Martin H

Hi Stormin, An elementary question, how do I get in to inspect the plates to begin with? (As to the mule drive...it's the v shaped one that's gone. Not sure if they are pressed steel, I can't see any rivets. There may be small dents from spot welds, but hard to tell.. The wide one looks like it's made of two halves, but the v shaped looks like it's one piece. Anyway, I've taken your advice and tracked down a supplier and ordered a new wheel altogether, seems like the best thing to do as it's quite urgent that it gets replaced as soon as).. Thanks, M.

Sorry, been away.. Thanks everyone, but I think this is beyond me and the capability of my workshop, I'll have to keep muddling through with the gears I have..:) Although I can select them eventually, the ones in high ratio lose power on small slopes, so maybe it's something else other than the fork? Could it be the drive belt? Anyway I have a worse problem in that the bearing has gone on one of the mule drive pulleys. Anyone have a solution? Maybe point me to a replacement bearing or pulley? Cheers, Martin

Thanks Stormin, will do and my lips are sealed...:) And Meadowfield, yes stripping it would be my expectation. Getting the side plate off will be my first challenge..:)

Hello all, I'm in need of some education and advice...:) My 125 is down to 2 gears in low gear and reverse, nothing in the higher ratios. Can anyone point me in the right direction for finding good information for sorting out the gearbox and transmission please ..? A good diagram as to how it all works would be a good start...:) Cheers, Martin H.

Yep, the bar was the wrong way around, goes on easy peasy now... I thought it would be something obvious, don't know why the previous owner would have reversed it. Anyway it works now, all I have to do is get a belt that fits and I'm there.. Ordered one from belting online, but it's slightly too short. Ahem...or is there another knack to fitting a belt that I don't know about, beginning to feel like a dumbo here... Thanks all for the help, yet again...

The right hand side of the deck/tractor if you're facing forwards..? I think this may be it...the fork is on the left.. For whatever reason, the previous owner had it that way round..I need to find my spanners... But it'll have to wait until I get back next week..

Hang on a minute...which way should that fork be facing and angled and which side of the deck should it be nearest..?

Right...seems like it's a knack....I shall give it another go and if I can't get it to work, I'll take some pics.. Yes the flat surface was the ground with a couple of boards to make sure it was flat... (Sorry my second post back there was an error, "This is a riddle", didn't realise we'd moved on to another page..)

Thanks Stormin, now I know the fork does need to go around that bar.. Yes the raised pieces are inside the locking plates and I've got it on a flat surface square and lined up. It feels like the frame on top of the deck needs to move back a little so the fork can drop enough, but the right-angle pin holds it solid so there's no play. This is a riddle...

Hi Stormin, Thanks, I thought that's where it goes. Yes,the raised pieces are inside the the edges, but I can't get the angle right so it will locate, the fork is angled too far back by about an inch. It looks like the cantilever frame on top of the deck needs to move back so the fork will drop a bit, but there's no adjustment to make it possible. That right angle pin in the middle of the frame holds it solid. Now I know where it's supposed to go, maybe it is something to do with where I've positioned the deck, but I've got it on a flat surface, square on, so it's at the right height. A weird thing for sure...I can see it should be easy to fit..

Ok...been away for a while, so no progress with the belt, but I'm back on it now.. I have measured with a 1/2" rope as suggested and I got a size of 96" with the adjuster in a roughly middle position. So according to Anglo Traction's research it looks like it's probably the 102741 belt at 96.6", which I'll purchase from beltingonline.. I haven't found a local supplier yet, but it's a start.. I do have one more question if anybody's still reading this... The tach o matic system. When I try to attach the deck I find that the forked piece at the front of the deck on the cantilevered frame thing won't go around the bar above/inside the locking section. It's about a half inch out and there seems to be no room for adjustment to make it fit. The deck will go in without the fork being in position, but I'm not sure what the fork does and how important it is that it's seated around that small bar, if indeed that's where it's supposed to go.. Thanks again for all the info so far, absolutely invaluable... Cheers all.. Martin.

Well A.Traction, that is thoroughly comprehensive, thank you. I have an agricultural engineering supplier near me, I was just going to take the old belt in and see if we could find a match, but this trove of information that you've supplied has thrown new light on the subject and will help even more. I suspect the belt I've got isn't the right one anyway, as when I fitted it I had to wind in the adjustment on the double pulley at the front nearly all the way in and that can't be right..(probably why the belt shredded after an hour or so.... I think the next step is the rope measurement, if I couple that with the section size, I might be able to find some kind of match at my local or use the link you gave me. That'll have to wait until next week. There's nothing on the spindle drive belt, so it's still a guess as to what model this is. Looks like it's going to be a problem finding out the model. I'll make some enquiries to the previous owner, see if I can get more details. This is almost as bad as finding a decent cutter deck in the first place... Thanks for the help and the link. I've now got some options.. Cheers, Martin.

I knew it...! it's not that easy, I thought it was just me, but it is one of those subjects... Unfortunately the labels have worn off, so I don't know the model number, but it is definitely is a 42" side discharge. Mmmm..Kevlar or non Kevlar... Andy seems to have some good ideas, especially based on the direct experience of doing some heavy duty cutting. Which is what I'm approaching, this orchard is about an acre. And it looks like I'll be needing spares on hand. Kevlar just sounds tougher though.. One thing I've realised, the belts don't have to be brand specific, so that's a step forward. I do have the original belt, I say original, it came with the unusable deck so I don't know if it's the right one, it seems to be about the right length though, I'll check the profile tomorrow. So it's the 2 profile measurements and length/pitch I need to get right. The lists and numbers I find densely confusing, especially since I don't have a model number to start with. So I think I'll follow Andy and see if I can find someone who sells belts in my area. Thanks Wristpin and Andy, all that info was really helpful. Cheers, Martin

Thanks to Tom I now have a solid, usable 42" cutter deck. Never thought it would happen..now I can get on with some work in the orchard at last.. Thank you Tom.. I do have the next question that is probably always asked by a new owner of a deck. Where's the best place to find a drive belt for a deck and what am I looking for? I've looked around the forums and can't find any info. Cheers, Martin.

Thanks Richard, I'll give him a call... Cheers, Martin.

Hi Doug, I missed your post, I've sent a PM.. Hi Ian, I did a search for him, doesn't look like he's around..I might just do the wanted ads when I've settled this machine with it's cutter deck.. Stormin, yes I do know one agricultural engineer/welder, but he's quite expensive and does a fair amount of tooth sucking. I think he'd find it rather an unwelcome challenge..

Thanks Ian, I bet those panels are hard to find though.

Thanks Neil, moral support is always most welcome. Yes underneath everything is solid and functioning as it should even though it won't win any beauty pageants.. The thing that amazes me is that the seat is in perfect condition, from what I've seen of other machines that always seems to be the first thing to go. Despite appearances and as you can probably tell, there are only three panels with rot. The one under the seat and the two by the foot-wells, are those two the belt guards you're referring to?

Hello Doug, That sounds interesting, would that mean I could replace that long length of custom exhaust pipe? I'm over near St Ives. I could also collect if you're not too far away... Cheers, Martin.

Haha, now now, steady on...it was one of the things that first attracted me to it, I think it has a certain delicate charm. Who wants boring old solid panels when you can have such fine lacework... Seriously though, it is just the least important panels, well, sort of, as long as you don't lean on them... The engine cover is ok, I doubt whether I'd have bought it if that was riddled as well. Underneath it all it is a solid runner and the tyres are in brilliant condition. The exaust pipe arrangement worries me a little bit, but I imagine that could be sorted in time. I guess whoever did it had to loop it to make room for the belt. Interesting Stormin, recoverable you say. Is there a special kind of filler I'm currently unaware of?

Thanks Stormin, finally found it, nice job, you make it look so simple.. And that is very encouraging at this stage Meadowfield, thanks, I was starting to wonder what I'd got myself into... Anyway, here's some photos, (promise not to laugh at the bodywork)...and you may notice a rather interesting exhaust modification which is well outside the realms of health and safety. Still, as long as you don't touch it after it's been running it's ok...

Yes Neil I was shocked, had to lie down, quoted £1,000 for a new deck...then quoted 6-700 quid for a repair from my local welder. Now waiting for a quote from the chap who builds new shells. I have considered getting another machine with a solid deck, that's an option, but I wouldn't keep the first one..can't let this thing get out of hand and end up with a collection.. Stormin, looked for the thread on your rebuild, couldn't find it. Could you give me a clue where it is? And anyone, how do I upload and post photos? For some reason it doesn't seem obvious as to how you go about it..

Right...photos...I'm working on them..whilst absorbing every morsel of info that gets mentioned here. I'll now bear in mind the belts and type of grass I'll be cutting, hadn't considered the strain they have to cope with. Thankfully it's not too thick generally, although it's getting longer every day I delay while I try to sort the cutter... Trying not to feel too panicky, the allotment commitee might get a bit narky if I don't cut it soon.... There are currently three lines of enquiry. Purchasing a completely new 42" deck from Toro. Asking my local agri-welder to refurbish the one that came with the machine. Getting a new shell fabricated by a chap in Lincs who advertises on Ebay. I suppose the new deck from Toro will be made from the same thin steel and prone to rust and flexing. The local agri-welder is the only complete unknown at present and he may just laugh when he sees the state of the cobwebbed deck. And a new shell apparently would last longer than me. He uses thicker guage steel and gets good customer reviews for his thorough workmanship, but might just be too expensive. I'm guessing it'll be between two and three hundred....hmmm..half what I paid for the machine itself... I'm waiting for quotes from all three before deciding. So there we are, hope the suspense doesn't drive me mad.. Having bought the machine, I can't actually use it yet..Might have to get the little Mountfield out and do a 2 hour stint to keep the grass in check..cutting nearly half an acre in narrow strips is a daunting task though..rather hoping I wouldn't have to do that anymore. But I shall remain positive having got this far.The dawn of a new Golden Age in my orchard will be somewhat delayed it seems... Cheers, all...

Hi all, thanks for the encouragement and info, that's made me feel like I've got a decent machine, (I did buy it in the end). So it looks like I may be visiting here a few times in future... Cosmetically it's no showstopper, the body panels are rusted through, but it works fine mechanically which is the main thing. Looks like it's been really neglected in the past, left out in the rain, (why would anyone do that?). The cutting deck is rotted out, but there's enough left to save it I think and as mentioned the panels around the seat are rusted like a cobweb. The seller has done a good job of restoring it to working condition. It's had a couple of non-standard mods, one to the exhaust sytem, but it works ok. It came with some extras, pulleys etc. which look like they are from a previously rusted out deck. It's frustrating that I can't use it until the deck is repaired or I find a replacement. Don't suppose any of you know of a solid deck for sale, or even if there are any out there..? Is it worth looking for one? I do have a local agricultural fabricator/welder, I'll see what he says next week. Thanks again chaps, really appreciate the useful info and all, quite invaluable, have taken note of the axle bearing comments, I'll check them.... Martin