Cub Cadet 145??? Well, you'll see.

[dgrapes59]

Looking good Bill!

I am enjoying the updates,

[Stanton]

I like what I'm seeing! You're doing a great job. Keep the progress and pictures coming!!

[Ida Red]

GI-Bill that is fantastic fabricating as has been previously stated. That is better than factory.Keep us posted when you get a minute.

[gitractorman]

Finally, FINISHED!!!!! Well, I still need to get the seat recovered, and fix up the mower deck, but the tractor's basically done. Put the new decals on tonight, so here you go! You'l lsee that I ended up with 125 decals, as nobody would make up a 145 decal for me, so it says 125 on the outside, but I did order the 14-hp decals for the gas tank, and the engine has the original Kohler 14-hp decals on it. Also, since the engine was a new Kohler replacement, I decided to go with the satin black for the starter and gas tank supports, but the boys said to leave the gas tank yellow. Most of the chrome was shot, so everything that was chrome got a couple coats of Rustoleum Hammered Silver, which turned out pretty cool looking. Anyway, everybody has to "customize" their tractor their own way. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Thanks everyone for all the compliments. This one has been a lot of fun!
Bill

[Bob McCarty]

WOW! That's a real beauty.

Bob

[dgrapes59]

Fantastic job Bill!

That came out looking better than if it rolled out the IH factory!

Better gear up, orders will be coming in soon!

Thanks for sharing,

[twotone]

You know it's a good job when it looks factory. Nice Work!!

[gitractorman]

Thanks everyone! I really like this particular series of Cub Cadets. Not sure why, maybe it's the blue decals????

David, yes, Dad has told me that I have to keep this one because it looks nicer than they did from the factory. Then he says that "dates" him, but if I don't want it, he wants it!!

Anyway, guess I'll start on the mower deck this weekend. I found a place today to recover the seat, but he said the blue piping might be shot but he has black piping that he can use. I told him to go ahead. I just bought the blue piping from e-bay, but even I could tell that there is a section that fealt soft and wouldnt hold shape. Guess I threw that money out the window. Regardless, the tractor isn't original, and has many of my "updates", so whatever the seat turns out like will just be another of my updates.

I did get the steering wheel cap today, so I'll get some more photos once the seat is done, probably in a couple weeks.

Later,
Bill

[gitractorman]

I guess these things are really never done. Just put the finishing touches on the dash with a new steering wheel cap:



And went through and rebuilt the mower deck. It had a new spindle and center pulley and idler arm/pulley, so it really just needed a good cleaning up and some paint!



I'm tearing the mule drive apart tonight. It needs a little welding and straightening out, so that should be most of the night. Once it's all back together I should be able to mount everything up!

Later,
Bill

[Stanton]

Wonderful, wonderful job!! You do top-notch work!! Can't say enough how nice it looks. Thanks for keeping us in the loop!

[dgrapes59]

Just keeps getting better Bill!

I happened to speak to your dad last week when I orderd a few seals and he said he razzed you about the paint a little.

Looking forward to seeing the complete package together!

[RAYAR]

Excellent job, Bill. I would like to see a pic of it with a yellow air filter cover if you have one around that fits it, and then a yellow starter for the right side. I think that would add to the looks, but then again, it's your tractor. A very nice looking '145'.
Ray

[BigBill]

That looks great. Nice work. Just beaware of the increase in power. I fell off and got my leg run over and I had the 12" x 8" wide black n blue still today. The front wheels turned after running me over for a second shot with the 29"-1550-15" tru-power ags. I rolled out of the way in time. The tractor was possessed. Not a good feeling. It was my fault I was off camber with a stuck clutch disc. I went to bump a tree with the front tire to free it and she went up the tree. I jammed it in reverse as I fell off.

I have a wide frame 12hp 129 cadet, it's a parts tractor. In thinking of putting a 12hp in the 70 cadet. I have a narrow frame 12hp sitting here and a 14hp too. I might upgrade my wife's 1200 cadet to a 14hp. Now you got me thinking. I also have a 122 cadet that's been repowered with a new Koehler 12hp. She runs like new. I need to figure out all my engine swaps then make what's left over to sell. I even purchased used bare blocks from eBay too. We have to have parts to keep these over built gems running.

I sold off my monster log splitter and my plan is to use one mounted on a cadet powered by the cadet. I can drive it to where it's needed. I still want 40 tons of splitting power too.

[gitractorman]

Well, today is my birthday, and what a better present than getting a call from the upholstery shop on Friday to let me know that my seat was complete. It was a little expensive to get recovered but I think it puts the finishing touches on the tractor. Here she is, the completed CC 125/145. Thanks again to everyone's great comments!

Happy Birthday to Me!
Bill

[dgrapes59]

The Crowning Touch!

Looks great,