New to me Cub Cadet 3208

[3Kseries4ever]

Grease seals don't have the spring tensioner around circumference of the shaft. It seems ridiculous because there is oil (not grease) in the rear end.

Bill

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by 3Kseries4ever

Grease seals don't have the spring tensioner around circumference of the shaft. It seems ridiculous because there is oil (not grease) in the rear end.

Bill

Well do You have Part Numbers for those other oil seals or a Link to get them

[Sergeant]

Well, I finally got the 3208 In today.

When looking at the 3208, I didn't pay attention to the rear fender deck; it was replaced By the previous owner (the original owner) on the cheap as they were going to sell it outright instead of trading for a used 5000 series. Kids had taken a hammer to the Old fender deck (stored in a lean-to at their Place of Business). So they went on eBay and bought a fender from the later cast iron trans series that didn't have taillights. Well, I ordered the correct fender on eBay and new taillights. For which I may have to make 3 support brackets. I was able to get 1 support bracket, and my neighbor can probably fabricate the rest. Cosmetically, it is in Need of touch-ups on the paint and New Model number decals (which I will see if a local guy can make them). The front blade and hitch need to be sanded and repainted, and some touch-up work does need to be done to the Top of the mower deck. But mechanically, it is In great condition.

The Original owner did get the later running board & Mower deck depth stop at the time of purchase free from MTD, as the 3208 had been a tractor the dealer hadn't sold yet when the new model came out. He never installed it. I probably will, just so I don't have an open hole in the running board. I sure wish it was spring already. While the Barn is heated, it is electric and costs an arm and two legs to keep on for days at a time.


I did pass on the Original cab as it needed parts and new vinyl at a cost comparable to a new Original cab, which I will probably purchase new for it shortly

[Sergeant]

3-point hitch update.

Finally, I have the limited Cat 1 assembled with some minor modifications. I had to make the sway chains a little longer and put spacers In the rocker shaft lift arms.


The smaller rear tires give me about 3.5 inches less lift height over the JD X748, at least with a Cat 1 48-inch Work-Saver Model DC blade.

I also finally have the OEM Cat 0 completely assembled as well

[Sergeant]

Few More Pictures

[CubDieselFan]

Looks really good.

[Sergeant]

You know, that is the one thing I hate about MTD; they just never made a lot of spare Parts for the 3000 series, Like IH, JD, Wheel Horse or Simplicity. Even Ariens who's Garden Tractor left Production in 2003. You Can still get a Cat 0 hitch complete. It took me about 3 years to piece together a 190-207-100. Some are new Parts, many are used and even some are fabricated. I think Stanley is going to be just as bad with spare parts production. Deere produces spare Parts for 3 to 5 years after a Machine has left Production . MTD stops if the parts are not used in a follow on model as soon as the model leaves Production

[Oak]

Yup, that's why Cub Cadet only builds belt drive lawn mowers for the big box stores now and will probably get worse with Stanley. I see the XT3 is not listed on their site anymore.

Will you be mowing with the 3208?

[Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Oak

Yup, that's why Cub Cadet only builds belt drive lawn mowers for the big box stores now and will probably get worse with Stanley. I see the XT3 is not listed on their site anymore.

Will you be mowing with the 3208?

Probably Not It may just be a back Up
The XT3's last year was 2022 they were going to drop it in 2021. But they had a surplus built so they extended the XT3 through 2022 and it was hard to get an XT3 in 2022
I think in the near future Cub will be an exclusive Box store tractor. Because of the way there cutting the dealers Cut On a new Machine. That why my local Cub dealer Dropped Cub Cadet again