108 deck lever

[Wayne]

What is the a procedure for removing the deck lift lever on my 108? I need to remove the inner L-shaped bar (or whatever) that locks into the notches to hold the deck at various heights. The bent end of it busted off and I need to get it welded.

[JayBrd]

If you're talking about the rockshaft, you need to remove the spirol pins to remove it all...

Pictures would help a ton more

[Cub Cadet 123]

That rod will be real tricky to replace without removing the entire rockshaft. I did do it on my 107, but not without a great deal of frustration and a lot of time. You have to get a pair of vice grips (use soft pads or cloth if you do not wish to mar up your control button at the top) and unscrew (counter-clockwise....this will take a while, just be patient with it) the top release button from the rod. Then I used a straighthead screwdriver and hammer to gently tap the bottom (L-part) of the rod from the saw tooth bracket. Once it was free from the bracket, then the lift arm should float forward and backward. At this point, jack up the front of the cub as high as you can (with the deck off of course) and remove the rod out of the bottom of the cub. Again, it is a lot easier to probably remove the entire rockshaft and then remove the rod.

Cub Cadet 123

[Wayne]

Oh...no wonder I've delayed doing it for a year. I suppose before I dig into it I should ask, is there an effective way to MacGyver it? I was using an old rod I had laying around to lock it at the desired level, but it wouldnt stay in there very well so I decided I probably should fix it the right way. But I didnt know it would be hard...hehheeh

[Yosemite Sam]

If the "L" shaped part is broken off the rest of the rod should come out the top of the lever/handle.

Then you would need to reverse Cub Cadet 123's directions to put it back in.

On a Wide Frame tractor the rockshaft doesn't unbolt like it does on a Narrow Frame tractor, you gotta take the fender pan off and knock the big pin out of the lift handle casting then try to get the casting off of the rockshaft, and getting that casting off can be a [B]PITA[B]!

Take the deck off and lift the front of the tractor up with your chain hoist or cherry picker and stay out from underneath it while it's up in the air like that.

[Wayne]

Where do the thumb part and rod thread together? Seems they are frozen together, need to try to get some lube in there somehow...but dont even know if its possible, not knowing where the threads are.

[Yosemite Sam]

The bottom of the thumb button is about 1/2" below the float button on the front of the handle. Gonna be hard to get any penetrant on the threads as the rod itself is 5/16" and the thumb button is about 1/2", most of the penetrant will run past the threaded part and out the bottom of the handle.

Once again, if the bottom of the "L" is broken off the rod should pull out of the handle through the top.

IF the rod is pushed down and doesn't want to come back up on its own, then you need to attack it with a small hammer and punch/screw driver/whatever is handy from the bottom and tap it back up, then pull it out the top.

[Wayne]

Hmmm...I may be a little dense, in fact I know I am. But I dont see how to get the rod out the top, and the L is definitely broken off. I've pulled and pulled and something is holding it in there-perhaps the float button? I don't know. I have to leave town for a week and will revisit it when I get back.

[Wayne]

After getting back and reasessing the situation, I realized there were some burrs left from where the L broke off, and that was preventing the rod from coming out the top of the lever. Now I've got it out, and just need to figure out a way to get the tractor high enough to get the repaired rod in from the bottom. I dont have a hoist but I'll think of something...Thanks!

[_DX3_]

I may be way off base, but why not drain the fluids and just lay the mower over on it's side, with blankets buffering it? A friend or two should be more than enough to do it without damage. Of course I am told I always do things the hard way, LOL...