Check your trans. cooling fans!!!

wojnaroski · Sep 26, 2006

I remember having a stick stuck up under the frame of the tractor the other day. Checked things over today and guess what? No cooling fan blades left!

I believe this is a much overlooked item that is essential to the life of the transmission.

Good luck, Alan

MrWiggles2 · Sep 26, 2006

Ouch! Surprisingly, that little fan moves a lot of air. When I run my tractor and step behind it to hook up a trailer or something, you sure can feel the air moving around. That is a very important part, that keeps that expensive rear end for cooking.

OhioGuy · Sep 26, 2006

Was this on the 3204?
Curt

JTKub · Sep 26, 2006

I know what you mean! I've gotten carried away in the heavy stuff and picked up sticks myself. Those fans dont look like too much fun to R/R. Drive shaft has to come off, etc..

Joel

odskaggs2 · Sep 27, 2006

Yeah,taking off the driveshaft and replacing that fan takes some time. However I read a thread where they split the new fan in two pieces and cut the old one off.Saved alot of work and was holding up well.

wojnaroski · Sep 27, 2006

Curt,

This was on my 5254. I orderded parts last night direct from Cub, not waiting two weeks for the dealer.

Joel,

Talked to Cub Tech Support this morning and was well informed of how to replace the parts. Those guys are very helpful! Supposed to be about a 45 minute job, 15 minutes to take apart. Their route to repair is remove the rops, seat, fenders and then you can easily get at the drivetrain.

My timeline goes like this:
1 hour to dissamble.
15 min to replace parts.
1 1/2 hours to reassemble.

Oh well. At least I will be more knowledgeable about the workings of my tractor after this.

Alan

Mike5252 · Sep 27, 2006

There are three zerks on the transmission drive shaft I have found almost impossible to get to from the underside of the tractor.

If you have the fenders off, this might be a good time to lube those as well.

TractorLarry · Sep 27, 2006

I'm going to look at mine too when I remove the deck to put on the Gators this weekend.

Apparantly my 1864 is an odd one as it actually has CV joints and requires CV grease, however beyond saying it's there, and saying it has to be maintained, neither the owners or factory shop manuals say a darned thing about them or how/where to do it.

-Larry

Mike5252 said:
There are three zerks on the transmission drive shaft I have found almost impossible to get to from the underside of the tractor.

If you have the fenders off, this might be a good time to lube those as well.

wojnaroski · Sep 27, 2006

Mike,

I originally found it almost imposible to grease these fittings also.

After some trial and error, I have found that I can grease every fitting in about 10 minutes. The rear fitting was the worst one.

By turning the flywheel I can get the fitting where I want it, pointing straight down.

Then I put the grease gun hose straight up (kind of) through the hyd hoses.

Reaching up with one hand, as that's all there is room for, I press the end of the hose on the fitting and pump with the other hand.

Hope that helps.

Alan

wojnaroski · Sep 27, 2006

Update.

I wasn't off on the timing by to much. It did take about an hour for me to dismantle the Cub by myself.

The problem was actually not caused directly by a stick hitting the fan. It was caused by the stick bending the hydro control rod. The rod apparently broke off all the blade of the fan. The drive shaft came off after removing 4 bolts. The fan is just sandwiched in between the drive shaft and hydro pulley.

The whole process was just as the Cub Tech had said, and went very well.

This was a good time for me to examine everything under the hood, so to speak.

Found a few bolts that weren't tightened. I gained a new appreciation for the construction of my machine. A very well built piece of equipment indeed.

Waiting on parts, will keep you posted on how long they take to receive.

Alan