the sub frame (or mule drive) can vary depending on what tractor it was put on. This one is setup for the pin-on style, as was mentioned earlier. It is not a quick-attach deck. It can be made into a QA with new rear pins and front eyelets. Most likely what you're getting from eBay will be a QA style.

[PSully]

Thanks for the all the tips guys. I tried the first three numbers on cubcadet.com, but to no avail. I guess the "crap shoot" is on after all. I'm not in a big rush to this all done. I just don't want to hassle with wrong parts if I can help it.
Here is a picture of the mule drive. I hope it's the right one. Also, it is two days past due, so a call to USPS will be taking place tomorrow morning.

[sir_lancealot]

Sometimes the implements can't be found on their own on Cub Cadet's website. The only way I know of to look up your deck is to search for 125, then use the Attachments pull-down menu to select the 48" 3-spindle deck.