1641 mechanical issues?!

[cnysabo]

Hello all,
I bought a 1641 this past summer and it came to my house straight from a "tune-up" at a local Cub dealer. I have two main questions which I will put in italics if you want to skip the background info. I have had only one real problem with it so far, and that is the speed control shaft (part #703-1838) broke off in my hand... Right where the two vertical rivets connect to the lower part of the shaft. Anyway, I drilled out the rivets completely and replaced them with locking nuts and bolts. Now after using it this way, the two horizontal rivets right below them are starting to wiggle a bit. I see a new shaft assembly in my future... What I am not sure why it broke in the first place, the only thing I can think is that I constantly hold the lever up to full speed because if I don't it slides down to #3 a.k.a. half speed. One question is, has anybody else had this same problem with this type of transmission control? By the way this happens most with the 48" mower deck in use. (Yes I mow as fast as it will let me). It's not always comfortable riding forward with one hand on the wheel and the other holding the "shifter to the metal". I asked the prior owner about it and they said they never noticed it because they only ever used it at half speed... So first off, is that normal?

My second question is, I have gone out to start it in the past week yet when I turn the ignition key it makes a high winding sound and nothing engages or turns over (accept perhaps the starter motor). What might this be? I have not winterized it in any way. I asked different guys about what they do to winterize their tractors (I live in a dairy community) and they all say "Nothing". So I followed those instructions closely.
The last time I ran the tractor was in Early december to hang a deer from a tree (not John Deere, I have nothing against them). It ran fine then, but just recently I gave it another try and out came that noise. I guess I'm going to have to invest in a garden tractor repair manual. But thought someone here might point me in the right direction.

Thanks to anyone who replies.

[Matt G.]

If you remove the side panels, you'll see a large nut on one side of the dash tower that is connected to the hydro lever in the dash. Tighten that nut a bit. There needs to be some friction in the lever so it can't move by itself.

As far as your starter, it sounds like the bendix gear is stuck and not engaging the flywheel while the starter just spins. Either that or all the teeth broke off of the bendix gear (Briggs & Stratton used a plastic bendix gear on most of their electric-start engines). The starter needs to be removed and cleaned, and the bendix gear replaced if any teeth are missing.

[cnysabo]

The starter motor not engaging makes sense. I will try and take that apart and take a look at it. As far as tightening the hydro lever bolt, I am confused how that would affect my speed? Looking at the dash, that lever is on the left, but the lever to control the speed is on the right. The speed control is what keeps working it's way down as I mow. I have to keep that right lever up/forward most all the time. Again, I am new to all of this, does the hydro lever effect the overall speed? Thanks.

[Matt G.]

What you call the speed control lever we call the hydro lever. The handle on the left is the hydraulic lift handle.

[cubs-n-bxrs]

cnysabo another thing to check is that your clutch peddle is coming all the way up to the top stop. Happened to my 1641 clutch peddle was a little rusted up and not able to overcome the return spring and which would limit how far the hydro lever would travel. Sounds to me like that might be the issue you are dealing with as far as ground speed is concerned.

[cnysabo]

Thanks Guys,
I had no idea about the hydro terminology, so I appreciate the correction on that one. I will try both of the suggestions, problem is I won't be able to give at the speed test until spring. But I will check starter motor, the hydro lever nut and the clutch spring. Thanks for the help guys.

One final question, is there a book or something that is kind of an authority on either what these tractors can be used for or how to repair them or whatever... A lot of what I read is still "code" to me and aside from the wealth of free info on the net and in forums, sometimes I like to have a hard copy. I saw a book on "Garden Tractors" on Amazon, but it didn't get the best review. Thanks alot.