What is this “Rod” under my toolbox

[Thompson1276 256]

I have a 1276 I’m fully restoring , and had it all apart in 4 hours. I found this rod that bends , but is also sealed not like a cable wire cover. it’s a original part I saw it in the 1276 owners manual on a picture on the side , you can’t take it out unless the toolbox is out and was not connected to anything, if anyone can tell me what this is that would be great , it has a manual lift btw not hydraulic.

[Pullstart 62,916]

That’s the sleeve for the lift cable.  A 3/16” cable goes through that from the lift arm to the rear sleeve hitch.  

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

That looks like the 'tube' that the cable lift for rear mounted implements would travel.  Piece of wire rope cable runs through it.

 

[Pullstart 62,916]

This type of hitch… if you were using a solid draw bar, it’s not necessary.

 

 

[Handy Don 12,237]

16 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

That’s the sleeve for the lift cable.  A 3/16” cable goes through that from the lift arm to the rear sleeve hitch.  

If you plan to use a rear slot or sleeve hitch (tiller, soil plow, cultivator, etc.) you'll need to replace that. They come as a complete unit with the cable, the housing, clevises, and ball-ends swaged onto cable to secure the clevises. About $35-40 (?) NOS from K&B Horse Parts, a supporting vendor of this site--there are a couple of different lengths so be sure to get the part number you need. I've seen member-made cables but, to me, it's worth getting the factory item to be really sure of the construction since they carry a lot of force.

[rjg854 11,387]

Wheel horse parts and more carries them also, another of our vendors.