1863 questions
 

I quit using the 1863 to mow late last year because of what I think is an axle seal leak. I pulled a trailer a few times this winter and it got to where if I let the brake all the way up there was a terrible noise. I brought it to the garage today after airing up a tire that had never leaked down before.
The tire; looks like from the soapy water it's leaking around the rim. should I break the tire down, wire brush the wheel, repaint it and see if it will seal or just go ahead and tube it? Maybe work on the rim and tube it?
The noise; I took the tunnel cover off and saw that the brake switch arm is rubbing the drive shaft. Seems like I had this problem when I first got the tractor but that was 5 years ago, can't remember. If I loosen the bolt and move the arm down I'm thinking that when I push the pedal all the way down it will either bend or slip back up. The arm is not centered on the switch, i'm thinking I will bend it to the right a little and that should get it off the drive shaft. Does this have anything to do with brake adjustment?
Leak; Am I right that I will have to remove the height adjustment rod to remove the hitch plate to remove the differential cover to remove the cir-clip to pull the axle to replace the seal? Looks like there is a nut on the end of the height rod. Is it right or left hand thread?
Cannon

I took a dowel rod and knocked the arm over until it's centered on the switch. It clears the drive shaft about 1/16" now. What holds the brake shaft from moving side to side? I got the nut off the height rod, I was expecting that to be a pain.
Cannon

Tube the tire, it's old and tired. You can just hang the hitch plate off to the side without removing the lift height adjustment rod. If you want to remove the rod it has a left hand thread bolt in the end of it that you need to remove before it will come out and it's a PITA.

Since the left hand nut came off pretty east I went ahead and removed the hitch plate. I didn't find any clumps of anything in the axle like I have seen others have. I ordered 2 Tire tubes this morning. I'll pull the axle and get the seals out and see if I can get them locally. If not I'll order them. So far so good.
Cannon

Cannon, here is the seal you need or OEM is part#921-3020A.

Attachment 82928

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...keyword=474256

For what it's worth, I used the National seals on one that I did and they leaked around the outside. Replaced them with the OEM MTD seals and no leaks. I know some guys don't like the rubber outside but they work for me.

Yesterday afternoon I had about 45 minutes to work on the cub so I thought I would see if I could get the seals out. I had to push the bypass plunger in to turn the chunk and access the c-clips on the axles. Then I couldn't get a hold of them with anything so I made a hook out of an old tire plugging tool. With that I pulled them both off and both times they went in the oil bucket. I got the axles out and it getting close to time to get ready for dinner with my wifes friends I grabbed a big screwdriver and started trying to pry the bad seal out. Aggravated anyway I pried on the seal and there was a big pop and it moved along with a c-clip that I didn't know was there. I managed to brake off about an inch of the c-clip groove. At that point I quit and went in the house, anytime I try to hurry I screw something up. This morning I went out and accessed the damage and removed the seal from the other side. Neither of the local auto parts stores had the national seal so I drove 15 miles to the cub dealer and and got 2 MTD seals. I took my vacuum pump and pumped a quart of water and oil out of the axle tubes. I think I will try putting the open end of the c-clip opposite the broken place and see if it will stay in. I was smart enough to remove the clip first on the second side.
Cannon

You should be OK with the snap ring. Just a FYI the older Cyclops had the snap ring on the inside of the inside of the seal. On late style they moved the snap ring to the out side.

This afternoon I got the seals, seal retaining c-clips, axles, axle c-clips and the brakes back on. I've started cleaning gasket material off the cover plate and axle. It had a black fiber gasket and gray RTV. Is there a consensus about what to use? Gasket, RTV, Gasket and RTV or is this a matter of opinion?
Cannon

RTV only. :ThumbsUp: