I picked up the lock ring pliers today and they worked like a charm. I got everything apart. The super pinion shaft is missing pieces out of the gear teeth, so I’m guessing the previous owner or someone worked inside it and didn’t read the manual. That looks like it wasn’t set up right. Everything just fell out when I took the lock ring off. The other one from the good case the bearing was snug on the shaft and I had to persuade it to slide out. So in this case I’m glad I went with my gut and continued to take it apart. Because I think I would have had problems in short order on the super tranny if I had just slapped some braces on it and went on my way.

I doubt anyone was in it before. There would have been tell tale signs of it. I imagine that someone abused the crap out of it and broke the teeth. It happens. That is assuming you mean the teeth on the pinion itself, and not the gear on the hydro end.... ?? What do you mean it doesn't "look like it was set up right"? Was there any backlash in the gears? What does the gear contact pattern look like? Wes there metal shavings?

Your gut rumbles a lot.... :BlahBlah:

Attachment 87852 I’m no expert but that doesn’t look like even wear to me. The ring gear of the differential looks fine.

Do they come off the assembly line with gray “glue” between all the aluminum parts or the gaskets that the Parts diagram show, and that I’ve used on my 1864? It had gray glue sealer. Maybe nobody was in it. But I know there shouldn’t be slip between the bearing in the front cover and the shaft of the pinion. And I know there’s a snap ring missing from the pinion also. So I’m guessing those parts are in my pump or oil filter. I don’t really care if someone was or wasn’t in it, I’m just glad I took it all the way apart.

Yes, the later ones were sealed with grey gasket eliminator. No gasket.

It may have been apart, but it's also possible that the missing snap ring broke, and things got to moving around. As long as the machine was run with the broken mounts, that eventually snapped the axle tube to pieces, it's no surprise that things inside may also have been broken and neglected. Probably good reason the thing was "junked".

Either way, what are you going to do now? Use the ring and pinion that was in the other case, along with the other case?

No matter what, I'd check the contact of the ring and pinion when you go back together. People like to think, "It's just a lawn mower, who cares. Stick it in a go." But, it can wear out prematurely, or even be too tight and cause issues. It needs to be checked. Go through the service manual on the set up of the rear end. It's good practice if nothing else.


That looks like the pinion was set too deep. May have been that way from the factory. Or, someone may have messed with it. Hard to say at this point.

Maybe the rear end had something to do with it being junked, but the main reason it was junked is because something fell on the hood and shattered all of it, and broke the engine plastic and valve cover on one side. I think I'll have a good tractor when all is set and done. Just a lot of work going into it, not a lot of money because I already have the parts. I don't mind the work, I like to tinker.

As far as what I'm going to do, I wasn't planning on swapping the pinion, I was planning to just swap the reduction gear over, I was figuring that would be the same thickness and not throw everything off as far as shims. I definitely will go through the manual procedures and set it up right, I want it to last a while for me. The pinion in the good case looks good.

I don't know if I would change the set up unless it's bad off. Just check it. It's a straight cut gear set, so it's no where near as critical as the spiral cut on the older machines. Check to see the bearings are tight and not loose, check the contact pattern, backlash, side bearing load on the ring gear carrier.... that sort of thing.

Thanks for your help. I have these two aluminum rear's in pieces and my cast iron rear that was already in pieces separately before I got the super that I'm cleaning out and putting axle seals in because they were leaking, and I see the differences in the spiral and straight cut gears, and I can see how the setup would be more critical in the spiral than straight gears.

:beerchug:

Question... :bigthink:

It seems the expansion plug 726-0126 is no longer available anywhere. Is a Dorman 550-030 the same thing?

Well, the CCC parts book show the expansion plug to be 2.12". Dorman says that the plug you list is 2.12"........

The measurements are the same, that's why I asked. I searched the forum for this replacement options before asking because I was sure I wouldn't be the first person to run across this Cub part number being NLA, and wondered what the replacement would be. The google machine found me the 2.12" (2 1/8") Dorman equivalent part. I hope it works, I'll have a 1957-1959 Dodge Camshaft cover in this tractor. :biggrin2:

I found a pack of 10 for not much more than one plus shipping on feeBay, I'll have them Friday. If that works, I'll have 9 extras.

Did you just say that out loud?

I did say that outloud, but that wasn't a complete thought. I meant it was the same measurement, but is it the same type plug. I was asking for confirmation on the type of part, not if it's the same measurement. I learned when I was a little boy in math class that 2.12" = 2.12", and obviously I wasn't asking if the measurements are the same, I guess I could see how you misunderstood what I was asking because I wasn't specific enough for literal people.

I found pictures of the part on Dorman's website and it looks the same, but sometimes stock photos aren't always right.

It has the same dimensions, and is listed as a concave expansion plug. The picture shows it as a concave expansion plug. (As opposed to a pic of a freeze plug.) You removed the old plug..... was it a concave expansion plug that is 2.12"?

All you asked is if it was the same thing..... but you had the old one in front of you, a pic of one on the screen and description..... I just don't get it man. I didn't misunderstand your question at all. I just don't know how it can be any easier to match up, other than actually going to the part store and holding the new one in your hand before you buy it. We have access to the EXACT SAME information you did/do.

