Cub Cadet M50S Kohler 23...won't turn...used to..what a pain

[jonrjen]

Little quick history and then I hope someone can help me out with how to correct this problem

As stated it is a Cub M50S with the Kohler 23 motor. It was running fine but I noticed the last time I parked it in the garage it was leaving an oil trail behind it and a small puddle once parked. So today I said to myself lets fix this thing. Pulled it out and drove it a bit and all was good. Jumped off to look under the rear end and saw where the oil was dripping from with a vengeance. On the left transmission there is a small plate that is held in place with two bolts. One of those bolts sheared the head and the plate was loose enough to allow the fluid to drip out. I jacked up the rear of the Cub and pulled the other bolt so I could go get a match and reattach the plate tight in hope of no further leaks.

Well, as I removed that other bolt the plate dropped down and I felt something else hit the back of my hand as I reached for the plate. It was a cog/gear with a center hole (the hole is flat on one side to fit the shaft that protrudes down from the transmission). Anyway a quick trip to the hardware store for a bolt, reach up and make sure the cog is placed on the shaft, raise that plate into position and tighten things up.

Poured fluid into reservoir and then figured there must be a plug to remove to allow the fluid to vent and fill the transmission. I found a hex keyed plug and removed it. Kept filling the reservoir until fluid was beginning to come out of the hex key plug, reinserted the plug and though all would be good....WRONG!!

When I move that left handle I get nothing, not forward not rearward. The right works just as it always has, but nothing from the side I worked on.

Any ideas. Is there a secret to bleed the system? Would this be related to the cog? I'm at a loss on this and could sure use your assistance,

Thank you in advance for any help you maybe able to throw my direction.

 

[rcbe]

jonrjen - gotta ask - have you chk'd your owner's manual for info on bleeding the trannies? May be something in there. Usually, throwing the hydro tranny into freewheel mode and then cycling the running tranny from full forward thru to full reverse mebbe 5 to 10 times will clear the entrapped air. If not, find the ID plate on that machine and post back with the full model number so that we might be able to chase down some better info to help....

 

[jonrjen]

I wish I could find my Owners Manual...but that's another story all together.

I did find another post that was something like mine. It included a link over to a youtube video that shows how to bleed any trapped air from the system. I will try that in the morning and see if that works. If not I'll be back listing all the information I can locate.

Thank you,

 

[RandyT]

What you describe almost sounds like you removed the charge pump, sticks down about 3/8 inch from tranny. If you didn't put it back on the same way you took it off, it will run backwards, and starve the tranny of oil.

 

[jonrjen]

Well I tried the purge as described on Youtube, but still no luck. I drained the oil one more time just to double check that that cog is setting in place. As I mentioned earlier the hole that fits up on the small shaft the comes down from the transmission has a flat spot as does the shaft so it will only go back on one direction. The cog sets in a small cup shaped section of the bottom plate where the bolt had sheared the head.

I will go back out and try this whole thing one more time, wish me luck.

Am I filling this correct? I pulled the top hex keyed fill plug for ventilation purpose and am filling the reservoir allowing it to drain down into the transmission until it begins to come out the top hex keyed plug hole?

Again, if you have any ideas please throw them out there for me.

 

[rcbe]

either get the full model number for the entire mower off it's ID plate.... or there should be a similar plate/decal on the tranny that will tell you the mfgr/model#/etc. for the tranny itself. Get those pieces of info and post back here - then mebbe we can chase down more precise/correct purging instructions and other relevant info...

 

[jonrjen]

OK, here is what I have to share. I couldn't find the tag with the exact model number, it is a Cub Cadet Commercial M50S with a Kohler Command 23. The transmissions are HYDRO-GEAR model 2K-GHEE-1K5A-2LXX.

 

[OldMachinist]

Definitely sounds like the charge pump. Hydro-Gear number makes it a ZT-2800. I uploaded the service manual and parts lists here.
ZT-2800 - 3100 - 3400 BLN-52441_P11.pdf
ZH ZT-2800.pdf

Make sure the cover is back on in the same orientation as originally and that o-ring and connection tubes are in place properly.

 

[jonrjen]

Definitely sounds like the charge pump. Hydro-Gear number makes it a ZT-2800. I uploaded the service manual and parts lists here.
ZT-2800 - 3100 - 3400 BLN-52441_P11.pdf
ZH ZT-2800.pdf




Make sure the cover is back on in the same orientation as originally and that o-ring and connection tubes are in place properly.

Excellent links, Thank you.
I am still at a stand still, but at least I know that I have followed the proper sequence that should have cleared the system. I think I will pull one of the filters and see if I can get it crossed referenced and do a filter change on both transmissions, change all the fluid and see if I can maybe get things going. Worse case would be that I end up with a ZTR that won't ZTR.

I may have to run down to the ranch and pick up my Mahindra so I can use the lift to raise the ZTR high enough to get under it better.