The $100 126 restoration

[Jamocha]

I am hoping to make this thread to document my restoration project and be able to use it to catalog the questions I’ll have along the way.

To start: I purchased a running 126 with JD snowplow for $100 from a gentleman that just wanted to get rid of it.

What I know about the machine:

The PO before him put a transmission in to make it a pulling tractor(we are going to remedy this)

What I want to accomplish:

I want this machine to be my snow plowing, garden plowing/tilling and mowing machine.

I want to also get this as to look as close to how it left the factory as possible. I know doing this and still working with it regularly seems kinda of pointless but what can I say, it just seems fun.

Issues/ things to fix I see already:

The exhaust is non existent. It’s straight piped which is not going to last long

Paint and decals need work

Most important thing at the moment:

It doesn’t seem to move, and by that I mean I got it to move in 1st gear about 3 feet at which time I stopped it, tried to reverse( it did go into gear) but nothing happened. It jerked a little when I put it in gear(it wants to grind into every gear) but that’s it. It seems like it wants to move but won’t. I’m not sure how stiff the the clutch/brake is but it’s fairly loose until the pedal is almost pressed flat. When you lift your foot it only comes back to that point when there was tension.

I appreciate any insight to this issue. The gentleman I purchased it from said it drove last time he parked it in the shed he stored it last fall. It didn’t have a battery when I bought it so we pushed it onto the trailer

 

[Jamocha]

Update 1:

Fuel line was replaced at some point with a cheap plastic one, which was leaking at the valve. I replaced it with a similar one just to get it fixed. Will be going with a period correct one eventually.

The clutch seems to be misaligned or at least doesn't have the correct parts. I have pulled it and replaced the teaser spring, bearing, and main spring. I am awaiting a new friction disc as the aluminum one that was on the machine is toast. It could use a new drive plate, as two of the pegs are not in ideal shape. A local guy has a CC graveyard where I might be able to get one cheaper. I believe the original transmission was replaced with one for pulling. So I imagine I'll have to replace that.

Still tracking down an elbow for the exhaust, hoping someone on here has a cheaper solution for it.


Current Cost of Restoration as of 1/30/2025:
126 tractor: $100
Clutch repair: $209
Fuel Line: $15
Exhaust(not including elbow) $48

Total to date: $372

 

[dschwandt]

The gentleman I purchased it from said it drove last time he parked it in the shed he stored it last fall. It didn’t have a battery when I bought it so we pushed it onto the trailer

Famous last words from many PO's that lead to yet another "parts tractor"
Hoping you will complete your restoration and not give up.
"Do it right.....do it once"
Somewhere, I have pictures of my 126 re-birth, if I can find them.

 

[Jamocha]

Famous last words from many PO's that lead to yet another "parts tractor"
Hoping you will complete your restoration and not give up.
"Do it right.....do it once"

I will saw that once I put gas in it and a battery it fired right up.