Cub Cadet 122 . Has anyone made their own hydraulic lift ?

[DigJoe]

I got a free Cub Cadet 122 and hydraulics are pretty pricey to buy . Has anyone made their own ? I was a machinist for 24 years and could make some parts . I'm looking for resources like part drawings , off the shelf parts that can be used like rams and pumps , and to hear some success stories from people who have got it done .

 

[old]

I got a free Cub Cadet 122 and hydraulics are pretty pricey to buy . Has anyone made their own ? I was a machinist for 24 years and could make some parts . I'm looking for resources like part drawings , off the shelf parts that can be used like rams and pumps , and to hear some success stories from people who have got it done .

Haven't done it on a Cub Cadet but I did on a Farmall B and I used a power steering pump from a Chevy for the hyd pump

 

[Mule Meat]

Never saw hydraulic systems installed. Have saw a few different lawn tractors with 12 volt actuators used for lifts.

 

[NDIHC]

I have 123 with the factory installed hydraulic pump. They are out there but not real common. The factory pump runs off of the belt pulley at the transmission end of the engine. Not a lot different from a large power steering pump.

 

[stevieb49829]

Just make sure if you run the pump on a belt, the pump needs to be designed for the side loading that the belt drive will apply to the pump. A lot of gear pumps are designed for direct drive, straight on. I built this one on my MH 101 Jr.:

The pump is a NOS one that attaches to the cam gears. One for a Cub won't be this herkie, but the concepts apply. The ram is way oversized even for this application, but it was sitting under my workbench for years. I considered a GM power steering pump like Old used, before I found the OEM pump.
steve

 

[38 Sears Roebuck]

I got a free Cub Cadet 122 and hydraulics are pretty pricey to buy . Has anyone made their own ? I was a machinist for 24 years and could make some parts . I'm looking for resources like part drawings , off the shelf parts that can be used like rams and pumps , and to hear some success stories from people who have got it done .

I don't know where you are located but you might try this guy.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

The pump itself is not that hard to find because it was a hydraulic kit that went on many different tractors, such as Jacobsen/Ford, Montgomery Ward, as well as Cub Cadet.

It is a little unit consisting of pump, reservoir and control valve. If you find one of these all you really need to do is fab up some brackets.

 

[DigJoe]

The pump itself is not that hard to find because it was a hydraulic kit that went on many different tractors, such as Jacobsen/Ford, Montgomery Ward, as well as Cub Cadet.

It is a little unit consisting of pump, reservoir and control valve. If you find one of these all you really need to do is fab up some brackets.View attachment 71130

I did a little searching and found these parts from a John Deere . Maybe I can make them work .

 

[Tractorcedric]

Just make sure if you run the pump on a belt, the pump needs to be designed for the side loading that the belt drive will apply to the pump. A lot of gear pumps are designed for direct drive, straight on. I built this one on my MH 101 Jr.:
View attachment 71107

The pump is a NOS one that attaches to the cam gears. One for a Cub won't be this herkie, but the concepts apply. The ram is way oversized even for this application, but it was sitting under my workbench for years. I considered a GM power steering pump like Old used, before I found the OEM pump.
steve

Real nice work!!

 

[stevieb49829]

Real nice work!!

Thank you, Cedric. I love building things, from scratch. The designing and thinking it through is the most rewarding for me. steve

 

[stevieb49829]

I did a little searching and found these parts from a John Deere . Maybe I can make them work . View attachment 71198

Man, there's 90% of the work, right there. I got my weld-on ball pivot ends at the local Tractor Supply. They are also readily available online, and pretty cheap. steve

 

[DoubleO7]

@DigJoe

Is there a v-belt pulley under that valve?

 

[Mark-Ia]

@DigJoe

Is there a v-belt pulley under that valve?

The v-belt pulley is on the right side of the pump/valve.

 

[DoubleO7]

The v-belt pulley is on the right side of the pump/valve.

Duh, I see it now.

 

[DigJoe]

Does anyone know what size ram to use for a custom setup ? How much piston travel ? Those JD parts I was looking at disappeared quick .

 

[Fritz Maurer]

The piston travel will be determined by the length of throw of your manual linkage. The various cylinders available for this application are about 1-1/4” bore.

 

[Janicholson]

Ford linkage power steering from the late 50s to mid 60s have nice two way cylinders with substantial stroke. 5/8 rod and 1.5 or so diameter. Junk yard city. Jim