I bought a Snapper yt16 a few weeks ago even though I had promised myself not to buy anymore gear drive tractors. It was a "Craigslist impulse buy" if any of you are familiar with that. It would only run with the choke out but a carb kit fixed that. I like the 16hp horizontal engine (402437-1221-01 88 date code)and believe they came in a few Cubs. Did any of those models have a hydro like the one in my 1863. If I continue to have trouble finding parts for the Snapper I might try to find a cub to put the engine in. Snapper thread at MTF
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=281850
Cannon