Hard to believe that the plug is NLA from Cub, my guess is that they want people to buy the new crap so they will make parts NLA. Anyway you can get one from O'Reilly

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/d...550030/4180696

Messicks and PartsTree told me they can’t get it. So :Huh:

I’ve already ordered the Dorman part so I don’t even know why I am in an argument over this one part. All I was asking at the root of it is if anyone else encountered this issue. Maybe this is a recent thing, because PartsTree show it as available and in stock until I ordered it and then they emailed me a few hours later and said it’s NLA and none of their suppliers can get it, and now their site shows not available. Messicks site shows 4-6 day availability but I called and they can’t get it either. That’s the only two places I tried before I figured I’d try the dorman part. So file this away for someone else who might run into the same issue.

Steve, you might want to add it to the parts cross reference sub section, of cub cadets parts sources.

I got the dorman part today. It fits perfectly, though not quite as thick metal as the original.

Got it all put back together, dropped a CH18 in it with the throttle stop screw removed, so it's a 2084?? And I drove it around with my #2 cart loaded with rocks to build a new fire pit out back. No leaks from the transaxle/pump area. I even made new plumbing out of lengths of 1641 pipes for the hydraulics because the PO had installed hoses and cut off the fan blades. I made them like my 1864 plumbing so they look the same with my harbor freight tubing bender, it did an excellent job. I put a fan on the driveshaft also. So that's the good. The bad... apparently I've stirred up a hornets nest with this thing. I took it for a ride, and it's a nice ride, I like it a lot... then I parked it and came back a little later to work on it some more and there were two puddles of hydro fluid under it in the front. I suspected a leak from the power steering area before running it just because it was pretty gunked up there. The power steering box is leaking like a sieve, and the cylinder is leaking around the shaft, so both will need rebuilt... :bash2: Oh well. I like projects. Not a big deal. Oh, and the right front rim is bent, which is why the tire is rubbing in one spot on the axle beam (the original pictures), that was obvious while driving it.

When I get it all together for good I will take more pictures... because :TTWWP:

Sorner, I just sent you a PM.

Let's see some pictures!:beerchug:

Here you go, Humpty Dumpty...
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:beerchug:

Next week at this time my bench full of parts will be a runner. :biggrin2:

Looks Great! Since this thread is so long and long-running, how about a recap of what you made that machine from--I see 2 piles of "remnants" in the yard.

That's the two piles that are visible. I have one big pile out behind my chicken house. I really didn't use much for it. Just a hood and engine. I put new tires on the front and bent the rim out straight. It's a 2284 with a CH18. I dropped in a cast iron rear while I had the tranny apart, so I put the super pump and gears in the cast iron. I mounted a wide frame sleeve hitch lift in the rear plate and made a longer lift arm to go up to the hydraulic ram to lift it. I turned my garden with it already, with my 10" moldboard and it was effortless. I just have the factory cub tires on the back and it didn't spin at all, I thought I would. It was a test run because I was trying to decide if I should splurge for some ags. I mowed with it with my 54" deck too and it did a really nice job. I'm quite happy with this tractor for a little over $450 I have in it. :beerchug:

Here’s an update for you all. We haven’t gotten a lot of snow here yet, so I’ve only had a little bit of play time. The most recent snow was about 5” here and I couldn’t resist getting this behemoth out to blow away the 5”. I quickly found out I needed chains, so I ordered a set and got them yesterday. I put them on and drove it around today through the snow and what a world of difference they made. I have seen all of the arguments about ag tires va chains, and I decided to go chains with no additional weight to try it since it’s cheaper. The weight of the cast iron rear seems to be plenty. If I need more weight I will add it but so far so good. I love this tractor! Now,

:TTWWP:

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That steering cylinder I rebuild is still working great!
Attachment 90368

Looking good, you need some big snow for that blower, hope you get some.
On a side note your left chain is on inside out.

You have a sharp eye. I didn’t know they had to go a certain way, they didn’t come with instructions.

I got a "Southern" question. Do you have to crowd or "push" a blower that big to make it work properly? My thinking is kind of like running a combine or baler, you have to "feed" it adequately--too slow creates issues.

John, we have a 551 blower on a 2284 and to it it does not matter, I have never plugged it in any snow in all the years we have used it!!!

Mine is a 551. I rammed it into a pile of wet melting snow today and it handled it like it was feathers. Slow or fast I have not seen it break a sweat.

Yes John, you have to keep it fed. Keep pressure on it all the time, but just like a combine, you can only feed it as fast as it will eat it. :biggrin2:

I don't thing the other guys don't know what you mean.... have to have ran a combine or a baler to know, lol.

Got you! If its only 3-4 inches, you got to drive like you are mad at it! A foot, slow down and let the big dog eat!

You got it!!

Giver the onions :beer2:

When you hear the engine snorting @ WFO and smell the belt, it's workin' just right.:beerchug:
She will blow snow like a steam train smokes up hill.

I had always wondered the same thing John... glad you asked the question and others answered..

I sure don't know anything about blowing snow but I am all too familiar with feeding a combine.. good analogy for us southern farm guys!:biggrin2: