Vacuum Line - CC HDS 3185
 

Thanks to some tips on the forum here, I've been able to round up the rare and "NLA" parts to fix my 3185 - the drive shaft came loose and damaged some of its parts, etc. However, the vacuum line from the engine left under and to the PTO vacuum actuator got cut. I can find no part for that line anywhere. Is it a standard you can get at car places or something? Where do you find it?

Vacuum line can be puchased at any reputable part store.

And ACE hwd stores,
Don't use clear plastic line, it melts if exposed to heat, just take a piece of old line along to compare

Most Auto Parts Stores have actual Vacuum Hose in several different sizes. This type of hose is general "heat tolerant". When replacing this hose, do what you can to prevent it being exposed to "heat sources".

Thanks. I'll clip off a bit of hose and try my luck in the next few days. It's a hard plastic line, but I should be able to find something. I'm anxious to get this thing purring again. There's some oil seep age on the sides of the engine that I believe I can fix with a new gasket. I'll be looking at that once I get the engine back in and all working.

I discovered that the vacuum line is not that easily found around here. It's not the normal soft rubber line, it's a very hard plastic line. None of the hardware stores, power equipment repair stores or Advance Auto etc. had anything like it. However, I made a final step at the national auto parts store headquartered nearby and they think they have some normally used for high-performance cars. I must assume Cub Cadet used this hard vacuum line because the vacuum was greater than a soft line - which would have been cheaper - would handle. I'm going to go look at the line the parts place and see if they can match it like they think they can. It's a buck a foot.

It is hard to believe, that a small 2 cylinder engine would create a greater vacuum than some high powered V-8. :bigthink:

They used it because it's less expensive, use the black rubber neoprene hose and all will be well.
A small engine or large will operate just fine,
just make sure you have the correct inside diameter hose.

Regular vacuum hose will work just fine.

Just because it doesn't have the exact same part number, or look just exactly, perfectly like what the original part did, doesn't mean it isn't a proper replacement.

let's not forget the old vacuum lines are "harden" from years of heat/cold cycles and weathering..... all the reason the new lines will feel limp:biggrin2: