C-125 engine(s)?

[cdsl810 181]

I was under the impression that the C-125 had a 12HP Kohler K-series (K301) and that's why it is called a C-125--because of the 12HP. I assumed that meant that C-105 meant 10HP, C-145 14HP, and C-165 16HP, etc. I have seen several C-125 tractors online that have 10HP, 12HP, or 16HP engines. Are these original engines available for the C-125, or are these likely transplants from other tractors--or am I just confused?

[wallfish 17,905]

transplants

[Ed Kennell 41,483]

                                 

      Or the sellers don't know what they have.

[cdsl810 181]

That would be a nice surprise. A C-165 for the price of a C-105.

[cdsl810 181]

I have also seen a C-125 with hydraulic lift, and it looked original. Was there an option to add hydro lift to the C-125, or is that a hybrid install that someone added later?

Edited August 9, 2015 by cdsl810

[slammer302 2,156]

if its a c-125 auto than it could have a hydraulic lift if its a 8 speed then some one could of added a electric lift kit to it

[cdsl810 181]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is an auto. So, in theory one could find the parts to change a C-125 Auto with a manual lift lever to a hydro lift with a minimum of trouble.

[bmsgaffer 2,052]

There should not be any C-125 autos with manual lift. They did not use the eaton 700 back then. My guess is that a PO did some hacking or they arent listed correct...

[cdsl810 181]

I'm going to have to see this one in person. It clearly has C-125 Automatic on the hood, a motion lever, no gear levers, an adjustable height knob, a parking brake lever, a hydro release, and a manual lift lever. The shift plate (not sure what else to call it) does not look like it has been altered. I can see in another photo the telltale hydro oil filter of an Eaton 1100, identical to my 520-H.

I made an appointment to see it on Monday. If it is for real, then I wonder if manual lift could have been ordered as an option.... or, better yet, if this is one of the much later production models that I have read about Toro assembling into the 2000s. It looks like new. That's why I gave it a closer look, because it is almost showroom clean.

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

The C-125 Automatics were built for three years, 1980-1982. They used the Sundstrand in '80 into '81. After that, the Eaton 11 including the '82. The Sundstrand may have used the manual lift, and Wheel Horse may have also used it on the Eaton 11 version as well. with the option of installing the lift cylinder. This was the lowest cost Automatic tractor that they sold so may have deleted the hydraulic lift as a pricing point. That could explain why it has the adjustable height knob. 

[Wheel-N-It 2,976]

I'd like to see a picture of this tractor even if you do not buy it. 

[cdsl810 181]

Will do. After everything that I've read, I'm more intrigued now than when I first saw the pictures online.

[baerpath 517]

I've had a couple manual lift C125 hydro's over the years Just the way they came

[bmsgaffer 2,052]

Interesting! Didnt know they had a manual lift eaton 1100 anything?

[Theroundhousernr 590]

  I do not believe they had a manual lift eaton 1100. The first few black hoods that came out had Sundstrand hydros and then all later units where fitted with eatons. I do believe all the eaton 1100's had hydro lift. But for what ever reason, some of the early Sundstrand came through as optional. I had a C-125A with a Sundstrand that had manual lift, which currently resides at Bill Jenkins house if anyone wants to buy it.

   Also Bill had a c-125 with a Sundstrand with hydro lift. So I am taking it as optional. I sold mine because I never could justify having the hydro with manual lift.
 

Edited August 11, 2015 by Theroundhousernr

[cdsl810 181]

Well, I just bought a C-125 Auto with the Sundstrand. It came with the original manuals. The correct answer, according to the documentation, is that the hydro lift was an option for the Sundstrand, standard for the Eaton. On my C-125, you can see where the lift cylinder mounts if I ever decide to add it. I don't mind the manual lift for certain jobs. A C-175 that I also looked at had the hydro lift and I didn't like it because it was really slow compared to the one on my 520-H.

[bmsgaffer 2,052]

All Eatons over the years were the same (other than the final drive ratio of the transmission changing) so if the lift was slow, there's a good chance there was something wrong with that one.

[cdsl810 181]

I agree. The problem seemed to be with the valve for the cylinder. It went down fast with gravity, but came up really slowly. He wanted too much for that tractor, and I was trying to find excuses in my mind for not overspending for a Kohler twin, even though the problem seemed correctable. I wouldn't mind having the lift, but that wasn't a deal breaker this time around. And, I got a really good deal on the C-125. The K301 will probably outlast the twin anyway.