My chance to post about bringing one back to life. I was given a 128 and it looks complete. It's been raining so I didn't even get a chance to see if it has the added window in the block. I have had good luck getting engines that sit around started and running and I hope this can be fixed up for a workhorse grass cutter so I can retire my 73. It got a decent 42" deck on it.
Free 128
- Thread starter wdeturck
- Start date
I tried to start the 128 yesterday. It has compression(I need to check how much) and I put a battery in it and won't turn over in start position, so I put my battery jumper on the starter and it turns over. Shot gas in the spark plug hole and put in a new spark plug. I put the key on on and turned it over. I was getting spark(has a spark tester in line) but it never gave a putt. I can usually get them to try but I have to go back and check compression and go from there. I was reminded that these new fangled tractors have safety switches and that is why the start didn't work. I own Originals.
John *.?-!.* cub owner
501 Club
I'm not familiar with 128, but that early did they have any safety switches under seat, on pto, brake pedal, etc.
'Country' Elliott
501 Club
John's right...my Model 73 had a switch, underneath near the tranny, that I had to bypass in order to get it started 
. With that "safety switch", you couldn't even get the engine to turn over 
. BUT, if you take a 3 inch piece of wire, strip off each end about 1/2 inch, and run it in a loop from one side of the contact to the other...BINGO...the engine started right up on the first try 
!!! Then tape it in place with electrical tape and your "switch-free" :wink: !!
. With that "safety switch", you couldn't even get the engine to turn over . BUT, if you take a 3 inch piece of wire, strip off each end about 1/2 inch, and run it in a loop from one side of the contact to the other...BINGO...the engine started right up on the first try !!! Then tape it in place with electrical tape and your "switch-free" :wink: !!I did go out and check out the safety switches and there are 2 on this one.
One on the clutch brake you by pass by locking the break and one on the PTO. The PTO one is out of adjustment and I must pull back on the leaver to get the engine to turn over. I think it's a compression problem as it's spinning to fast. Might get lucky and have a stuck valve which happens to Kohler's. Most everyone runs Marvel Mystery Oil(MMO) mixed with the gas for that reason. I think the seat safety switch starts in quiet line models.
One on the clutch brake you by pass by locking the break and one on the PTO. The PTO one is out of adjustment and I must pull back on the leaver to get the engine to turn over. I think it's a compression problem as it's spinning to fast. Might get lucky and have a stuck valve which happens to Kohler's. Most everyone runs Marvel Mystery Oil(MMO) mixed with the gas for that reason. I think the seat safety switch starts in quiet line models.