Another question and an update...

First the question: for a given year will the motor plate be drilled for all engines available? For instance will a late cyclops with a 16 or 14 hp engine have the holes to mount the CH18 out of my 2185? I would not be opposed to converting the 1882 because the CH is running 100%.

As for the update: I took the other head off the 1882 engine and found more rust. Shame, because where there isn't rust, the cylinders are in excellent shape with no ridge. Always on the hunt for a parts machine with the stuff I need for the 1882, but for the time being I've got everything the 1872 needs except some cooler weather. I hope to have the 1872 mowing before the season ends, but it still has to wait until I've got the old MF going because I need to do some serious grading and drill some holes to install a deck this fall.

The late Cyclops motor plates that I've seen have been drilled for both Kohler CH's and Briggs Vanguards. I have one I use as a template to drill older plates, just bolt them together and slap them in the drill press.

Thanks for those pictures, I had read there was such a set of dimensions on here but my search skills came up empty.

Well, I tore down the engine from the 1882 the rest of the way, I had to split the case to get the RS jug and piston off since they were frozen together. I really just wanted to pull the jugs and heads to make it more storage friendly and now: parts everywhere! It's a shame the cylinders got wet, everything else is in beautiful condition.

Next step was to put the 1872 engine on the stand..turn the crank, and "clunk". Turn it back a little, and back again, clunk-clunk. It sounds like it's high on the left; cylinder/head area. Another tear-down. I'm a little discouraged, I was hoping to just swap the bent tins and drop it back in the tractor, and go.

Cooler weather is not that far off, going to be a busy fall, MF 135, shop, cub, cub.

I think you got your tractor numbers mixed up with the story, but I follow.

Given the info and condition, I'm not surprised neither has a good engine.

Mowing season is just about over, and I've decided that rather than messing with the M18 at all, I'm going to do the CH18 swap from my 2185 into the 1872 over the winter. I've been reading a bunch of threads here and doing some parts research and think that I mostly have my ducks in a row on all of the steps and parts that I'll need.

Since the (new this year) PTO is the same as used on a 2284, I'll have to swap the deck pully to the later model which is still available new.
Engine spacers are different and still available.
2000 series driveshaft modification.
Will need muffler and heatshields.
Will have to mate/modify the bulkheads together for proper airflow.
Wiring.

Should be fun.

And a couple more questions:

Drilling and tapping the pump shaft for the pump adapter, can it be done in the frame? I don't have a big drill press and it might be just as much a challenge to mount and level the pump on that tiny table.


The screen that attaches to the bottom of the machine, anyone know of a source for this stuff in say 2x2 sheets?

I would use a shaft out of an 1882 or 2082

Yes you can drill the shaft in the tractor. I did it on an 1872, used a right angle drill and a pump adapter as a guide. Jeff in PA has the pump adapter.

Sam,

I've been using partstree for a reference on parts and they list the Command powered supers as having a driveshaft that is some 2.5" longer that the Magnum powered ones. I have the driveshaft out of the 1882 and the pump adapter, if these will work then I'm good on driveshaft parts.


About right angle drills, I just picked one up super cheap at the Lowe's store because it was clearance and out of inventory, I was wondering what I'd ever use that for..

OOP's wrong drive shaft. you would need a shaft for a 2084 or 2284. Jeff can probably lengthen your shaft.

Made a little progress on this project this weekend, pulled the engine and entire harness from the 2185 and parked the shell out back.


Pulled the covers off the CH engine to clean the cooling fins, and found out the rear seal was leaking and what a mess! I took about 1/2 of a shoebox worth of gak out and still have some cleaning to do. Once I start putting things together, I'll post pictures of my progress....5 months to get this thing mowing...