C-175 and Tiller Set up - Advice needed

[brentvdg 4]

Hey Guys,

 

I found a good deal on a tiller and pulled the trigger. It came with the mid-mount pulley, and the rockshaft. I tried to make my own cable out of 3/8 weldless steel, but I'm having issues with the small amount of clearance available between the tube and the end of the rock shaft, and using a clevis pin to attach.

 

I see there's a matching lift cable on ebay for a reasonable price, but it doesn't come with the matching clevis pins or anything beyond the cable. It seems like Toro had a hardware pack that included all of these odds and ends, but it's not available anymore.

 

So I'm on the fence as to whether I should continue to try and make my own cable (I see some of you have made them with emergency brake lines), or if I should throw in the towel and buy the cable on eBay, which still leaves me needing a trunnion or a way to fasten it to the rockshaft with that limited clearance.

 

Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

Brent

 

[MalMac 1,332]

This is just my own experience. I have made my own but for what money I wrapped up in it and my frustration time. I was better off just buying OEM. I have done it both ways but just buying what's made for it was whole lot less headache.

[brentvdg 4]

Thanks Malmac. I am leaning that way. I'm just a little nervous about finding the trunnion and clevis for a reasonable price.

[daveoman1966 3,829]

1/8" vinyl coated cable , cable clamps, cable loop, fender washer, 7/16 bolt & nylok nut, collars, clevis pin, hair pin...  all from hardware store: 

There is a collar on the bolt and clevis pin to keep the cable from crushing too much.  I used the callar from the seat pivot mount.

Edited November 12, 2013 by daveoman1966

[brandonozz 168]

I made my own for a C-165 and seems to work great so far -Could break tomorrow though.  I wasn't sure if it would be strong enough but it lifts a turn plow without issue and that is about as heavy as it gets!

What I did was make my own and using a compression/crimp style fitting as the end fitting on the end of the cable as opposed to using the loop style with tiny u bolts.  If you think of an electrical connector that connects two wires, end to end, it works very similar only your just sliding the cable thru and crimping the fitting.  Compact and seems to have enough holding power so far. 

[brentvdg 4]

Alright...you guys have inspired me to give it another go with a DIY cable. Thanks for the ideas, and I'll try and post some pics when I get it loaded up and running.

Thanks again!

[pfrederi 18,385]

1/8" vinyl coated cable , cable clamps, cable loop, fender washer, 7/16 bolt & nylok nut, collars, clevis pin, hair pin...  all from hardware store: 

There is a collar on the bolt and clevis pin to keep the cable from crushing too much.  I used the callar from the seat pivot mount.

 

 

Nice pictures of a neat set up.

 

One thing to remember you "Don't saddle a dead horse"

 

Your cable clamps are on upside down.  The U bolt does on the dead end the cast saddle on the live or load strand.

 

http://www.safteng.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=862&Itemid=178

[JackC 617]

"Don't saddle a dead horse".  Just goes to show you can learn something every day from this site.

 

http://www.fdlake.com/wrclips.html

[brandonozz 168]

I made my own for a C-165 and seems to work great so far -Could break tomorrow though.  I wasn't sure if it would be strong enough but it lifts a turn plow without issue and that is about as heavy as it gets!

What I did was make my own and using a compression/crimp style fitting as the end fitting on the end of the cable as opposed to using the loop style with tiny u bolts.  If you think of an electrical connector that connects two wires, end to end, it works very similar only your just sliding the cable thru and crimping the fitting.  Compact and seems to have enough holding power so far. 

 

Here is a picture of how I attached it to the bellcrank lift and rockshaft as well.  I didn't have another clevis that the cable goes thru so I made one out of some thin metal.  Seems to be holding up for now but I would have liked to have the clevis(s) for the ends.  I needed to test out the rockshaft I had made so I didn't want to wait to get them.  The rockshaft end has adjustment with the threaded bolt but I figured if I could get it to the correct length the lifting chain would have all the adjustment I need for the turn plow and tiller.  Once I had the length figured out, I removed the tube the cable slides thru and assembled on the workbench and then reinstalled the cable and tube together.

Edited November 15, 2013 by brandonozz

[daveoman1966 3,829]

I put the cable clamp on backward to keep it, and the cable stub end, from dragging on the seat mount bracket.  At the rock shaft, the cable and clamp are backward for the same reason... the calmp and cable end pointed down so as to keep from draggin on anything.   

[Trouty56 567]

I made my own for a C-165 and seems to work great so far -Could break tomorrow though. I wasn't sure if it would be strong enough but it lifts a turn plow without issue and that is about as heavy as it gets!

What I did was make my own and using a compression/crimp style fitting as the end fitting on the end of the cable as opposed to using the loop style with tiny u bolts. If you think of an electrical connector that connects two wires, end to end, it works very similar only your just sliding the cable thru and crimping the fitting. Compact and seems to have enough holding power so far.

Here is a picture of how I attached it to the bellcrank lift and rockshaft as well. I didn't have another clevis that the cable goes thru so I made one out of some thin metal. Seems to be holding up for now but I would have liked to have the clevis(s) for the ends. I needed to test out the rockshaft I had made so I didn't want to wait to get them. The rockshaft end has adjustment with the threaded bolt but I figured if I could get it to the correct length the lifting chain would have all the adjustment I need for the turn plow and tiller. Once I had the length figured out, I removed the tube the cable slides thru and assembled on the workbench and then reinstalled the cable and tube together.

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Just how did you crimp the end.... I see these ends at Lowes but wasn't sure about crimping it... was thinking of hammering them.

[brandonozz 168]

 

 

I made my own for a C-165 and seems to work great so far -Could break tomorrow though. I wasn't sure if it would be strong enough but it lifts a turn plow without issue and that is about as heavy as it gets!

What I did was make my own and using a compression/crimp style fitting as the end fitting on the end of the cable as opposed to using the loop style with tiny u bolts. If you think of an electrical connector that connects two wires, end to end, it works very similar only your just sliding the cable thru and crimping the fitting. Compact and seems to have enough holding power so far.

Here is a picture of how I attached it to the bellcrank lift and rockshaft as well. I didn't have another clevis that the cable goes thru so I made one out of some thin metal. Seems to be holding up for now but I would have liked to have the clevis(s) for the ends. I needed to test out the rockshaft I had made so I didn't want to wait to get them. The rockshaft end has adjustment with the threaded bolt but I figured if I could get it to the correct length the lifting chain would have all the adjustment I need for the turn plow and tiller. Once I had the length figured out, I removed the tube the cable slides thru and assembled on the workbench and then reinstalled the cable and tube together.

029.JPG

 

Just how did you crimp the end.... I see these ends at Lowes but wasn't sure about crimping it... was thinking of hammering them.

 

 

I used a tool at my shop designed for crimping.  It looks very similar in shape and size to an impact screwdriver but you put the cable in the collar and then put in in the crimper and hit it with a hammer.  The collar is designed to join two cables together but I'm just using one end as a stop.  I crimped the collar on the cable and then cut the other half off to keep it short.  Honestly, I think hammering them or squeezing with a vice may be all you need. 

I was skeptical that there would be enough friction to keep the collar from pulling off when lifting something heavy like the turn plow but it has held well so far.  Since it was free I didn't figure I had anything to loose!

[Trouty56 567]

 

 

 

I made my own for a C-165 and seems to work great so far -Could break tomorrow though. I wasn't sure if it would be strong enough but it lifts a turn plow without issue and that is about as heavy as it gets!

What I did was make my own and using a compression/crimp style fitting as the end fitting on the end of the cable as opposed to using the loop style with tiny u bolts. If you think of an electrical connector that connects two wires, end to end, it works very similar only your just sliding the cable thru and crimping the fitting. Compact and seems to have enough holding power so far.

Here is a picture of how I attached it to the bellcrank lift and rockshaft as well. I didn't have another clevis that the cable goes thru so I made one out of some thin metal. Seems to be holding up for now but I would have liked to have the clevis(s) for the ends. I needed to test out the rockshaft I had made so I didn't want to wait to get them. The rockshaft end has adjustment with the threaded bolt but I figured if I could get it to the correct length the lifting chain would have all the adjustment I need for the turn plow and tiller. Once I had the length figured out, I removed the tube the cable slides thru and assembled on the workbench and then reinstalled the cable and tube together.

029.JPG

 

Just how did you crimp the end.... I see these ends at Lowes but wasn't sure about crimping it... was thinking of hammering them.

 

 

I used a tool at my shop designed for crimping.  It looks very similar in shape and size to an impact screwdriver but you put the cable in the collar and then put in in the crimper and hit it with a hammer.  The collar is designed to join two cables together but I'm just using one end as a stop.  I crimped the collar on the cable and then cut the other half off to keep it short.  Honestly, I think hammering them or squeezing with a vice may be all you need. 

I was skeptical that there would be enough friction to keep the collar from pulling off when lifting something heavy like the turn plow but it has held well so far.  Since it was free I didn't figure I had anything to loose!

 

 

Yeah...I was sceptical too until I read your post.....glad you mentioned it.......